VIVA CHILE

Taking a minute to share the celebrations of Fiestas Patrias, the independence weekend in Chile, where the culture is to party hard and don't worry, you still get the day after Independence Day (18) to recover :]

Typical traditions include: asado (BBQ) of all types of meat, most common choripan, chicken, and steak; all day, all weekend long. Then of course there is the alcohol, pisco sours, terremotos, and chica. More than once I have been advised, from my professors and family, the key is to eat and drink, not just one or the other. It is really an art form, and the key to not getting sick :] Also, we would not be in Chile without Empanadas; whichever kind you desire, typically a meat, cheese, onion combo, there are tons of varieties from pineapple to plain cheese; as safe or daring as you desire! 

The fiestas are usually spent with friends and family, sharing these typical meals together or attending a Ramada which is similar to a huge county fair with typical food, games, jewelry and places to dance. Nothing is super fancy or overly technological, the majority of the games include throwing something at a tower of cans and winning a bottle of alcohol...haha and the dance huts have a DJ or a band playing popular Spanish music or traditional music where people are twirling their partner around the dance floor or dancing the traditional Cueca. Throughout the cities there are of course Chile decorations everywhere, in the windows and outside. Flags are flown in almost every yard over the weekend.

In celebration of dieciocho, our group attended a Ramada in Vina, about a 30 minute walk. Our friends from the University showed us around and it was fun to walk around the fair grounds where people were so excited and festive. 

Saturday Anna and our Bolivian friends went to the beach city of Algarrobo, about an hour and a half drive from Vina (muchisimas gracias Micho!) to spend the day and night with their friends in their cabañas. People from all of the country come to these beach cities to rest cabins, drink and asado all day and attend Ramadas at night. It is a weekend full of grand celebrations with good friends, good food, and the occasional bad decision :] All in good fun, in celebration of Chile's independence. 

I am so happy I am here to experience a time where Chile can put a stop to their differences for the weekend, it is an unspoken rule it seems. The whole country comes together and forgets about all the problems and just parties, it's quite a scene. We always watch the news at my house, which has been filled with news of the education strikes, fights with the government, and the plane crash on Juan Fernandez island, is filled today of Chilean pride. It is a breath of fresh air! 

Chi Chi Chi-Le Le Le---Viva Chile!

Feliz Fiestas Patrias everyone,

Besitos!