Okay....
Trip Start
Jul 17, 2005
1
13
Trip End
Dec 23, 2005
Santiago,
Chile
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Two major dates have passed this September, the 11th and the 18th. While September 11 in the states has profound meaning it marks the day that Pinochet took over Allendes socialist government in the 1970's through a violent coup. This date is not nessesarily celebrated by most Chileans but it is definatley observed and sometimes can get violent. There were many protests in Santiago demanding the whereabouts of those who desapeared under pinochets government and also protesting his human rights abuses. Also the 11th also magnifys the differences between classes in Chile. It is profoundly different from the united states the social structure here. Firstly there is not a lot of mobility between classes. If you are born poor there is not a lot of hope of one day "making it". I definitely see that in the classes that I teach English in. Most of the kids have no aspiration of college because none of there parents ever went. It is hard for them to be motivated I think too because many of the class rooms have no doors or windows cause they have been stolen and are marked with graffiti all over. I see very few books, in fact the Spanish liteterature teacher told me the kids don't have the capacity to read books, like novels, for Spanish class. Its kind of depressing but the kids seem to pay attention to me when I go there so maybe I can have a tiny impact on their lives. The class difference has obviously permeated many parts of Chilean cultures but the most interesting to me is the difference soccer fans. There are three major teams her in Chile: Colo Colo, U of Chile, and Catolica. Colo Colo generally is supported by the lower class, U Chile by the lower middle to middle class and Catolica by the more well off. The biggest rival is Colo Colo and U of Chile and you can tell when they are playing each other because the military is out in full force for a good radius around the national stadium. They games get violent and some people died last time they played. I think the violence generated by these games in under scored by class warfare.
Anyway this past weekend I traveled to the south of Chile, to Pucon about 10 hours by bus away with 3 other gringas. It was a great chance to relax and believe it or not I actually got in touch with nature a little bit. Pucon is kind of a resort town and there are a lot of outdoor activities to do there. Anyway we stayed at this Mapuchen farm a little outside of Pucon. The Mapuches are the indigenous people of Chile who live in the country. There house was very comfortable and the people were really nice. They made us really good food on there woodburning stove. We went hiking and horse back riding there too. It was really nice to be out of Santiago and breath real clean air. We also climbed a volcano, volcano villarica. This is something I am very proud I did but I don't really want to do it again. We had special equipment to help us hike up the side of the Volcano. It was over 2000 meters and we had to use a ice pick to help balance the 5 hour trek up the steep volcano. It was worth it thouigh, it was a real working Volcano and the view was beautiful. It was also really fun to slide down the side of the mountain on our butts, take the best sledding experience you have ever had and multiply it by a lot. Except, I lost control and almost died tumbling at one point. But it is all good, cause I am alive and hiked up a mountain. I even have a certificate and a really bad sun burn to prove it. Anyway, what else oh yes, we decided to celebrate the 18th- their independence day- in Pucon. In Santiago apparently it was crazy but we spent the day horseback riding and then attended a barbq at the house of the some the people who worked on the farm. We met a lot of neat Chileans and foreigners there and even danced the traditional Chilean dance which is Queca.
Now I am back in Santiago, getting ready for school to pick up again. It is finally getting warmer here. I will keep you all updated.
CHAO
