April 25
At the last minute, my friends (Cali and Kathleen) and I decided to go to Chile's one and only amusement park: Fantasilandia: http://www.fantasilandia.cl/
It was more like a small county fair...poor Chile. and the animations were something else...like many things in Chile, stuck in the 80's. the pirates of the carribean ride and the haunted house were particularly funny. however, their idea of scary is pretty disturbing: naked people being cooked over a fire, etc.
we had two favorite rides. the first was one that just dropped you from really high up (Extreme Fall) but for some reason it was just cooler and scarier chilling up there in the Andes waiting to be dropped. we liked that one so much that we went on it twice...one right after the other. our second favorite one was the Boomerang that shot you up and upside down and then the same thing backwards.
we had anticipated a longer day at the park so once we had done the park like twice, we decided to check out Santiago a little bit (Plaza de Armas). we left when it started getting dark-what a great, action-packed day!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Rabuco
April 17
CIEE took us to Rabuco: http://www.hijuelas.cl/culturaTURISMO.html
We went on a tour of their beautiful viña which grew grapes purely for eating, not for wine. In fact, they export most of their grapes to Dole. I don't think I have ever eaten so many grapes in my entire life, but MAN were they delicious. we discovered that the view was even cooler upside down because you could really get a good look at the impressive array of big, purple grapes. We were able to just pick them off the vine...what a treat! We learned the difference between the bigger and smaller grapes and how they introduced new vines when the others got too old (after 20 years).
We then had a fabulous lunch of hand-made pino and queso empanadas straight from the wooden oven. We then watched as two kids danced the Cueca (the traditional dance of the Mapuches) and I was able to put my own Cueca skills to the test! We played some games afterwards and had a tour of the garden. Our once consisted of fresh apple pie, also straight from the oven. Needless to say we were stuffed, but happy gringos.
CIEE took us to Rabuco: http://www.hijuelas.cl/culturaTURISMO.html
We went on a tour of their beautiful viña which grew grapes purely for eating, not for wine. In fact, they export most of their grapes to Dole. I don't think I have ever eaten so many grapes in my entire life, but MAN were they delicious. we discovered that the view was even cooler upside down because you could really get a good look at the impressive array of big, purple grapes. We were able to just pick them off the vine...what a treat! We learned the difference between the bigger and smaller grapes and how they introduced new vines when the others got too old (after 20 years).
We then had a fabulous lunch of hand-made pino and queso empanadas straight from the wooden oven. We then watched as two kids danced the Cueca (the traditional dance of the Mapuches) and I was able to put my own Cueca skills to the test! We played some games afterwards and had a tour of the garden. Our once consisted of fresh apple pie, also straight from the oven. Needless to say we were stuffed, but happy gringos.
adventures with the family
1. a dog show at Quinta Vergara-quite the experience! i could not believe the care some of those dogs were getting, i mean honestly...BLOW DRYING AND CURLING A DOG'S HAIR??! the most impressive dogs were the german shepards which Chileans call vacas (cows)...they were freaking huge.
2. my mom and i took a day trip to Villa Alemania where her sister lives and Andrea grew up. i actually saw the house she was born in! her sister's house was gorgeous. it was in the campo and had such a cozy feeling. she cooked us a wonderful almuerzo: three different ensaladas, pescado, and fresh mote con huesillo for dessert. her husband Lucho served us first a delicious red wine and then a more delicious white wine. the ladies took a lovely walk afterwards. the smell of the eucalyptus trees was particularly memorable.
3. Las Pascuas de la Resurección (Easter)-i went to church with a friend of mine. it was a fun service with lots of live music and young people. i later found out it was evangelico...when i received their book as a welcome gift. when i came back, Cami had made us all Easter baskets and Andrea had hid chocolate for all the "kids." we had a great taco lunch where I explained that Methodist (my religious denomination) was not the same as Mormon...nor Jehova Witness. and that even though we don't have Saints...I still believe in Jesus and celebrate Christmas. I also went to the Via Crucis with Paulette the Friday before Easter which was interesting-really long and quite depressing. We ended up walking around Cerro Alegre y Concepción for a while.
4. One almuerzo with our abuela (grandmother) we had a discussion about cookies. I explained to them that Chilean cookies were a little boring and dry compared to the ones in the US. I decided to make some for them to show the difference. However, it was QUITE the process finding all the ingredients I needed (which was not a lot but Chileans don't keep their kitchens stocked like we do...they just buy for the following day's meals). I had the most trouble finding Baking Soda, which they do not use here to bake with...I found it at a pharmacy...I decided to go with Oatmeal Raisin cookies because I found out they don't have chocolate chips here (a sin). When I finally had everything together and went to measure the first ingredient I couldn't find a single measuring cup or spoon...crap! anyways, with the help of Cami, we made some rocking cookies that they SWORE were undercooked but I reassured them that cookies were supposed to be squishy...not hard.
5. Chileans are not real savvy with food safety. One day i went to grab the milk from the fridge for my cereal, only to find it in the cupboard. gross. I often find meat both raw and cooked just chilling on the counter and so one day I brought up the fact that in my nutrition class I was taught that it is a bad idea to leave meat out. My mother's response was "yes I know, that's why I do it at night...when there is no sun..." double gross. im still working on that. in the meantime, i wake up at night...sneak to the kitchen...and stick the meat back in the fridge.
6. Andrea, Fabiola (our nana), and I went to Reñaca and Concón (two very nice beaches) for the afternoon. we walked along the beach in Reñaca which was lovely and then went to a famous empanada place in Concón (Las Deliciosas). I tried a Camarón (shrimp) y Queso (cheese). It was pretty good. On our way back we saw the most magnificent sunset. what a fun day!
2. my mom and i took a day trip to Villa Alemania where her sister lives and Andrea grew up. i actually saw the house she was born in! her sister's house was gorgeous. it was in the campo and had such a cozy feeling. she cooked us a wonderful almuerzo: three different ensaladas, pescado, and fresh mote con huesillo for dessert. her husband Lucho served us first a delicious red wine and then a more delicious white wine. the ladies took a lovely walk afterwards. the smell of the eucalyptus trees was particularly memorable.
3. Las Pascuas de la Resurección (Easter)-i went to church with a friend of mine. it was a fun service with lots of live music and young people. i later found out it was evangelico...when i received their book as a welcome gift. when i came back, Cami had made us all Easter baskets and Andrea had hid chocolate for all the "kids." we had a great taco lunch where I explained that Methodist (my religious denomination) was not the same as Mormon...nor Jehova Witness. and that even though we don't have Saints...I still believe in Jesus and celebrate Christmas. I also went to the Via Crucis with Paulette the Friday before Easter which was interesting-really long and quite depressing. We ended up walking around Cerro Alegre y Concepción for a while.
4. One almuerzo with our abuela (grandmother) we had a discussion about cookies. I explained to them that Chilean cookies were a little boring and dry compared to the ones in the US. I decided to make some for them to show the difference. However, it was QUITE the process finding all the ingredients I needed (which was not a lot but Chileans don't keep their kitchens stocked like we do...they just buy for the following day's meals). I had the most trouble finding Baking Soda, which they do not use here to bake with...I found it at a pharmacy...I decided to go with Oatmeal Raisin cookies because I found out they don't have chocolate chips here (a sin). When I finally had everything together and went to measure the first ingredient I couldn't find a single measuring cup or spoon...crap! anyways, with the help of Cami, we made some rocking cookies that they SWORE were undercooked but I reassured them that cookies were supposed to be squishy...not hard.
5. Chileans are not real savvy with food safety. One day i went to grab the milk from the fridge for my cereal, only to find it in the cupboard. gross. I often find meat both raw and cooked just chilling on the counter and so one day I brought up the fact that in my nutrition class I was taught that it is a bad idea to leave meat out. My mother's response was "yes I know, that's why I do it at night...when there is no sun..." double gross. im still working on that. in the meantime, i wake up at night...sneak to the kitchen...and stick the meat back in the fridge.
6. Andrea, Fabiola (our nana), and I went to Reñaca and Concón (two very nice beaches) for the afternoon. we walked along the beach in Reñaca which was lovely and then went to a famous empanada place in Concón (Las Deliciosas). I tried a Camarón (shrimp) y Queso (cheese). It was pretty good. On our way back we saw the most magnificent sunset. what a fun day!
The Routine
Only as of April did I finally have a set routine:
Monday:
1. El Hombre y Los Juegos-a class with mostly Chileans where you play games
2. Yoga with middle-aged women, and sometimes a man or two
3. LOST with the family
Tuesday:
1. Danzas Tradicionales de Chile-a gringo class where we learn traditional Chilean dances taught by a wonderful gay man who can move his hips like nobody's business
2. CIEE: Geografía y Cultura de Chile-a super boring CIEE class which should NOT, under any circumstance, be required nor 2.5 hours
3. Teatro Contemporaneo-a theater class in a creepy little room taught by a crazy old man who loves to hear the sound of his own voice....but he says the most ridiculous things so todo bien
4. Salsa class at Ache Havana en Valpo (when I have the energy!)
Wednesday:
1. Teatro en el Aula-an acting class where we play theater games...just like my entire childhood, very fun
2. Cultura Religiosa Fundumentos-an extremely boring religion class that doesn't even give the title of the scripture reading so I am always and hopelessly lost
Thursday:
1. Recreacíon y Deporte: a class in which i am the only gringo that is a mixture of games and theory of the social and cultural aspects of exercising and practicing sports. in some ways this is my hardest class because i have to try and fit in each and every time-an excellent challenge.
2. America Precolumbia en Arte e Imagenes: an art history class on ancient civilizations (except Tufts won't permit it to be counted for an arts distribution credit...)
Friday:
1. Yoga, again with inspiring old people
Saturday...Sunday...discovering Chile and spending time with my Chilean family!
Monday:
1. El Hombre y Los Juegos-a class with mostly Chileans where you play games
2. Yoga with middle-aged women, and sometimes a man or two
3. LOST with the family
Tuesday:
1. Danzas Tradicionales de Chile-a gringo class where we learn traditional Chilean dances taught by a wonderful gay man who can move his hips like nobody's business
2. CIEE: Geografía y Cultura de Chile-a super boring CIEE class which should NOT, under any circumstance, be required nor 2.5 hours
3. Teatro Contemporaneo-a theater class in a creepy little room taught by a crazy old man who loves to hear the sound of his own voice....but he says the most ridiculous things so todo bien
4. Salsa class at Ache Havana en Valpo (when I have the energy!)
Wednesday:
1. Teatro en el Aula-an acting class where we play theater games...just like my entire childhood, very fun
2. Cultura Religiosa Fundumentos-an extremely boring religion class that doesn't even give the title of the scripture reading so I am always and hopelessly lost
Thursday:
1. Recreacíon y Deporte: a class in which i am the only gringo that is a mixture of games and theory of the social and cultural aspects of exercising and practicing sports. in some ways this is my hardest class because i have to try and fit in each and every time-an excellent challenge.
2. America Precolumbia en Arte e Imagenes: an art history class on ancient civilizations (except Tufts won't permit it to be counted for an arts distribution credit...)
Friday:
1. Yoga, again with inspiring old people
Saturday...Sunday...discovering Chile and spending time with my Chilean family!
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