As one of my earlier post's said, continuity is the key to any good blog. With that said, I have failed miserably with any kind of consistency. Therefore, here is my unofficial pledge to provide you with all the updates, all the time. -I will do my best to write much and write often.- There I said it, just don't hold me to it please, I am having too much fun here in the El Sur de Chile to think about obligations.
If this year in Chile hasn't already been filled with enough news including the 8.8 earthquake in February, the national soccer teams first win in the World Cup in 48 years, and the entrapment of 33 miners in a northern Chile mine, then the fact that this year represents the 200th birthday (September 18), the bicentennial of the Republic of Chile should come as no surprise. (Picked a good year, I have to say!) Activities began all over the country at the beginning of the month and culminated with a four-day weekend of celebrations just two days ago.
Friday and Monday were national holidays, Chilean wine and beef was in overhaul, fireworks lit up the skies all over the country, and military parades took place in many of the major cities. In Osorno on Saturday a huge military parade took place and was unlike anything I have ever seen. People came from all over the south to watch the parade that included United Nations soldiers like my Chilean dad, to tanks, to Hummers, to trucks full of soldiers pointing their rifles towards the sky as if an enemy was near, to a military band. The whole thing was incredible, eye-opening, and one couldn't help but fell a sense of pride for the country, even me the foreigner.
The rest of the weekend was spent dancing the Chilean national dance, the cueca, grilling outside with friends and family, and stuffing my face with anti-chucho (think shish ka bob), choripan, empanadas, and drinking chicha, a spritzer-type Chilean beverage that comes in grape and apple flavors. It's safe to say nobody was left hungry or thirsty. Here are some pictures to show what really went down, and I promise to be back real soon.
Chi-Chi-Chi-Le-Le-Le! Viva Chi-Le!
