Two weeks...

These last few weeks are going to be a grind, but there are so many things I am looking forward to doing both here in Chile as well as obviously afterward. I have been unfaithful to my blog as of late, and will do my best to stay dedicated for these finals days because their going to be jam-packed. I have my final exams coming the final week of November as well as the first week of December. I also have only three more days of work at Basic Bar (22nd, 23rd, 24th of Nov).

I saw James Bond a week back with my host parents. Chile received an early screening of the film (before the United States, but obviously after the initial release in England), since about 40 minutes of the film is in the Northern deserts of Chile. Funny however, the scenes are supposed to be from Bolivia according the the story of the film and apparently the government of Bolivia and it's citizens were not to pleased about it due to the delicate history between Chile and Bolivia. The area in which the crew filmed used to be Bolivia, as well as their only access to the ocean, but after the War of the Pacific, Chile took this land from them as well as some territory from Peru. Also, according to the film's plot, a dictator is in control in Bolivia making shady environmental deals with the villain, which obviously didn't go over well either.



Last week I also went with my host parents to the 28nd annual international book fair, Feria Internacional del Libro de Santiago. My goal was to find two cheap books, one on Francisco de Miranda after hearing a bit about him in my social history class and a recommendation to research deeper on his life from my host dad, as well as a copy of the Argentine epic poem, Martín Fierro, and I succeeded in doing both. Coincidentally while I was looking for one of the books I came across a book, Las Catilinarias, that was written by one of the Ecuadorian ancestors, Juan Montalvo, a famous political writer. It was a joy to show that to my parents and the man selling the book. The price was a bit high and the book quiet large, so instead I took note of the title and one day will try and pick-up a copy.

I received word from the grandmother that I need to obtain a visa for Brazil, so this was a multi-day process to organize all the materials necessary for applying and eventually receiving one. The cost was $200 dollars, which apparently is a response by the government of Brazil for all the strict requirements and equally steep price that a Brazilian has to pay if one wants a tourist visa for the United States. I should be able to pick it up on the 24th.

I successfully bought two plane tickets for my travels in the coming weeks. The first is one to Mendoza do visit a family friend of mine for the weekend. I had been trying to get in contact with him since the moment I arrived, but there was a series of delays and before I knew it, it was two weeks until I was done with my program so I decided I needed to take advantage of being so close to his home and visit him.

I also bought my ticket to Punta Arenas with my friend Finn from Santa Cruz to spend 13 days in Patagonia, Chile. We will be roughing it up down there while visiting the national park Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego. The experience is going to be amazing and I can't wait. It will probably be the closest I get to Antarctica and if I find a way to technically set foot there, I will have been to all seven continents! I am so lucky to have the opportunities to travel and seeing the world gives me a great perspective and keeps me well grounded. I leave on the 6th of December and come back on the 19th, a day before I leave for Buenos Aires to meet up with my family.

So those are my recent and upcoming events that I have planned for the final weeks. Today I setup a meeting with an American economics professor from the Universidad de Chile, who studied at Columbia University and gave a lecture during my Chilean Culture and Politics class. I hope to use this time to ask him all my questions that I have regarding the current state of affairs and the future.

Yesterday the Chilean National futbol team played against Spain, currently #1 in the world, in Spain and lost 3-0. Though the entire team was not participating in the match, it was still rough, especially since the women's under-20 world cup started last night as well with Chile as the host country of the tournament they fell as well to England 2-0. Argentina played its first game with new head coach Diego Maradona and defeated Scotland in an ugly match 1-0. At least Lionel Messi wasn't playing, but they still look like a struggling squad.

That is all. Check out the story above on the current National Public Workers Strike going on Chile. I will try and write a post before I take off for Mendoza next Thursday.

Another Break

I can't get enough of how loose studies have been here in Chile this semester. Just as I am getting accustomed to my schedule and routine, essentially all my classes take a two week break for 11th of Sept (The Anniversary of the first day of Pinochet's coup), and then the 18th is the beginning of the Independence weekend that essentially last an entire week. Not that I have any problems with any of this, especially since my Grandmother is coming for 5 days next week. I just feel like total number of classes is quite limited by the political fervor...

Speaking of, last Thursday I had my full day's schedule until about 3:30 p.m. (right in the middle of my last class at the University of Chile campus), when class was canceled due to an on campus riot brewing right outside the classroom door. The teacher refused to halt class after two recommendations from passer-byres outside the classroom, but once the tear gas started seeping in creating tremendous discomfort to half the class, it was time to leave. Apparently is was 'Combatant Day' because a few years back a student was killed by police during a protest. In turn, a couple dozen students on campus covered their faces with cloth to protect themselves from the gas as well as their identities while constructing Molotov cocktails and throwing rocks at riot police just outside the campus walls. After fifteen minutes or so, large riot vehicles with water cannons mounted on top rolled in to blast anyone in range. Police also launched tear gas capsules over a good portion of the campus. Definitely one of the most horrible feelings of my life after breathing that stuff in. A couple students were able to get direct shots with their Molotovs on the vehicles, but eventually I assumed they were subdued; I didn't stick around to find out.


On Friday I went out to lunch with my host-father; always entertaining. He loves to talk about anything (sports and politics are most common between us) and always has interesting stories and great jokes. Afterward, I went to a part supply store to pickup some face-paint for the Chile futbol match that coming Sunday. That evening I went to go see a Chilean documentary about the most prestigious futbol club in Chile (Colo-Colo), which explained the reasoning behind the devout passion for the team while following the head of a faction who had recently been paralyzed after a fight between fellow fans. I found it amusing that before the film started, a person representing the film stood up to warn the audience not to riot in the theater or brak anything since the night before two movie theaters had just that happen. the film was obviously a bit biased, but did hint at the gang-like structure of these groups of fans (drugs, mob-like hits on opposing fans or even fellow fans).

All day Saturday was spent at a mining town called Sewell, the mine: el Teniente. This high altitude mine is the deepest in the world in terms of below the surface depth rather than true elevation, and was once a massive community of Chilean workers run by primarily by American industrialists. Now it is controlled by the Chilean company Codelco and remains an important part of the national economy. We got a thorough underground tour as well as a guide-led walk through the snow-covered city.


Sunday I went with my host-father and two buddies to the enormous Bio Bio market in the Franklin barrio. This part of the town is the oldest in the city of Santiago, and is packed with street vendors for blocks. My host-father joked that if you were looking for an elephant, I am sure you could find someone who was selling it. I was in search of a Chilean national team futbol jersey, but ended up buying a Universidad de Chile jersey instead. I'll have more chances to get a jersey, and with more selection. Surprisingly there weren't many jerseys, but then again most of the stuff for sale is second hand or stolen so I can't complain. The afternoon I spent at a Gringo bar called Bar Basico to watch the opening weekend of American football. The owner of the bar is from Bakersfield and started the restaurant since there is no place in the city where you can get a quality burrito nor Cheeseburger. They also have a premium satellite package to get all the football games. I'll be back many a weekends for sure.

That evening was the Chile vs. Brazil futbol match that I had long been awaiting. Too bad Brazil took care of business winning 3-0. Chile played sloppily, took no advantage of their scoring opportunities, and lost one of their best players for the next two games because of red card (cleats up tackle). The stadium was totally packed and the game was such a disappointment. Not that I expected Chile to win, but certainly a better showing for the home crowd. The experience was unlike any sporting event I had been to and hopefully I can see a win on Wednesday when they take on Colombia. This match is the deciding game whether Chile or Brazil qualify for the World Cup in 2010. Each have the same number of point in the South American group, and the loser will almost certainly be out of contention. Below my very quick and rough Photoshop job of the field.

Monday was a light day of reading for class, watching the tennis finals of the U.S. open, and the late Monday Night football games. It's fun to watch sports in Spanish since the positions, rules, plays all have different names/words that you would expect and the primarily Argentinian announcer commentary is priceless. Trying to clearly explain all of the American football facets to my host father is even more difficult.

With a partial day of class today, there wasn't too much news from today other than a couple of my class test dates have been decided and that there is essentially no school for the next two weeks other than a single class next Tuesday. I am getting more and more anxious for my Grandmother to come: we are going to have so much fun. I had one of the program director's email me a list of holiday activities going on throughout the city that I will combine with my own personal itinerary of stuff to do as well. Hopefully the weather picks up a little bit; it's been overcast.smoggy the past few days following some excellent early-spring sun and warm weather.

Chile has got to win tomorrow...Chi, chi, chi...le, le, le...viva Chile! Vamos...vamos Chilenos...esta noche...tenemos que ganar!!!!

Above myself, Daniel Nemrioff and Finn Telles