A Whirlwind Last Month in Chile

Above: On a rafting trip - one of the best experiences of my life - in the Cajon de Maipo. I rafted for the first time at a level 3 river and jumped off a 15 meter cliff. It was a fantastic adrenaline rush and a day full of laughs in the family!

I have been back in the United States for two weeks! I have spent the time conversing with friends and family, finalizing my college applications, and adjusting to a familiar life with weird details.

Above: One of my absolute favorite spots in Santiago, called Cerro San Cristobal, offers amazing nature walks and a magnificent view of the city.

Let me fill you in first from my mid-December to early January adventures in Chile when I went AWOL on this blog…

Above: The lake area we traveled around. We stayed near Frutillar but took many road trips around Lake Llanquihue.

Above: We went as far as the port city of Puerto Montt, starred above.

I went on vacation after Christmas with my family for a few weeks to the south of Chile. We went specifically to the "Los Lagos" region with (evidently) many lakes. It was gorgeous; we rented a cabin right along the huge lake. It did not require much of my imagination to see the water as the ocean because it stretched so far. It only lacked salty air and big oceanic waves, but I suppose many people would prefer the ocean view without its uncomfortable physicality. Those were pretty relaxing and fattening days.

Above: We ate so much kuchen, a layer of pound cake with a sweet topping!

As this is a region that was colonized by Germans under a Chilean government initiative in the early 1800’s, we were able to eat authentic German food (including sauerkraut and yummy red cabbage) almost everywhere. We even ate kuchen, a type of cake with a sweet crunchy topping on top of a spongy cake, every day for teatime while watching TV (which even featured an all-German channel), before going for a nightly swim together. It was fantastic.

Above: My sister and I pose next to the Petrohue Waterfalls. The water is really a bright celestial blue!

During the day, we took road trips more to the south of Chile. We drove around the huge lake called Lake Llanquihue and visited all the cities around it, including Puerto Octay and Ensenada. On the way, we hiked at various spots and visited a beautiful waterfall area called Petrohue. We even travelled to the port cities of Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. On a rainy day while we were in Puerto Montt, my family and I met a nice elderly Australian couple while we were having lunch in a fish market.

Above: Here I am in a very remote part of Chiloe next to the Pacific Ocean.

On another day, we drove and took a ferry to go to the island of Chiloe, which was gorgeous. Under intense rainy and cloudy weather, I ran out of the car to touch the Pacific Ocean and visit the tiny cultural museum in Ancud.  (‘Welcome to the South,’ Chileans say, when one remarks on the forever cloudy and rainy days.)We shopped at so many cute indoor stores in ‘ferias’ ('markets') that sold cheap tourist merchandise alongside fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. 

The food was fantastic everywhere we went. In Ancud, Chiloe specifically, we were served humongous bowls of seafood called ‘curanto’ (shellfish, meat, potatoes, mussels, clams, giant barnacles, chicken) and huge fried empanadas. All was delicious.

Above: Yummy curanto!

Above: Fried seafood empanada!

Above: Freshly packed fish right next to the ocean!

Above: We ate at a restaurant each night. This was our best meal: potatoes, salmon, and rice. The potatoes were heavenly and I was officially converted to a potato-lover, the last step to becoming a real Chilean!

Above: My sister and I found goose sculptures surrounding the border of the lake while in the city of Frutillar. The juxtaposition of the sculptures with the lake was majestic.

I even got to see penguins and seals in a spontaneous moment when we had gotten off our car while on the ferry cruising across the Pacific Ocean on our return from Chiloe to the rest of Chile. My sister, mom, and I ran back into the car sopping wet with wind-blown hair, but it was worth it!

With about five days left in Chile, my sisters and I parted ways for an indeterminate amount of time. They needed to go on camping trips with friends and classmates while I decided to spend my final days at my friend’s house in another part of southern Chile. I wanted to see another side of the country because Chile is a country of two extreme faces. It can be modern and new, but also traditional and old. In Santiago, I live in the former part. Spending time with my friend in the rural countryside showed me the latter.

Although there were parts that I did not like as much, like constant cat-calls from drivers and men in the streets, as well as, the multiple bug bites I sustained while there, I relished in the tranquility of being surrounded my nature and down-to-earth, happy, and accepting people. I ate my first Chilean ‘completo’ (a hot dog with the requisite threesome: mayonnaise, tomatoes, and avocado), spent an entire day tanning and swimming in the big river while eating manjar and freshly-baked bread, met Chilean soap opera stars who I recently became obsessed with in a restaurant in Temuco to which we had taken a public bus, learned how to make bread (which tastes so much better than store-brought bread), hung out in the town’s two plazas because it was one of the interesting parts of the small town, raced shared bikes in the main Plaza with all my exchange student friends there, talked to my friend until 3 or 4 morning in the each night about everything under the sun, and watched anime with my friend and her host sister on the last night until the morning (after being elated that I had met someone who loved anime with the same passion). I cannot think of a better way to have ended my time in Chile.

Above: I met the two actors from my favorite soap opera at an Italian restaurant in a big town I visited with Izy and our Danish exchange friend Maya!

Above: I went to Emporio La Rosa, the ice cream shop, and ate there with my mom.

After a sad and prolonged farewell with my friend and her family, I returned to Santiago even more aware of the little time I had with my parents. That evening, I watched Modern Family by myself and later with my parents, packed so many clothes and souvenirs into two large suitcases (a feat, let me tell you! It was the epitome of 'packed to capacity'!), and got semi-okay with being without my host sisters' presence. It was a bittersweet evening. I ate an empanada (napolitana, which is the same empanada flour but with mozzarella, oregano, and tomato sauce) at one of my two favorite stores called Ingenio (next to ‘Tomas Moro,’ it is constantly voted the best in the city) and even ate rosa-flavored (chrysanthemum-flavored) ice cream at Emporio La Rosa, my favorite artesanal ice cream shop with my mom. Returning home, my mom and dad helped me pack as we followed our tradition of watching Modern Family episodes together. How ironic that it took me going to Chile to discover an American show!

We later went to dinner at a Peruvian restaurant (remember how I told you that Peruvian food is better than Chilean?) where we were served by the nicest waiter with a fantastic Columbian accent who was really interested in my background story. Once we returned home, my parents and I spent the night just talking... about universities, travel (like in the Torres del Paine, one of the places in Chile I plan to return to visit), etc. At this point, I do not even remember. I just remember the feelings of joy, comfort, and sense of being at home watching them talk as I twirled on the black office chair in the middle of the living room. At one point, my dad went to bed, but my mom and I ended up talking for more than four hours - until 4am - without even realizing it. We spoke about politics, psychology, current news events, possible career choices for me, Chilean and American university school systems, how and I why I ended up in Chile… It must have been one of my most memorable and beautiful interactions I have ever had. God bless her, it was a Monday night and she had to work the next day!

Above: My mom was so sweet! Among the million reasons why I love her, she took the time to visit interesting places in Santiago with me each weekend and made sure that I knew how to navigate the city. Here we are in Cerro Santa Lucia.

I spent the next day - my last day in Chile and my last full day in Santiago (for probably a long while) - swimming in our pool soaking in the sun appreciating the 34 degrees Celsius weather, aware that returning to the US meant immersing myself yet again to a drastic and frigid temperature change. It was a lazy day where I watched more Modern Family and tried to memorize the house and its people.

My parents took a few hours off at the end of their day to drive me to the airport. Sitting in the backseat of the car listening to them plan the rest of the year with the the family and remind each other about all the weekends we had spent visiting so many places was the embodiment of being home. I was reminded of the beginning process finding and getting to know my second family and felt we had gone so far in such a small span of time. They were simply my parents in the front of the car talking like any other day.

When we got to the airport and finally checked in my bags (after a fun conversation with the counter guy who talked about his love for Breaking Bad after reading that my bags would be sent to Albuquerque), we began to part ways. We hugged a lot. There we were, the three of us right in front of the class wall separating departing international passengers from family and friends who would stay in Chile. We stayed in our circle trying to memorize each other’s faces. My parents looked at me the whole time with love and adoration in their eyes and, in that point, I felt that it was real that I would leave them for a while. We all cried together and hugged repeatedly. With promises to see each other again very soon (and with a strong personal resolve that I will return to my family as soon as I am able), I stood in the long Customs line for probably 15 minutes, constantly glancing past the glass window to my family. The sweetest thing was that every time I would glance up, I would say my dad smiling or waving. 

Above; The first Chilean town I lived in called Olmue.

Finally, after waiting at the gate and messaging both my families, I boarded the plane to the United States. I wrote my last journal entry as we were flying out of Santiago. This was the same journal that I had begun writing every day while in Chile. Although I have never been able to keep a constant journal, notebook, or diary in my life, I am grateful and proud I was able to do a daily task during my Chilean adventure. One day when I am less emotional about not being in Chile, I will read the journal again and hopefully it will remind me about how each day felt, with its ups, downs, and normals. 

I was lucky to discover that my seatmate was a world-traveler and articulate liberal arts graduate student from Arkansas who reminded me so much of a beloved teacher. I adored my conversations with her and she has shown me to be unafraid to learn new languages and travel to unknown places. She travelled to Chile without knowing a word of Spanish but still sustained herself and became fluent. I hope to maintain that sense of optimism, courage, and adventure that she embodied. Moreover, I am continuing to strive to keep that joy within me as I readjust here.

After a brief layover at Dallas where I had a delightful conversation with the exchange organization volunteer who, incidentally, was the same woman who met me there when I was preparing to go to Chile, I finally landed in Albuquerque near noon on Wednesday. It was odd to see my American family again; my dad is skinnier, my brother is a head taller, and my mom is emotionally stronger. It has been weird being back. Gas being around $1 honestly scares me; I feel as if the world is ending. (I had stopped looking at Chilean gas prices because they are in liters and Chilean pesos; in addition, gas is really expensive there because it is not subsidized and is also imported.) Yet, I appreciate not having to convert prices anymore and that drug store and clothing products are about half the Chilean price.

Above: My sisters and I were at the top of my favorite hill in Santiago, Cerro San Cristobal, eating mote con huesillo, a traditional drink made of dried peach and wheat.

Sometimes I feel a bit trapped and less independent without a fantastic public transportation system. I understand it takes time, but waiting is always one of the most difficult aspects of change. I am still readjusting to every minute of life here, what with it being with my weight (due to a month of travelling and vacationing, I ate much and exercised little), bouts of sadness (from feeling that I may be back where I started and have not changed or learned from my experience abroad), and nervousness (I never was nervous in Chile entering into new situations, but being back in my house and entering school again is nerve-wracking). I have spent these past weeks catching up on my favorite shows, doing the final steps to my college process, catching up with friends, family, professors, and mentors, and returning to attend my American high school.

Above: My sister and I after during a visit to a vineyard where we successfully crossing a rickety bridge.

There are moments that are overwhelming and, as every day passes, Chile seems like a dream, a memory I am grasping towards. I hope I don't lose the person I have become. I hope I don’t lose the love I feel for my other family. I truly hope Chile has made an impact on my life and that I am better because of it. And really, I know that Chile has changed me and that my Chilean family and I will continue to keep our connection.

I would never trade these past six months, and I feel incredibly blessed that all the stars aligned for me to have experienced this largely indescribable and amazing adventure. I am excited for that one day where I can look upon this experience a bit more objectively to see just all the lessons I have taken from it.

Thank you all who made this happen! Most of all, I will use my actions and a happy, open, and courageous mindset to continue living this adventure and to create many more!

Hasta luego, mi Chile! (Until later, my Chile!) J

30 Random Facts about Chile

Above: Here I am in the tiny pueblo named Machuca in the Atacama Desert

Reading Mi Pais Inventado (where Allende looks back at the country of her roots, Chile, and asks questions about her identity) this week towards the end of my journey in Chile is a great continuation to reading Paula (which talks about feeling of loss after she loses her daughter to a rare disease and recounts the pain of leaving Chile after the Chilean dictator Pinochet rose in power) right before my arrival to Chile. 

The book lets me compare my personal thoughts about Chilean culture with Allende’s impression of the country of her birth. Most especially, I love Allende’s voice as an independent woman who is both an idealist and a fatalist. She is incredibly nostalgic about her imagined Chile after being exiled from the country. It inspired me to take a step back to reflect on everything that I have seen so far.

Above: In the beach "Bahia Pelicanos Horcon"

Here you are!

1.      Santiago has the best of two worlds. With a dry Californian weather, it is easy to go both to the ocean and the mountains on the same day. One can take a weekend trip to the beach, which is 1.5 hours away, and also go the Andes, which are 45 minutes away by car from Santiago. The capital city is very Americanized, with its share of typical American stores like Pizza Hut and Starbucks. I even was surprised by how up-to-date my peers were regarding American culture. 

Above: The different 'barrios' or neighborhoods of the capital of Santiago. Richer neighborhoods are closer to the cordillera ('mountain range') in the northeastern region. These include Lo Barnechea, Vitacura, Las Condes, and La Reina.

Another interesting aspect is the dynamic between santiaguinos ('citizens of Santiago') and the two-thirds of the country that live outside of the capital. Many people in Santiago view that those in the countryside lack the modern advantages of having every product and service available. Meanwhile, people outside the capital tend to dislike Santiago due to its heavy pollution that is caused by rapid economic growth. 

I admire that the people outside Santiago are closer to nature, have clear skies, and make their own bread, among other more traditional cultural activities, but I also appreciate the fast lifestyle, efficient public transportation, and other metropolitan opportunities in Santiago.

2.      There are lots of stray dogs! I was so surprised when I first arrived; now, they form the landscape of the city to me.

(Above: Here is a stray dog in front of the Grand Press Photo Exhibition)

3.      Fresh bread! Fresh bread of all types, including marraqueta, amasado, and pan dulce, are sold in the supermarkets. In smaller cities outside of Santiago, it is common to cook your own fresh bread at home.

Above: Pan marraqueta, which has the same consistency as French bread

Above: Pan amasado, often made in Chilean homes

4.      Manjar! My family and friends could not imagine that I had never tried it before I came to Chile. It is basically a caramel-like sugar that is put in all types of sweets. Manjar can also be used as a breakfast spread during breakfast or once. Before, it was common to be homemade through a process to heat milk for a long time so that the sugar of milk, or 'dulce de leche', is formed. Nowadays, it is sold in containers at the supermarket and few make it at home because it is a more time-consuming process. Manjar has its own texture and flavor, and now it is difficult to imagine cake without it!

(Above: Also called 'dulce de leche' in Argentina, manjar is made by heating and stirring milk. The milk first becomes condensed milk, then manjar.)

5.      Once. I just love that it literally means ‘eleven’ but is a British-inspired tea time eaten at 5pm. Oh, the irony.

Above: The traditional once, with avocado, tea, and bread. Some families do not eat dinner. Instead, they eat a large once.

(Above: Once with my mom in the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood. From left to right is bread, salad, and plain clam soup.)

6.      The rich live higher up the mountain slopes. I always like to ask this question in each country I visit.

7.      Chile is very culturally Catholic, but not necessarily religious. Many people do not go to church regularly. Yet, the influence of the Catholic Church remains strong and the country leans on the conservative side. As examples, abortion is illegal regardless of reason, while divorce was just legalized around five years ago. Before that, the only option to separate legally was to file for annulment.

(Above: Church in the Atacama Desert. There are many colonial-era churches in Chile. Note that the architecture resembles numerous other churches built by the Spanish in the 'Conquistador' time period.)

8.      It is considered a machist country overall. My family is not like this, but the sentiment is common in most Chilean households.

9.      The minority have private health coverage, which can be at the level of American and international care. The majority have public and free coverage that are of much lower quality. I have only had experience in private clinics so I cannot speak for the private system.

10.   Physical education class was mandatory. Although it was a pain sometimes to exercise in the morning, I learned how to play soccer, handball, and chalk ball. I also learned how to dance the national dance, called cueca!

Above: In the annual dance during 'Fiesta Patrias' - the week of Chilean Independence - the president Michelle Bachelet dances cueca.

11.  The Texan flag resembles the Chilean one both in design and color scheme.

Above: The Chilean flag in the Atacama Desert is above, while the checkered flag below represents the Latin American native groups.

Above: I took this picture while in Houston to obtain my Chilean visa. It is the Texas flag which was designed many years after Chile's flag conception.

12.  The Chilean cuisine is very simple with few condiments. Fresh bread, pate, avocado, mayonnaise, potatoes, quail eggs, palmitos (vegetable from the core of palm trees), and instant Nescafe coffee are staples for both breakfast and tea time. In fact, the combined toppings of avocado and mayonnaise is called ‘italiano.’ Hot dogs are usually ordered with these toppings and are thus called ‘completos italianos.’ 

 

(Above, from left to right: Quail Eggs, Completo Italiano, Palmitos)

(Above: Pastel de choclo)

Traditional dishes include baked zapallo italiano (amazing baked zucchini with cheese, which is my favorite food), carbonada (soup with meat, corn, and potatoes, charquican (stew made of beef, squash, corn, and onion with a fried egg on top), pastel de choclo (baked corn pie), empanadas, pebre sauce (mashed cilantro, onion, and oil as a bread topping during signature barbecues), and cazuela (hearty meat and vegetable stew named for the specific type of cooking pot used to make the dish). 

A salad is usually eaten on the side. They are usually composed of beets, lentils, lettuce, and/or tomatoes. Most Chileans then add salt and either balsamic vinaigrette or olive oil.

(Above: Pastel de zapallo italiano; 'zucchini bake')

(Above: Charquican)

(Above: Carbonada)

(Above: Cazuela)

Another interesting fact is that water is offered in water bottles at all the restaurants I have visited because it is seen to ensure the water quality. 

Japanese sushi restaurants and Peruvian restaurants are everywhere. I must admit that I discovered a love for Peruvian food and prefer it more than Chilean food! I especially love aji de gallina and ceviche. Yum!

(Above: My favorite Peruvian dish "aji de gallina," chicken with chili sauce)

(Above: My second favorite Peruvian dish is called ceviche, which has raw seafood like fish, squid, or octopus, with corn, onion, and lemon juice.)

13.  There are many many sweets… Cakes are called pasteles, tortas, or kuchen (a German word). My favorite discovery has been the ‘pastel de milhojas’ (cake of a thousand layers), which has layers of crackers and manjar. It is incredibly savory and is eaten at celebrations.

(Above: Pastel de milhojas)

14.  Chileans have different words for earthquakes. As a group of people used to heavy seismic activity, they call the trembling of the ground an actual earthquake (a ‘terremoto’) when it is past 6.5 or so on the Richter scale. Locals say that a terremoto occurs every 20 years in three main regions of Chile. Otherwise, seismic activity below 6.5 is called a ‘temblor,’ only a tremor. I experienced a 6.0 earthquake in Santiago, the second earthquake I have felt in my life.

(Above: The earthquake began in Quillota, on the 6.4 Richter scale, and was felt in Santiago at a 6.0 scale in late August. This was the second earthquake I felt in my life and the first one I felt in Chile.)

15.  Housekeepers are common for many Chilean households. They are called ‘nanas’ and are usually Peruvian or Bolivian women. Their jobs can include caretaking of children, house cleaning, and food-making. We have a lovely Peruvian woman at our house who helps clean and cook; she even taught me how to make a Peruvian dish and I greatly enjoy and appreciate our conversations.

16.  Everyone uses an application called Whatsapp. I had never heard of this app in the United States, but everyone in Chile uses this application to text and send images in addition to audio messages. 

My friends have even questioned the American tendency to pay for text messaging. They say that the app’s advantage is that it is free, quick, only requires internet connection, and allows the creation of multiple groups for friends, schoolmates, and family. I love the app. My family uses it to communicate as a group together, my classmates ask each other for homework help and simply to organize ourselves, and my friends and I use it as for conversation. This is probably an application that could make American classrooms more productive!

17.  Chileans have a beneficial tendency towards solidarity. In particular, Teleton is a large event where the entire country gives to a children’s charity. It is a competition against its own self to exceed last year's monetary amount of charity donations. 

Another example is the strong presence of the Chilean public institution of charity ‘Hogar de Cristo’ (‘Home of Christ’) that Chile’s second saint Padre Hurtado created. The place helps thousands in poverty by providing them internet access, food, clothes, books, lodging, and health services. I went to volunteer on a school day with my friends and it was a touching experience to speak to the men.

18.  Chileans kiss on the right cheek as a greeting. We kiss on the right cheek to say hello or good bye. When I was preparing to go to Chile, I was confused by this practice. Now, I am much more accustomed; it can best be described as a touching of cheeks to greet someone. Females with each other or with males greet with a kiss, while men shake hands with each other. Another evidence of Chileans’ courtesy is that it is a cultural habit for friends to call each other’s’ parents as uncle or aunt, which happens to also be a Chinese and Vietnamese custom.

Above: The common cheek greeting, called 'un besito,' from the word 'beso,' meaning kiss. Chileans tend to transform words into the diminutive form by adding "-ito" at the end, Thus, 'besito' is a 'little kiss.'

19.  Everyone has a carnet de identidad (identity card) with fingerprints from all ten fingers. I found this interesting because in the US, the documentation of all ten fingerprints is only required for a thorough background check. 

Meanwhile, Chileans must obtain the card from their birth. As a foreigner, I had to obtain it within the first week or so. This required a painful wait in a government building for four hours after hundreds of other people. This card is important in many ways. For example, if you are renting something, the cashier can ask to keep your card for the duration to make sure you will return the object. Also, your identity number is unique to you, so it is used to verify card transactions in stores.

20.  The Chilean consulate states that it is far more difficult to exit Chile (especially as a minor) than it is to enter it. I believe them. I had to wait five weeks for my FBI background check. I also had to obtain the Chilean school enrollment letter, a signed letter from my natural parents, and my parents had to physically appear with me to the consulate after a 15 hour drive to Houston to verify all the documents. It was a painful process of paperwork and waiting, but it was definitely worth it! 

In fact, Chile and the US have an agreement regarding the tourist visa. It does not require extra paperwork to enter either country as a visitor staying for 90 days or less; one simply needs to pay a fee at the airport. However, the student visa that I am on requires a more complicated process.

21.  The current style for girls is composed of leggings or skinny jeans, a crop top, and ankle boots or shoes with a high platform.

22.  Part of the popular Torres Del Paine destination, a national park visited by people from all over the world, is privately owned. It was privatized during Pinochet’s time. How interesting that a natural landmark is considered a source of private economic profit!

Above: Torres del Paine. I want to visit some day!

23.  Gasoline is not subsidized like it is in the US so it is almost double the price. All cars are imported, so they are very expensive. Also, I have seen many cars with Chinese and German brands I have never seen before. My dad, though, can recognize each car brand by sight.

24.  Fidel Castro and Allende were friends. Castro came to a visit that was planned for little more than a week but ended up staying for more than a month visiting the country. He even visited the largest open-faced mine in the world that I also visited, called Chuquicamata. Chuquicamata produces mainly copper, a main mineral exported from Chile from the mineral-rich northern region. It actually is going to become an underground mine in a few years because the structure, efficiency, and cost of the open-faced mine is difficult to support.

Above: From left to right are Castro and Allende

25.  Some Chileans are annoyed that people from the US call themselves ‘americanos’ because technically Chile is also part of the American continent. This is why each time I identify myself as ‘estadounidense’ (United-States-of-American).

26.  Chile and the US have around 15% of its citizens below the poverty line. I was surprised that they shared this statistic but it makes sense. Both experience poor wealth distribution. (Take a look at this comparison chart of countries: http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=69)

Above: I am not entirely sure how accurate and precise the above graph is, but I think that it is useful to give as a visual comparison of social and economic mobility in developing countries. The US is very near the end of the list, and Chile is even farther down.

27.  The US Constitution includes the right to the pursuit of happiness. Chile’s Constitution includes the other rights of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, but excludes the part about happiness.

28.  There is German influence in Chile, especially in the southern region. The Chilean government paid for German workers to immigrate to Chile during the 1800s to colonize places like Puerto Montt which the Araucanian Indians considered their territory. The government believed that it would increase their economy and diversity to bring in German workers who brought their skill and knowledge. Ultimately, these cities continue to preserve German culture, language, and food preparation methods. It also explains why many Chileans do not fit the stereotype of a Latino appearance of being brown-eyed and dark-haired; many Chileans are fairly light-skinned and appear European.

Above: Puerto Varas, a notable town that conserves German culture, is in the southern region called 'Los Lagos.'

29.  Native Rights: Only in the 1990s did the Chilean government acknowledge the existence of native groups of Chile. Technically, the Mapuche Indians in the south of Chile in the Patagonia region never gave Chile sovereignty over its territory and actually maintained their fight for independence into the 20^th century.

It is a difficult situation because many natives who were illiterate in Spanish signed pieces of papers ceding territory. This situation becomes even more challenging because many Chileans see the land as their right; after all, their ancestors ended up working the land too. In the past decade, Mapuche Indians in particular have engaged in violent protests that include land occupation and arson, including in the notable Cerro Santa Lucia in Santiago. All in all, the government has made efforts to compensate (or make complacent) the natives by doing small actions like give back some territory,. However, these native groups that represent 5% of the Chilean population are not well-represented and respected by the country's politics and the general citizenships' mindset.

Above: A map of Chile and the distinctive pottery from each indigenous group in Chile are depicted on the orange-colored wall. Here I am in the Cultural Center below the Presidential Palace in downtown Santiago.

Above: Map of Chilean Indigenous groups. I have learned mainly about the Atacamenian culture in the north and the Mapuche culture in the south.

Above: Called 'Wiphala,' the rainbow-checkered flag represents indigenous people of the Andes in Latin America. It encompasses groups from Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Columbia.

30.  Vietnam and Chile comprise two parts of me now. Part of the reason for this is because I see many similarities between Vietnam and Chile. 

For example, there was heavy US internal involvement in both countries especially during the Cold War era. They are also widely recognized for their catastrophic events. For Chile, it was the brutal Pinochet dictatorship supported by the US that overthrew the democratically elected Communist leader Allende; for Vietnam, it was French occupation of Vietnam and, later, the disastrous events and consequences of the Vietnam War. 

Both cases highlight the tendency for poverty to encourage social revolution. The poor and artists supported the Chilean political left during Allende’s rise to power while the poor Vietnamese in the country supported the North Vietnamese Communist fighters. 

They both underwent social experiments conducted on a nation-wide scale with a severe humanitarian impact. Chile’s experiment with the world’s first look at socialism failed due to the Allende administration's internal failings and American involvement in wreaking havoc on the political and economic stability of the country. 

The most important point is that these countries have much more to offer than their most popular history. They are currently trying to separate from this single-minded perception of their countries. As Soren Kierkegaard says, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

 

Above: A view of the majestic Andes in the winter. I can't believe this is what I woke up to for several months!

Above: Another part I will miss... football culture! My Chilean family gave this to me as my first gift. We all have matching t-shirts with different numbers!

Above: This is ultimately another mountain - the Sandias - that I will be seeing soon!