Independence Week

Sunday, Sept. 15: 

So the day that I posted my last post my family had a big celebration for my nana's birthday. She is like the family grandma that isn't actually blog related. I woke up at 1 o'clock like a usual Chilean Sunday and RAN to my nana's house because my dad told me they were starting lunch at 1. I felt so badly. Turns out I had forgotten the fact that in Chile, especially with my family, when a time is given it will never actually be that time. Add an hour or two or sometimes three and you will still be on time. When I arrived at the house at 1:10 my two cousins visiting my nana were still sleeping and the food was from from ready. This was a relief. 

The whole place decorated very nicely for my nana. There were balloons everywhere, there were streamers and signs and noise makers and everything. Plus we got to reveal the plasma screen TV that my dad purchased on Saturday for her along with a blanket that my brother and I bought. Now fast forward to the food. We ate slow cook pig ribs over a bonfire. It was absolutely outstanding. I cannot express enough how good it was. That is one of the biggest differences from the US. The people cook so incredibly well and the meat is just unbelievable. I have been to very nice restaurants that cannot tough the meat here. I just couldn't stop eating it was incredible. The rest of the day was just relaxing with my two girl cousins, Vicky and Laura, and my brother, Jere. It was a very nice testament to a wonderful woman, along with great food and lots of memories. Now my week off for the independence of Chile could begin. 

     









  

Monday:

As I went out for an afternoon run to try to cut out some of the thousands of pounds of meat I had engulfed the day before, I ran into (literally ran into him, didn't see him and we collided) a member of my basketball team. He quickly stopped me and asked if I wanted to go to his house tonight for a barbecue with some friends. When I came back from my run I got showered and in a couple hours I was on my way to the supermarket to help buy the goods. In the US, you know how there are baskets of fruit you buy by the pound? Those exist in Chile. But they also have the same thing with fresh bread--except here you buy it by the kilo. The bread here is just so good and there is SO much of it. I have so much bread every day. When I get back to Manchester I am going to miss the meat and bread. Sara Lee turkey and Shaws white bread loafs are not going to cut it. When we got to my friend Marcello's house we started the BBQ. My stomach was turning from emptiness and it was killing me that I was a half hour from food. However, this wait was worth it. We had beef and hotdogs with bread and it was perfect. Every time I eat here I feel like I am at a restaurant and this was made by a 17 year old! We had a great time laughing, eating, and finishing off the night playing a FIFA tourney that I did not take part in. It's like my brain physically can't play video games. But it's never been something that I have been capable of. I just played guitar in the background and tried to sing in Spanish. Midnight. Time for Weston to go home. Good food, good night. 

Tuesday: 

Tuesday night there was another party at my friends house. Just like the last, I danced and danced and danced from 11-4 in the morning. And once again, it was awesome. This one had a crowd from a different school which for me was almost more fun because of all the people I got to meet. Along with the dancing I had some really good conversations with new friends about life and past exchangers and everything. It was a great night. Plus we hired a fairly legit DJ with a sweet set up for 50 dollars for the whole night, really good price. The sound was tight, the night was long, and my legs were hurting by the end. I had set myself up for missing the first half of Wednesday in my bed. But part of what makes sleeping so late worth it is the people I get to meet. Because I was part of set up and clean up crew for both parties I got to know the host's (Oscar) cousin fairly well who was visiting for the week. His name is Rolando and went to Rhode Island last year for a Rotary exchange. I got to talk to him about my experience and everything and it was a great connection to make he also lives in a different city which just gives me an excuse to hop on a plane with Oscar and get to know a different part of Chile. 

Wednesday September 18:

Today is the independence of Chile. This means that I was just going to eat even more food. I was so excited. We went to my aunt and uncle's house and immediately were greeted by the national food empanadas, after eating three giant empanadas we were led to a long table where piles and piles of different meat, salad, and bread was waiting. I ate so much that it actually really hurt. The food is just so amazing this was also the first time I got to spend time with my other cousin Ingrid and her boyfriend. After the food, Ingrid her boyfriend dropped me off at my friends house and we all met up to clean up the party. Although it was very dusty and I was starting to fade from tiredness, we all piled into Roli's car and went to a "Fonda" which is like a Chilean fair for the independence. There was dancing, food, venders, and it was very cultural. We only went for 30 minutes (because the city is fairly dangerous when the sun goes down. In fact three people were killed at the fonda in the night after we left) but it was still enough to get the feel of the festivities. We then replied into the car and headed to a soccer bar where we watched an important (I think, I am not really sure what the game was for) soccer game. This restaurant had megasandwhiches and Roli, Oscar, and I all ordered one despite the ridiculous price of 17 buckeroos. It was HUGE, I obviously ate every single part. It was had a soccer field grilled into it. The bar only had about 20 people there but everyone was so into the game and so passionate about the team it was awesome to watch. That passion slowly faded as they lost 4-0. After we left we spent the next few hours together doing loser laps which ended with me getting dropped off at 1.