\And lots of photos.
September is an interesting month in Chile. Spring is just coming in. The cold days are warming up, the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming. It’s the perfect weather for parties.
For the most part, people are gearing up to celebrate “El 18” or “Las Fiestas Patrias” or “Las Fiestas Dieciocheras”. There’s a lot of games, fairs, music, dancing, and revelry.
The few days that are the exception to this are the days surrounding the 11th. This is the day that Chileans remember the “Golpe”, the day of Pinchet’s military coup. These are often troubled days, and so we usually stay indoors, or at least are home early.
Once these days are past, though, the celebrations begin in earnest. Music plays everywhere, dancers take to the streets with their cuecas, and the sky becomes a murky gray from all the “asados” (BBQs) going on. It’s a time for family, for parties, and for fun. Work basically comes to a grinding halt during these days, and people from all walks of life find a way to enjoy the holiday.
We have, so far this year, been to two asados (BBQs), and gone to two fondas (a fair).
Padre Hurtado
The first asado was at a church in Padre Hurtado on Saturday. What you see above are called “anticuchos”, and they’re basically kebabs. Down at the end, there are sausages, for the traditional “choripan”, which is two words smooshed into one: chorizo (sausage) and pan (bread). We also had empanadas, which are the Chilean version of a pasty.
This church has a lot of Haitians who have started attending. They love Caleb, and Caleb loves them. We did a lot of dancing. Goodbye, uncomfortable shoes! Eventually, Lydia got tired, so we went home.
Jesús es el Camino (JEEC)
Our second asado was programmed to be at the park near our home, on Sunday. You know, this one. However, when Mike went over early in the morning, it was already full. So, the asado was moved to our house. We prepared meat and grilled it. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and laughter. We took Communion sitting around the table together. And then we sang songs.
El Quisco and Algarrobo
On Monday, we went to the coast with our friends, Jim and Kari Hurley (and family). We stopped by the beach, first, to let the girl climb on the rocks for a while.
We then went to the fonda in Algarrobo, where we got some food. We ended the day at the beach, the adults playing a game while the kids played in the sand.
Fonda Buin
Finally, on the last day of celebrations, we went to the fonda in Buin, just for a few hours. Lydia had way too much sugar, and got to jump on a trampoline. We had way too much sugar and grease. It was a good time.
So, the celebrations over, we now turn our attention back to work. Mike goes back to working regularly at the Institute, and I go back to being a SAHM, and keeping websites updated. Ahh, life. Isn’t it wonderful?
Cornerstone Chilean Mission 