Chapter 6 ~ Food is Food

In which I explain the difference in foods and habits of eating, and while there are many changes in their habits compared to the United States, one thing never changes; boredom equals hungry. 


Well I'm stuck in the house for the next couple of days. As I have previously explained, there are a number of student riots and marches going on throughout Chile, protesting and requesting reform in the education system. Well instead of slowly being resolved it seems that it may be getting a little worse for a while. For today and tomorrow there is a 'National Strike' going on and, as far as I can tell, all schools in Chile have been shut down for both days. Due to these strikes, I have received numerous e-mails from the US Department of State, the US Embassy in Chile, and my home institution stating an increase in danger for the next couple of days. At the same time I'm receiving these e-mails my host mother keeps assuring me that where we live is safe and I could even wander around Vina if I'd like, just as long as I don't go anywhere near Valpo. Now I have had to fight with my other half and I am forcing myself to remain in the house, but after a friend of mine told me that they could see all of the marches from their balcony and they have several pictures of it I have encountered a little jealousy and want pictures of it too. And even though Jaime has told me it is dangerous for him to live that close, even from a balcony, in case of bombs, I still feel like my adventure into the riot would make an amazing story! Anyway I have drifted from the topic I promised in the beginning. This was just leading into it because I am now stuck in the house, with the potential of getting bored, and nothing makes me miss food like being bored.

Now I am well aware that I have already discussed a little bit about food in the chapter on my daily life, but seeing as I have nothing to discuss until I get back from my camping trip this upcoming weekend, I figured my blog could use a filler. I must first tell a bunch of my readers (including my cousin Tom) that they will be disappointed to find out there is no such thing as chili in Chile (and to think I almost used 'Chili in Chile' for the title of my blog). I discovered this because of an interesting tradition they have here in Chile. When it has been raining for a few days, it is tradition in Chile to make "sopaiapillas". This amazing piece of fried pumpkin bread is delicious and worth every ounce of grease ingested in every bite. Back home, my mother makes a version of these every time she makes chili, so while I was eating them I decided I'd bring it up and wait for the outcome. I ended up explaining what chili was (difficult in itself) all to discover they don't have anything of the sort here. Which I found slightly interesting because I have some type of soup almost every day for lunch. And I'm not complaining, because I like all of them, and I like soup, but every day is almost overdoing it. And when you join the soup with the salad that is always on the table, with the bread of course, well it just sort of feels like I have been at the 'never ending soup, salad, and breadsticks' at Olive Garden for over a month now. And when I say never ending I mean never ending. I don't have to go into how much bread I eat again do I?

Aside from that, I am not getting as much meat as I am used too. They make some type of meat on some days on some of the weekends, and sometimes during the week there will be lunch meat available to accompany the bread, but other than that, I'm really not eating meat. And according to my professor, fruits and vegetables are much cheaper here, but no one really ever eats them. I don't find it true in my house, we always have fruits and veggies around, but that might be because we don't really have a lot of meat. And generally, all the way around I have found that foods and alcohol are much cheaper comparative to the US, but clothes (sold in stores) are much more expensive. It is easy to side step the expensive clothes by buying them from the street vendors if you have enough courage, and if you do have enough courage for the street vendors, you can find almost anything cheaper.

Well I think I have rambled on for a sufficient amount of time now, it is my host mothers birthday today, so she has invited all of her girlfriends over and pisco sours are a must. Tomorrow her and Jaime are going out to trade in their vehicle for a 2012, because apparently they trade it in every 5 years for a brand new one, must be nice. The only problem with that is now I have no idea what to get her for her birthday, because I can't top a new car. Also, I am going to use this as a tester for adding pictures, and if it works, I will add some good pictures from my camping trip I'm taking this weekend. My mountain sports class is going to 'La Campana' for a few days. Should be a good time, and I should have some good stories/pictures for when I get back. Until then I hope everyone is doing well in the US and thank you all for your continued reading...
No Vemo Pronto
S.R.
(From left to right: My host brother Felipe (lives in Chiloe), my host sister Alejandra (lives half the time in Santiago and half the time with us), my host sister Silvana (twin of Alejandra and lives in Chiloe), myself, and my host mother Hilda) The dog is Pepe, he is a little mean, has bit me once, but I'm getting used to him and he is getting used to me. Jaime (my host father) could not appear because he was at work and this was the last chance I had with all of my host siblings.