Celebrations

Chileans love to celebrate everything.

Celebration number one this week

On Sunday we had an asado at home because it was Annie's last Sunday at home. Lots of meat, naturally. Sergio's mum was there. We ate out in the garden. It was really nice. Drank mate afterwards. Apparently I made a good choice in my mate cup because it's silver on the inside (so it won't go mouldy) and leather on the outside (so I won't burn my hands). And it's super lindo which is always good. You just have to watch out because the metal straw can burn your tongue.

I'm a real Chilean chica now with my mate cup

Celebration number two this week

We had another Chile moment on Tuesday. Basically we'd been invited to Margot's house in the evening but we weren't really sure what for. So we decided to eat Once before going. Always a bad idea. It turned out it was a celebration for her granddaughter graduating from high school. All the family were there (all really lovely) and there was lots of food! Tiny little completoes, mini empanadas, chikitito hamburgers and lots of other tiny things. Even though they were small we ate so many that we were very full by the end.
I don't remember celebrating leaving high school very much. I don't think hitting Prince's Street gardens with your friends quite matches what goes on here. Apparently the graduation ceremony in the morning went on for four hours! Glad I wasn't invited to that.

Celebration number three this week

On Thursday it was the inauguration of the school's new computer lab. We'd spent most of Wednesday preparing for this by sticking English signs up around the school eg 'Staff Room'. The day was also to celebrate the schools 51st anniversary so all the 'important people' of Lautaro where there. The celebrations began with a speech from the director. Much of which was quite hard to understand as he was speaking into a microphone. Then the mayor gave a speech and gave a new microwave to the teachers for the staff room. There were kids singing and dancing and the king's and queens's of the school were crowned. The Prekinder queen was so cute. I'd had to entertain her for all of Wednesday break by chasing her round the room pretending to be a monster. She loved it. 

After all the festivities outside, we moved into the computer room. There was an English teaching programme on the computers that was being demonstrated by some children. Me and Amina had to help the kids when they were stuck. So the mayor cut the ribbon to the room and lots of people came in to look at the computers. They seemed very interested in us as well. It's strange; no matter how used we get to being here we still stand out to everyone else. I felt a bit like we were providing some novelty value - "ohh look at our volunteers from England". It just felt a bit weird.

Afterwards there was a cocktail (which we would call reception) with drinks and tiny food. This was really nice. The Prekinder queen found me and had me chasing her round the room again. Ate loads of food then went home for lunch!

Celebration number four this week

Yesterday was Annie's last day here. We bought lots of food and headed to the park for a picnic. Some of Annie's Chilean friends were invited, and much to their displeasure there was no asado. It was an English picnic. Fruit, biscuits, tea, milk, wine, tart and yoghurt - no meat in sight! It was a lovely sunny day. Now I should mention that when Chileans have a picnic/asado they go all out. Table cloths, cutlery, napkins, cups, plates everything. Ruth kitted us out before we left so we were able to dine in style.

Afterwards, we checked out the rodeo. There were loads of horseriders in the ring. Two would chase a cow around the ring and seemed to be trying to ram it into the sides. I'm not sure exactly. We didn't stay very long. We were told that they didn't kill the cows there but that after they had been chased they were put in a van and taken to the slaughterhouse... It did give the Chileans an excuse to use wear their sombreros and ponchos though.

We took Annie to the bus station at half 10. Lots of her friends had turned out to say goodbye. Chileans really like to make memories out of everything. And they're really sweet. It was really sad to see Annie go but at least we'll be able to meet up with her in the future seeing as she lives in England. Since travel planning I've come to realise and appreciate just how small the UK is. 

So yeh I feel all partied out now.