Concepción

During the last weekend of June, I met up with a group of other US volunteers in Concepción. Many of us had a 4-day weekend due to the primary elections (which were held on a Sunday), and decided that it would be a nice opportunity to reunite (several of us had not seen each other since our program orientation in March) and celebrate the 4th of July American-style. In addition, of course, to exploring more of this beautiful country!

During elections in Chile, the majority of voting polls are located in the public schools of a city. Therefore, classes are canceled on the days surrounding the elections, in order to set things up prior to the weekend and then to clean the building afterward...This meant that classes at my liceo ended early on Thursday and were canceled for Friday and the following Monday. Everything was locked up and the computers and printers in the sala de profesores were taken out of the building completely. In one of the hallways, a stack of mattresses laid against the wall. Supposedly the building needed to be prepared on Friday, so that the carabineros (police) could keep guard of the building on Saturday...

I expressed my annoyance with the excessiveness of the preparations involved. I assumed that like most "official" things in Chile, it was just an unnecessary over-complication of a process that could be made much more efficient. That's when my host mom told me that people are still really uncomfortable during elections....since Pinochet. Sometimes people are shady and sometimes people fight. Also, due to the poverty in our area, theft is not uncommon.

That put things into perspective.

So...taking advantage of the occasion, I hopped on the early morning bus that passed through my town. The same bus that two volunteers south of me were on. They slept through the majority of the nearly 7 hour journey, while I conversed with the woman seated beside me. At one of the stops, Kiera (one of the volunteers I was with) and I got off the bus to buy some crackers. We were almost left behind.

When we arrived in Concepción, Nick (the volunteer there) and his host mom picked us up and drove us to the apartment where we stayed for the weekend.  That evening we ate Thai food and drank borgoña (red wine with ripe strawberries and sugar) at Café Neruda, a tiny bar with a really chill and eclectic vibe.

While the weather cooperated, we walked around the campus of the Universidad de Concepción (the most recognized of the universities in Conce) and visited the mural inside the art building, before finding our way back to base where we enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the night.

Before I continue, I must take a moment to emphasize the magnificence of this mural, commissioned by Mexican artist Jorge González Camarena. It's huge and it's breath-taking. Named "Presencia de América Latina," it symbolizes the creation of Latin America and celebrates the unity and brotherhood among all the nations.

Check out the following links to see the painting and to learn more about the symbolism behind the images:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presencia_de_Am%C3%A9rica_Latina

http://www2.udec.cl/pinacoteca/index-2.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arteurbano/5162842394/
 

The following day, several other volunteers met up with us. We explored the plaza and an old abandoned theater among other things. Then we huddled, created a game plan, and divided into teams in order to shop efficiently in the Jumbo (a huge super market chain in Chile...which is overwhelming compared to the tiny stores we small-town residents are accustomed to).

Then the 4th of July festivities commenced. We had an asado that included grilled vegetables and pineapple, chips, guacamole, crackers, cheese, fruit, so many things...We listened to music and played games and made s'mores. We made s'mores! And in the morning, after a cold night sleeping on the floor (there were 10 of us crammed into a tiny apartment), we made brunch. It was marvelous.

 (Alex and Nick grillin' and chillin')

(Eunice, girl Alex, Kiera, and Dominique ready to play American games) 

 (Sierra roasting marshmallows on the "fire")

(Ainsley and I beyond thrilled to finally get s'mores in this place) 

(Proud to be an American) 

(the gang along for the ride)

On Sunday afternoon, Nick led us to the micro (city bus) that would take us into town and closer to the bus terminal. He hugged us all and waved nostalgically as the bus pulled away. And a man on the bus began playing his guitar and singing a song about the struggles that innocent people are forced to overcome each day. "Sobreviviendo." It was raw and it was beautiful. It perfectly captured the sentiment of the moment.

When we got to the bus station, we struggled to find tickets to get home. Eventually, after talking to people at literally every window (there are at least 20 different bus lines to take, traveling throughout the country), we found a round-about way to get home. Requiring us to wait several hours and then transferring bus stations at one point, I finally arrived in Loncoche at 3:45AM the following morning. Besides physical exhaustion, I felt guilty because my host mom and neighbor insisted on picking me up from the bus station. I'm sure I would have survived the 6 blocks between my house and the bus terminal, but as all Chilean adults insist, Chile is full of hoodlums...

I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my friends that weekend, but more importantly, I made a realization about my future travel plans. I have been taking my homeland for granted. The United States is filled with so many treasures and I have yet to see most of them. I am going to make this a priority, especially now that I have friends located across the nation. When I return, I will make it my mission to explore and embrace my own country.




*Photos taken by Nicole...I didn't have my camera out.