Fiesta Food Fiesta Food Fiesta Food Food Food....

This weekend was HUGE for Chile. September 18th marked the 200th anniversary of Chile's independence. Just like we celebrate the 4th of July, they celebrate September 18th every year, but this year was exceptionally partyish. Let just say Chileans really do go all out. Friday night, the night of the 15th, Lauren, Liz, Liz's school friends/our new pals, Simone (Lauren's super great Chilean sister), and I went out to a cool dancing club on the beach to begin celebrating. It was fun, we all had a good time.

with Simone :)

The next day, the 18th, Priscilla, Balty, and I went to Priscilla's sister's house (her name is Maura) to eat infinite amount of churipan, empanadas, steak, pork, rice, potato salad (!), soda, cake, etc. There were about 10 people over, and I'm familiar with all of them, so its a comfortable situation when I'm around them and I am able to communicate well with them. I tried chicha for the first time. Its a type of carbonated wineish drink, but its better than it sounds. I think its a traditioanly celebratory drink for the Fiestas Patrias.

The next day the fam and I went to Priscilla's dad's house. There, we had more steak, lots of beans, and lots of cucumber salad. Just when I thought I could take a break from eating a few hours later, Priscilla and I had to peel ourselves off of the couch to eat MORE. She and I were both really tired- good thing I don't have a fakemom who expects me to eat the world and then be as active as the rest of the talkative loud family. We ate empanadas with mariscos...

as much as I like seafood...I really just cannot take these shellfish empanadas. It was not good, but I downed it thinking "this will be the last sellfish anything that I eat."

WRONG! The next morning (yesterday morning) I was served a shellfish empanada in bed, for breakfast. EW! I almost tossed it out my window to the annoying dog in the courtyard below, but somehow found the strength inside to eat it. NEVER AGAIN.

After empanadas, Priscilla and I went to watch the Parada Militar- a military parade that they have every year. We sat outside our apartment, as we can see the water from our house, and watched the planes and boats go by. Parades aren't the same here- no floats. It was a series of really really scary cool airplane tricks and flyovers, then a naval parade of giant ships slowly floating by. Cool, but not too exciting. The most exciting part about it was the Patricio and Balty were on a boat! That floated by! Balty was SO excited to get to go with his dad on the boat, it was so cute. Priscilla was crying when their boat went by, she's really emotional lately. Must be due to the fact that OCTAVIA IS DUE IN EXACTLY 3 WEEKS, AHH!

Balty at his dance recital last week, before spring break

 After the parade, we had a refreshing lunch of rice and tomatoes. It was heavenly after such a foody weekend. Later, I went to Lauren's house and relaxed with her family for a while.

As much as I love being on vacation, I'll admit it was nice to get back into the habit of class today. Being in Vina again is nice and it was a relief to see the familiar faces of our classmates today. Classes were pretty dull, but that's alright. Lots of homework, too.

Until tomorrow,
Lesley