Attending Game Day with Interact

Interact's Game Day was a day for various Interact Clubs around Santiago to get to know each other through a friendly competition of fun games and sports including Tug-of-war, potato sack races, karaoke, and Rotary trivia -- if you get the answer wrong, you receive a free plate of lemon meringue pie smashed in your face.

Relaxing after lunch with singing to some popular Spanish songs

Tug-of-war losers fall into a sticky mix of egg yolks, soap, and water

To score points in Karaoke, you must first slip-n-slide across soap and water, and the first to reach the microphone gets the chance to sing the next verse of the song (if you know it)

Rotary Presentations

I've had the opportunity to talk about Rotary Point West and my personal background and experiences, with Rotary San Bernardo and Rotary Reina Alta this month. The presentations went smoothly and gave me a chance to share a little bit of Rotary Point West's projects (such as Brewfest and Festa di Vino, and Point West's participation in tutoring in the elementary schools and academies in Sacramento) and introduce myself and goals to the Rotary Clubs in Chile.

Setting up to present in Rotary Club San Bernardo

With the President and Secretary of Rotary Reina Alta

Presenting Point West's banner to Rotary Reina Alta

Rotary Reina Alta

Fiestas Patrias -- Celebration of Chilean Culture

Las Fiestas Patrias falls on September 18th and 19th, an occasion to celebrate the start of independence for Chile and the accomplishments of the Chilean army. Throughout the week, they celebrate with dancing Cueca (the traditional folkloric dance of Chile), barbecues, visiting relatives in other parts of Chile, and partying at the fondas. Fondas can be found throughout Chile during the week of Fiestas Patrias. The fondas are venues, often tents, where they celebrate with traditional dancing, eating Chilean foods, and watching musical and dance performances.

BBQ at home

My Chilean mom

My friend Pilar and I were on the news, a 3-second byte of us dancing Cueca in traditional outfits at a fonda in Santiago.

The huaso (similar to the American cowboy) is wearing a shawl called a chamanto, sombrero, and boots with spurs.

With my Chilean friend Pilar.

A concert in a fonda in Santiago