Wednesday, September 19, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part II: Día del Ejercicio

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part II: Día del Ejercicio (Military Day)

I walked home from Calli’s around 10:45 and on my way home along Alameda I was interrupted by a military parade!! I’m not sure what branch, but I think it was the Marines. Amazingly, I was able to walk right along side them on my way. There were many people watching and others walking along like me. There were well over 300 soldiers (in handsome white uniforms), a band, and horses. I felt like I was being royally escorted home!

I ditched the parade a few blocks from my house. I hung out till about 1:30 when Olga and I began the long trek to Rino’s house for the barbeque. We met up with Mario and when we got to the house, Rino was in the backyard with a grill full of pork chops. I joked that there was enough pork chops to feed 20 people and Rino laughed and pointed to the raw beef steaks on the side waiting to cook. Then he opened a huge pot on the other side full of grilled chicken. Then he laughed again and told me the chorizo was still in the kitchen. So there literally was enough food to feed 20 people! Back in the kitchen, Olga and Evan were busy preparing all the salads: grilled potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, pickled veggies, some type of seafood mussel thing, and probably more that I can’t remember now. All of this for 5 adults and a 6 year old. Basically the Chileans know how to celebrate their Fiestas!!

While we were waiting for all the meat to cook, Mario passes around Pisco Sours. I tried to politely decline but he insisted, so I began slowly sipping the national drink. But I honestly could not drink it, so after about half an hour I sneaked into the kitchen and asked Olga to switch with me. She had almost finished hers and was surprisingly pleased to take my full glass!! Later I went with Mario and Miguel to fly a kite that they had bought and Mario stringed himself. The kites are super popular during Fiestas Patrias and the little park by there house was full of kids and adults flying their kites. But we had a little trouble because the wind was pretty random and we didn’t have much room, so despite our best efforts we couldn’t get the little guy to stay up for long. So we headed back to the house. I ended up playing soccer then tag with Miguel until the food was ready.

When we sat down to eat, both Olga and Evan’s faces were a bit flushed and they were both quite happy. (I think they’d been sipping more pisco while they were cooking, but I loved it!!) Rino began the feast by piling more meat than I could eat in a week on his plate. Over the next hour and a half, we sat around the table laughing, eating, and watching the Military Parade in Parque O’Higgins on the TV. After Rino and Mario finished their mound of meat, they went for a second helping (and more later). I think I might have disappointed them because I didn’t eat much compared to them. But I was stuffed and realized that it isn’t only the Midwest that knows how to barbeque!

The best parts of the meal: 1. When Mario told Olga that she lets her mouth run when she’s had too much to drink. It wasn’t mean, just funny. 2. Someone started telling a story about when Miguel was only 3 years old he somehow memorized the words to the song called “Misioneros”. Apparently one day he started singing it and everyone was very impressed. I asked how the song went and Olga started signing. Turns out that it is one of the songs we sang on our mission trip to Honduras, so I knew it as well!! So while we all digested, we sang hymns and other church songs from a notebook that hand a ton of songs handwritten inside!

Afterwards the men went to nap and Olga, Evan and I sat at the table and talked. Once Miguel got antsy enough, we all went to the park again to try to fly the kite. Eventually Rino made it work, but Olga and I headed back early because it had gotten really cold. Around 7 we ate once, but I don’t know how anyone managed to eat anything. I stuck with tea and a little bread and swore I wouldn’t have to eat for a week! After once we all piled into the car and Rino drove us to the metro station.

We got home a little after 8 and I was torn between wanting to go out and celebrate the last night of Fiestas Patrias and being so exhausted that I just wanted to go to bed. I told Olga my dilemma and she proposed that if my friends call me and have some interesting plans, I should go. But if no one calls, I’ll stay in. It sounded good to me since I didn’t really care either way. So I climbed into bed and started working a little and ended up talking to Trevor till about 3 am. And since, like always, everyone waits for everyone else to initiate the plan making, no one called and I enjoyed my relaxing night.