Snapshots of Chile 🇨🇱

"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." -Chris McCandless

It's been yet another 3 weeks! Wow, it seems overwhelming to think of how to put the last weeks into words. In biggest news, my friends and I went on vacation to San Pedro de Atacama, the driest desert in the world in the very northern part of Chile 🌵 We fit so many adventures into 6 days, whether it was hiking or swimming in lakes saltier than the Dead Sea or bike-riding to the "Devil's throat" for the sunrise! I'm currently on a 10-day streak of hours spent laying on the beach and swimming in the ocean, thanks to the gorgeous weather we've had 🏖  (sorry Montanans who are roughing out the first snow, I hear)! I'm planning to go surfing this weekend and most definitely make the most of my 2 months I have left 🏄🏻. It may come as a surprise, but I'm also fitting some school in between my adventuring. All of my classes are going really well and teaching me so much not only about the actual subjects, but about the Chilean school system too! 🤓

A close friend of mine who just began her 2 years serving as a Peace Corps ambassador in Cameroon wrote in her blog last week, "[This country] is a place of dichotomy. It can not be described by a single story just as America can not be described by a single story. I can only tell my perspective of [the country] as I see it and that is the one true weakness of every story. A single story is just that, a single story. A single perspective. A single vision. My story is one colored by my perspective and my goals." Oh, how this rang true for me and my experience in Chile! It'd be impossible to give you the full picture of this unique country and of the study abroad experience. But, like she said, I can sure try to tell my perspective, as tainted as it may be by my goals and desires and experiences.

👂🏼 If I was asked what Chile sounds like, I would reply that the relentless honking of the bus and taxi drivers interrupts the sound of reggatone music blaring from the discos all hours of the day. All the while, soccer fanatics are hollering at the TV and sidewalk vendors and ice cream guys on the beach are shouting at passerbys.

👀  If I was asked what Chile looks like, I would say the waves are rolling in on the beach in front of you. Turn to the left and some local artisans are selling drums and jewelry on the sidewalk; on the right is a group of friends leaning against a graffitied wall sharing a beer and kicking a soccer ball. Behind you, the Andes mountains create a stunning backdrop for the dozens of skyscrapers.

👅 If I was asked what Chile tastes like, I would say it's a salad doused in salt and lemon juice, an appetizer of fresh ceviche with sea bass, an entree of empanadas with cheese and meat and olives and, of course, alfajores to satisfy your sweet tooth.

🖐🏼 If I was asked what Chile feels like,  I would say it's the feeling of bodies surrounding you as you show your moves on the dance floor late at night in the discos or the sand between your toes as you walk along the beach.

👃🏼 If I was asked what Chile smells like, I would say it's the hot oil from vendors frying sopaipillas (Indian frybread) on the street or the smell of sweet fermented wine mixed with pineapple ice cream in a terremoto, one of Chile's most famous drinks.

Any of you who know me know my love for food and sweet treats. But more importantly, I believe that food is one of the best insights into a culture. And so, I've listed some of the most popular Chilean dishes below. You'll either have to come here yourself to try them out (this seems like a recurrent plead in all my posts) or concede to me making you some typical Chilean food when I get back, like I know my boyfriend and friends and family have planned!

Drinks 🍹

Mote con huesillo: cooked dried peaches and stewed corn made into a drink

Terremoto: sweet fermented wine made of apples or grapes mixed with pineapple ice cream

Sides

Sopaipilla: Indian frybread, savory with garlic sauce/guacamole or sweet with manjar and powdered sugar

Empanadas: fried or baked pastries various fillings: queso (cheese), pino (meat, onions, olives, eggs), napolitana (cheese, tomatoes, ham, olives)

Entrees

Lentejas con arroz: lentil and rice stew

Cazuela de ave: chicken soup with potatoes, peas and noodles

Pastel de choclo: Shepherd's pie filled with corn, beef, onions, eggs and olives

Choripan: chorizo sausage on a bun with typical bratwurst toppings

Chorrillana: french fries topped with meat slices and fried eggs (party platter)

Ceviche: minced fish in lemon juice

Baked fish: various baked fish (reineta, merluza, salmon) seasoned with lemon and salt

Desserts 🍪

Alfajores: cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche and covered in chocolate

Manjar: Chilean dulce de leche (similar to a mix of Nutella and caramel)

If you're mouth isn't watering now, you're just plain loco! As always, miss you all and please stay in touch! Enjoy the fall weather and first snow!

Love from Chile,

Kerri 💕