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Background: Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

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By elisabethampthor
July 26th 2008

Leaving

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Tonight we leave on a wonderful adventure. Classes are over, so two other girls from the program and I are taking a week and a little bit to explore the country south of Santiago. We're taking an overnight bus to Pucón, a small tourist town near Lago Villarica and Volcán Villarica about 10 hours southwest of Santiago; I'm not sure how many miles or kilometers. We don't have a definite plan. It's going to be something like 2 or 3 days in Pucón, 2 or 3 days in and around Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, a coupe days on Isla de [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
July 23rd 2008

Catching Up

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Pots
Lots of pots in Pomaire.

I’m sorry that it’s been so long since I updated. I can’t even remember the last thing I said. I’ve been busy, but you probably wouldn’t know it based on what I recount here. Keep in mind that the average commute to any given place is between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on time of day and how I combine Micro (buses) and Metro (subway). And I’ve also had homework this last week, which has not been a regular thing throughout the session, thank goodness. I have a final tomorrow at 3 and a paper and final on Thursday. After that, [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
July 11th 2008

Santiago Update, A Blog to Pass the Time.

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

View
At sunset the Andes appear pink. I took this picture from my bedroom window. It's really quite splendid.

Tuesday in Santiago there were a large number of people protesting, mainly education. It started as a peaceful march, but then, according to my friend who was nearby, someone threw a rock and all hell broke loose. The march was never ok-ed by the government, so the police were more or less just waiting for something to happen. Sewage water was sprayed and tear gas released. I just missed most of it as I was getting off the Metro near school. The ground was wet and the gas lingered in the air, making my nose burn, but it wasn’t a big [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
July 4th 2008

A Brilliant Adventure

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

First of all, I just finished some homework. Yes. Homework. Santiago is not all fun and games. It's only mostly fun and games. Second of all, tomorrow I'm leaving this smoggy city to explore Viña del Mar and Valparaíso! We'll be there all weekend, probably. I'll take lots of beautiful pictures and have lots of beautiful experiences. There are a couple really cool cemetaries we'll probably check out; Pablo Neruda had a house in Valparaíso that is now a museum, I believe, and I'd really like to visit it. I think we're more or less going to wing it, because it's [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
July 1st 2008

Moving around in Santiago

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Some church in Santiago
A picture from our bus tour. I don't remember details.

I started classes today. My schedule could not be sweeter, unless the days here were longer. The sun sets about 615 or 630, so it gets dark fairly early. I have Latin American History MW 3-5 and Chile's Native Cultures of the South TH 3-5. I never have to wake up early! Word on the street is that some students are taking over a building tonight and there will be some protests tomorrow. For those of you who don't know, students in Santiago have been protesting the education system, I think because they lack the basic supplies they need for learning, [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
June 22nd 2008

Estoy aqui

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

here i am. its on the chilly side, no pun intended. i managed to sleep a little on the plane from miami, which was delayed, just like the flight from chicago. but sleeping on planes is never good enough. the seats are uncomfortable, my neck cramps up, my butt falls asleep. maybe if i could afford first class with those fancy seats that recline i wouldnt be complaining. as it is i was in coach. and not sleeping well. we rode a fancy bus that smelled like lemon cleaner to la universidad andres bello, where we had a brief introduction to [View Full Entry]

By elisabethampthor
June 22nd 2008

Still cold.

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Drive #1
Crossing the river, the Mapocho, I think, on the way from the airport to the university June 21. First photo of Santiago.

I finally figured out this whole internet-computer set up they have going on here. I'm wearing new shoes, but I'll be packing them soon when I pack for our trip to San Pedro de Atacama. Despite having to wake up at a ridiculous hour tomorrow, it should be a good time. We're going to Valle de la luna, Socaire, and el Reservo nacional flamenco, where supposedly we'll see lots and lots of flamingos! There will be pictures of them when I can use a computer again. These photos are from the drive from the airport to la Universidad Andres Bello, where [View Full Entry]

By Dolphin
May 1st 2008

Im going to the rodeo... Plus more soccer

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Colo Colo crowd

Rodeo One day while flicking through the channels on TV, I came across what I at least considered the slightly bizarre spectacle of Chilean Rodeo. That being two Huasos (Chilean cowboys) on horseback sandwiching a cow between them, guiding it and then ramming it into a wall in an arena. This feat was graded on a point scale of one to five and I spent the rest of the afternoon transfixed to the TV, trying to figure out how the points were allocated. I still had no idea when the show finished. Anyway after that, I decided I had to get [View Full Entry]

Cowboys are judged on their skill controlling the Bull

By Dolphin
April 10th 2008

Living in Chile x 3

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

oonst oonst

Colo Colo Colo Colo is the most popular soccer team in Chile and historically the most successful. My girlfriend and her family have the team in their blood, hence it wasnt long before I found myself with the clan at Monumental, Colo Colo's home stadium. Colo Colo, Chiles best team was playing La Boca, Argentinas most famous club. The experience was phenomenal and rivaled my last South American soccer experience, being Palmeiras vs Santos in the Paulista competition. South American soccer is something else and I doubt there is atmosphere at any sport anywhere in the world that rivals it if [View Full Entry]

By BanAnna
January 28th 2008

Meeting the Family and Weekend Retreat

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa

Mom in Barrio Londres/Paris
if you had to guess where this was, would´t you guess Europe? this neighborhood was right next to our hotel

On Wednesday, I met the family I´ll be living with for the next month or so (and possibly longer if things work out). They´re pretty great so far, and their house is very nice and close to the campus where I´ll be taking a Spanish review class for the next 3 weeks. It looks like the house is even relatively close to the campus where I´ll be taking classes for the semester, so prospects for staying with them are looking good. I haven´t discussed it with them though. There´s the host mom, Maritza, the host dad, Alfredo, and 2 girls, Ignacia, [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Ñuñoa