Chile Forum

One of the fun things to do each summer (if you live rural, and like rural living) is to get together at a festival costumbrista or folklorico. Empanadas, curanto, and other food stands are put on by different community groups. Some represent the local churches, other the small agricultural growers association, and some by location, Los Pinis, Ilque, etc. Food and local handmade goods on sale with all the grandma's lined up in chairs to sell their knitting and weaving projects. On the pensinsula south of Puerto Montt we had our first festival costumbrista with everybody but the mayor/alcade in attendence (sent a note, out sick), which means there were perhaps a 100 people there. Most communities are really just crossroads, without a gas station or market to call their own. Lots of people you might only see once a year, lots of conversations on the weather and families. After Colegio Nuevo Horizonte's (http://www.colegionuevohorizonte1.blogspot.com) dancing group did traditional dances from the north, from the central region, the Chilota and the Cueca, other local bands presented a diverse range of ranchera music. One local group mentioned their FaceBook webpage. The height of the evening's fun was the greased pig run, which after it was all said and done didn't appear to be very greasy. 25 or so children ages 9-13 form a large circle and the small piglet runs and squeals. Most of the children are male, including our son John (11). One was the exception to the norm, our Maca (11). We talked at length before the event about how pigs dodge and dart, how to catch them, and how catching them is only half the battle. The rest lies in holding on as all the other kids do their best to pull it from your arms. It's a rough contest - no doubt. The pig ran and darted and children caught, released, and fell into the mud. Adults laughed, and Maca launched. Like a North American football fumble tackle she had the pig, and she balled up knowing what comes next. The other children piled on, seconds passed, adults peeled them off, and she rose triumphant. Biggest grin you've ever seen and mighty proud. Most were surprised, some complained, and her carnet cleared up doubts about her age. Gold may be up, and the dollar at the edge of a cliff, but we got a pig for a $2000CLP investment, and Maca got a lot more. She got to beat all the boys.

Way to go Maca!!!! You go girl and tell her I said so!!!!

Pictures I say!!

Thanks for the replies - it's been an interesting day with the new addition

MikieO - Your logo photo works great but I'll see what I can do.

I thought the first hand report from the rural South might be interesting to folks, and can certainly say her achievement is the talk of the town.

Putenio
My absolute favorite thing about this forum is the occasional real daily life experience posts, about life in another place, another world. Vicki often does it well and so did Maca today through you. Thank you
H elen