Chile Forum

Hello, I am a Chilean that like to participate in English speaking forums.
I wish to help people to understand my country, peoples and traditions. Any question about anything weird about Chile, let me know.
My favorite topic is Ancient Chile, but I know a bit about our history and old traditions.

OK, estimado pinguino historiador, here is a question related to Chilean history that I had brought up once before but no-one had answered.

We all know that there was a significant shakeup in the Chilean university systems in the months that followed 11 sep 1973. One change in particular had to do with the elimination of certain academic areas that were considered by the new government to be undesirable, while other areas of study were given emphasis as necessary for Chile's economic recovery (engineering, economics, etc).

For 25 forum points, please give us your perspective on the academic areas that were effectively canceled or severely limited. We believe that these banished areas included sociology and similar subjects, but a short list of those areas and perhaps an authoritative reference source might be helpful.

And for sheer amusement value, perhaps you could give us some insight into your use of the apodo, pinguin. We are aware that pinguin is German for pinguino, and that Pinguin was the name of a famous German Hilfskreuzer during WWII.

eeuunikkeiexpat wrote:I want to know more about the less known pre-Colombian artifacts in central Chile like the pene at Rocas de Santo Domingo. Does it predate the Incas? And since it may, who did build it and other artifacts on the central coast (I watched an interesting documentary on the local channel canal 2 not too long ago which reignited my imagination about lost civilizations and past earth catastrophes).

I have no idea of that "monument", if you post a link I may research. It would be funny.
In any case, Chile had cultures long time before the Incas. The Tiahuanacans were in Northern Chile, for instance, and the earliest textiles and mummies are from the Chinchorro culture 5.000 years ago.
And if you like some interesting "" cultures, you have to research the Peruvian moches. You better look for the pictures yourself, because they are shocking.

Actually, I am not much interesting in spectacular forgotten cultures, but the real ones that existed in Chile since thousand of years ago. I imagine the llama carivans entering the small town downtown Santiago by today's Recoleta, where once it was the Inca road. That imagine fascinates me more.

patagoniax wrote:OK, estimado pinguino historiador, here is a question related to Chilean history that I had brought up once before but no-one had answered.

We all know that there was a significant shakeup in the Chilean university systems in the months that followed 11 sep 1973. One change in particular had to do with the elimination of certain academic areas that were considered by the new government to be undesirable, while other areas of study were given emphasis as necessary for Chile's economic recovery (engineering, economics, etc).

For 25 forum points, please give us your perspective on the academic areas that were effectively canceled or severely limited. We believe that these banished areas included sociology and similar subjects, but a short list of those areas and perhaps an authoritative reference source might be helpful.

And for sheer amusement value, perhaps you could give us some insight into your use of the apodo, pinguin. We are aware that pinguin is German for pinguino, and that Pinguin was the name of a famous German Hilfskreuzer during WWII.

I know Pinochet destroyed the Chilean academic but, even worst, I know he destroyed not only the Chilean pride but also its spirit.
The only thing I know is that when the dictator died my feet wanted to dance, spontaneously.

I use the nickname Pinguin because it sound like "Penguin" but in the wrong way a Latino will usually try to spell it in English. Pinguin is our national bird, you know. Well, not really but it should be.

pinguin wrote: Pinguin is our national bird, you know. Well, not really but it should be.

Interesting perspective. The condor is normally thought of as the "national bird" while the pinguino is the nick and symbol for los magallanicos.

Down here we are divided further. From outside the region we are all (in the XII Región) considered "pinguinos" because we have penguins for neighbours and we are so close to Antarctica. But within the region, people from Punta Arenas are called pinguinos while Natalinos are called "tirapiedras." It's a long story.

Of course, but a condor is a bit pretensious... And who is going to use a huemul as its icon
For birds I could use the owl... but that is the symbol of the "U" and I am from Colo-Colo...
Nope. I think Pinguin is better, and recalls me an old magazine, too

xxx

el puelche wrote: PS: Soy del U de Chile, Chunchito...asi que, a lo mejor de alli viene...

Aunque El P mantiene que es "del U" hay quienes que sospechan que es de la U.

pinguin wrote:I have no idea of that "monument", if you post a link I may research...

Actually, I am not much interesting in spectacular forgotten cultures, but the real ones that existed in Chile since thousand of years ago...

Huh?.. What's forgotten is not real?..



At the winter solstice, I have a business meeting there, so I must know the truth also. Please.

RuneTheChookcha wrote:At the winter solstice, I have a business meeting there, so I must know the truth also. Please.

Yes - this solstice business...
Most important - this must always be very well planned!
g~j also plan now, for this auspicious event.

In the southern hemisphere
December 21, 23:38
UTC, of course.

Pssst... this is 2038 hrs DST in Chile...
Please correct us if this is wrong.
Timing is critical

Greg you mean the SUMMER solstice in December

el puelche wrote:Pinguin,

You realize of course that without El Capitan General de La Republica, Agosto Pinochet Ugarte, Chile would not be anything near what it is today?

Certainly. Chile would have been a better country without the thug.