POR FIN, EL CAMPO!

Jueves 13 septiembre:

Un momento: I saw many different blind people enter the metro while I waited for Ryan at Simon Bolivar Station in Santiago. I don’t know why that is... but one group of them stood out to me. The way they moved together without seeing was impressive and foreign to me, and it was notable that they were the happiest group of people I have seen in the city. I watched them smile and laugh without stopping until they disappeared down the stairs into the station. 

Ryan and I visited the Museum of Memory and Human rights, dedicated to commemorate the victims of human rights violations during the Pinochet military regime in Chile (1973-90).

Sábado 15 septiembre:

In bed in the WWOOFer den at Mongelechi Mapu and I'm not sure I could be any happier. The past couple days of travel from Santiago have been a little messy and it feels good to be out of the city and tucked away in this musty room in this ranchero town. I think I’ll dream of what daylight will bring to keep me occupied till sunrise. 

16 septiembre

It rained all day and the ground is that wintery kind of squishy. I ate pan de casa with Geraldo and his two sons, Daniel and Hakim and then we all shared some mate. The market in Nueva Imperial was busier than fern canyon on a summer day as everyone bought food for la fiesta de las patrias. Back home, we bbq’d good meat and I ate my first real vegetable in weeks. After dinner Geraldo and I worked in the garden, me transplanting and him harvesting. Hakim and Daniel are pretty funny, I think they make plenty of jokes at me in rapid Spanish but we are getting along great. 

lunes 17 septiembre

Long day! Woke up to the drumming of the kultrun by the Machi (Mapuche healer) next door. After bread and tea with Geraldo, more transplanting until midday (the sun came out and it was warm work in the greenhouse). Miriam joined me from the city and I’ve really loved her company. We were surprised to see all of Geraldo’s family show up in the afternoon and we all ate lunch together in the casita and BBQ’d until the sun went down. By the time the rain returned at night, I was exhausted from a day of trying to understand a thousand simple conversations. My apologies to the guys for my unenthusiastic goodnight kisses. 

Martes 18 septiembre 

The weather today was epic. Sideways showers and burning sunlight within the same hour, but the clouds were always massive. We worked with Hakim in the morning, planting more flowers, and ate lunch with Daniel and Geraldo. After a cafecito Miriam and I took a walk with perro Medel, the bunny snatcher. We walked past a community soccer game, lively with music despite the occasional downpour.  I gawked at the beautiful storm clouds at sunset, then we feasted on toast for dinner and then I gawked at the beautiful stars and the moonshine in the clearing night sky. 

Miércoles 19 septiembre

We planted zucchini seeds under the straw roof today through intermittent rain.  Geraldo showed us how to uncover the plastic mini hoop houses when the plants underneath are ready, and how to move the chicken coop. At lunch, we met his middle son who shares my healthy love for bread, butter, and honey so we got along great. Honey here is the best I’ve ever had and cheap too. 

Miriam and I have had the giggles all day and I’m realizing how happy I am that she came with me. We've had some damn good conversations. 

Tomorrow we take the bus from Nueva Imperial to Villarrica and *fingers crossed* that it goes better than my most recent experience (I missed my bus in Santiago and spent a cold night in the bus terminal). Alternatively, I could miss my bus on purpose and stay here for the next 3 months? (Sigh)

 Waiting for Ryan, really nice quote:

Faces of the victims of the Pinochet regime, notice the empty frames:

 La casita de Geraldo and family:

Mongelechi Mapu Farm:

The Great Asado (BBQ):

Walking el perro:

Fickle skies: