I might be biased since summer is my favorite season in nearly every city. But — Santiago’s charm truly shines through in the summer. After a long winter of no indoor heating, smoggy days, clothes taking weeks to dry on the clothesline, walking to class in the rain, flooded streets and reading Facebook updates about warm weather from Northern Hemisphere friends … summer is finally here. And I’m lovin’ it!
I happened to be waiting for a branch of the national bank to open when they arrived — piggy banks in hand — ready to donate their life savings. They chanted for the bank to open for 20 minutes before breaking into song when they could finally enter. As the line snaked around and up to the tellers, the toddlers sang the Teletón song in (nearly) perfect unison in 5-minute intervals for more than an hour.
If there is one thing Chileans do right, it’s celebrating their history. Fiestas Patrias, known as Dieciocho because it’s celebrated on Sept. 18, is everything that’s good about Chile.
We spent the afternoon painting 10 bedrooms for the 27 girls who live in a group home in the outskirts of Santiago. They have all been separated from their families due to abuse or economic hardships. I remember the excitement of picking out a new color of paint for my bedroom as a child, and the special sense of belonging and place that my very own color could bring. I hope this fresh layer of bright paint is a start to brighter, happier days for these lovely ladies.
I have always loved overlooking big cities from a bird’s eye view — the angle giving unique perspective to just how large the landscape is. I’ve hiked to the top of well-known hills, skipped up the stairs to my various apartments’ rooftops and traveled to corners of the city for several special shots of Santiago’s skyline. Enjoy the view!
So besides fast rides and long lines, what else was the “biggest” amusement park in Chile not so big on? Consumerism. Read about a day trip to South America’s second-largest amusement park, Fantisilandia.
My dad pointed out every stray dog, many of whom were sporting very stylish winter sweaters — thanks to the concerned Chilean public. He seemed pleasantly surprised that people never exited the elevator without saying goodbye or “chau.” And he laughed when he saw that every restaurant served hot dogs … and mayonnaise. As he noticed all these little things that have become so “regular” in my life, I realized just how much I have learned and adjusted in Santiago.
