Ok, so Fiestas Patrias was almost a month ago now but I just haven’t had the opportunity to write about it/ I’m lazy. Fiestas Patrias or El Dieciocho, is effectively Chile’s independence day celebration, except it is two days long and most people just take the whole week off. There is a lot of food, drink and everyone gets together with family. (the only thing I could thing of that is similar at home is Christmas) Most of my students were confused when I said we don’t have an independence day- I speculated a lot of countries celebrate their independence from us, so its not really fair if we have an independence day celebration.
Anyway, I was at a loss of what to do, when one of my students invited me to her home in Villarica. This meant, A, I got out of Temuco for a week and B, I got to experience an authentic Chilean Fiestas Patrias. Her family were so kind and welcoming and it was good for me as I was forced to use my Spanish as she was the only person in her family who speaks English, so if I wanted to communicate or convey an idea I had to. Although, Chilean Spanish is weird and I struggle, I mean some of their words make sense but others I am very confused.
I got taken to a Fonda, which is a traditional party with music and dancing and food. It was really cool, although that week was so cold and wet so we didn’t stay out very long. But I did get to listen to some traditional Chilean music and see some of the countryside around the volcano, Villarica.
Over the course of the few days I was there I got to try some Chilean food, such as consuelo, anticuchos (kebabs) and empanadas. I wasn’t so much a fan of consuelo but it wasn’t bad just not my cup of tea. I also made them scones so that they could try something British too. Although making them in a old school Chilean oven was interesting. Its kind of like an aga so there’s no permanent temperature and its controlled by the level of fire. They did turn out ok though, I think if I get invited back I’ll make cheese ones, or take them with me.
I also got the opportunity to go to Pucon, a town very close to Villarica, as my friend took me. Pucon is really pretty, quite a lot of the architecture is Germanic as many Germans settled there, well even here in Temuco and Valdivia after the war. We went down to a waterfall which was gorgeous but my god did I get messy. Also deeply upset that, I only did 3,500 steps going up and down as it felt like way more!
Anyway all in all I had a lovely Fiestas Patrias and also got to hang out with a cat so that was fun!
My healthy lifestyle journey 