By kbartz34
Today is my final day in Chile and it seems perfectly appropriate that I will be spending all of it with my host family. Perhaps the greatest blessing of this trip was being welcomed into their home - with open arms and open hearts. Through tears, Mom told me the other day that I will always have a home and a family in Chile. They are incredibly gracious and I thank God regularly for their lives. Off to a final family BBQ!
By kbartz34
A former international chef hosted a workshop in her home to teach foreign students the tricks and secrets to cooking traditional Chilean food.
By kbartz34
If you ever have the chance to go abroad, prioritize befriending the locals! One of my Chilean friends took me to a backyard bbq - delicious food with a side of traditional dancing! From the artwork in the garden to the live music, it was easy to forget the frigid fall temperatures and enjoy a day with friends.
...continue reading "A Sunday Afternoon in the Hills of Valparaiso"
By kbartz34
My family and I woke-up early this morning to tour some of the local castles and palaces that line the Chilean Coastline. In celebration of Patrimony Day, all public buildings that are normally privatized are open for tours. What neat insight into Chilean history and contemporary politics!
By kbartz34
This weekend my family's apartment was filled to the brim (and then some) with family from all over Chile. In preparation for the big wedding celebration, all 29 members of our side of the family slept in our apartment. I have never heard so much singing and laughter all through the night! The ceremony was just as beautiful as the rest of the festivities. What a blessing to be welcomed into this family!
By kbartz34
My eldest host sister is in the process of getting married! Here in Chile, this life event turns into more of several days of festivities starting with the civil ceremony. For this week's post, I have included some of the photos from this first event. As my gift to the bride and groom I am acting as the official wedding photographer. The first wedding I ever photographed was in Serbia last summer, so maybe I'll consider a career in international wedding photography!
By kbartz34
I spend most of my time abroad trying to blend in, but sometimes you have to be a tourist in your "own" city! A few friends of mine and I took a free day from classes to wander the streets of Valparaiso. From the street musicians to the bohemian restaurants Valparaiso feels a bit like my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Enjoy this small taste! And for those of you reading this from your couch, I recommend trying this type of "adventure" the next time you have a few spare hours!
By kbartz34
One of our program guides is very familiar with the mountains and hills that surround Valparaiso/Vina del Mar. To help us become more comfortable with our surrounding he offered to take a group of us up a mountain. The hike was significantly harder than any of us imagined. A walk quickly turned into a practically vertical climb followed by a scramble over rocks on all fours. While the day long hike was a challenge, and communicating in Spanish only added to the exertion, the view was most certainly worth it.
By kbartz34
By kbartz34
Although Santiago is Chile's official capital, Congress convenes in the beautiful coastal town of Valparaiso. The structure of the building says a lot about democracy in Chile - from the crowd fences to control unruly spectators (yes, Congressional sessions are open to the public - and "communicating" with the floor is common practice) to the date it was built (during Pinochet's regime) to the proximity of a Catholic church (which shares the same grounds).
