It’s crazy to think I’ve already been in Chile for two months.
With only two months left to go, I can’t wait for the remaining adventures I know await me.
As such adventures have yet to come, I look back now at one such adventure I thoroughly enjoyed for the entirety of last week: the Fiestas Patrias celebrations.
First of all, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that not only is Fiestas Patrias a week long, but all of my classes were canceled as well, leaving me to my own devices for the week.
Though the celebrations are for an entire week, the main days of Fiestas Patrias are Sept. 18 and 19, and on Sept. 19, I got to experience “La Parada Militar.”
On this day, Chile’s military appreciation day, hundreds of people crowded Parque O’Higgins to watch the day-long parade of Chile’s military branches, all dressed in their official uniforms for the celebration.
I’ve been to several military functions in the United States, being from a military family. I can say with certainty, that I have never experienced a military parade quite like this one.
Soldiers from every branch marched in honor of their service and their country, dressed in all the splendor of their rank and branch.
Generals decked in dark blue military uniforms with bright gold buttons rode proudly on magnificent, battle-ready horses, seemingly as if they came straight out of the ancient times where generals actually led soldiers to battle on horses.
Along with the many generals, there were a lot more soldiers. It’s hard to imagine how Parque O’Higgins contained as many as I saw.
As the soldiers walked by, straight as arrows and with proud looks on their faces, I couldn’t help but feel a stirring in my soul, a stirring of respect for these people who took such pride in their country.
Suddenly, as I eagerly stretched onto my tiptoes to see above the heads of people squished up close against the fence, a beautiful, horse-drawn carriage made its way down the ?middle of the ranks of ?soldiers.
In that carriage stood the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was the first time I’d ever actually seen the president of a country in real life. And the moment passed all too quickly, as she advanced down the line of soldiers, standing tall and regal, yet with a huge smile on her face.
Following the president’s unexpected visit, huasos rode in dressed in traditional gear and riding cheerfully decorated horses. Huasos are Chilean cowboys, and that’s when it really hit me.
This day was not only a celebration of Chile’s military, it was a celebration of their culture as well.
Traditional food and drinks were available to visitors during the entirety of the event, pony rides generated eager smiles on children’s faces, and people wore cueca dresses and suits. It was a beautiful coming together of old and new.
By the time I left the parade, I was exhausted but ready to attend another traditional part of Fiestas Patrias: a fonda.
My new Chilean friends and I headed to a fonda at Estadio Nacional, where carnival rides, terremotos and more traditional food waited.
I do believe I ate more than I ever have in one day on Sept. 19. There was so much I wanted to try, and everything I ate turned out to be amazing.
I tried anticuchos, or as we say in the States: kabobs, and choripán, which are similar to bratwursts. I also drank chicha, a traditional and incredibly delicious Chilean drink that is derived from maize.
So, after a week of nothing but empanadas, fondas and good times with good friends, I must admit, getting back into the normal swing of things has been tough.
But in the end, life goes on. I have filed this experience away in the memory books, and it is time to set my sights on the next adventure, as I know these next two months are going to fly by way too quickly for me to linger on any one spectacular day.
makholla@indiana.edu
