Bicentennial year

This year Chile is celebrating his bicentennial year. In 1810 Chile declared his independence from the Spanish Crown, which it had conquered and dominated Chile since 1436. The Spanish people found Santiago and all the important cities in our country; they were in charge of politics and the economy, they controlled the commerce and the life of the “criollos” (Spanish children’s born in America), Indians, workers and all the habitants in the country. “Criollos” get bored, because they cannot command they own country, so they rebel against the Spanish Crown and they triumph. The republic of Chile was stated in 1810, and from that date on started the construction of Chile has a country. This year, is the 200 birth of that event.

The country has been very enthusiastic about this year, because of the acts and special events that the government promise to realize. Also “we have 200 year has a country”, and the Chileans considered that has an important occasion to celebrate. But mournfully, some terrible things happened which interrupted the desired celebrations. First of all, at the year beginning, an earthquake and a tsunami shakes Chile, leaving so many people without a home, water and food. Chileans all around the country joined hands and goodwill to help the affected people. But still remains families which dosen't have a home yet.    Later, a few months ago, 33 miners’ get trapped into the bottom of the earth, in a North Mine. Once again, the support and goodwill characterized the misfortune, not just only the Chilean people, but also of the entire world. At the end, the 33 miners get out alive. But still keep dying a lot of miners because of the exploitation and insecurity in the Mines all over the country. Even those problems, there were a few celebration and events, especially for September 18^th, Independence Day.

Although it wasn’t a good year to celebrate, has a country we worked out and surpassed all the troubles, and that contribute to create a good image of Chile for our selves, and that’s more important than any image we could create to the world. This year, because of the earthquake, the tsunami, the disaster of the mine, the world’s football cup and many others things, Chile can be able to build an identity for himself, and that’s a value accomplish. That's the real accomplish of this bicentennial year: an identity.

This bicentennial year wasn’t how we expected, but anyways we now, have a country that feels more safe about himself. Chilean people are proud of being part of this country. But we also have to be critical about our reality. While there are people who thinks there’s a lot to celebrate, there’s another ones who think that we have nothing to be proud about, that Chile and his government has made terrible mistakes and we are faraway of being the country that the media, the TV, the politics, etc., tell us. I personally think that’s true. Chile has a long way to travel, we still don’t have a real democracy, there are still many people in poor condition, the education have seriously problems and we can go on and on. It’s important to celebrate, people need to have some celebrations time to time, to recharge energies and to relax from their busy lifes. But not because of that we have to forget the problems and allows the media sell us a image that’s not the reality.

In this bicentennial year we also have to be critics about our situation and thinks better ways to improve our country. Now we are building a identity that makes us proud, let's make that identity real for all the chileans that still dosen't know it. 

Homes

                                                                 Ideal rustic home


Houses aren’t just the place we lived, they are much more than that: they are the places where we build memories, where we feel safe, where we can be our selves without any reservation. Houses are more like a Home. So far as now, I’ve lived in 7 different houses, when  I mentioned it sounds like a lot, because I’m only 19 years old, but to me are not so many :P.

The first house that I lived in was in Maipu, in Pajarito’s street. I barely have memories of that house; I’ve only lived there until 3 years old. Then I moved to La Granja, and in that neighborhood I have two houses. I remember that the first one was very ugly, and the second one was more prettier. In that time I was like 10 year old, so I’m not conscious of living as far from everything like I did, and the neighborhood wasn’t really safe, at all. But there were a lot of kids, so I have many friends. In that place I learn how to mount a bike and I have my first dog, a pointer, Minnie. Then I moved to La Florida. I’d use to love that house, because it was the first time that I have a room for my own, and I painted pink, and mine curtains were pink, and my blankets and pillows and everything was pink. The garden had roses and a giant tree that I used to climb up. In there I have so many memories with all my friends, coming up to my home to spend the afternoons, playing a lot of games. It was a really fun time. But I also remember that in that house had spiders :S, because it was a little old. Then we moved a few blocks up, into a department. I was really happy because it had a pool, and I was able to invite some friends. By that time I was already 13 years old. I was excited to, because it was carpeting, so I can walk barefoot around the house. The condominium was actually very beautiful and peaceful. After that, we moved to another department, a little bit bigger in the same neighborhood. The condominium was smaller, but the flat was bigger and beautiful. It also had a pool, but I wasn’t able to invite any friend. Anyways, I also have a los of pretty memories in that place; I like very much that department.  So, finally this summer we change again, this time into a house, also in La Florida, and this it’s the most beautiful house from all seven. I’m really near from Avenida la La Florida, from two supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, grocery stores, and many others store. I'm only 20 minuts from the College and I only have to take one bus. The house has 3 floors, and my room is on the third one, and is a big one, so I’m very happy. I love it. It’s a really beautiful home and I’m already building good memories in it. My neighbors are nice people; even I don’t talks so much with them.

My ideal home will be a rustic one, made of wood, very warm and homely. I don’t like modern houses, I think they are too much white and cold, and I hope the houses in the future change their style, and have trampolines instead of stairs. 

Save the enviroment

Lately the environment topic is on every conversation at the daily life. Every day, people are more concern about take care the energy or the water. They do simple stuff, like using paper bags or not to use chemicals articles. That’s a good attitude, and I think , if everyone just  follow simple steps, we could safeguard our planet.

 I consider myself a Green-in-Between, because I’m worried about the Global Warming and the pollution with chemicals elements, but I do just little things to help, like turn off the lights that I’m not using or use a little water. I would love to ride a bike instead of a car, but the city is too dangerous. Anyway, I think that we all must use bikes to transport, or electric-trains which doesn’t contaminate. Instead, I really like to walk, so when I’m not hurry I usually do.  

I’ve thinking about join an eco-organisation, but those are things who requires all your time and passion, so I prefer to support one, ones that I have money. If we all do ours parts, even when it’s little, we can reverse in something world’s destruction. It’s important to think about our children, the futures generations who will come and will have to deal with a worn an sick world, because of us.

The problem is big business just interested about money. They control the world and they are capable to kill animals, plants, environments ... life, just for money.  That’s the real enemy against organizations are fighting for. It’s a labour of the companies, of the presidents, of the organizations, of the Estate, of the common people, to reverse this situation.

Santiago needs to be a part of the action too, promoting bicycles, paper bags, walk, natural food, the using a little energy and water, etc. This can be done through the education. We have to educate our children for a best planet.  And not just Santiago, but Chile as a country too.

Books (L)

Literature is some of the most important things in our lives. It takes us to faraway places, to the high of the reason, to rediscover our selves. Reading develops our imagination an open us a world vision more big and width. I love reading books, it’s one of my favorite things to do, however, I can’t read too much the books that I want, because of all the staff that I have to read to the university. Either one way or another, I’m always reading. I started to read since I was a child, because my father was always reading in my house. How many books I read per year it depends of my time. This year I have to confess that I’m read barely nothing; I haven’t finished a single book of the 3  I started. I love science-fiction books, adventures book, romance book, fantasy books and books about detectives. Anything that’s good.  The ones I really hate are self-help books. I could never read something like that. My favorite writer is CS Lewis. He is amazing. Either writing for kids or for adults, he really know how to write. “Until we have no faces” is my favorite book and it was writting by Lewis.

I haven’t read recently any new book, just old ones. I love reading my old books and falling in love again with them. I would love to have more time to be able to read every book that I wanted. It would be great to have a giant library with no endings books and no ending histories :).

Sociology Summary

Parents adopting more open attitude to alcohol, drugs and sex

In UK families are giving more freedom to their kids. These types of families are called “Modern Families” because they allowed to their children to do things prohibited years ago. And not just allow, but happy that their kids experience in life. According to that, they are comfortable if their children drink alcohol from as young as 10 years old, take drugs and have sex. The study interview more than 3000 parent in all Britain, and most all of the parents of the research agree with the topics already mentioned, are residents of London. They declare “were relaxed about all drug-taking, regarding it as an inevitable part of growing up”.

Also, they were liberal about homosexuality, with the 76% declaring to be untroubled if his children was gay.

A sociologist, Frank Furedi, at the University of Kent talks about it saying that "Sex, alcohol and even drugs are no longer no-go areas for children as far as parents are concern … The old-fashioned parent is fast becoming a cultural minority (…) Families have become surprisingly open-minded about allowing their children to experiment and find their own way in life”

And he added that parents understand that society has changed and that it is not the end of the world if their teenager experiments with alcohol or has sex.

Personally, I think that’s irresponsible and a lack of concern letting their children to experiment with drugs, sex and alcohol at such a short age. They only have 10 years old; they don’t have the maturity to decide what to do with their lives. It’s not being “old-fashioned, it’s being responsible with the people you bring to the world. When they grow up and be older, and have the maturity enough, then they will be able to choose if they want to be in that way. But not at 10, 13 or 15 years old, because at that age, they are just kids. I think the parents are dodging responsibility. It’s okay to be a modern family, but it’s not okay let your children be raisin by their own.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/05/parents-open-alcohol-drugs-sex

Cinema

One of the things that I most enjoy to do is going to the cinema.  I just love being in front of the giant screen, eating popcorns or chocolates and seen a good movie.  I don’t go very often, because of matters of time and money, but If I could I will go every weekend. The last time I went to the cinema I watch Toy Story 3, one of the funniest films I have ever seen. I could watch it over and over again. As I can’t go to the cinema as often as I would like, I have to conform myself on rent movies or watch them on TV. Luckily for me, I have cable TV, so I don’t rent very much. Actually, with the actual technology I’m able to record films and watch them so many times as I want. Also, I can buy movies for cable or I just buy pirates movies :D.

My favorite film in the world is Howl’s Moving Castle. I’m in love with that movie. I love the colors, the drawings, the music, the history, everything. It’s a beautiful film which tells the history of Sophie, a girl who is enchanted by an evil witch who became her into an old lady. Sophie decides to escape from home and she finds the Moving Castle (or the Castle finds her). In that place lives Howl’s, a vain magician who has a powerful secret. They fell in love, and at the end they accomplish save each other of their enchantments. The movie director was Hayao Miyazaki and it’s based in the Dianna Wynne Jones novel with the same name. I think I’ve seen it like 8 times. It’s a wonderful film. I can’t find any weak point, because to me is the best ever. Maybe it could be that I still don’t find it in his original version, just traduced into Spanish. I absolutely will recommended. Other movies that I would recommend are Chihiro (by the same director), Casi Famosos, Sweet November, Closer, Fight Club, Charlie y la Fábrica de Chocolates, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Juno, Little miss Sunshine, Los amantes del cìrculo polar, El lado oscuro del corazón and lots of more.

The cinema is an art, and sometimes there's nothing betters that a good film because they are very hard to found.

Santiago

Santiago is the city where I born and where I’ve living my complete life. I LOVE Santiago, especially at night, when the lights of the city are switching-on, it’s really beautiful. The places that I love the most in Santiago, and a tourist have to visit, are the Santa Lucía hill, because it’s a lovely constructions, very romantic and peaceful inside of the noisy city and it has a panoramic view of this one as the San Cristonal hill, which evens has a zoo and it’s ideal for a picnic in the nature, to scape of pollution a little bit. Other place will be the Pablo Neruda’s house, “La chascona”, which is amazing and when I went I really like it, besides Pablo Neruda it’s a recognized poet in the world. I would recommend also a  histtoryc tour for Santiago, visiting  places like La Moneda, Plaza Italia, The Alameda street, the Hipodromo, etc, to understand the history of the country and how has it changed with the time pass. For places to eat and have fun, I would suggest visit the Central Market for a good lunch, with mariscos and Chilean food, or to go to Barrio Bellavista at night or to Barrio Yungay, to dinner and have a little fun before go to bed. That will be my top 5, but if the tourist are youngest and likes adrenaline, I would certainly recommend Fantasilandia, and for sports lovers the Estadio Nacional (which also have a interesentig history, especially during the dictatorship). Santiago is a intriguing city to visit, despite the contamination and the noise, you can find a lot of peaceful and beautiful places see. 

Music

Beirut, Sunday Smile escuchar aquí :D

Music is the best way to start the day and do end it. Music is very important to me, it’s a great company in every moment of my life. It can make me feel happy, sad, nostalgic, angry … any possible emotion according to the day and my mood.

I like all kinds of music, but especially rock and alternative music. I love The Strokes, and Arctic Monkeys, The Crash, Deep Purple, Pearl Jam, The Beatles, The Beach Boys … I could go on and on. I also like latin rock music, like Café Tacuba, Vicentico, Los Rodriguez, and Chilean music, which I think it’s very good, and Chilean people should listen to it more often, instead of hearing the typical radio songs. I also enjoys the oldies, like Lou Armstrong or Elvis Presley and Christian Music, like Marcos Vidal.

 I don’t think that exist a particular kind of music that I dislike, I can hear any kinds of music. If you know where to search, you’ll always find good musicians. I prefer to say that are singers or groups that I really hate and I can’t even hear. For example, if you ask me, I cannot stand Axel or Tiziano Ferro. Anyway, if a have to choose one favorite singer or group I honestly couldn’t gave an answer … I love so many groups! I think that depends of the day, and the moment that I living … I constantly change of favorite band; I really cannot pick just one! For example, right now I’m in love with Javier Barria and Manuel Garica, two Chileans musicians. Actually, the last concerts that I went to were of them.

The way that I used to listen to music is by downloads on the internet. I don’t listen to radio, because I have mi mp3 with all the music that I like and I used on the bus, in my house, in the streets, anywhere.

I would to play the guitar, I’m trying to learn since o most four years and I always abandonL. But I have to learn, because I don’t even sing, with the shower exception.

Music it’s all around us, and without music I think a part of us will be missing, a lot of emotions and toughst will be lost, because a way of expression would not exist. Music can makes us fly and forget a little about our problems, so we really would be angry people without any music :D