Chile 2010: our country in the bicentennial year

On September 18 of 2010 Chile celebrated its 200 years of independence, or if you prefer a republic life of our country. This date marks a landmark milestone in our history like a nation: the beginning of the process that would lead us to be an independent nation.

The Bicentennial of Chile has been an important date, a cause for celebration in that advertising reminded us that all those who inhabit this long and narrow strip of land, we Chileans.

Phrases such as the need to celebrate with grandiose that we as a nation and we need to remind our selves that we have achieved over the last two hundred years. Since the policy was proposed as the crucial moment to reflect on our national history about "what we did right and what must change and improve in the coming years".

In the latter case, the men and women of the national politics always reminded us that the Bicentennial would give us that opportunity to be proud of who we are as Chileans and the typical phrase "dream the Chile we want to build for future generations.

All speeches enlivened our September stressed the positive values of the country above all sad and dark spots of our history.

Then, it seemed important to reflect on these lines on these statements and our national reality. For this I draw your attention and ask if Chile 2010 is:

· A country that rescues, values and respects their identities? … If there is still discrimination against ethnics minorities that live in our country
· A free and democratic country? …If failures continue to occur in Chile to freedom of expression and whether the media should represent multiple views are held by dreams that represent the economically most powerful country. On the other hand, our police is a body of repression in conflict as delicate as the theme of the Mapuche conflict.
· An integrated and diverse country?... If sexual diversity issues the church is still an entity that stops any discussion of this type.
· A country that promotes a culture of tolerance and non-discrimination? ... If the Chilean schools if the problem of bullying us is taken as a matter of education and deep reforms.
· A equitable country? … If education has not yet been resolved in a way that all Chilean children have equal opportunities to access quality education that allows them later to enter Higher Education and navigate the world as professionals.
· A country in harmony with the environment?... If there are still major ecological disasters.

In Conclusion, I feel that I will could continue doing to myself questions like this, but see the problems is only the tip of the iceberg. So we not surprised us with our chaotic reality bicentennial.

Christmas Times: my fovourite festive

Since I was a little, Christmas celebration has always been my favorite! Not just that I like much the specific day that celebrates Christmas -each day before December 24 or the day that corresponds Christmas: on December 25- . So I prefer to say that I love Christmas times. I love this time of year: that's why I love Christmas.

In general, I was celebrated this day at home with my parents and the extended family. In my home is very important it is clear, visually, it is Christmas times. I mean especially important is the issue of home decoration.

Too is also very important to the theme of Christmas dinner. Generally is an issue that is discussed well in advance. Always tries to prepare something special for that night. The most important thing is that we all participate actively in the preparation of food and how they are reinstalled on the table. It also sets the order in which they served, it is important to respect the dinner.

It is very important that at 23:45 o'clock we are all ready, after dinner. So that we, the children, are ready to take a walk around the neighborhood traditional to see if it sees any sign of the mysterious old man somewhere.

The return of that walk, around mid night, all gifts are arranged around the Christmas tree. My older cousin is a person who always makes the reading and delivery of gifts. It's a mess! … And later is worse because children begin to play and the whole house is like a war had occurred.
It's very funny everything: think we had a great preparation, taking care of decoration and hours to finish everything in a huge mess and noise.

How green I am?

This time, I want to talk to you about my thoughts on ecology issues. First, I want to tell you that I changed my thoughts and practices on this issue over the years. But, I do not think it is an evolution in my thinking or maturity but rather I think it is disappointment. When I was a little girl I was more enthusiastic. Now I have become an unbeliever… SAD but REAL!
I think today this topic is very present in our daily life. It is true: the bags of supermarket, organic products for the consumption, beauty products with zero impact on our environment… In general, I think that the ecology issue has become a topic of advertising. This causes me discomfort.
In my opinion the people have access to the green theme but in a way that is not appropriate, because it is no education. Education is a restructuring and a real change in our lifestyles. That is what we need as a society to live in harmony with others and with nature.
In my daily life I don’t make anything too important to save the world. However, I do little things but I have little faith. For example, if there are trash cans for recycling I deposit my trash where it belongs or I try not to get plastic bags when I buy something and put it into my backpack and if I don’t have to move large distances (although most of the time I have to) I prefer to walk. Finally, I must be honest and admit that I do this to maintain the health of my body and I do not think of reducing my carbon footprint. I believe that ecology is not an issue that is greatly present in my daily life although the news media bomb my life with it.

Hobbies

Today I will share with you some activities than I enjoy every time when my routine is interrupted. Really I don’t have something like a “hobby” as such. Within what I call “activities that break the routine” I include a wide variety of things to do when I have nothing to I do.
For instance, in my free time I like baking cookies, baking cakes and cooking desserts . But nothing too complicated. This activity I especially like this activity because I really enjoy the few moments I get to this level of concentration. The fact to follow the instructions of a recipe and make each of the steps in an orderly manner relaxes me and I like it too. I also like when the others enjoy the results of my hobby. The truth is who enjoys it the most is my boyfriend or at least I hope so XD.
Other activities that break my routines is watering the garden of my house and weeding. I like to think of myself as a gardener and the garden ornament. Moreover, I like to plant certain medicine herbs like mint, chamomile, cedron or rue. I like plant certain herbs that serve as dressings like oregano, basil or rosemary too.
Also I like the outdoors activities, but that don’t involve sports. I like walking in the nature and recollecting leaves, stones or I enjoy observing insects or certain forms of the natural world. In general this is an activity I do with my boyfriend in the free time of both. Really I think I would have to be a naturalist like Charles Darwin.

Condor

The Andean condor is a kind of prey Cathartidae family. Lives in the Andes and the adjacent coasts of South America to the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest bird in the entire Western Hemisphere.
It is a large black bird with white feathers around the neck and parts of the wings, especially the males. The head lacks feathers and red, and can change tone according to the emotional state of the bird. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female.
It is a scavenger. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years and nests between 3,000 and 5,000 meters, usually in inaccessible rock formations. Usually put one or two eggs a year. It is one of the longest-lived birds, can reach the age of 50 years.
The Andean condor is recognized as one of the largest flying birds in the world. Adults can measure up to 142 cm tall and between 270 and 330 cm wingspan, and weigh from 11 to 15 kg for males and 8 females to 11 kg. They have the bare head and relatively small, usually colored red, very cutting-edge peak and ended hook.
It is also one of the birds that fly at higher altitudes, can be achieved with relative ease the 7000 meters, then you can plan for hundreds of miles almost without moving the wings; the condor consumes very little power and thanks to its thick plumage can withstand weather icy.
Are threatened despite being symbols of various Latin American countries, including Chile.

Places of Santiago

It is not difficult to see tourists walking around our capital city. Strange, because few compatriots who decided to vacation in Santiago, but no for the foreigners. However, we wonder what sites they visit. Although not notice it, Santiago is full of interesting places.
Starting with our culture, we have the Museum of Natural History, which shows the history of our country, the Museum of Fine Arts, in which we exposed the talent of our artists. Other interesting place is La Moneda Palace, government our Places most familiar are the Cerro Santa Lucia, Cerro San Cristóbal and the Metropolitan Zoo. If they want to spend a moment of emotion, without doubt, the Fantasilandia amusement park is an excellent choice. Popular sites are the National Stadium (known for its history) the railway station Market and La Plaza Italia Santiago (common meeting place of the bars after the games). The Temple of Maipú is not only famous as a center of prayer but also by the history allergic linked to the struggle for the Independence of Chile. Another place is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, the main temple of the Catholic Church in the country. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Finally, if you decide to come to Santiago during the winter break, don’t forget the winter resorts highlighting La Parva, El Colorado y Farellones. So we don’t seem strange to see tourists vacationing in our Capital City, as there are many recommended places to go.

Like a Rolling Stone

In this time I will share with you my favourite song. This song is “Like a Rolling Stone”. Its interpreter and composer is Robert Allen Zimmerman, who is better know as Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is a famous and influential American musician , singer and poet. The genre or musical style of Boy Dylan and of this song maybe can be defined like a folk, folk rock, blues and country.
“Like a Rolling Stone” corresponds to a single released in July in 1965 and this work has been included in many compilations of Dylan. The song is favorite of many because is a great composition. In fact, the Rolling Stone magazine, in 2004, considered “Like a Rolling Stone” as THE BEST SONG OF ALL TIME.
I cannot understand the song. Its a paradigm for me, but I think that the chorous reproduces in part the essence of the song. This prays:
“HOW DOES IT FEELHOW DOES IT FEELTO BE WITHOUT A HOMELIKE A COMPLETE UNKNOWNLIKE A ROLLING STONE?”
This song became my favorite at the same instant that I heard it. I like very much the translation made by an argentine biographer of Bob Dylan. He translates it into Spanish as “como una bala perdida”. This has become one of my favorite sentences!