Papapletos

Hello out there!
I only had one class this morning, but, it was a good class. I have picked a group for our group project, and I will be presenting in front of many Chileans about biotechnology and bioethics regarding expirementation on human beings. Yesterday, art class was relaxing like it always in. I have a project due in there where I'm supposed to turn in 60 sheets of paper that I made. Other than that, I turned in two essays to two different classes, and have a huge spanish packet to do! Well, I know you don't want to know about school, so this week was good.
On friday my friend from a little beach town called Zapallar came to visit me. We went around and explored Valparaiso. We walked to some great views, and I saw all the colorful houses in the nice part of town, and the not so nice part of town. There are many poor people in Chile, and they all dry their clothes outside. Walking up hills, you will look to one side and see a group of four buildings with a courtyard. Sometimes, the people have their close drying in the courtyard. The majority of people air dry their clothes. So, when packing for Chile, it doesn't do you any good to buy big and think drying them will shrink it to the right side. Haha.
This week in Valparaiso, there was a festival called Mil Tambores (One million tambourines). I stumbled upon the body painting part. In this plaza, there were artists, homeless people, regular peopl, crazy people, rasta people, music people, and alll people! The artists were painting people's body. The designs were interesting and all reflected what the artist wanted to do. Sompe people got totally naked while some people didn't. I saw a poor person, who seemed a little crazy. She was probably 50 and smoking cigarettes and dancing. This little thing would just open up her jacket and show her bra to everyone, while still dancing and saying random things. One time when she pulled her pants down, she revealed what seemed to be like she was pregnant. However, it had blue bumps and was off to the side. I'm sure she muttered something about being free and liberated and not being able to get medical care.
I asked my friend what it was and he told me it was probably a hernia. So... I wondered why she couldn't get medical help. He explained to me that in Chile, unlike the rest of South America, the medical care is not really free. However, she could go into a clinic and take a number. Not only would the medical care in the clinic be mediocre but its possible you would take number 3,000,000 and they could be serving patient one. I'm not sure if the medical attention would cost money either, however there is little justice and programs for the poor people in Chile.
Well, back to the festival. After seeing the body painting, I returned back to Valparaiso that night with my friends. In the street, there were many people playing drums, drinking, having fun and celebrating. When my friend Natael asked a girl what they were celebrating she replied... umm, yes! haha, because they can. It was a good experience to see, and reminded me of music festivals.
This night, I ate whats called a papapleto. A typical food of Chile is all these big sandwiches. There are Churascos (meet, tomato, avocado and bread) and Completos (hotdog, tomato, avovado and mayonase). Of course, they have variations on these sandwiches. So, I went to the only restaruant that serves these, it was a completo but instead of a hotdog, it had frenchfries! Haha, it was mushy and salty but yummy. A necessary experience.
You know how I told you there were many homeless dogs here, well its really sad. This week I saw two dogs very very sick. One little thing had snot (just like we would) just dripping from his nose. Its not like these dogs can do anything for themselves. And it is just heartbreaking. The other dog seemed to have goop coming from his mouth. And they look just pitiful, and appear as if they are crying!
Well, every different micro is crazy and the ocean stays beautiful. The days are nice, and I'm gonna get tan!
Miss you guys tons!
Un abrazo,
xoxo... Kati

Hey dad- You would love the frenchfries here!