September 11th (The Other One)

Hello all,

Today is September 11th. A day now notorious throughout the world for the horrific bombing of the World Trade Center in 2001. However, in Chile, September 11th marks the horrific bombing of La Moneda by the Chilean Army and the takeover by Augusto Pinochet in 1973, and the suicide of President Salvador Allende as the walls of the capitol building crumbled around him.

There's lots of protests and the carabineros yesterday arrested about six hundred activists known for causing trouble. However, the youth of the city go crazy, busting out shotguns, rocks, molotov cocktails and various other projectiles and implements of destruction. They take their violence out on everybody, including each other, and single out foreign born citizens. Most of the violence occurs along the main thoroughfare of Americo Vespucio, because that is the route Pinochet went after he bombed the capitol, leaving a wake of dissident corpses behind him.

I happen to leave on Americo Vespucio (or rather, a few hundred yards away from it) and as I've stated before, I don't live in the choicest neighborhood in the City. Fortunately, classes at Duoc are cancelled after six-thirty so I can walk home when it is moderately light out. Also, I'll be packing a window smashing hammer in the event I need to smash a person or persons and sprint off, God forbid.

Ironically, after a day of governmental and unpatriotic hatred and violence within the country, not but a week later all of Chile unites for Fiestas Patrias which celebrate the country's independence on September 18th. Huge festivals and parties go on all over Santiago and the rest of Chile for several days, and the consumption of empanadas and cervezas is scandalous. I'm looking forward to that.

I'd also like to let it be known that my buddy Sean's host mother Angelica was struck by a bus and killed about three weeks ago. She was really young and a fantastic person and leaves behind her husband Erwin, equally as fantastic. It's been pretty hard for their families to cope and Sean is doing what he can to lift Erwin's spirits, but it's still hard.

No photos for now, because all my new ones are of graffiti. Also, my alumna girlfriend is a sweetheart and the off and on profesora girlfriend is echando pebre, or causin´ me problems. Probably time to ditch one and enjoy the other. I think the secretary hates me. Hugs and kisses! Chau!