Current events in Chile

On February 27, 2010 a tremendous earthquake occurred off the coast of Chile. It had a magnitude 8.8 and lasted 90 seconds, which makes it the seventh strongest ever recorded. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated the southern central, coastal towns of Chile. It was so bad that president Michelle Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe.” Approximately 500 people were killed. Over 500,000 homes were destroyed and costs are estimated to be from 4-7 billion dollars.

Billionaire and Conservative Party candidate Sebastián Pinera has won the Chilean presidential election ending 20 years of the center-left Concertación coalition’s control of the Chilean government. Sebastián Pinera became rich by introducing credit cards to Chile. He also owns a television channel and Chile’s top soccer club. He won against former President Eduardo Frei 52% to 48%. The president-elect promised to use his business expertise to improve the Chilean economy. He also promised to create one million new jobs, cut taxes for small businesses and make government more efficient. Current president Michelle Bachelet will leave office in March as required in the Chilean Constitution. The President can not serve two consecutive terms.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8464136.stm

El Dia de los Muertos

The holiday El Dia de los Muertos focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It coincides with the religious days, All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). People make sugar skulls and decorate with skeletons dressed in funny ways. They also visit the graves of the deceased and bring them treats.

About me

Me llamo Jorge Chavez. Soy de Chile. Vivo en el sur del pais en un pueblo que se llama Puerto Varas. Tengo trece anos. Mi cumpleanos es el vientinueve de julio.

Me gusta patinar y esquiar en el invierno. Ahora en Chile es invierno. Me gusta jugar en la nieve.

Hay cinco personas en mi familia, mi padre, mi madre, mi hermano, mi hermana y yo. Vivimos en Tucson, Arizona. Mis abuelos, tíos y primos viven en Nueva York. A nosotros nos gusta comer comida rica y discutir mucho. Nosotros hablamos por teléfono muchas horas cada semana.

Yo soy Georges Chavez. Soy pensativo. Estoy dotado para la música y la naturaleza. Vivo en una casa rosada. Me gusta jugar al béisbol y nadar. Toco el piano y la trompa.

Mi papá es inteligente, atlético y serio. Le gusta andar en bicicleta y jugar al tenis. Él es científico.

Mi mamá está enojada, pesada y ocupada. Habla en voz alta. Le gusta almorzar con su madre. Ella es una persona complicada.

Mi hermano gemelo se llama Arturo. Le gustan los deportes. Toca la trompeta y juega al fútbol y al béisbol.

Mi hermanita Mariella tiene seis años. Ella es inteligente y enojada. A ella le gusta jugar al fútbol, nadar y tocar el piano.

Nosotros viajamos mucho. Vamos a Nueva York dos veces cada año, en el verano y en diciembre para pasar las Navidades con los abuelos.

Chile-un poco de todo

Chile, a country with a population of approximately 17 million occupies the southern Pacific coast of South America. It consists of 15 regions. In recent years the Chilean economy has been one of the strongest in South America.

The Osorno volcano in southern Chilean Andes has a nearly conical shape, like Mt Fuji. Charles Darwin glimpsed Osorno erupting when he sailed past on the Beagle in 1835. Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes in southern Chile.

Chile-Lugares importantes

In the north of Chile the Atacama desert is one of the driest places in the world. The capitol Santiago is in the center of the country. There are many volcanoes and glaciers in the south. Believe it or not Easter Island in the Pacific is part of Chile.

The Atacama desert is a rainless plateau in northern Chile. The average rainfall of the desert is 1 millimeter per year.

Chile-Comida

In Chile empanadas are very popular. One filling is called pino. The ingredients are: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1/2 union, chopped, one T olive oil, one clove garlic, finely chopped, 1/2 t cumin, 1/2 t oregano, 1 lb ground beef, 2 T raisins, 1 1/2 T chopped pimento-stuffed olives and 1 can of diced tomatoes. First, slice eggs cross wise into thin slices. Second, cook onion in olive oil in a skillet until softened. Third, add garlic, cumin, oregano and cook one minute; then add beef breaking up lumps and cooking until no longer pink. Fourth, add raisins, olives and tomatoes and cook about 10 minutes. You can make empanadas with this or just eat it with rice like I did.

The Chilean cuisine is famous its delicious seafood and fresh fruits. The typical dishes are the cazuela and empanadas. Chile is also well known for its wines.

In Chile there are four meals each day instead of three. The extra meal is called "once" which is eaten between four and seven in the afternoon. It is the Chilean version of tea time when we eat bread with palta (avocado) or some cakes with tea or coffee. We don't eat onces at 11 o'clock, yet this meal is called "once," which means "eleven" in Spanish. A typical Chilean cake is the torta de mil hojas, which means "the cake of a thousand layers."

In Chile empanadas are very popular. One filling is called pino. The ingredients are: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1/2 union, chopped, one T olive oil, one clove garlic, finely chopped, 1/2 t cumin, 1/2 t oregano, 1 lb ground beef, 2 T raisins, 1 1/2 T chopped pimento-stuffed olives and 1 can of diced tomatoes. First, slice eggs cross wise into thin slices. Second, cook onion in olive oil in a skillet until softened. Third, add garlic, cumin, oregano and cook one minute; then add beef breaking up lumps and cooking until no longer pink. Fourth, add raisins, olives and tomatoes and cook about 10 minutes. You can make empanadas with this or just eat it with rice like I did.

Chile-Gobierno

Chile is a democracy. It has a woman president named Michelle Bachelet. The capital of Chile is Santiago but the Congress is located in Valparaíso 140 kilometers west of Santiago.

I live in a town called Puerto Varas in the province of Llanquihue in the 10th Region (Los Lagos). The capital of the province is Puerto Montt which is 20 km south of Puerto Varas.