Un Dia Magnifico

Some days the sun shines on you and the Earth let’s you know that you are loved and the wind whispers your name.  Our little family had such a day on Sunday June, 16th.  One of the moms from the futbol team knew that we wanted to visit a real farm.  Her name is Clareth.  She is super sweet.  Her son’s name is Juan Pablo.  He is 11 and the goalie of the team.  She also has a daughter named Carla who is 13.  Clareth arranged for us to visit a fondo or ranch in the town of Huife.  The area is absolutely gorgeous.  It has rolling hills and towering peaks full of dense forests that have Arucaria, Cohihue, Robles, Laurales and other native trees.  The fondo has a view of the volcano Villarica.  The ranch was huge.  It had 2 dogs, 15 sheep, 8 horses, 3 bulls and 123 cows with more than enough room to spare.  We arrived at 10:00 in the morning just is time to feed the animals.  We loaded 20 bales of hay into the back of the tractor.  (They feed them another 30 bales in the afternoon.)  It was a joy to see the kids tumbling around in the barn and trying to deal with the hay.  Each bale weighs about 50 lbs.  After all bales were loaded we commenced with the feeding.  It was a blast to see the animals get excited as the tractor made its rounds.  We broke up the bales and sent the hay hurling over the sides.  The cows seemed to be the happiest.  Then we took a walk of the entire which included property right along a beautiful river and 6 houses including that of the caretakers.  The caretakers treated us to some coffee, cake, cheese, homemade marmalade and nuts.  We played soccer with the kids and talked of life on the ranch.  It was a day of breathing deeply and sharing smiles.  The visit ended around 2 in the afternoon. 

As if that wasn’t enough, we had arranged for later that afternoon to have a talent show at our cabana with our neighbors the Australians.  I named it “Noche de Talento – Camino Volcan”.  I like dramatic names, right?  It was to be a night of culture with music, spoken word, poetry and other expressive arts.  The Australians have a mom (Rowina), dad (Ian) and three kids (Bridgett -6, Lila-8 and Finley- 10).  The night started with the kids, Chris and I doing the play "The Three little pigs" or "Tres Cochinitos" in Spanish.  Chris wrote the script based on a Disney version she found on YouTube.  It was performed outside complete with props and masks with the Australian parents being our audience.  The play received a standing ovation (although they were already standing!)  We went into the house as the darkness overtook us.  We had a few appetizers, some drinks and then we were off in our little living room.  I started the festivities by reciting, “Touch of the Master’s Hand”.  Chris followed with “All of My Loving” by the Beatles on Recorder.  She nailed it.  Elijah took center stage and played “Norwegian Wood” on Recorder.  Lila sang us two beautiful songs in Spanish.  Then her little sister jumped in and they did a couple of duets with “Otono” being the jewel and cornerstone of the performance.  Then the mom Rowena asked for Chris to bring a pot from the kitchen.  She proceeded to sing a beautiful tribal rhythm in Spanish while beating the pot.  We all joined in by clapping hands.  It was a very visceral and moving performance.  We took a 10 minute intermission.  After intermission Lila did a Karate form.  Elijah followed with a Taekwando form.  Finley then serenaded the audience with his violin.  He followed up by reciting a poem by Lewis Carol, The Walrus and the Carpenter!  Classic.  Ian then brought it home with a great oration from the Australian tradition.  Everyone was on a high and me being the MC I was prepared to wrap up the festivities and serve the dinner prepared by the beautiful Christine.  However, young Mr. Finley asked if could perform an original composition.  We all agreed that it was an excellent suggestion.  Who won't support the sharing of inspired creativity? 

He ran across the way (75 ft) to his house and came back with a journal.  He took center stage, opened the book and began to sing a Sea-Shanty!  This young boy straight composed a Sea-Shanty!!  He began to sing just like a cabin boy who had spent his formative years on a pirate ship.  When he got to the chorus after the first verse we were all pumped!  After the end of the second verse we all joined in the chorus that went like this…

“O’er the land, and under the sea,

Where do I expect to find she?

On a rock, with my crew, I look to the west.

For a glimpse of her one, great shining breast!”

Yeah!!!  If you had been outside of the house as we sang the last chorus you would have swore the skull and cross-bones was flying high outside of the house!  After a rousing applause we ate pasta, drank wine and discussed the world turning around.  The Aussies went home and then we put Elijah to bed.  Chris and I smiled and laughed in bed to the sound of the swelling Puelche.  Some days the sun shines on you and the Earth let’s you know that you are loved and the wind whispers your name.

The Incredible Stormy Night

It has been storming here for the last week.  Amazing.  The fiercest wind, the most thundering rain you can imagine. The whole house shakes, the windows rattle, wind howls around the house and slips in through the cracks and makes you feel like it is coming in to get you.  I feel like the house is going to lift off the ground and fly away just like in Wizard of Oz.  Last night was the biggest of storms.  Achilles went out to play basketball.  I stayed up waiting for him. We finally got in bed around midnight.  We couldn't sleep right away as the storm was so loud.  We layed in bed listening to all the crazy sounds and talking about how amazing it was.  I got up to use the restroom and realized that the power had gone out.  Oh well, we'd deal with it in the morning.  I felt my way downstairs and grabbed a flashlight and put it near my bed.  Finallly sometime afer 1:00am  I drifted off to sleep.  Around 4:30 I awoke to a sound louder than the wind. It was Elijah throwing up.  I rushed to his room only to find, of course, that I couldn't see a thing. Where had he thrown up?  Was it on his bed?  his pillow?   I fumbled back to my room, found the flashlight and went back to him.  Poor little guy.  At least there was a pan nearby (unfortunately this wasn't his first time being sick in Chile and we keep a pan near his bed.)  I got him throwing up into the pan but when I went to wash out the pan, I realized that as we had no electricity, that also meant that we had no water (our water is run by a pump that is run by electricity).  I rinsed out the pot the best I could with the few drips that came out of the tap, and went down to get at least a glass of drinking water for him to wash out his mouth with.  At this time I realized that I was probably going to be up for a while and I did not want to be cold. The fire had died out  but I thought there may still be a few embers. Time to rekindle the fire.  I shined my flashlight into the wood stove, it was still a little warm, but no embers, I would have to start from scratch.  I shined my light over to the wood box.  Of course... we were out of wood.  Then I heard Elijah again.  Upstairs I ran.  By this time Achilles had woken up.  Mind you the storm is still raging outside.  "Babe, I said to Achilles through the dark, "We are out of wood, the lights are out and we don't have any water."  "Ugg"  he grumbled, "This is ridiculous"  Nonetheless what could we do?  Achilles put on his jeans, rainjacket, and boots and headed out into the darkest of nights with the flashlight.  I stayed with Elijah at his bed with the candle.  The main breaker to our house is not actually on our property.  It is up the hill, through a barbed wire fence and is a perilous journey even in the daylight.  Him doing it in the pouring rain, made me super nervous.  He was gone for a while.  I kept peeking out the door hoping for his return.  Suddenly the lights went on... he had done it  Yeah!  Now just let him come back safely!  I was relieved to see a small light heading down the hill back toward the house.  He even stopped at the wood shed and brought back some wood.  My hero!  Elijah continued to be sick, but at least we could see, could wash up, and warm up the house.  Achilles and I took turns staying with Elijah.  I eventually fell back asleep and then when morning finally came Achilles came back to bed too.  The next morning we laughed as he told us about his trip to the breaker box and how he had fought bravely through the rain and wind only to step in cow poop!  3 times!  Aaaaaahhhh we love Chile!

All healthy again with his pan pipes and hat that mama made!



Elijah gets his face painted at a Rapa Nui show




Mama and Elijah on Mother's Day at the Volcano




Young family at Copihue waterfall in Pucon