Chile 2010: A year of surprises

Much has been said about the bicentennial year, but what it really means? We are celebrating the independence from Spain 200 years ago? , The classification to the World Cup? , Or the birth of a Chilean nation? There are a lot of different ways of understanding this anniversary, a variety of expectations about how many days would be holidays, but probably in what most people would agree is that it has been a year full of unexpected events.

The presidential election last year, where Piñera was elected, perhaps was the announcement of a change of tune in every way: February 27, a massive earthquake woke up every person in Chile; people were terrified after 2 minutes it took such tremendous natural event, the constructions were tested and many of them failed the test. Especially in the south the chaos reigned in the streets. In fact in the city of Concepción a crowd came to steal any object they could find, beyond food, was stolen refrigerators, TVs and many other things.

After a few months, when the commotion subsided, another terrible accident occurred in the north of the country: 33 miners were trapped after a mine collapse in San José. Immediately began rescue efforts, and after more than 2 months of hard work, they managed to rescue them alive. It was an epic story that became known all around the world: Chile could be a first world country.

However, this series of random events are only the visible screen of a country full of contradictions and problems. Nobody talks about the levels of poverty or social inequity when there is so much going on. The surface it just the pretty face, but under it there are plenty things that are not known or discussed. The politicians are also big entrepreneurs, the social problems that emerge from the bases seem not to matter, and the economic system rules our live, our education and even our mood.

Faced with this reality, how much we can celebrate? Rather than settle with a popular national party, we should be thinking how to make this country a more just, equal and libertarian place to live. After reaching this kind of society we would have something to celebrate at.

Is the Animal Instinct

I consider myself as a huge animal-lover, because since I was a little girl I’ve enjoyed knowing about animals, the different species, which are the predators and the prey, their qualities and characteristics, and ultimately understand the balance of nature. I like all kinds of animal kingdoms, reptiles, such as crocodile, the mammals, such my beloved dogs, and the sea world. Especially I like sharks, I don´t know why, but I found them so interesting, nonetheless I would be terrified if I came face to face with one of them. Actually I enjoy so much of knowing and watching animals, that I recently went to the cinema to see a movie called ‘Ocean’, it was a very amazing movie because the directors, who are scientist, filmed during, I don’t know, a couple of years probably, all kinds of places with a very rich marine fauna. The result was so unexpected that they even discovered like thousand new species.

Now, about my pet history, my first experience was a beautiful rabbit, then I had a little chicken, an Australian mouse and finally my actual doggy!

I have to say that I’m a dog-lover; I think that they have a look of sadness that touches me deeply. I always wanted to have a dog, but my opportunity had not presented until one day I was at the University, and saw a puppy running on the grass, I approach to it because it was so cute, and the girl that was with it told me that she needed to give it away; I love her at the first moment, so I take her home. At first It was a bit complicated because she got sick a lot, and my father wasn`t so happy with having a dog in the house. But finally she grew up as an adorable puppy, and she won us all. I love my ‘Aceituna’! She makes me so happy when I get home!