Karaoke Extremes

 Out to a karaoke bar last night with a few folks I met through my Uncle and Aunt.  I'm always down for a little entertainment at the expense of myself and others.  Anticipating some good down home Chilean music and singing it was a bit of a surprise when upon entering I was amongst in majority non Chileno's. And in fact, the bar ended up being a gringo hot spot mostly representing North America.  This was a confusing sight at first because it literally felt like it all could have been going on right back in the heart of the States.  The initial shock faded away however after I broke into my first song, a tune from the magnificent Stevie Wonder.

It was a fun time and I even managed to meet and greet with a few locals by the end of the night.  But there is still something more to this experience that has me writing at this moment…

I guess it must be that this was not the first Karaoke session I'd had In Chile.  And the other experience was with a warm, loving and generous Chilean family of my cousin Matthew's girlfriend Fran.  This particular Karaoke session with Fran's family occurred during the Chilean Independence celebrations the first weekend I had arrived.  After gorging ourselves all day with Chilean BBQ and conversation,  (which  at this time was very limited on my side) we all gathered around a small table with one microphone some tiny speakers and a computer.  It was on!  Soon everyone there, young and old, were singing aloud the anthems of their culture.  I hadn't a clue what was being said but the smiles, music and laughter that abounded spoke very clearly none the less.  What an amazing privilege to be sharing this with a family I just met on the countries most celebrated day!  They made sure I was not overlooked and kindly picked out a Backstreet Boy's tune that embarrassingly enough I knew all too well.  This is certainly a karaoke session to be remembered.

Not really sure where all of this is going besides seeing the beauty in extremes that life exhibits.  Regardless of race, cultural orientation, or beliefs systems we all are susceptible  to binary experiences to varying degrees.  It's so fascinating.  Happy to take pause and reflect on these particular events.  What about yourself, can you think of  events like this in your life?

Lesson 36 – Coffee Break Spanish

Lesson 36 – Coffee Break Spanish

This is a link to a very helpful Spanish site Coffee Break Spanish.  It has a wonderful assortment of general uses of Spanish that are given in auditory fashion.  The hosts speak very clearly and creatively make comprehension of provided material easy and fun to use at ones leisure.  Me Gusta Mucho!

Mans' Best Friend?

This post is for all those dog lovers out there.  Which by the way from my reference point being a "Coloradan" born and raised should be everyone…. I wanted to address an important issue that can't help but be noticed everywhere here in Chile, that being stray and estranged dog's.  Everywhere and I do mean everywhere you look there are dogs walking the streets, sleeping in the middle of side walks and just about anywhere else.  Many have serious health conditions and others are starving and wander in a trance like state from place to place eyes glazed and wanting.  There are so many that you can't help after a certain amount of time building up a sort of tolerance.  It's an extremely sad, inhumane set of affairs here in Chile for these animals.

Now don't get me wrong there are many Chileans who aid and work towards protecting these animals.  My Uncle Greg stated himself that he has seen folks set up small living arrangements and hand feed their canine friends many times over.  I witnessed this myself  as I was entering the grocery store today. There was an elderly gentleman providing some food to some nearby dogs.  I approached him and we chatted for a moment.  I started to speak in one of my beginner forms of Spanish when he just grinned and said in perfect English,"where in the states are you from son?" I was so surprised by this I started to reply in Spanish and then quickly snapped into English  realizing that the conversation would benefit more in my native tongue at this juncture in my limited Spanish acquisition.  He stated that routinely he has fed some of these dogs in the area.  He went further to describe how important an issue this really is for Chile and yet how little attention it draws from the Government.  I nodded in full agreement at what he was saying and left him with a word of gratitude for his generous works and we parted ways.

I currently live with a wonderful little adopted street dog fittingly named, "Chico".  My Aunt and Uncle found him hiding behind a vending machine directly outside their local gym.  He was trying to stay as warm as he could by nestling close to the machines motor.  Something inside them said, "he is ours  now".   And so Chico  has found a permanent loving home.

There is a lot that can be done on an individual basis here whether  adopting or donating time and food  to these animals.  Chile is the fastest developing country in all of Latin America.  Yet like all countries is still plagued by unsightly circumstances.  Government involvement on a large scale must be implemented.  For now the populations keep rising and more often than not these dogs suffer.