SANTIAGO — Once again, Chilean students have taken to the streets to protest the…
Pepe’s Chile: The World’s Everyday Introduction to Chile
Think of a country far away from Chile. What is the average person’s most likely encounter with Chile or a Chilean product in that country? Copper? Wine? Grapes? Don Francisco? Chile has several main exports including copper and agricultural products that find their way into almost every corner of the globe. It is therefore likely [...]
Pepe’s Chile: 5 Energy Producing Alternatives to HidroAysén
Due to all the buzz around the HidroAysén project, I started thinking about alternative ways that Chile could save and produce electricity. Where else could Chile and its neighbors get the vast amount of electricity that the HidroAysén project is promising to deliver? There are alternatives and it would probably take a combination of these: [...]
Pepe’s Chile: Unexpected Origins of the May 21st Chilean Holiday
This coming May 21st is an official holiday in Chile celebrating the Día de las Glorias Navales or literally translated as Day of Navy Glories. Let’s call it Navy Day. When I typically think of holidays, they are born of some great event in the past. May 21st is no exception. However, instead of [...]
Pepe’s Chile: Thanks to my Chilean mothers
Sunday was Mother’s Day and hopefully you told your Mom that you love her! As I reflect on my early days and months in Chile, it was Chilean mothers that made me feel at home. I lived with several families during my first two years in Chile. Each had a caring and loving mamita [...]
Pepe’s Chile: So You Want to Speak the Language…
A recent study indicates that 84% of Chileans want to improve their level of English. This is a great goal and surely Chileans can do it. From talking with Chilean kids still in colegio, it doesn’t seem that this English improvement will originate in the schools. The odds of a Chilean student finishing up their [...]
Pepe’s Chile: First impressions of Chilean food
One of the great things about living in Chile is eating traditional Chilean food in all its many varieties. The recent post by Bridge Chile reminded me of the first time I ate several of these classic Chilean foods. My reaction was varied, as was my desire to eat some of them again… Manjar [...]
Pepe’s Chile: Chileans and Unavoidable Advertising
There has been recent buzz about showing real advertisements in school textbooks in Chile. Education Minister Lavín has announced that future school textbooks won’t have these advertisements. When I first heard news about this topic, I thought that it meant any random textbook would have advertisements. Nevertheless, the topic revolved around a textbook unit focused [...]
Pepe’s Chile: Will Lollapalooza Kill the Viña Festival?
When Lollapalooza, the massive music festival, began back in the early 1990s, I wished I could have driven the eight hours to see Pearl Jam play. Nevertheless, that trip didn’t happen. Fast forward to 2011 and Lollapalooza comes to Santiago. I guess the world is pretty small after all. One thing that amazes me is [...]
Pepe’s Chile: What Obama should have done in Chile
Last week United States President Obama visited Chile for about 20 hours. He followed his official schedule of meetings with President Piñera and other officials. He gave speeches and answered questions from the press. Obama saw parts of the the Chilean Presidential Palace La Moneda that most people will never see. He even avoided the [...]
Pepe’s Chile: Chile’s Growing Entrepreneurship Culture
Chileans by nature are entrepreneurs and this is a great benefit to the country and culture. Think about the Chileans you know and the things you see every day. Perhaps you’ve noticed one of these: Parking attendants more than willing to help you find a spot and watch over your vacant car. Musicians on the [...]