The first time I was bitten by a Zombie

The first time I was bitten by a Zombie, I was nearby Santa Lucia Cliff. I, innocently, had came to a march of humans disguised as zombies... Or that's what I thought at first. I met with a friend. None of us had the time of disguising, so we looked just like humans, and that made us feel like losers. My friend carried a photograph camera, and photographed everyone, the bloody nanny, the zombie Frida Kahlo, the zombie Bernardo O'Higgins, the zombie Diego Portales, the zombie Caszely, the zombie lunatics and nurses, the zombie soldier... We even chased down a boy dressed with a box in his head, covered in a yellow face made of paper. In the middle of our persecution, we saw policemen carrying a man outside of the march. We followed them asking why he was going to be taken, and we heard that his blood was not made of ink, it was real. He actually, had broken a glass bottle and had cut his stomach in front of everyone. We were obviously told by policemen to go away, so, after taking several photographs, we kept going looking for the yellow-faced man, when I lost my friend. I told him to follow me because I had seen him, but he lost me, or I lost him. Anyway, I was alone and everything seemed a little more creepy. Even the Ice-cream seller was selling brains, kidney or liver ice creams. At that moment, we were just in Santa Lucía Cliff, and a lot of zombies began rolling down the cliff, throwing different parts of bodies around. It was when I began wondering if they were real zombies, a guy, grumbling, walked towards me and bit me. Then, he just kept walking. When, a lot of time later, I saw my friend again, I couldn't think of anything else than the taste of his blood, and I had to bite him, too.

To Think Green

There has always been an idea of "Progress" attached to Humanity. We can't avoid to think about the future with the hope of a exponential progress, growing and development. There were proof to think that way, the development of medicine made possible to raise significantly the life expectancy, to produce a lot more food (and a lot of stuff, too) than before, and, thanks to the commerce, to have a wide variety of very different and exotic things near you. Efforts are put researching how to produce more effectively, efficiently and efficacious. How to reduce illness and put a stop into death. How to get more and more pleasure and no harm. But somehow, things have gone backwards. Due to this anxious there has been made an incredible and continuous harm to the environment. Why would we need cars, cellphones, if we are severely ill as an effect of pollution? Why would we need all this progress if it is just leading us to self-destruction? Why are we just seeking for immediate pleasure, if when we grow old we won't be able to enjoy nature -nor anything, really-? As consumers I guess it is not our task to worry about the future. Otherwise, we can choose not to be only consumers, to be humans and to think about where are we living and how.

There is a very good movie called Koyaanisqatsi that makes you meditate about this issue. Its name comes from the Hopi Language, and it means "Life Out Of Balance". The music is incredibly performed by Philip Glass, and helps you to feel critical about the way things "are"...

Watch it!

Miners

Miners were rescued yesterday, after being trapped for nearly 3 months. Painful 3 months were if you turned on the TV, you rode the bus to attend to classes and you had forgotten your headphones, you turned on the radio, you would hear about them... Everywhere, it was the trend topic (just like twitter). I am not saying it is not a very shocking event. I am not saying that working conditions should be discussed more often than it is. But anyway, the media took this matter and made what they do best... They created kind of a reality show of it, making known every detail of the lives of every miner. I guess it is a strategy for getting the image of the miners closer to the audience, and a very good way of producing new material, but it can't be good to have all your life exposed because of an accident. To be famous, and make your family famous because of it. And on the other side the abusive use of patriotic signs... I can't understand how this accident could raise the appreciation of our country, and why is our flag and coat of arms everywhere now. This is not the country where 33 miners were rescued from death. It is a country were only this year 34 workers died, and if the government had failed rescueing, they would be 67. So how could we be proud of it? The focus should be there, and not in these new saints.

I hope this kind of accidents don't repeat. And I hope this soap opera doesn't continue.

Santiago

Sadly, most of places that I enjoyed going to are not the same anymore. As an example, Parque Almagro is not an option anymore because it's crowded of hobos and policemen. On the other side, Parque Forestal was really great when a fair was installed and you could buy music, movies and clothing really creap. You could also enjoy an ice-cream at "El Emporio de la Rosa" and watch juggling tricks, as well as learning and playing yourself, if you were able to. But now, the fair is almost gone, and the Park is crowded with policemen. You can still practice juggling tricks, though, just beside the "Museo de Bellas Artes". I miss the free performances of La Rompehueso (a chilean blues band) outside the subway, too.

I think I've replaced the joy of these places with strikes or "marchas", because I meet most of my friends (those who are not my classmates) and dance and sing with the bands of fanfare or "murga"... You can also scream a lot, and feel a little more civilian, conscient and activist. As long as a "marcha" is a party, I enjoy it.

Santiago is a beautiful city, but its beauty is very hidden. I think it is mostly in the ancient part of the city, like Santiago Concha neighbourhood, just beside the "República" subway station. Nearby is the Plaza Brasil, which is a very nice place, specially on the day, because there are a lot of kids playing around.

I would recommend Parque O'higgins and Plaza Bogotá only when there are singers or performances of any kind, because they are usually free and you can enjoy music and information with a lot of people. Also, both are really close to my place.