Chilean culture

It is very difficult to define "culture", I hear a lot about this theme in my class of Anthropology, so I have read too much different point of view about the culture!! But I took some definition. Then, culture could be defined as the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.

 

I am Chilean, but actually I don´t like Chilean culture and many times I don´t feel identified whit this culture, because it is much disorganized. Also all Chilean tradition are decrease day by day because many people prefer to convert Chile in a mini-EEUU, and I disagree whit it, I think each country has its own identity and its people have to keep it. I hate about our culture consumerism, violence and the social breach between rich and poor people too.

Also, I dislike that the most Chilean people are lazy, liar and opportunistic.

In addition Chilean people find difficult to speak about freedom. I mean, Chilean people want to regular everything! Influenced by the Catholic Church they are disagreeing for example, with the gay marriage, and I think it is an attack to the personal freedom. In my position, people are free to do anything they want.

Obviously, Chilean culture is not too wrong. Actually, I really appreciate our traditional folklore: Chilean music and musician like Violeta Parra and Victor Jara; dances like “cueca” and its costumes; artisans with wool or clay; and of course, I love our traditional food like “empanadas”, “cazuelas” and overcoat “pastel de choclo”. But I must say that I am totally disagreeing with “el rodeo”, a traditional “game”, because I consider this people maltreat their animals.

The Kiss...

My favorites are vintage photos from forties and fifties about pin-up girls and sailors.

There is a photo that I like particularly and it is called “the kiss”. It is very famous, and it is about a kiss between a sailor boy and a nurse girl and it was taken on the V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945 -- World War II was finally over and everybody were celebrate in the New York's Times Square. This photo was taken by a photographer from the “LIFE” magazine called Alfred Eisentaedt.

I love this photo because I think it is so beautiful and perfect, I like the black and white and the old costumes. Also I like this one because there is a mystery about it. Nobody knows who are the sailor and the nurse; so many people have said that they were and even many facial experts have participated in this search, but there is not enough evidence to prove who the real couples are.

I think we will never know the truth, but it is ok because the mystery makes this photo more interesting.

Personally I really enjoy taking photos; actually it is one of my favorite hobbies.  Now I do not have a camera because mine does not work, but I always use my boyfriend`s camera and we take it anywhere we go.

In addition I like to draw these old photos, and I collect old magazines form USA and I have some Chilean old magazine too form the forties, fifties and sixties, because I like the vintage fashion and the kind of hairstyle from those photos.

 

I add to this post the famous photo “The Kiss”, that in fact is my profile photo since I made this blog, and a draw (I am sorry if it has not good quality) and a photo of mine.

Paedophilia in the church...

That is a very difficult topic. Personally I think that paedophilia cases in the church are not an exception, probably before this cases were hidden and now are exposes because people are most prepared to denounce without fear.

 It is terrible, but I think there is a paedophilia ring in the catholic church, and I say that because some time ago I read in a newspaper about a handbook founded in a brasilian church that explain how to abuse kids, particularly, poor kids.

Priests are men just like any man, so chastity are not good because it is not natural or healthy for anyone, and I am sure that this is the main reason of the paedophilia.

I don´t know for sure if the catholic church is loosing followers, but actually I hope that happens because it is impossible to keep the same confidence to the priests now.  I know how important is spirituality in a person life`s, and I agree we can believe anything but we need to understand that priests are not saints or something like that, they are persons just like us, and even worse.  

In fact the bible says in a passage that we can find god in anywhere, even under a stone, so it is not necessary to go to the church.

Technology in my life...

Actually I don´t like technology very much, but I use it always because I need it.

I think my favourite technology piece is the cellphone. But now I don´t have one because last week somebody stole my cellphone from my bag.

 My mom gave that cellphone to me on Christmas day three years ago. It didn´t was very advance but it was very useful to comunicate, especially whit my family and my boyfriend.  

I like my old cellphone because it was very small, simply and useful.

I used my cellphone everyday to get up because it was my alarm bell. Also Rodrigo, my boyfriend, called me or sended text message to me several times at day.

I feel that I am isolated because if something unexpected happens, with a class for example, nobody can tell me!

Now I know what is life without a cellphone and I think it is not easy, so I need to buy a new one soom!!!

Freetime... Post 4

My life has been changed since I entered to the University:  now I don´t have enough free time!
I´m at the University almost all day, and when I´m at home I must do many homeworks.

I have a boyfriend since two years ago, and I usually spend my freetime whit him.

I like to draw, paint and read, but it spends so much time and now I don´t have it. My boyfriend draws too, but he is a tattoo artist, so he do it all the time.

On weekend I only have Saturdays to do something, because I work as a part time saleswoman on Sunday. On Saturdays I like to go out with my boyfriend to an art exhibition,  to the cinema, to eat out or simply to take a walk.
When I was a child I liked to draw and paint too. Also I loved to make clothes for my dolls. I remember  that it was vey funny.  
I would like to practice any sport someday because I think is very important  do excercise to have a healthy life.
 
As you can see, days has not enough hours to me.

Music in my life... Post 2!

Music is very important in my life, I think every special moment has a soundtrack! Music makes me feel that it´s all Ok.

 I like old music like soul, jazz, rock and roll, maybe that seems rare for a teenager. For example I like Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. I like soul music like Aretha Franklin too. Also I like old rock and roll music like Little Richard, Bill Halley and Elvis Presley.

I dislike heavy metal, cumbia and reggaeton music.

I must say that Johnny Cash is one of my favourite singer, his style is country music but his attitude is very rockstar and I love that! 

I mainly listen my own music, but i listen the radio too. I usually download music files from the internet because is easier and cheaper than buy, also internet has most variety. 

If I were a song I would be some Aretha Franklin´s song, like "Respect" or "Chain of fool" because these songs are classic, and I really like her voice and rhythm. In addition I feel a special connection whit this singer because we were born on the same date and that´s cool!


In conclusion I think world without music would be horrible and boring. Music is a very important integration factor, gives us the opportunity to know other cultures and other languages, I admit that the most of english that I know is thanks to listen to music.

 

Welcome to my blog... Post 1!

Hi everybody!

Welcome to my blog! I´m Angélica Ramírez (but you can tell me "keka") and this is my first year studying psychology at the University of Chile. All this is like a new world to me and i feel that is a little complicated because i just finished the school last year. But i´m too happy with my career, classmates, teachers and everything...

I really like to read, draw and watch movies! So I hope with my blog and english classes to understand, read and speak better english to can read books and watch movies in its original version without translation.
In addition i would like to travel, so i think is very important to have some level of english!

Also i must to say that i always wanted to have a blog!!! i usually saw others blogs but i didn´t know how use it and now i have one hahaha!!