A Collection of Observations #7

What might be the final round of observations (but then again they seem to keep coming) - we were planning a trip to Mendoza over the mountain pass this weekend but we just learned that the pass was closed because of snow - ah well.....:

1.  When I was working at the school one Friday morning that had a drill.  I asked if it was for earthquakes and they said that it was just a general drill and that if it really was for a big earthquake nobody would be able to walk fast anywhere - lovely - so they are just supposed to hide under their desks.  They called the drill Operacion Deyse  At first I thought that it had something to do with the famous nuclear weapons daisy commercial but then I found out it was actually called Operacion D.E.Y.S.E. - Plan De Evacuación Y Seguridad Escolar.  Makes more sense.

By the way, we had a 6.7 "tremor" a few weeks ago and I barely blinked or rather basically rolled over in bed.  I am getting used to these things but I could do without them.

2.  Santiago is so dry that they have signs telling you not to swim in empty reservoirs ;-)  I am sure that it fills up at some point but I'm still waiting.

3.  Zapallo (loosely, pumpkin) - people rarely buy a whole pumpkin for cooking (notice the size) but rather a chunk is sold either at the market or wrapped up at the grocery store.

4.  The running "walk" sign - and they mean it!

5.  Ojo (or eye) is used to mean "be careful" or "pay attention."  There is this little guy pictured all over the metro stations and metros with various warnings and usually just with uno ojo.

6.  Jonathan finally became the first family member to eat a hotdog with all of the works including chopped tomatoes, mushed avocado and "bit" of mayonnaise.  He's hooked - ick.  I challenge you to find the meat.

7.  These signs were found in the nurse's office at school.  They are obviously something that she puts on her door when she is out.

"I'm in the library" and "We're in the gym"

"I'm in the casino" ;-) 

It actually means cafeteria in Chilean Spanish - took some getting used to.

8.  There is a pretty significant Palestinian community in Chile much of which came here before 1948 and much of which is Christian.  There is a somewhat peaceful coexistence here (everybody goes to their own schools and own clubs) but there are hints of pride that you see on the streets.  For those who don't read Arabic (I took a year of it and can only remember how to read) this says Palestine.

9.  There is a small Lego store not far from our house.  Jonathan likes to visit periodically even though the merchandise makes Legos in the States seem cheap.  I have a feeling that once you start to build reading stands for your Kindles, Nooks, and books at the Lego store you might be soon moving on to new things.

10.  Purita Mama - "Purita Mom is the newest product of the Food Program of the Ministry of Health. It is a milk drink specially formulated with DHA for pregnant and nursing mothers."  Apparently it you have public health insurance you get this milk drink free if you are pregnant and for the first six months of breastfeeding.  It has only been around for a few years but claims increased health of baby and Mom.  I guess that we have WIC but I think that this is only for milk.