Chilean culure in 10 points

10 things that describe Chile.

1. The Chilean chin
2. Hot pockets (empanadas) and hotdogs (completos)
3. 35 years old and still at home
4. Dropping the suffix "po" at the end of every word
5. Saying "Alo" and "Chao"
6. Milk comes in a box...unrefrigerated
7. PDA has no limits here
8. It´s breakfast, lunch, "once", dinner
9. Soda, lots and lots and lots of soda.
10. Buying cigarettes individually, because you can't afford the entire pack

This week I compiled a list of all the things that I thought described Chile. I might have to explain a couple though. I love this culture in how unique and friendly the people are, however, these have been the most striking differences between the US and Chilean culture that I have seen.

Starting with number 1, everyone has a double chin. I didn’t notice this until recently, but that is the mark of the Chileans, the double chin. Now I do not mean this offensively, but that is simply the consequences of having a diet based on bread, fried bread, and bread with hot sauce.

Number 2, though you will find a fast food cart or restaurant on every corner, they all sell the same thing. Empanadas, which I would call hotpockets, and completos, which are hotdogs with avocado.

Number 3, the idea of being 18 and not living with your parents is crazy. When I turned 18 I saw college as my only escape to the endless embarrassment that came from my parents. I bounced, but here, they like living with mom and dad until 30ish.

Numbers 4 and 5, the people here are proud to say that they speak Castillano and not Spanish. The Chilean culture is filled with words that don't make any sense in other places.

Number 6, I’m not sure how, but milk comes in a box and it does not go in the fridge. They have discovered some super cow here or something.

Number 7, public display of affection is what PDA stands for. Now in a country where the culture is to kiss instead of shake hands, the affection you see in public is often taken to a greater level as kissing has been so normalized.

Number 8 and 9 what you will always find on the table is bread and coca-cola.

Number 10 is pretty funny I think, they will sell you anything here. People stand on the street selling Band-Aids, selling toilet paper, and even selling charcoal. You can buy a 10 pack of toilet paper on every corner in downtown Osorno.

And there you have it. 

Now I did not write this with any intention to offend anyone, I love the Chilean culture and I love this people. I enjoy the differences we have in our culture and the laughs that come from culture barriers.

Have a great week everyone!

    Love,

Elder Haddad

Photo of the week, Elder Wertner, me, Elder Linton, and Elder Jarman. 

These are the other Elders here in Overjeria 

Lamb head

Okay we had a great week here in Overjeria. Busy with plenty of teaching appointments and this week we really focused on teaching the commandments to the less active people of our ward. We have seen some great miracles with people coming back to church for the first time in years. They are already on a track to become active and hold a calling. We have also had a lot of success in finding prepared people; we are working hard and having fun to help these people progress.

This week we made some smores, unfortunately we haven’t been able to find graham crackers, but we found a chopstick to use to toast the marshmallows with the fire. Second we tried some lamb head (title of the email this week comes from that picture). Then we headed out to the boonies to do some contacts and I mean we were in the middle of nowhere. I think I will be able to return to the US and be a lumberjack because I have chopped so much wood this last week.

This week when studying this verse of scripture found in Ether 4, called my attention now more than ever. “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” I have come to have a great desire to bring the people that I meet to understand this great verse. 

Elder Haddad

Gencon, the best holiday of the year

This week went by really fast, all of a sudden we wake up and it's somehow Monday, and I really don´t know where the time went. I sit down to write and I feel like everything is on fast forward. It's nice to just enjoy everything pass by. This week I finished the book of Mormon in Spanish. It is great to be able to affirm that the promise of the book holds. Anyone who reads the book and asks God if it is true will receive an answer. After finishing the book this time I was left with a great feeling of peace.  My mind was brought at peace through my knowledge of the book of Mormon, a book which has taught me that the teachings don´t have an expiration date.

This weekend we heard many of the leaders of our church speak.  They talked about topics like faith, families, and confronting trials. Honestly conference time is the best time of the year. Attached is a photo of the conference, one of our sector and this week we also took out a bunch of money from the bank haha, it was a great week! 

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Elder Haddad