Birthdays in the Southern Hemisphere: Niko's Big 1-0 and Kaia's 8

NIKO AUGUST 20th, 2012

Niko:  10th Birthday.  Party at school. Skiing on an active volcano.  Asado (Grill). Enough said!

Begins with a rainy walk to school in wintery August.....

Birthdays are always celebrated as they deserve to be celebrated at Waldorf Pucón!

Niko's teacher Leka

Yes, that mountain man is Derk in
winter fur

South American Asado, Chancho en Piedras, and Gramma style oven baked potatoes

.... and ends with a great day on the slopes of Volcán Villarica with Grampa and family.

KAIA DECEMBER 1st, 2012

Kaia turned 8 on a beautiful early summer day on December 1st.  Our "winter baby" turned "summer baby" and enjoyed bowls of fresh strawberries and games on the beach.  Presents from family in Sweden and U.S., Skype conversations with Grandparents, and a birthday party at school all made it an occasion to remember.

Cousin Maren has always known JUST what to get for Kaia!

And things don't get better than those boots from Aunt Heidi

Birthday snack times at school are always a treat with lots of singing, homemade goodies, and of course Tortaza - the ritual stuffing of the face of the birthday child into their own cake.  Kaia was spared entirely; Niko given just a little nudge (see video below).

It's hard to find online, but rather than only singing the Spanish version of the typical English Happy Birthday song, our Waldorf community also sings this great birthday song which is supposedly Argentinian in origin.  Here are the lyrics, and you can hear at least a little of the song in the video below.

Un año mas de lluvia viento y sol

Un año mas de lluvia viento y sol

hoy es tu cumpleaños los que te quieren estan con vos

hoy es tu cumpleaños los que te quieren estan con vos

Patagonian Spring

Welcome Spring to Pucón!

Before diving into this post, we want to make sure you know Niko's snake skin preparation post is finally online:

                                www.niko-scholtz.blogspot.com


After talking to all of the gardeners of the many seasonally boarded-up properties on the beach, we finally landed a cabin right at the end of the pedestrian path ("Calle Otto Gudenschwager") which runs alongside Lago Villarica right past the kids' school.  Interestingly, all of the negotiations with potential landlords happened in German, not Spanish.  Germans arrived here en masse in the late 1880s, hardy enough to withstand the Patagonian climate and stubborn enough to confront the native Mapuche tribes who were understandably not happy with their arrival.  The German connection still runs strong, with many families still speaking German at home and German Schools often viewed as the best education Chile has to offer.  Needless to say, we were surprised how often we can actually use our German here.

Our drafty home.... but, my oh my, what a view

View from cabaña on Otto Gudenschwager of Lago Villarica and the "private peninsula"

And the view back from the beach

Pretty good beer in Chile

Kite flying and keeping lookout for action on the beach occupied Niko, Kaia, and Quilo for hours each day.

A few more strays joined our pack.  These were the 2 of 12 puppies on the property who actually survived. Niko and Kaia insisted on personally burying each of them one by one as various illnesses took them.  What a parenting experience.  It was really interesting how they, and their friends, took it all so matter of factly.  Lots more to say on the stray dog topic, but at least these two - Mari Mari (hello in Mapudungun, the Mapuche language) and Calcitines (socks) - were adopted by Niko's teacher, Leka.

In addition to spectacular flowers and trees, warmer weather meant the emergence of the craziest critters:

A friend brought us out onto the private peninsula right off the beach, where manicured gardens, condominiums, and golf courses overlook stunning views in all directions.

View to the south

View to the north. Our cabin is way at the end of the beach in the background.

Fiestas Patrias in Santiago

We spent a few days around September 18th - Chilean Independence Day - in Santiago.  Joining the masses, we enjoyed traditional dancing, food, and music, and through lengthy, epic-scale performances, relived the glory days of battle and rebellion...leaving us a bit shell shocked.

Browsing in the shops of Pueblito Los Dominicos in Santiago.  Well worth a visit if you have some time.

Back at home in Pucón meant more glorious weather, with picnics, hikes, and another fun birthday party.

Playa Blanca at Lago Carburgua. --- so peaceful.......

..... when not attacked by the Playa Blanca Bandits

Apparently people kayak off of these water falls?

A classmate's birthday party in Cañi, just east of Pucón, where the family runs a Buddhist retreat.  You have to admit, the panoramic views from this property are hard to beat!

Tortaza -- a tradition of taking a bite out of your birthday cake before someone crams your head into it.  Always important to watch your back in this situation.

A beautiful ending to a fun day.

Spring also meant Halloween - Pucón style! Friends say they've been celebrating Halloween in Chile for about 5-10 years now.   Restaurants and shops in town handed out caramellos, in response to calls for dulces o travesuras.  Our own Artemis and Grim Reaper joined the parade of zombies, goblins, and witches.

And finally, Spring meant something terribly sad for our pack as well.  Quilo, our little Ecuadorian traveling pup we picked up in Quilotoa, who befriended every person and canine he met, and always brought smiles to our faces, died in an accident under our very own car.  We miss him so much, and had looked forward to introducing him to Grantham Street back home.  The kids picked a perfect resting spot for him out on the beach out front he loved, right under some trees where people always rest and he always made sure to keep them company.