Ramadas Univ de Concepción: Fiestas Patrias begins.
For a week in mid-September, Chile takes a break to celebrate their independence. Most schools, stores offices and such close and folks spend time with their families and friends. The big day is on the 18th and most refer to the whole period as dieciocho in the same way that we celebrate the 4th. In parks and vacant lots huge tents are erected to house 'ramadas' where many small vendors rent booths to sell food and drinks as well as host carnival-type games. Though it was not the pure madness that some folks had suggested, it was fun to see so many people out filling the parks and streets late into the night. For us, it was good reason to go explore a little more of the region and spend time with friends.
For us, it began on Sept. 13th. I invited Cana to come out to the UdeConcepción Ramadas event happening on campus. We met by the whale skeleton in front of the Marine Biology Building and entered into a stream of thousands, winding our way past vendors selling individual cigarettes, shots of tequila and sopapillas. You could buy cans of cold beer or a tasty longaniza sausage from 18 year old vendors selling wares out of backpacks. The main event was along a rectangular patch of grass on the east side of campus. The long sides of the rectangle were lined with official vendors cooking over split 55gal drum quinchos (bbq). The best of the stands had branches of different trees strapped to their tent, making it look really rustic.
At the end of the rectangle, against a backdrop of eucalyptus trees, a big professional stage with lights and stacks of speakers was set up. We wound our way through the crowd, seeing a few students from my class but mostly drifting through a sea of unfamiliar young intoxicated kids living it up. I didn't take any good photos but found on the internet that captured our experience (thanks Constantina de Bizancio via flickr; Carras via Juvinoide; R.Pasmiño via soyconcepcion.cl and others). We worked our way toward the front, trudging through a mud bog for the opportunity to dance with the cool kids. There were 3 of 4 bands that played combinations of ska, reggae, reggaeton and cumbia. Between bands groups of MCs would get on the stage and whip the crowd into a furry. There was typically a DJ spinning international hits and a guy that would lead folks through all types of chants that everyone seemed to know the words to. Some seemed patriotic, others were about sports and some about the school. The strangest thing was during the popular parts of the songs, everyone shook their beer cans above their head in order to spray beer on everyone around them. Cool! Que bacan! Though we did not stay till the bitter end (we left around midnight), it was a good preparation for a week long celebration! Walking home, it was interesting to see UdeConcepción's crowd control methods. Wherever they did not want students going, they ran sprinklers continuously. And not just on grass but on paved surfaces and walkways on campus. There are secret sprinklers in the patios! A subtle crowd control.
For us, it began on Sept. 13th. I invited Cana to come out to the UdeConcepción Ramadas event happening on campus. We met by the whale skeleton in front of the Marine Biology Building and entered into a stream of thousands, winding our way past vendors selling individual cigarettes, shots of tequila and sopapillas. You could buy cans of cold beer or a tasty longaniza sausage from 18 year old vendors selling wares out of backpacks. The main event was along a rectangular patch of grass on the east side of campus. The long sides of the rectangle were lined with official vendors cooking over split 55gal drum quinchos (bbq). The best of the stands had branches of different trees strapped to their tent, making it look really rustic.
At the end of the rectangle, against a backdrop of eucalyptus trees, a big professional stage with lights and stacks of speakers was set up. We wound our way through the crowd, seeing a few students from my class but mostly drifting through a sea of unfamiliar young intoxicated kids living it up. I didn't take any good photos but found on the internet that captured our experience (thanks Constantina de Bizancio via flickr; Carras via Juvinoide; R.Pasmiño via soyconcepcion.cl and others). We worked our way toward the front, trudging through a mud bog for the opportunity to dance with the cool kids. There were 3 of 4 bands that played combinations of ska, reggae, reggaeton and cumbia. Between bands groups of MCs would get on the stage and whip the crowd into a furry. There was typically a DJ spinning international hits and a guy that would lead folks through all types of chants that everyone seemed to know the words to. Some seemed patriotic, others were about sports and some about the school. The strangest thing was during the popular parts of the songs, everyone shook their beer cans above their head in order to spray beer on everyone around them. Cool! Que bacan! Though we did not stay till the bitter end (we left around midnight), it was a good preparation for a week long celebration! Walking home, it was interesting to see UdeConcepción's crowd control methods. Wherever they did not want students going, they ran sprinklers continuously. And not just on grass but on paved surfaces and walkways on campus. There are secret sprinklers in the patios! A subtle crowd control.