It's been a bit quiet here in the last weeks - but that's because I was sooooooo busy with going around Santiago, getting interviews and talking to useful people. Not to forget celebrating my sisters wedding and dancing all night... ;) But first, back to Chile:
Of course, six weeks were such a short time and - as was to be expected - I ended up with having to do heaps of things in the last weeks. In case you don't belong to those people, to whom I explained everything I've been doing here in detail already: I'm writing my thesis about urban development and participation, especially in deprived quarters. There's an urban programme for 200 poor neighbourhoods (everything in Chile these days seems to be 200 because of the country's 200th anniversary next year...) around the country launched by the national government two years ago. On the one hand, this programme not only aimes at physical construction of urban infrastructure but also at strengthening social nets and capacities in the quarter, which is already quite new. The other central part is participation and letting the people decide what they want - and it's that, I'm looking at in my paper. So I went around the town during the last weeks, talked to people from the quarters or from the ministry, went to neighbourhood reunions and to workshops. I was lucky to be there right in time for the "month of the quarter" so there were a number of seminars (with important people from all over, mainly from Germany though...), an exhibition and many activities.
Here's some pictures from the quarters I went to, from meetings and activities like "let's safe energy and distribute low energy light bulbs" or "how to build a collective memory of our neighbourhood". You'd probably need much more time to really understand what works and what doesn't, but after all I got some good interviews, an idea of the programme and plenty of information for writing...
Besides, there was definitely too little time for Chile! I really wanted to have at least a weekend off before flying back to Berlin, going to the mountains, hiking to some hot springs and relax, cruising through the wine region - so many things that would have been so nice!!! But there just wasn't time! At least I managed to see some friends from good old times, dance to Cumbia Chilena (http://www.bandaconmocion.cl/) and have a great farewell asado (= bbq) in the last days... And after considering taking my bike back to Germany I finally sold it to my old landlord (keep conquering that concrete jungle of Santiago, Pepe!!!). Oh, that reminds me of the request ages ago to post a picture of that little gem of mine. Voilá:
(After this treatment of acupuncture in the first week or so I finally made peace with the God of tyres and went through the city without bigger problems...). Santiago definitely was different this time than the Santiago of three years ago with all its intercambio feeling, but somehow I think I got to know much more of the city by revisiting some places, observing changes and getting around so many different parts of this neverending metropolis! At least one sunny sunday we hiked up some mountain with a great view on the Andes and on Santiago (in case there isn't much smog - which rarely is the case). Good fun anyway. And I went to the sea - to a lovely seaside resort with old houses and that nostalgic feeling in the air. Changed my mind of taking a bath after stepping into the freezing water... Anyway, when I arrived there was still summer in Santiago, but the last weeks brought the first rain drops for months and chilly days. Blankets became a valuable good in our house and I was thankful once more for my arctic sleeping bag. ;)
Incredible: autumn colours in Parque Forestal, visible through all the dust and exhaust gases!
Oh, and then I had to think of some gorgeous and creative present for my sister's wedding (not very successful, I fear...) and buy the second suit of my life. Which led to travelling from dirty roads in the poor quarters to shiny malls, trying dozens of suits (found out, why there are no price lables at Hugo Boss stores - Jeez! knew that they are not exactly inexpensive, but why would any reasonable person should want to spend a fortune on a suit!?!). Ended up with being the proud new owner of a bright orange tie and a fitting suit! And then there were more interviews and stuff to be packed and a plane to catch...
More photos here!!!!!
Of course, six weeks were such a short time and - as was to be expected - I ended up with having to do heaps of things in the last weeks. In case you don't belong to those people, to whom I explained everything I've been doing here in detail already: I'm writing my thesis about urban development and participation, especially in deprived quarters. There's an urban programme for 200 poor neighbourhoods (everything in Chile these days seems to be 200 because of the country's 200th anniversary next year...) around the country launched by the national government two years ago. On the one hand, this programme not only aimes at physical construction of urban infrastructure but also at strengthening social nets and capacities in the quarter, which is already quite new. The other central part is participation and letting the people decide what they want - and it's that, I'm looking at in my paper. So I went around the town during the last weeks, talked to people from the quarters or from the ministry, went to neighbourhood reunions and to workshops. I was lucky to be there right in time for the "month of the quarter" so there were a number of seminars (with important people from all over, mainly from Germany though...), an exhibition and many activities.
Here's some pictures from the quarters I went to, from meetings and activities like "let's safe energy and distribute low energy light bulbs" or "how to build a collective memory of our neighbourhood". You'd probably need much more time to really understand what works and what doesn't, but after all I got some good interviews, an idea of the programme and plenty of information for writing...Besides, there was definitely too little time for Chile! I really wanted to have at least a weekend off before flying back to Berlin, going to the mountains, hiking to some hot springs and relax, cruising through the wine region - so many things that would have been so nice!!! But there just wasn't time! At least I managed to see some friends from good old times, dance to Cumbia Chilena (http://www.bandaconmocion.cl/) and have a great farewell asado (= bbq) in the last days... And after considering taking my bike back to Germany I finally sold it to my old landlord (keep conquering that concrete jungle of Santiago, Pepe!!!). Oh, that reminds me of the request ages ago to post a picture of that little gem of mine. Voilá:
(After this treatment of acupuncture in the first week or so I finally made peace with the God of tyres and went through the city without bigger problems...). Santiago definitely was different this time than the Santiago of three years ago with all its intercambio feeling, but somehow I think I got to know much more of the city by revisiting some places, observing changes and getting around so many different parts of this neverending metropolis! At least one sunny sunday we hiked up some mountain with a great view on the Andes and on Santiago (in case there isn't much smog - which rarely is the case). Good fun anyway. And I went to the sea - to a lovely seaside resort with old houses and that nostalgic feeling in the air. Changed my mind of taking a bath after stepping into the freezing water... Anyway, when I arrived there was still summer in Santiago, but the last weeks brought the first rain drops for months and chilly days. Blankets became a valuable good in our house and I was thankful once more for my arctic sleeping bag. ;)
Incredible: autumn colours in Parque Forestal, visible through all the dust and exhaust gases!Oh, and then I had to think of some gorgeous and creative present for my sister's wedding (not very successful, I fear...) and buy the second suit of my life. Which led to travelling from dirty roads in the poor quarters to shiny malls, trying dozens of suits (found out, why there are no price lables at Hugo Boss stores - Jeez! knew that they are not exactly inexpensive, but why would any reasonable person should want to spend a fortune on a suit!?!). Ended up with being the proud new owner of a bright orange tie and a fitting suit! And then there were more interviews and stuff to be packed and a plane to catch...
More photos here!!!!!
