The minors capsule! we were lucky enough to see it when passing through Temuco as it is touring Chile.

The lonquimay

Weekend at the Nguillatun!

What an amazing weekends we had! Went to the countryside again where we have spent a few weekends now with the family of one of the teachers. They invited us to a Nguillatun which at the time I had no idea what it was! The maphuches have these every two years to "balance out the spirits of the earth". It happens over two days and they camp out for the night.We had to get up at half 6 and then we were driven to the Nguillatun. At first when we arrived in the field (in the middle of nowhere) it reminded me just a little of the many guide camps I have been to. Although there wasn´t canvas tents but small hut like things made out of wood. Inside all the different families had meat hanging from strings like washing on a washing line. They do this so the meat gets smoked from the fire. Many families had killed the animals the day before: we had watched our family cutting up the cow meat the night before. We had a quick breakfast of tea and sopaipillas which are like donuts but savary (they eat them all the time here.)I was interrupted eating my breakfats as I was hit by a stick. I turned round to see a man with a vey ugly mask and ripped clothes. I was told I had to go dance as when you are hit you have no choice. First we went down to the river where we wove branches while people sang and threw things such as grain and leaves into the water. I was told it was to please the spirits. After we circled round animals chanting and then started walking up and down the camp backwards in lines. The men with the sticks kept hitting people and making them change places, or slow down or speed up! As we were walking backward you would hear the odd person say watch out to the person infront as they were warning them about a hole in the ground! people came inbetween the lines offering food and this horrible drink that tasted of some sort of homebrew with milk! I was also a bit concerned that every one ( all 200 people) shared the same jug but i didn´t want to be rude and not drink it! After was the Maci who is like the head woman. The Maci went into some sort of trance and started singing in mapudungun what was going to happening in the next couple of years. The family had told me at another Nguillatun they had predicted the earthquake!But as it was all in mapudungun i didn´t understand any of it. I was totally exhusted after all of this but luckily it was lunch. All the families had cooked so much meat. It is a tradition to offer your families meat to other families so many people where going round giving and receiving meat. Im not sure how much we stood out as there was obviously no other foreigners there although everyone was very friendly and greated us in mapudungun. I loved the clothes that all the woman wore with colourful ribbons in their hair and amazing headdress and pendants made from silver. I would have loved to take pictures although taking any photos was not allow at such a spiritual celebration. In a way it was also nice because i didn´t need to worry about getting my camera out, I could just relax(maybe not the right word) and enjoy the mapuche culture and traditions!

   R xxx