La Cultura Popular - The Popular Culture

One of the great things about visiting a new place, let alone a new country, is to explore and find the things that make that place unique and special.  I believe that is the case for most everywhere we go, in that you have to look for the special things that any place has to offer, and if you do, you are sure to find it and have a deeper connection to the people and places to which you travel.

In Chile, especially here in Santiago, there is such a rich and wonderful culture that spans generations, from the Native peoples to the Conquistadors and on to the modern day.  The people in Chile are incredibly cool and sophisticated and have a wonderful popular culture that is unique and inherently progressive. Chile is poised to be not only a leader in South America, but throughout the world, and the vibe on the streets is sophisticated and cutting edge, it reminds of of places I have visited that I consider some of my favorites, San Francisco, Vancouver BC and of course, New York. But Santiago has a buzz that is unique, one that combines the historic with the modern, one that combines the classic with the popular.

One fun example is the comic Condorito, which is a lot of fun to read and enjoy.  I was told about it by my friend Juan and my other good friend, Claudio, bought me my first issue. Now, I am hooked, and I just bought another on the street today.  Condorito is a lot like Mad magazine, with its dry and purposeful sense of humor, hip and cool, cutting edge, but very relatable in its issues and text.  I am also using it as a language tool, since it is in Spanish and the dialogues offer a lot of slang and regional euphemisms, ideas and words I hope to use and amaze my friends (I'm still trying to grow out of my cultural adolescence).

The popular culture (la cultura popular) is something I certainly enjoy and need in my life, and I think that the time in Santiago will help me to appreciate both the culture here in Chile, but also to take that appreciation to the every place I go, especially back in El Paso.