Chi Chi Chi! Le Le Le! Viva Chile!

As I bet most of you have been watching the World Cup (I mean, why wouldn't you be), you would have noticed that CHILE BEAT SPAIN. It would be an understatement to say that I am excited. I am ecstatic! And adding to my giddiness, are the celebrations here in Chile and the fact that everybody talks about the World Cup 24/7 (okay... maybe an exaggeration but the rest of the time they aren't talking about the World Cup, Chileans are talking about the asados and get-togethers they have planned to watch the World Cup.) For every game that Chile is in, or just any futbol game, you will always have at least one friend who is hosting an asado (Chilean barbecue). This past month the streets have been full of vendors selling items ranging from the Chile flag to funky Chilean flag hats, to cat ears with Chilean flags on them to slippers with a player's face on them. And of course I had to join in on the fun, so now I am all decked out in Chile fan gear for every game. 

This is Sally, my fellow exchange student in Chile from Vermont. She let me use pictures of her showing her support for "La Roja" (Chile's national team). 

The national cheer for Chile, and not just for futbol, is: Chi Chi Chi! Le Le Le! Viva Chile! Here are some others things to say when watching a game: Vamos Chile! (Let's go Chile), Dale! (Go), Grande Chile! Wuena! (when someone makes a good move or a good shot) and of course the cuss words aimed at the refs when they make a bad call.

When Chile beat Espana 2-0, eliminating Espana from the tournament, Chileans went crazy! Honking, car parades, waving flags out of cars and buses, dancing, jumping, fireworks, screaming, cheering, and more honking. I have some video footage of the streets after the game but I can't seem to figure out how to put the video on this blog. The funny thing is, while the game was going on, the streets in Santiago were vacant. Vacant as if there was a zombie apocalypse. 

Plaza Italia aka, the heart of Santiago, where everybody goes when Chile wins a game. That red mob is people screaming and dancing.

In Chile, the games are such a big deal, we either get out of class early or watch the games in school. Clearly, Chileans, like the rest of the world, take their futbol very seriously. I think we citizens of the US need to step up our game! 

Unfortunately, Chile had a heart breaking loss against the Netherlands on Monday. On Saturday, they will be facing Brazil in the round of 16. You betcha I will be cheering them on from the airport!

Vamos Chile!