Adjusting to life in another country was quite a challenge, especially since Horst started travelling very soon and I was left to myself. Well, not exactly, because Angelica and Vicky from the office looked after me and helped when needed. We also inherited a live-in maid with the rental of the house. She had a teenage daughter who attended school. She wanted her to have an education. Unfortunately, our maid was already being treated for cancer and died after six months. She worked so hard that one could not tell that she was sick. Before she died she asked if we could look after her daughter. We were very happy to do so and she became a part of our family. Shortly before our next transfer, she got married in a beautiful Church ceremony and has lived happily ever after. We are in touch to this day. We were able to find another maid soon after her mother died.
Schooling for the children worked out very well. Both Karl and Paul were admitted at the International School Nido de Aguilas, and Annelliese at the German School Colegio Aleman. Since all the students spoke Spanish and the teacher German, she learned both languages - kind of.
It was hilarious how she started talking to the maid in Spanish, mixed with German words, We had good laughs,
Winter-Ski vacation was in July, and so we explored for the first time the slopes of Farellones, a nearby ski resort. We had never skied before, so we started learning at the “cancha de los tontos” (the slope of the fools). Anneliese’s girlfriend, Heike, was a daredevil and broke a leg or an arm regularly, but continued sledding with a cast. We took it gently and had fun. Skiing in Summer weather with beautiful mountain views was like a real vacation.
Photo 1, 2
We had hardly moved into the house, when a major earthquake in the region shook us up. We had never experienced one before and so we were very scared. It was as if a giant picked up the house and rattled it. We had been told that the safest place in the house was the kitchen, but after a few aftershocks we started feeling more comfortable that the entire house was quite solid. We were debating at night, if we should wake up the children, but then decided it was safe to let them sleep. There were over a thousand registered aftershocks throughout the day, some very strong.
The months passed and the tension grew. People were hungry and at their wits end. The women had organized huge marches, beating kitchen pots and chanting as they went, complaining about the increasing lack of food. Photo 3, 4
There was a plan that in the event that the situation turned into an all out civil war, we were to drive to the UN HQ building CEPAL, (Centro Economico Para America Latina), where there would be food and shelter for the United Nations personnel. The problem was that we were not living that close to the building. Would we be able to get there safely, or be stopped and attacked on the way? In the meanwhile, we were happy we had a good watch dog who even bit the owner once.
It was difficult to get certain foods, but with connections (which we got from the office) we were able to buy meat, for example, and it was delivered late at night, so that nobody would see. And then gasoline was restricted with long lines of cars waiting, and the entire cabinet resigned.
Photo 5, 6
Then in the morning of September 11, 1973, something caught our attention on the radio. There was only march music and no communication from the port city of Valparaiso. We continued listening and understood that a Military Coup had started. People were asked to remain at home or return home if they had left.
The Marxist President Dr.Salvador Allende was given the ultimatum of surrendering and was promised safe passage out of the country with his family by 11:00 a.m., or else the Armed Forces would have to attack the Government House, Palacio de La Moneda, in the capital, Santiago, There was a lot of suspense that morning. Nothing happened by the deadline, but Allende gave a farewell speech. So the military attacked and they found the President dead in his chair with a bullet to his head, supposedly by the gun in his hand, a gift from Fidel Castro.
The Allende residence was in our vicinity and a similar activity was on the way there as well. Fighter jets carrying missiles flew over our home and later helicopters. It was all very frightening. We were listening to the radio for any and all information. Horst told us that on his way back from the office, horns were honked and people laughed, hugged, and cried. It was an overwhelming celebration. They had suffered since 1970. The last six months were the worst. We were there to experience it, from the food shortages, to the riots, to the teargas, and the fear.
Photo 7, 8
Everywhere in the city there was graffiti defacing beautiful buildings. Chileans got together to clean up and before long there was no sign of graffiti anywhere. Everyone was allowed to move around during the day until the 10:00 p.m. curfew. The military cautioned the general public to drive with radios off, windows down, in the event that they were ordered to stop. If after a few calls the driver did not stop they would shoot. Unfortunately, some people were shot. The Chileans were happy and partied. Horst and I attended such parties, and a good time was had by all, even though we had to keep an eye on the clock. By 9:30 p.m. we had to leave, in a hurry, to be sure of safe arrival at home before the curfew.
As time passed we met people both from the International School and from the German School, mostly the parents of our childrens’ friends. Through them as well as from Horst’s colleagues we learned more about Chile, its customs and traditions. On September 18, Chile celebrated its national holiday “Fiestas Patrias”, with dancing the national dance, the Cueca, and lots of merry-making (although restricted in 1973). There were barbecues and drinking the popular Chicha - an alcoholic beverage made of fermented grapes or apples or corn. Everyone now had enough food to have their grilled meats (Asados), meat pates (empanadas), corn pies with meat filling (pastel de choclo), and humitas made with a cornmeal mush and other ingredients, which would then be wrapped in corn husks, tied, and boiled. These were the typical foods plus a variety of other dishes during those festive days.
Schooling for the children worked out very well. Both Karl and Paul were admitted at the International School Nido de Aguilas, and Annelliese at the German School Colegio Aleman. Since all the students spoke Spanish and the teacher German, she learned both languages - kind of.
It was hilarious how she started talking to the maid in Spanish, mixed with German words, We had good laughs,
Winter-Ski vacation was in July, and so we explored for the first time the slopes of Farellones, a nearby ski resort. We had never skied before, so we started learning at the “cancha de los tontos” (the slope of the fools). Anneliese’s girlfriend, Heike, was a daredevil and broke a leg or an arm regularly, but continued sledding with a cast. We took it gently and had fun. Skiing in Summer weather with beautiful mountain views was like a real vacation.
Photo 1, 2
We had hardly moved into the house, when a major earthquake in the region shook us up. We had never experienced one before and so we were very scared. It was as if a giant picked up the house and rattled it. We had been told that the safest place in the house was the kitchen, but after a few aftershocks we started feeling more comfortable that the entire house was quite solid. We were debating at night, if we should wake up the children, but then decided it was safe to let them sleep. There were over a thousand registered aftershocks throughout the day, some very strong.
The months passed and the tension grew. People were hungry and at their wits end. The women had organized huge marches, beating kitchen pots and chanting as they went, complaining about the increasing lack of food. Photo 3, 4
There was a plan that in the event that the situation turned into an all out civil war, we were to drive to the UN HQ building CEPAL, (Centro Economico Para America Latina), where there would be food and shelter for the United Nations personnel. The problem was that we were not living that close to the building. Would we be able to get there safely, or be stopped and attacked on the way? In the meanwhile, we were happy we had a good watch dog who even bit the owner once.
It was difficult to get certain foods, but with connections (which we got from the office) we were able to buy meat, for example, and it was delivered late at night, so that nobody would see. And then gasoline was restricted with long lines of cars waiting, and the entire cabinet resigned.
Photo 5, 6
Then in the morning of September 11, 1973, something caught our attention on the radio. There was only march music and no communication from the port city of Valparaiso. We continued listening and understood that a Military Coup had started. People were asked to remain at home or return home if they had left.
The Marxist President Dr.Salvador Allende was given the ultimatum of surrendering and was promised safe passage out of the country with his family by 11:00 a.m., or else the Armed Forces would have to attack the Government House, Palacio de La Moneda, in the capital, Santiago, There was a lot of suspense that morning. Nothing happened by the deadline, but Allende gave a farewell speech. So the military attacked and they found the President dead in his chair with a bullet to his head, supposedly by the gun in his hand, a gift from Fidel Castro.
The Allende residence was in our vicinity and a similar activity was on the way there as well. Fighter jets carrying missiles flew over our home and later helicopters. It was all very frightening. We were listening to the radio for any and all information. Horst told us that on his way back from the office, horns were honked and people laughed, hugged, and cried. It was an overwhelming celebration. They had suffered since 1970. The last six months were the worst. We were there to experience it, from the food shortages, to the riots, to the teargas, and the fear.
Photo 7, 8
Everywhere in the city there was graffiti defacing beautiful buildings. Chileans got together to clean up and before long there was no sign of graffiti anywhere. Everyone was allowed to move around during the day until the 10:00 p.m. curfew. The military cautioned the general public to drive with radios off, windows down, in the event that they were ordered to stop. If after a few calls the driver did not stop they would shoot. Unfortunately, some people were shot. The Chileans were happy and partied. Horst and I attended such parties, and a good time was had by all, even though we had to keep an eye on the clock. By 9:30 p.m. we had to leave, in a hurry, to be sure of safe arrival at home before the curfew.
As time passed we met people both from the International School and from the German School, mostly the parents of our childrens’ friends. Through them as well as from Horst’s colleagues we learned more about Chile, its customs and traditions. On September 18, Chile celebrated its national holiday “Fiestas Patrias”, with dancing the national dance, the Cueca, and lots of merry-making (although restricted in 1973). There were barbecues and drinking the popular Chicha - an alcoholic beverage made of fermented grapes or apples or corn. Everyone now had enough food to have their grilled meats (Asados), meat pates (empanadas), corn pies with meat filling (pastel de choclo), and humitas made with a cornmeal mush and other ingredients, which would then be wrapped in corn husks, tied, and boiled. These were the typical foods plus a variety of other dishes during those festive days.
Photo 9
Normally, Fiestas Patrias is followed with a Military Parade on the 19th, but we were living in a state of emergency, so the next parade would be held in 1974. Something we still had to experience. And more importantly, we had five years ahead of us to explore this beautiful and exotic country.
Photo 10
Normally, Fiestas Patrias is followed with a Military Parade on the 19th, but we were living in a state of emergency, so the next parade would be held in 1974. Something we still had to experience. And more importantly, we had five years ahead of us to explore this beautiful and exotic country.
Photo 10
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