Buenas noches uno y todos!
Yo soy Elvagabundonumerouno and I chose this very moment to start writing to you out there in tv and radio land because the television is just not as captivating as my own mind. But seriously what a strange and (almost) universal device that has come to play such a big role in our lives. Even poor people seem to have television sets. I remember going to Mexico, sometimes outside (Rosarito area), sometimes inside the city limits of Tijuana and building houses for a few select families that were destitute and poverty stricken. My family and I went for one week out of the summer to the U.S.-Mexico border to build houses and serve. I had the opportunity to experience the [mission trip] for 5 summers when I was younger. Those who felt called would administer "vacation bible schools" to the young-ins around the neighborhoods, and organize impromptu worship services to the Christian God. I found myself up on the framing crew, putting in bird-blocks when the walls were put up, but on top of the roof was my favorite place to work. Snapping chalk lines across the plywood would ensure accurate placement of nails and never going within the 3 feet range of the the edge would ensure you not falling off. Simple enough. We, meaning Westerners, would probably label the model of houses these families were receiving as more of a shed, but the Mexican families were always grateful for our work and the end product. Another side note about the build sites, there was never usable electricity on site, so, it was up to us able-bodied chicks and dudes to mix the concrete, saw the boards, nail them together, and weatherproof the mother. But back to my original point. Even these poor families who could not afford adequate housing had television sets. I would imagine that they had tapped into the informal cable or utilized what used to exist as a free source of media, the RABBIT EARS to pick up a few channels. I must pause to squeak out a somber and reminiscent tune on the violin sitting next to me to commemorate the slow but eventual extinction of free media. VIVA EL RADIO!!
I talked to my good friend Kristin today in Viña del Mar via Skype. What a miraculous invention indeed. I cannot believe that shit is still free. I will be arriving in Santiago, after stops in L.A. and Bogotá at 4:45 de la mañana on the 15th. Three days later is the annual commemoration of Chile's día de la Independencia when the Chilenos took up arms and decided to get the fuck out from under Spain's powerful and long-grasping thumb. This was in the year 1810, just two days after Mexico decided to do the same exact thing. Eleven years later on the 15th of September, what is now known as the autonomous nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras Nicaragua y Costa Rica. Here are a few of the words I learned para celebrar.
proclamar - to declare
el recorrido - run/journey
las fiestas patrias - patriotic holidays
la antorcha - torch
Celebraré con una cerveza en la mano izquierda y una antorcha en la otra, gritando por la calle Limache, ¡gracias a Diós por este día de libertad!
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