Chile 2002 - My return to Chile
- The new experience -
by Teun van Dillen
And this "future" turned out to be January/February 2002. I visited them again for about one month. The choice for this time of year was simple: in Chile it was summer. That means: guaranteed great weather with lots of sun and a temperature of 30 ºC. For about one month I shared many wonderful experiences with Cristian, his family and friends. Actually, there is too much to tell about this trip. In this report I will tell you about the most memorable moments and experiences of this trip. A full day-to-day report can be found on our website www.djbobo.demon.nl.
Cristian, his father Manuel, his mother Laura and his sister Loreto live in Concepción, about 8 hours by bus from Santiago. During my stay in Concepción, Cristian's cousins Israel, Katy and Cesar and his grandmother Nieves were also staying there. Grandmother Nieves took great care of us by cooking lunch for us every day. A friend of the family, Victor, came to the house every day and also took great care of us.
2. The trip to Chile and the first day in Concepción
The only bad experience of my trip was the flight from Frankfurt to Santiago. I was flying with Lufthansa and my plane (a Boeing 747-400) would leave at 22.35 hrs. When we were taxiing to the runway it became clear that there were many technical difficulties. It appeared that one of the cargo-rooms was flooded with water. Due to that there were shortcuts in the electrical system and therefore we had to wait for 2 hours in the plane. After that we had a 17-hour flight to Buenos Aires (Argentina). There it was announced that one of the jet engines was not working properly and this gave us an additional delay of many hours. I arrived at Santiago airport having a delay of almost 10 hours.
There I met my friend Cristian at last. Together with his friend Jorge he came to pick me up from the airport. It was great to see them again after such a long time and so many emails. That same evening we took the bus to Concepción and we arrived there Tuesday morning at 6.00 hrs. Cristian's parents and his uncle Gino picked us up from the bus-terminal and took us to their home where I met Loreto again. We had a great breakfast with the family and we talked for hours and hours. I could finally rest after being "in the air and on the road" for almost 3 days. A lot of family and friends came to visit us that same day. It was fantastic to see them all again.
3. The Chilean Dance Factory group.
Let me first introduce the members of the Chilean dance factory team. They are all very close friends and they give DJ Bobo performances in schools, disco's and even on television to promote DJ Bobo's music in Chile.
The group consists of Cristian (The Chilean DJ Bobo), and a great dance crew: Jorge, Marco, Josue, Yazmin, Kafy, Cindy and Cesar, the manager of the team. Unfortunately I did not meet Cindy during my stay in Chile.
4. The beach holiday in Lota.
Cristian and his friends had arranged a great holiday for all of us. They had rented a beach house, just near "La Playa Blanca" (= The white beach") in Lota. In total we spent 4 days together: all the people of the dance factory (except Cindy) and some other friends: Fabiola (a friend of Kafy), Eva (girlfriend of Marco) and Israel. The house was really terrific. A small place with a view over the beach, ocean and mountains. This is the kind of place you normally see in movies, a "too-good-to-be-true" place.
The house was situated close to the beach and therefore it is not hard to guess that we went to the beach a few times. The beach is really wonderful and always crowded. Finally I was able to get some sun. The water was very salty but great. It was great to swim in the ocean again. Being with so many people in one house was great. We talked a lot during our stay, until deep at night. Sometimes we went to bed at 5.00 hrs. in the morning. That is why we normally got up at around 12.00 or 13.00 hrs in the afternoon. As I told you we listened to a lot of music. Of course DJ Bobo music (hehe) but also South-American music. I learned to dance the "chu-chuca", a song from Brazil.
The plan was that I would be on stage with the dance factory at least once. Therefore I had to practise a lot. Since the disco "Las Rocas" was in close walking distance to the house, we went to practice there two times. There I practised mostly the medley "Respect Yourself + Around the world", my favourite DJ Bobo songs.
The times we ate were shifted a little due to our strange days. We had breakfast (desayuno) just after getting up at about 13.00 hrs in the afternoon. We had lunch (almuerzo) normally at around 17.00 hrs. Then we always ate warm food the girls had prepared. It was the best; they are wonderful cooks. The last day for instance they prepared "patatas fritas", rice and sausages.
I also tried to prepare the lunch for everybody, a typical Dutch meal called "hutspot". With the help of the girls I prepared it and it was actually pretty good, but mainly due to all the help I got. In the evening we ate "once" at about 22.00 hrs. Usually bread with coffee. One time the girls and I made pizza. That was really nice. I never ate such a tasty pizza before.
5. The days in Concepción.
The days in Concepción were great. Usually we got up at 12.00 hrs or later. We then took our breakfast and after that the great lunch that was prepared by Cristian's grandmother Nieves. During the day we listened to lots of DJ Bobo music and we watched a lot of DJ Bobo video's. Moreover we made some great remixes on the computer. Of course we practised the choreography of the medley "Respect Yourself + Around the world" a lot of times. The people of the dance factory team often paid us a visit and sometimes spent the night. In the evening we ate our "once" sometime between 20.00 hrs and 22.00 hrs. For me that was usually bread with "palta", a vegetable that I have never seen here in Europe. Sometimes we went to Kafy's home to have "once". She prepared a great Chilean "once" for me and Cristian. They were very hospitable and happy to see us. We talked a lot and we played a lot with Ivan, Kafy's son.
We also went a few times to a "Feria". Near the great mall and supermarket in Concepción there was a building with many stands: here you could look at and buy art from South-America (from Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia,....).
6. Wedding of Cristian's cousin Claudia
The big highlight of my holiday in Chile was on Saturday February 2: the wedding of Cristian's cousin Claudia. At 19.45 hrs we went to the church in Talcahuano where we attended the official wedding ceremony of Claudia and Francisco. It was a very nice ceremony, even though I had problems understanding what was said. Cristian was able to make a lot of pictures. At about 21.00 hrs the ceremony ended and we drove to a party-centre where the dinner and the party would take place. This place was close to the airport of Concepción. At the entrance we were able to congratulate the newly wedded couple. Claudia was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress and Francisco was dressed in black. We were received with a few drinks and snacks. After the "aperitivo" we went to the dinner room, which was nicely decorated.
The dinner had 3 plates (el primero, el segundo and el postre). During the dinner the band "Tuna de la Universidad de Concepción" entered. Cesar, Cristian's cousin, was also in this band. They were playing very nice Chilean music and making lots of jokes. After dinner the party began. Cristian's father had arranged a band and they played characteristic Chilean music all night long, but also rock 'n roll and more. Many people were dancing and everyone had a great time. I also danced a lot.
At 4.30 hrs the wedding cake was cut and we all got a piece of cake. By that time Cristian and I were very, very tired. At about 5.00 hrs. Cristian's father gave us a ride back home to get some sleep.
7. Trip to Salto del Laja
On Tuesday 05/02 we got up at 8.00 hrs in the morning (for a change). At about 11.00 hrs. we (Cristian, Loreto, Cesar, Israel, Katy and I) took the bus into town, to the busterminal. At 11.30 we departed to Salto del Laja. The trip was about 90 minutes, so around 13.00 hrs we arrived there. We went to the waterfalls of Salto del Laja. The most beautiful thing I have seen in Chile so far. We walked very close to the waterfalls where we could take pictures. Of course we became very wet due to the splashing water. We did not mind: it was 35 ºC and therefore very refreshing.
After visiting the falls we went to a swimming pool (close to the waterfall) to cool down. There we could relax, swim, enjoy the sun and sleep a little. At 18.30 hrs we took the bus to Concepción and about 2 hours later we were back home. We were very hungry after the long day. Cristian's grandmother had specially prepared a great dinner for us. She anticipated we would be very hungry.
8. The performances
As I have mentioned above Cristian and his team give performances. They imitate DJ Bobo and his crew: live singing and of course the original choreographies. The first performance I attended was on February 1 in Concepción, in a big disco, "Havana Club", in the centre of Concepción. At around 0.00 hrs. the disco opened its doors and lots of people entered. At about 2.15 hrs. Cristian and the team went to a small room were they could change their clothes and prepare for the show. At 2.45 hrs. the show started with "Freedom". The people were really enjoying the performance, screaming and clapping their hands. The second song that was performed was "What a Feeling". A great song with a great choreography. They were really doing very well. The choreographies were just like the real thing. Just like a real DJ Bobo show. I was able to make lots of pictures from different positions in the club. The last song was "Together". During this song the Havana Club flipped out. At 3.00 hrs. the show ended. It was their best show I have ever seen.
The second show I saw was in Lota, in "Las Rocas", the disco at "La Playa Blanca" The show started at 20.45 hrs. and was recorded on video and was displayed on two large white screens: a close-up of what was happening on stage during the show. The setlist of the show was the same ("Freedom", "What a Feeling" and "Together"). Cristian and his team specially dedicated the song "Together" to me. Again people were flipping out during this song: singing, jumping, screaming and dancing. It was a very successful performance with lots of visitors. At 21.00 hrs the show ended.
The last show I attended was also the most memorable one, because I was on stage with my friends too. The show was again in the Havana Club in Concepción (16/02) We went to the Havana Club at 17.30 hrs. At around 18.00 hrs. we were allowed to go in. There we practised on stage all together. After that the club opened its doors and the people came in. We had to wait for Kafy and Yazmin. They would also come, but somewhat later. It was a very special performance for me, because Cristian's mother, Kafy's mother and Josue's family came specially to the Havana Club to see us dance.
At around 20.15 hrs. we went to a small room to get dressed for the show. Since I did not find a pair of white trousers in Concepción, Jonathan (a friend of the Dance Factory team) was so kind to give me his white trousers for this show. At 20.45 hrs. it was time for the show. Cristian and his team first performed a powerful medley of Together and Let the dream come true (a self-made medley). I was looking backstage. After this medley it was time for me to hit the dancefloor. Cristian introduced me in a very kind way. He told the audience how we first met over the Internet and that I wanted to share the feeling to be with Chilean DJ Bobo fans and to be on stage with the Chilean DJ Bobo Dance factory team. Then I walked onto the stage and I got a great applause. Then the music began and we started to dance.
On stage I was enjoying the dance performance. The people were really enjoying it. It went very well and to my knowledge and surprise I did not make any mistake. After the medley ended I got a big applause again and I left the stage. Cristian and his team performed one more song: "Let the party begin". After the show the guys welcomed me as a true member of the Chilean DJ Bobo Dance Team. After we had changed our clothes we went into the disco where we got a lot of compliments.
9. The last night
The last night of my stay in Chile (18/02) I will never forget. In the afternoon Cristian, Loreto, Carolina, Cesar, Israel and I went to the big supermarket "Lider" to buy things for a special "once" we would prepare. That night all the Dance Factory members and lots of family would come to Cristian's house to have a final party with us and to say goodbye to me. We went to the "Feria" one last time to say goodbye to "Yazmin". Just after we came home the first people already arrived. Kafy arrived together with her son Ivan and her boyfriend Josue. She was accompanied by Marco and Cesar and Fabiola. Also Kafy's mother and father visited us.
I had the chance to thank everyone for their hospitality and for making my stay in Chile unforgettable. We all had a great "goodbye-once" with hamburgers: much better than MacDonald's. At about 23.00 hrs most of the people had to leave. Finally I packed my stuff for my trip back home to Holland.
10. The trip back to Holland
On Tuesday February 19 I left Concepción. At the airport I finally said goodbye to Jorge, Israel, Manuel and Cristian. My plane left right on time and I was in Santiago at about 8.45 hrs. My whole trip went as planned. In Frankfurt I had a delay of about one hour due to the bad weather in Germany. At about 15.00 hrs I arrived in Amsterdam and I met my parents at the airport.
11. Acknowledgements
I would like to finish my report by thanking everyone I have met in Chile: Cristian, his family, his friends and all the members and friends of the Dance Factory Team - thank you so much for everything. Thank you for your hospitality and kindness. For about a month I had an unforgettable time, thanks to you. I will never forget it. See you all soon in Concepción.
Teun van Dillen
April 2002
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