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  • Speaking & Engagements
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April 9, 2017January 19, 2019

Sobremesa

They heap the glittering canisters with bread:
Viands of various kinds allure the taste,
Of choicest sort and savour, rich repast!
-The Odyssey

Written by Fidgit

Haz clic aquí para leer en español

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Table set in Antuco for New Years dinner.

Sobremesa translates as “over the table”, refering to one of those traditions which kind of sneaks up on you. It is the practice of spending time after meals, talking life. Dishes, tidying, sleepy children, will all still be there later.

I say it sneaks up because, now that I know what it is, I can put a name to precious gatherings with my family, for example Uncle Edward’s famous Taco Tuesdays. Family and friends, new and old, laughter, tears, hugs. In the simplest terms, spending time together is an expression of love.

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Enjoying brews and waiting for pizza in Pucon with Greta, Marlyn, Ale & Eduardo

Eating slowly, nibbling as bellies fill, then finally pushing away from the table and leaning back, give over completely to nurturing relationships just as bodies. Down here they call it charlando [chatting] and truly it is an art form. Where we in the U.S. might be proud to ply several turns of phrase around a table, down here there will easily be rounds in the dozens.

These after-dinner sessions often last into the wee hours of the morning. Around a table of nine people, at any given point five will be talking. My favorite moments are when the entire group erupts in laughter together. That is a language we all speak. It washes over me like a wave and leaves a shimmer and glow, much as the wine makes for ruddy cheeks.

Dinner
Enjoying dinner last year in Coyhaique with Sandra, Kiki, and clan.

The sobremesa began with our first breakfast after touching down in Santiago in 2015. We sat around the tiny hostel breakfast table and talked about everything from the temblor which trembled the city the night before to our favorite childhood stories. ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ connected with everyone around the table; Chileans, Americans, and French alike. This was how we met Henry, who now translates these blogs into Spanish for all of us. Relationships are built from times like these.

Recently we took a break in Santiago, this time, having walked there, 4000 km. It was our third big city stop along this trek, after Coyhaique, Chile and Bariloche, Argentina. At every stop, and at many points in between, we partook in sobremesas with hosts and friends. They say there are only 3 forbidden topics: politics, religion, and futbol. I have seen all three breached in a single setting.

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Our “Last Supper” with Jan & Mey, enjoying Korean fare.

Generally, the sobremesa occurs after lunch (here eaten around 2) or dinner (any time between 9 pm and 2 am); though, as early risers, some of our best have been over breakfast. For example, almost each day which we spent in Santiago with Jan and Meylin began with breakfast spreads ranging from German pancakes to egg bakes, after which we would sit for hours and talk about anything from the rise and fall of various philosophies of world powers to the best way to store and use tubes of squeeze cheese on the trail.

This often led into a time to all “get on the same page” and make a plan for the day. Would we go to the Pre-Columbian museum or scour Google Earth Pro for water in northern Argentina? Will we fiddle with our tips and learn new trail recipes or go in hunt of an ATM with low fees?

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After shutting down the Peruvian Sushi restaurant in Santiago with Cris, Angelica, and Juan.

Recently, in no-man’s-land, where we spent a week no longer in Chile but not yet in Argentina, while at an echoing stone military refuge at 9100 ft, we sat along a bench table with the army staff and a passing cabalgata group. Though we only carried the meager stores in our backpacks, they generously shared with us, insisting that red meat and wine would cure Neon’s congestion and cough which had quarantined us there.

 

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With Yoanela and Miguel over breakfast at termas Peuco.

After dinner, convivial rounds of Truco ensued to determine who would eventually do the dishes, as water warmed over the burner in the kitchen. These have been our most pregnant times of learning and story exchange. Learning stories of family and that this is the bicentennial of San Martin’s forces pouring through six Andes passes from Argentina to Chile to fight for independence from Spain.

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De Sobremesa en Villa O’Higgins

Oh my darling readers, do I have a surfeit of stories. I guard them in personal documents like bottles in a wine cellar, to let them age and develop a full flavor. I can’t wait to share, yet delight in the wait.

One of the many things I love about the tradition is that no one is in a hurry; everyone is sated and present. While this blog is primarily an opportunity to share, I would like to extend this one to be an invitation, to hold your own sobremesa. Ignore the dishes for a few extra hours, leave your phone in the next room, let the kids play themselves to sleep.

I would love it if you would then share a picture with us! Either here or post it on our Facebook Page.

Sobremesa, because it’s good for your digestion.

2016-11-09 22.59.16
Mate turned into dinner, wove into the wee hours of the morning in Bariloche with Stevie, Carlos, Lucas, and Carol.

Sobremesa

Escrito por Fidgit
Traduccion por Henry Tovar

Se apilan los recipientes que brillan con el pan:
Viandas de diversos tipos ceban el sabor,
De la variedad más selecto y saborear, rica comida!
-Su Odisea

 

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La mesa arreglada en Antuco para la cena de Ano Nuevo

Sobremesa se traduce como “sobre la mesa”, refiriéndose a una de esas tradiciones que tipo que se te cuelan. Es la práctica de pasar el tiempo después de las comidas, hablando de la vida. Lavando los Platos, poner todo en orden, los niños somnolientos, todos están todavía allí más tarde.
Yo digo que se cuela Porque, ahora que sé lo que es, puedo poner un nombre a las reuniones preciosos con mi familia, para los famosos Taco los martes de ejemplo tío Edward. Familia y amigos, nuevos y viejos, risas, lágrimas, abrazos. En los términos más simples, pasar tiempo juntos es una expresión de amor.

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Disfrutando cerveza y esperando pizza en Pucon con Greta, Marlyn, Ale y Eduardo

Comer despacio, mordisquear cuando se llenan los vientres, y finalmente empujar lejos de la mesa y recostarse hacia atrás, se entregan por completo a las relaciones cariñosas como los cuerpos. Aquí abajo lo llaman charlando y realmente es una forma de arte. Donde nosotros en los Estados Unidos podemos estar orgullosos de hacer varias vueltas de frase alrededor de una mesa, aquí abajo habrá fácilmente rondas en las docenas.
Estas sesiones después de la cena a menudo duran hasta altas horas de la mañana. Alrededor de una mesa de nueve personas, en cualquier punto dado cinco estarán hablando. Mis momentos favoritos son cuando todo el grupo estalla en la risa juntos. Esa es una lengua que todos hablamos. Se lava sobre mí como una ola y deja un resplandor y resplandor, tanto como el vino hace las mejillas rubicundas.

Dinner
Disfrutando de la cena el ano pasado en Coyhaique con Sandra, Kiki y clan.

El sobremesa comenzó con nuestro primer desayuno después de tocar hacia abajo en Santiago en 2015. Nos sentamos alrededor de la pequeña mesa de desayuno del albergue y hablamos de todo, desde el temblor que tembló la ciudad la noche anterior a nuestras historias favoritas de la niñez. ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ conectado con todo el mundo alrededor de la mesa; Chilenos, americanos y franceses. Así es como conocimos a Henry, quien ahora traduce estos blogs al español para todos nosotros. Las relaciones se construyen a partir de tiempos como estos.
Recientemente tomamos un descanso en Santiago, esta vez, habiendo caminado allí, 4000 km. Fue nuestra tercera parada de la ciudad grande a lo largo de esta caminata, después de Coyhaique, Chile y Bariloche, Argentina. En cada parada, y en muchos puntos en el medio, nos partook en sobremesas con los anfitriones y amigos. Dicen que sólo hay tres temas prohibidos: política, religión y fútbol. He visto a los tres romperse en un solo escenario.

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Nuestra “Ultima Cena” con Jan & Mey, disfrutando de comida coreana.

Generalmente, el sobremesa ocurre después del almuerzo (aquí comido alrededor de 2) o cena (cualquier tiempo entre las 9 pm y las 2 am); Aunque, como madrugadores, algunos de nuestros mejores han sido durante el desayuno. Por ejemplo, casi todos los días que pasamos en Santiago con Jan y Meylin comenzamos con un desayuno que se extiende desde panqueques alemanes a huevos, después de lo cual nos sentábamos durante horas y hablábamos de cualquier cosa desde el ascenso y caída de varias filosofías de las potencias mundiales hasta La mejor manera de almacenar y utilizar tubos de queso exprimido en el camino.
Esto a menudo llevó a un tiempo para todos “llegar a la misma página” y hacer un plan para el día. ¿Podríamos ir al museo precolombino o buscar Google Earth Pro para el agua en el norte de Argentina? ¿Vamos a jugar con nuestros consejos y aprender nuevas recetas de pista o ir en caza de un cajero automático con tasas bajas?

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Despues de cerrar el restaurante de sushi peruano en Santiago con Cris, Angelica y Juan.

Recientemente, en tierra de nadie, donde pasamos una semana ya no en Chile, pero aún no en Argentina, mientras que en un refugio militar de piedra resonante a 9100 pies, nos sentamos a lo largo de una mesa de banco con el personal del ejército y un grupo cabalgata que pasaba . Aunque sólo llevábamos las escasas tiendas en nuestras mochilas, generosamente compartían con nosotros, insistiendo en que la carne roja y el vino curarían la congestión de Neon y la tos que nos habían puesto en cuarentena.

5
Con Yoanela y Miguel en el desayuno en termas Peuco

Después de la cena, las rondas de convivencia de Truco siguieron para determinar quién haría eventual los platos, pues el agua calentó sobre el quemador en la cocina. Estos han sido nuestros momentos más gráciles de aprendizaje e intercambio de historias. Aprendiendo historias de familia y que este es el bicentenario de las fuerzas de San Martín que vierten a través de seis Andes pasa de Argentina a Chile para luchar por la independencia de España. Con Yoanela y Miguel en el desayuno en termas Peuco.

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De Sobremesa en Villa O’Higgins

Oh, queridos lectores, ¿tengo un exceso de historias. Los guardo en documentos personales como botellas en una bodega, para dejarlos envejecer y desarrollar un sabor completo. No puedo esperar para compartir, pero me encanta la espera.
Una de las muchas cosas que me gusta de la tradición es que nadie tiene prisa; Todo el mundo está saciado y presente. Si bien este blog es principalmente una oportunidad para compartir, me gustaría extender este para ser una invitación, para celebrar su propia sobremesa. Ignore los platos por unas cuantas horas extra, deje su teléfono en la habitación de al lado, deje que los niños jueguen a sí mismos para dormir.
¡Me encantaría que pudieras compartir una foto con nosotros! Ya sea aquí o publicarlo en nuestra página de Facebook.
Sobremesa, porque es bueno para su digestión.

2016-11-09 22.59.16
Mate se convirtio en cena, tejida en las horas de la manana en Bariloche con Stevie, Carlos, Lucas y Carol.

 

Posted in En Español, Her Odyssey, Patagonia Thru-Hike, Thru-hike
Tagged City time, Culture, Family, Latin Culture Perks, Santiago, Sobremesa, third culture kid, Truco
10 Comments
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Comments (10)

  • Wendell April 9, 2017 at 8:32 pm Reply

    What a great observation and tradition!

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    • Fidgit April 16, 2017 at 7:46 am Reply

      …Also tasty!

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  • Virginia May Nugent April 10, 2017 at 6:49 am Reply

    Love these more philosophical and thematic posts.

    Left foot, fight foot,

    Virginia

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    • Fidgit April 16, 2017 at 7:46 am Reply

      Grateful for that feedback, Virginia. It can be a tough call sometimes as whether to hike on or stay in place. Either way, I try to stay present.

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  • Edward Schneider April 10, 2017 at 4:41 pm Reply

    Your words intoxicate me like a fine wine. As though you are next to me I hear your breath. I feel your hugs and extend them back. Warm treasures shared again.

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    • Fidgit April 16, 2017 at 7:45 am Reply

      …And may there be more Lovefest Taco Tuesdays in our futures.

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  • jonathanaaronblack April 15, 2017 at 11:01 am Reply

    absolutely charming!

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    • Fidgit April 16, 2017 at 7:44 am Reply

      Thank you, Jon.
      You have some lovely pictures of the Divide!

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  • Kathy April 17, 2017 at 12:40 pm Reply

    Read every word.

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    • Fidgit April 17, 2017 at 1:16 pm Reply

      You are a breeze which helps push me up the long hills.
      Someday, let’s sobremesa.

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