We have been very intrigued by the German influence in this area. We visited a Museo in Nueva Braunau (Braunau being a german town). It was started by a german immigrant who went to all his neighbors collecting family artifacts. In 1845, Chile passed an immigration law to attract immigrants to settle the southern parts of Chile. Between 1850 and 1870, 6000+ families came from Germany. They settled in Valdivia and then Puerto Montt and hacked their way through the dense Valdivian rain forest to carve out farms. Can you imagine the journey in ships from Germany, across the Atlantic, all the way down through the Strait of Magellan and back up the coast? A very intimidating undertaking.
There are many Chileans of german descent still here and it is reflected in the architecture, food, and language of this area. There are lots of kuchen bakeries(yum!), german schools, and german style homes. Karl, our tour guide, grew up speaking german but also spoke spanish and english(learned from watching American movies!) very well.
The germans here are fairer and taller than the average chilean of spanish descent so we don't stick out quite as much (as long as we don't open our mouths!)
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| The Museo is in an old barn. |
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| An old steam engine for powering farm equipment in the field |
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| An old gramophone and it still works! |
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An old piano from 1809 - one year older than the Republic of Chile
It was brought over by boat |
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| An old wood cookstove - they still use these here - they sell them in the local supermarket |
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Music was important to the Germans - old accordion
I'm sure this is not as good as the old Loduca Accordions made by Angie's family in Milwaukee! |
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| A pump organ |
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| Jim's hot tub and steam box |
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| Treadle Sewing machines just like my great grandmother's which my friend Sherry just restored for me |
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Guess what this is?
I'll tell you at the bottom |
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| A cider press for making hard cider also known as chicha down here |
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| Beautiful horse drawn carts |
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guess what this is?
see at bottom |
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Here is our tour guide Karl opening up the latest in washing machines
all hand cranked |
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| After the washing , you put it through the wringer |
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Then you put it in the wood fired drier
yeah! smoked laundry |
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This is the coolest music box!
underneath is the cabinet for storing the large metal disks
and inside goes the metal disks |
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| This is the inside which is a series of bells and metal keys for those really high notes |
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Here is the disk that goes inside
they still work but they just play a recording of their music so they don't get worn out |
And now for the answers - the first picture of the screen box was an old fashioned fridge!
You hang or set your foods inside the screen box and lower it into your well to keep it cool
and the round drum in the second picture was a giant butter churn
Lori --
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that they brought so much stuff over on boats -- through the Stait of Magellan -- to begin their new lives. I can see a parallel between this and you guys with your container still sitting in Boiling Springs. =)
Thanks for the info on Homeschooling. I'm torn. I would want to continue doing so, but would also want the girls to be involved with local kids activities so they make friends and learn the language. We're studying Latin now, which should help some. =) Guess we'll figure all that out, later. =)
Tell Jim -- we guess "smoker" not Fridge--- and I did get the butter churn. But, Eric was sure the clothes dryer was another form of washing machine that you heated the water and put clothes in the tank. lol Smoky clothes would keep away the bugs. =) Guess we'll find out how many of those you encounter when the weather changes.
Again -- the photos were wonderful. The grass is so green!
Suzi
We don't stick out much -- as long as we don't open our mouths. <--- still chuckling over that. =)
ReplyDeleteSuzi
ReplyDeleteJim Here
The school thing is a dilemma for us as well, but because of the sad state of public education here and the private education costing $$$ a month, we decided for our dunder heads / pudding heads,,,,, to spend the money we would on a private school on a private Spanish tutor. The money seems just better spent this way to us as we are pretty satisfied with the homeschool product so far.
As far as interaction we feel that they can easier take advantage of the camping, hiking, fishing, beach walking, snow skiing etc,,, if they are home schooled. Also schools here are NOT activity centered! They do not have sports teams like we do, most are private clubs or groups that meet.
Also there are certain benefits to being educated outside the system here; if you are in the system then you must compete with the Chileano children for seats in the Universities (they call high schools "Collegeos or colleges here), and if you are a foreigner you get the pass on some of the requirements and do not have to take your entrance (ACT?SATs) in Spanish. So to the head of the class you go!
The expense of private education, with its own version of "Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll" (in Spanish) is still present even though less so than in the usa. Kids watch TV here and CNN, MTV. The kids know what it is to be a teen in the usa and it is here though smaller.
As for our container: we are really wanting our stuff around us. As soon as we get our paper worked out we will request it to be shipped.
BTW the grass is green like that year round. All the vegetation is green year round with only a little brown and leaf loss in the winter. It is like a cool, wet summer here in the winter. Not like in the usa where everything is brown and leaf less.
jim
Since my husband is of German descent, this post is very interesting. I am very grateful you shared it with us.. I would LOVE to go to that museo..
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Jackie
Just wondering how much the wood cookstoves sell for in the local stores?
ReplyDeleteJackie
I'v loved your sight seeing posts! They give me an even greater incentive to visit! John knows that I love Italy, and that is to be our next destination, but I told him, "Maybe Chile should be on our radar instead!" We'd go to Igauci Falls (SP) as well.
ReplyDeleteI think homeschooling there is probably a wonderful option for you for the same reasons we homeschool here and more! You guys can have the flexibility to travel, etc..
I know Thomas will pick up on the language lickedy-split.
There is a large German community throughout that area of SA. I have a very good friend whose grandfather, and father (both born in Brazil) are German! The grandfather is 100% German, but a Brazilian! My friend's last name is Graupner. I was shocked to learn of his Brazilian heritage only last month, since I've known him from 17 years and lived in Brazil for 2 years myself!!
The leaves are beginning to turn here, and it's definitely chilly once the sun sets )I've learned that out on the soccer field!
Enjoy the day!
stacy
Hi Jackie
ReplyDeleteThe little stoves that would only hold a pot or 2 are about $150 and the larger ones that would hold 4 pots are about $300.
Thanks for the comment, Stacy
ReplyDeleteYes, we really want the flexibility of traveling.
I can understand why you want to go to italy but Chile is the most beautiful country in the world!! esp. if you like outdoor activities and can hike the trails to the most beautiful spots like Torres del paine national park.
Jim or Lori,
ReplyDeleteWhat does the wood cost to fuel the stove? Is it the primary fuel for heat and cooking in your neck of the woods?
Flambeaux
ReplyDeleteLena (firewood) here costs us about $64.00/month to buy. It is dry split wood cut to length to fit in the typical wood stove for heating. Of course if you had a chain saw it "wood" be free!
For cooking most people use gas or propane for the small Chileano gas stoves they have. Many people continue cooking on wood stoves even though gas may be available as this is cheaper and they grew up this way. You may even find wealthy people prefer this method.
When we build our house we hope to have a commercial gas range like you would find at church. We also plan to build a Brick Oven in our kitchen as well since we like pizza and baking bread, and this is also a wonderful way to cook.
So we will just have to see.
I'm not sure how I would use a pressure canner on a woodstove. I think I would have to go for the commercial gas stove for kitchen use..
ReplyDeleteJackie
I got the butter churn too, but not the frige.
ReplyDeleteBoy Lori would love to have one of those wood-fired cookstoves.
Miss all you Dorchaks!
God bless you
Jim Curley
Jackie and Jim Curley
ReplyDeleteThe cook stoves are big here in the south of Chile, and cheap too! I looked at one yesterday which was the cats meow and it was about $400 to $500 dollars USA. They are very efficient too as they re burn the gasses. Some of them are kind of El Cheapo and are made of lighter steel, but the one I saw at the "COVEPA" live stock store yesterday was all cast iron and had been milled.
Also Jim we saw some gents working their honey bees yesterday on a 45 min drive from Orsono. We did not stop, but my Mennonite friend Guillermo who was with us in the car told me that they have no diseases like we had to battle in the USA.
On that note they do have MINKS! Which are not native and they eat all types of sheep and chickens and other such live stock. They have no natural enemies and have become a real problem. Guillermo told me that one MINK killed 90 of his laying hens in one night! They are blood thirsty
Jim
Great info!! Love the follow-up discussions. I'm learning lots.
ReplyDelete