After a couple of days in Santiago, it suddenly dawned on me of how the "courting rituals" actually happen in Chile. I've never seen such open displays, and I felt like I was walking into a private situation, even though it was in a clearly public place. I had an internal war of not wanting to stare yet at the same time, catalog the proceedings for scientific (sociology) purposes. I had to put myself in the shoes, figuratively, of Diane Fossey, trying to live amongst the "gorillas" in their natural habitat, not disturbing them as they act as they would, naturally. Making no eye contact!
Turns out it wouldn't have mattered as the "lovers" would act as is if there was no one around. Pretty fair to say that in Canada, the "lovers" would have to be intoxicated to act as the Chileans did. Lori saw it as "romantic" - I explained that the romance was probably just a way of getting back in the good books as there was probably some transgressions : )
Since kids live with their parents till they marry, perhaps this is there way of getting away, getting some intimate "alone" time. Get to know each other better, as it were. Trespass where no one has trespassed before!
It appears there is a sense of anonymity in public places. Or maybe since most of the time they are lying down, they may think we can't see them.
In the end I wondered what it must be like to move to a different country and raise children in a culture different than the one you grew up in. What would it be like to move to Korea, have your children speak Korean and have them think Gangam style is the greatest song ever, without ever knowing about Wayne Gretzky, the Calgary stampede, Tim Hortons or having your children speak English with an accent. Hmmmmm
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