Hello Classmates!
Today I'm going to talk about the reasons why I'm studying this subject.
After I finished my first career -gastronomy- I thought that I was too young to keep only that knowledge, so I thought ''why not study something else''.
I didn't know anything about food engineering, until my father showed me the subject's curriculum. When I saw it I imagined all the things that I could do with this new understanding.
I always thought that been a chef you can only attain to a certain group of people (the ones who like your food, the ones who can pay what you cook, etc.), but if you work for the industry you can arrive at every home. That was my first intention.
This year caught me the interest of healthy food, fair trade and ecology. I have been reading books and watching documentaries related with these topics that made me want to apply all this new information to chilean food industry.
I found it a thrilling career because people all over the world eat, and what you can do for health with honest information is amazing. Like Hipocrates said: ''You are what you eat''.
The dark side -there is always one- is that food industry is like a drug cartel. There are too many lies and bad practices related to the industry because money rules and usually makes teachers to not talk about different options. Most of teachers prepare you to go to the traditional industry (like Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, PG&E, etc). So I think that change things will be very difficult but not impossible.
Once I'll finish the engineer I would like to go to Europe to study a food science master, because there is no good politics in food industry here in latin america, and why not create my own mozzarella brand.
viernes, 21 de noviembre de 2014
viernes, 7 de noviembre de 2014
Provincia Hill
Hi Classmates!
Today I'd like to share with you one of the experience I'm most proud.
I've been doing trekking since two years now and every time I feel that I have to go further.
The first time I felt that I was doing more than I expected for myself, was making the Sierra Nevada path in Conguillio National Park. I started the route with my broyfriend at four in the morning, just to see the sunrise at the top of the hill. After an hour of walking, I was complaining and thinking that our romatic adventure was the worst idea in the world. I wanted to cry, to sit and never walk again (yes, like a little baby). Fortunately, my boyfriend loves me so much and have so much patience that he only gave me words of courage. At seven o'clock in the morning we were at the top of Sierra Nevada watching Conguillio Lake and an Auraucaria's forest been iluminated by the weak rays of the morning sun... PRICELESS!
After that I was embarrassed for my behaviour and I did understand that for my boyfriend was horrible too, we weren't in a very good physical state, we were eating bad the last days, and ofcourse my complaints weren't a dosis of joy. I did understand that you have to do the best (and the best of the best!) and think that you are not the only one tired.
The second time I felt I that I was pushing myself is the one of what I'm proud of.
With my boyfriend decided to climb Provincia Hill, in Santiago. But we didn't wanted to go for a day, we wanted to stay at the top in a little refuge.
We knew that this will be harder, because of the distance and the steep gradient, the lack of water and the weight of the campaign bags. Even that we tried.
The first hours we were whistling, chating and laughing, but then we were worried because our march wasn't fast as we expected.
After five hours of walking, we knew that left three hours more and that meant that we have to do one hour of path in darkness. Paradoxically, this time I wasn't complaining, my boyfriend was.
The last hour was horrible, and I saw how my boyfriend was suffering, but I remembered the time in Sierra Nevada and now I was the one giving courage to the world.
That made me feel proud. For almost the first time in my life I dind't say "I can't, let's go back". It is something very personal, simply won to myself.
In the mountain you need to be strong because you are all alone, and as I said, I felt like the strongest girl in the world.
When we were at the top the award was amazing. We observed Santiago, from side to side, iluminated by the streets lights at 2.800 m.a.s.l.
In that trek I learnt a lot about me and thanks to this experience I never give up when my body feels tired.
Today I'd like to share with you one of the experience I'm most proud.
I've been doing trekking since two years now and every time I feel that I have to go further.
The first time I felt that I was doing more than I expected for myself, was making the Sierra Nevada path in Conguillio National Park. I started the route with my broyfriend at four in the morning, just to see the sunrise at the top of the hill. After an hour of walking, I was complaining and thinking that our romatic adventure was the worst idea in the world. I wanted to cry, to sit and never walk again (yes, like a little baby). Fortunately, my boyfriend loves me so much and have so much patience that he only gave me words of courage. At seven o'clock in the morning we were at the top of Sierra Nevada watching Conguillio Lake and an Auraucaria's forest been iluminated by the weak rays of the morning sun... PRICELESS!
After that I was embarrassed for my behaviour and I did understand that for my boyfriend was horrible too, we weren't in a very good physical state, we were eating bad the last days, and ofcourse my complaints weren't a dosis of joy. I did understand that you have to do the best (and the best of the best!) and think that you are not the only one tired.
The second time I felt I that I was pushing myself is the one of what I'm proud of.
With my boyfriend decided to climb Provincia Hill, in Santiago. But we didn't wanted to go for a day, we wanted to stay at the top in a little refuge.
We knew that this will be harder, because of the distance and the steep gradient, the lack of water and the weight of the campaign bags. Even that we tried.
The first hours we were whistling, chating and laughing, but then we were worried because our march wasn't fast as we expected.
After five hours of walking, we knew that left three hours more and that meant that we have to do one hour of path in darkness. Paradoxically, this time I wasn't complaining, my boyfriend was.
The last hour was horrible, and I saw how my boyfriend was suffering, but I remembered the time in Sierra Nevada and now I was the one giving courage to the world.
That made me feel proud. For almost the first time in my life I dind't say "I can't, let's go back". It is something very personal, simply won to myself.
In the mountain you need to be strong because you are all alone, and as I said, I felt like the strongest girl in the world.
When we were at the top the award was amazing. We observed Santiago, from side to side, iluminated by the streets lights at 2.800 m.a.s.l.
In that trek I learnt a lot about me and thanks to this experience I never give up when my body feels tired.
viernes, 3 de octubre de 2014
Rescuing an animal
Hello classmates!
Today I'm going to write about a group activity I liked to get toghether.
Everybody knows how bad are things with responsible ownership -on animals- in Chile. You can see in the streets a lot of homeless domestic animals, who not only can be dangerous because of them behaviour, they are transmiting diseases too.
But this is only one look. If you have the opportunity to share a little bit of your time with a homeless pet you will know how much love they are claiming.
About three years ago I joined a volunteer group called RDA Chile. The purpose of them is not only to decrease the number of homeless pets in the streets but educate population to change the way of how they see what is a pet for.
As a volunteer, I used to transport (anytime they needed me) new rescued from a step home to the veterinary, or transport them to a new home. Also, as a daily job, I publish every campaign or information on Facebook to increase the movement.
Unfortunately, today I'm not working in a direct way with animals because months ago I suffer a lost as a step owner and it was very hard for me. So, for now, I'm helping with the bills every month.
Been a RDA volunteer it's a very satisfying way to help homeless pets. You can see how much they were suffering and then you see them in their new homes living a life knowing that part of their joy it's because of you. Sometimes you will suffer, that's a fact, but when you are responsible for changing a life you know that it's a good path to stick to it.
If you are interested in helping homeless pets, join RDA Chile on Facebook!
Today I'm going to write about a group activity I liked to get toghether.
Everybody knows how bad are things with responsible ownership -on animals- in Chile. You can see in the streets a lot of homeless domestic animals, who not only can be dangerous because of them behaviour, they are transmiting diseases too.
But this is only one look. If you have the opportunity to share a little bit of your time with a homeless pet you will know how much love they are claiming.
About three years ago I joined a volunteer group called RDA Chile. The purpose of them is not only to decrease the number of homeless pets in the streets but educate population to change the way of how they see what is a pet for.
As a volunteer, I used to transport (anytime they needed me) new rescued from a step home to the veterinary, or transport them to a new home. Also, as a daily job, I publish every campaign or information on Facebook to increase the movement.
Unfortunately, today I'm not working in a direct way with animals because months ago I suffer a lost as a step owner and it was very hard for me. So, for now, I'm helping with the bills every month.
Been a RDA volunteer it's a very satisfying way to help homeless pets. You can see how much they were suffering and then you see them in their new homes living a life knowing that part of their joy it's because of you. Sometimes you will suffer, that's a fact, but when you are responsible for changing a life you know that it's a good path to stick to it.
If you are interested in helping homeless pets, join RDA Chile on Facebook!
viernes, 29 de agosto de 2014
Christmas hangover
Hi Classmates!
One of my favorites family meals that I remember was a Christmas celebration (I think that was 2008's Christmas). Dinner was organizated by mi aunt by law Lola (a very crazy spanish woman) at my uncle's home. There were my parents (Sergio and Roxana), my brother Álvaro, my uncle Atilio (but we call him Poncho), my aunt Lola and my cousin Francisco.. I don't remember why my sister Camila wasn't there.
As a family, we enjoy a lot Christmas eve. Everybody have to help, it doesn't matter what do you do, nobody can be sit at the couch until the first bottle of wine or champagne is open. Obviously with the drinks comes the food (or is it the other way?).
Food and drinks were passing by all night, before opnening the presents and after, but in this particularly year I think that drinks were priority.
As the hours were passing by, the chating were louder and louder, the laughs were more repetitive and my little cousin thought that was the right time for videotape how our parents were getting drunk.
My aunt were sending kisses to the camera while my mother, with a non-understandable pronunciation, was discussing with my uncle because he wanted to vote for Sebastián Piñera. More than her horrible pronunciation, what made us laugh to death were her words: your father must be twisting in his grave now!!!After that, my dad was feeling sick.. 'Til today he says that was the roasted peppers he ate, not the half bottle of Orujo that he drank.
For me is a good memory. My brother, cousin and me saw how relaxed were our parents. How happy of not been worried about us because we were adults. They enjoyed that night as young people and I think that it is a lovely gift.
I can't show the videos.. sorry! It's a family treasure.
One of my favorites family meals that I remember was a Christmas celebration (I think that was 2008's Christmas). Dinner was organizated by mi aunt by law Lola (a very crazy spanish woman) at my uncle's home. There were my parents (Sergio and Roxana), my brother Álvaro, my uncle Atilio (but we call him Poncho), my aunt Lola and my cousin Francisco.. I don't remember why my sister Camila wasn't there.
As a family, we enjoy a lot Christmas eve. Everybody have to help, it doesn't matter what do you do, nobody can be sit at the couch until the first bottle of wine or champagne is open. Obviously with the drinks comes the food (or is it the other way?).
Food and drinks were passing by all night, before opnening the presents and after, but in this particularly year I think that drinks were priority.
As the hours were passing by, the chating were louder and louder, the laughs were more repetitive and my little cousin thought that was the right time for videotape how our parents were getting drunk.
My aunt were sending kisses to the camera while my mother, with a non-understandable pronunciation, was discussing with my uncle because he wanted to vote for Sebastián Piñera. More than her horrible pronunciation, what made us laugh to death were her words: your father must be twisting in his grave now!!!After that, my dad was feeling sick.. 'Til today he says that was the roasted peppers he ate, not the half bottle of Orujo that he drank.
For me is a good memory. My brother, cousin and me saw how relaxed were our parents. How happy of not been worried about us because we were adults. They enjoyed that night as young people and I think that it is a lovely gift.
I can't show the videos.. sorry! It's a family treasure.
viernes, 22 de agosto de 2014
About ANTICS OF DRUNKEN TOURISTS IN BARCELONA - THE GUARDIAN
Barcelona is known as a students' city, indeed, is one of the favorite destinations for european students (Spain is the head of the list for Erasmus scolarship), and it's a fact that these kind of cities (or neighbourhoods) usually brings a party atmosphere.
After reading the article, I agree with locals of La Barceloneta to demand authorities to control antisocial behaviour, since they are paying the costs of the overpopulation of tourists, but this isn't the heart's problem in my opinion. What drunk people (or more in general, antisocials) do is a problem all over the world, and the police solution is only "beating" people 'til they'll stop (and then do it again and again), the problem in here is the crowd.
As the article said, only 72 lodges were legal at La Barceloneta, but actually, there are 600 operating. I think that locals must focus on this point. They should request to authorities to monitor the ilegal accommodations and close them down or force them to regularize their situation for the community, this way -in my opinion- the day-to-day of see antisocial behaviour will be decreased.
After reading the article, I agree with locals of La Barceloneta to demand authorities to control antisocial behaviour, since they are paying the costs of the overpopulation of tourists, but this isn't the heart's problem in my opinion. What drunk people (or more in general, antisocials) do is a problem all over the world, and the police solution is only "beating" people 'til they'll stop (and then do it again and again), the problem in here is the crowd.
As the article said, only 72 lodges were legal at La Barceloneta, but actually, there are 600 operating. I think that locals must focus on this point. They should request to authorities to monitor the ilegal accommodations and close them down or force them to regularize their situation for the community, this way -in my opinion- the day-to-day of see antisocial behaviour will be decreased.
Eat Your Heart Out
Hello classmates!
Some of you may not know but I'm a Food Engineer student, so, in this opportunity I would like to write of a shocking book about food industry that I've been reading: Eat Your Heart Out ("Quién decide lo que comemos"), by Felicity Lawrence.
Felicity Lawrence is an english journalist who works for the newspaper The Guardian. For twenty years, she have been writing about irregularities in food industry: from misuse of ingredients to labor exploitation.
In Eat Your Heart Out, the author concentrates on three points: how food industry damages our healthy, the environment and the economy.
You may have asking "HOW?".
The major point of this is that food companies play with our ignorance and feelings by using the powerful weapon of marketing.
Today, as you can see when you go to the supermarket, there's a lot of choices of differents kinds of food. You can buy rice cereal, corn cereal, with sugar, with fruit flavor, with our favorite cartoon printed on the box, etc. And that make us feel like we are choosing something.. but are we really choosing?
If you go to the label, the same ingredients are in everything that goes to our mouth (even in pets food). But, how does is affect to us?
Well, the thing is that companies plays their cards convincing us that is healthy for us, even they put a doctor on TV telling us that we must consume that product.
A lot of those products aren't what they say, even the box is more nutritious for us than the food that contains. And not only is bad for us.
Food companies are not interested in our health, they measure their power by money, so they make us a loyal client with all their "cientific" studies (and sometimes morals) persuading us to consume in ridiculous amounts, while they cut costs damaging environment and involving in social and economics politics.
I hope that this little introduction makes you want to read this book, I really think that is an "eye opener".
Some of you may not know but I'm a Food Engineer student, so, in this opportunity I would like to write of a shocking book about food industry that I've been reading: Eat Your Heart Out ("Quién decide lo que comemos"), by Felicity Lawrence.
Felicity Lawrence is an english journalist who works for the newspaper The Guardian. For twenty years, she have been writing about irregularities in food industry: from misuse of ingredients to labor exploitation.
In Eat Your Heart Out, the author concentrates on three points: how food industry damages our healthy, the environment and the economy.
You may have asking "HOW?".
The major point of this is that food companies play with our ignorance and feelings by using the powerful weapon of marketing.
Today, as you can see when you go to the supermarket, there's a lot of choices of differents kinds of food. You can buy rice cereal, corn cereal, with sugar, with fruit flavor, with our favorite cartoon printed on the box, etc. And that make us feel like we are choosing something.. but are we really choosing?
If you go to the label, the same ingredients are in everything that goes to our mouth (even in pets food). But, how does is affect to us?
Well, the thing is that companies plays their cards convincing us that is healthy for us, even they put a doctor on TV telling us that we must consume that product.
A lot of those products aren't what they say, even the box is more nutritious for us than the food that contains. And not only is bad for us.
Food companies are not interested in our health, they measure their power by money, so they make us a loyal client with all their "cientific" studies (and sometimes morals) persuading us to consume in ridiculous amounts, while they cut costs damaging environment and involving in social and economics politics.
I hope that this little introduction makes you want to read this book, I really think that is an "eye opener".
viernes, 1 de agosto de 2014
Winter Break
Hi Classmates,
I hope you enjoyed your winter vacations!
I had a really relaxing and lazy break so I didn't too much, at least not exciting things, but I discovered, in this break, a new scenary for a place that I love.
As a hobby, trekking is a really necessary activity in my life, so I'm often searching in the internet new places to go near Santiago.
Obviously, because of the weather, is easily to do trekking in summer than winter, but because of that I was getting bored because landscapes were always the same: dust and too much sun! So with my boyfriend and two friends, we decided to go to Yerba Loca park (near to Farellones ski centre) to have a barbecue, some wine and beers.
I always go to Yerba Loca in summer, and it was a very good experience, but in winter.. WHAT CAN I SAY!
At the beginning of the trekking road, there is a place called Villa Paulina, it's a camp and picnic site, which was the place where we made our barbecue, and as we go after a raining day, Villa Paulina was covered by snow.
It was a sunny day, so the barbecue was perfect. We enjoyed the sun rays and snow too (a very good natural refrigerator for beers). There was a small water channel too, which bring us a calm sensation because of the sound of running water.
After we finished the lunch, we went to a viewer called Mirador del Águila, where you can see the mountains and part of the park, and if you have lucky, you can see condors flying
Hope you enjoyed the reading!
I hope you enjoyed your winter vacations!
I had a really relaxing and lazy break so I didn't too much, at least not exciting things, but I discovered, in this break, a new scenary for a place that I love.
As a hobby, trekking is a really necessary activity in my life, so I'm often searching in the internet new places to go near Santiago.
Obviously, because of the weather, is easily to do trekking in summer than winter, but because of that I was getting bored because landscapes were always the same: dust and too much sun! So with my boyfriend and two friends, we decided to go to Yerba Loca park (near to Farellones ski centre) to have a barbecue, some wine and beers.
I always go to Yerba Loca in summer, and it was a very good experience, but in winter.. WHAT CAN I SAY!
At the beginning of the trekking road, there is a place called Villa Paulina, it's a camp and picnic site, which was the place where we made our barbecue, and as we go after a raining day, Villa Paulina was covered by snow.
It was a sunny day, so the barbecue was perfect. We enjoyed the sun rays and snow too (a very good natural refrigerator for beers). There was a small water channel too, which bring us a calm sensation because of the sound of running water.
After we finished the lunch, we went to a viewer called Mirador del Águila, where you can see the mountains and part of the park, and if you have lucky, you can see condors flying
Hope you enjoyed the reading!
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