Tear Gas & Water Cannons

So today marked the 37th week that students have been protesting in Santiago. They are protesting the privatized education system and asking the goverment to make some changes. It's very expense to go to school here so there has been protests every week and sometimes more than once a week. A lot of the schools are also closed right now... some of the older girls in the hogar only go to school once a week because of everything going on right now.

Today they decided to march and last night they pulled out of talks with the government so we knew it was going to be a big one.... but not this big. Luckily I wasn't feeling good today so I stayed in sick, but at least half of my room mates couldn't go to work today because of everything.

So we live near Plaza Italia -- think Hillsboro in Raleigh - a big main street where lots of things happen after big events or elections, etc. So we are right in the thick of the protests, but we live at least 6 blocks away from the Plaza. All day all we heard was drums, screaming, chanting followed by sirens and police. Then there were loud booms and just crazy noise all day! The police here shoot tear gas if they get out of control and they have been shooting it for at least 7 hours today. The students throw things at the tankers and the police and then the spray them with water cannons. It's just crazy!!

This is a picture from my friend's window who lives right in Plaza Italia....

Tear gas on a 2nd level apartment

We all had stinging nosises and couldn't open the windows today in my house. It's been over for about 4 hours, but I stil can't walk to the grocery store because of the gas in the air.

Here are a few photos from today..... It's just crazy that this is all going on here and scary! The only things that is ok is that we know before it happnens and they put it in the papers.

Apparently if I am ever caught in something like this all I have to do is run up to a policeman and tell him that I am a gringa and need to get home and they will help me. The police are VERY nice, especially to people from other countries.

Tear Gas tankers that have been attacked by students

Water cannon tankers

Crazy right??
Small bit of irony.... I googled the protests to find some pictures and what do you know... all of these photos are from a story in the Denver Post :)