Over the next several hours, more of Diego's friends arrived, many bringing their own food and drinks to contribute to the party. Diego walked around from time to time, offering us small pieces of freshly grilled meat, which we ate with our fingers. It was very different from most barbecues in the United States, where each person is given their own serving of food on a plate.
We stayed at the park until it grew too dark to see, and the park officials came by riding their horses and told us to leave. Some of Diego's friends decided to continue the party at a house, but I was feeling a bit tired after hours of meeting new people and talking in Spanish, so his friends gave me a ride to the metro to return home.
Chileans are very social, and gatherings like the asado can last for many hours, as I experienced! An asado is a bit like a barbecue or backyard party, but there is more focus on cooking the food (just like a really good "grill master" in the United States might be proud of his or her skill) and less focus on actually sitting down to eat it, at least in this casual situation.
Chilean families are more connected than families in the United States, and it is common for extended families with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to all visit one relative's home for a meal on the weekend. These meals are as much about the social atmosphere and the opportunity to visit as they are about the food. The asado is just another example of this type of gathering.
