Mechoneo
There is a really strong tradition surrounding freshman in universities in Chile. It has been very interesting to experience first hand! Depending on your major and university, you will be subjected to a certain type of hazing. The worst universities are Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Universidad Católica. Your upperclassmen will take you out of class, destroy your clothes, soak you in foul substances, make you wear fish heads around your neck, cut your hair, and take away all your stuff. Next, you are forced to go out in the streets and ask for money. When you have reached the fee, your belongings will be returned. The money is then used to throw a big welcome party for the freshman. Kissing pig heads and swimming in pools of rotting garbage is also supposed to be part of the tradition. Older people in Santiago say to avoid all the streets near the universities during their starting month of March to avoid the stench. It’s true! The streets are full of these poor souls soaked in all kinds of foulness and, man oh man, do they smell. I was surprised to see lots of other students and all kinds of people giving them money! I also felt very bad for them, as they were in a seriously sad and repulsive state, and gave out coins when I could. However, it seems like it is done in good fun and no one is seriously distressed. Nonetheless, there is growing controversy about the practice and other majors and universities are turning to other types of welcomes for freshman.
The word mechón, used as freshman is Chile, actually means lock of hair and is used because often chunks of hair are cut. Mechoneo refers to the practice of hazing the freshman.
Pretty common to see “Mechón” written on the students faces or bodies like this girl.