Chile 2010-2011

Merry Christmas from Rancagua, Chile!!

Emilia and I at Rancagua Town Center

  I arrived in Chile on December 16th after a grueling, frustrating trip. US Air missed my original connecting flight from LA to Santiago, so I became what is known in the airline world as a re-routed passenger. I didn’t belong to any particular airline, and I was bumped from flights if they needed the seats for their own customers. I finally arrived in Santiago weary, exhausted and happy to be here. I was met at the airport by Emilia, her father, Pedro, and her Uncle. I carried two large suitcases (50 and 70 lbs), a heavy backpack, and a carry on; everything I needed for this year of travel. I was soooo happy to be in Chile!!!

Emilia, Cecilia, Ahimara, Pedro on Christmas Eve

Ahimara and I

Emilia and I

I first met Emilia when she came to the US in 2008 as a Rotary Exchange Student. She lived with my family from January-July 2009. We grew very close. Now I am staying with her family and she is teaching me Spanish! Isn’t life interesting the way things work out? Sometimes people are brought into our lives that change us forever. This was one of those times.

 First trip into the country to visit relatives. We are drinking Mote.

Emilia’s family is amazing. Pedro is her father, Cecilia is her mother, and she has one sister, Ahimara. I am truly touched by the love that I witness every day in this family. There isn’t a better place on this earth right now for me to be than right here. Their beautiful home is nestled in a valley of the Andes Mountain Range in Rancagua, Chile. It is very comfortable and peaceful here. It is summer time on this part of the globe; temperatures are warm during the day (80F) and cool in the evening (65-70F). Both girls are on summer break, and Pedro is on holiday from his copper mine job, so the family spends a lot of time visiting relatives, getting ready for the holidays (shopping ), vacationing and doing things that all families do on summer break. We stay very busy!

 Coquimbo, Chile.  The Cross of the 3rd Millenium.  Amazing!!

Ahimara and I at the Cross of the 3rd Millenium.

Chile is so beautiful. We just returned from a trip from La Serena and Coquimbo; about a 6 hour drive to the North of Chile. I just have to pinch myself sometimes to see that this is real. I am here in this beautiful country, seeing a new part of the world, eating the awesome food, meeting new people, making new friends, learning a new language. I learn new words every day. It is the coolest thing! My brain is learning a new language! I am convinced that the only other person in this whole country that speaks English is Emilia, so I am at her mercy! My gift of talking story has come to an end. Can you even imagine a quiet Rhona? I am now a listener! I listen to the conversations for words that I know. When I have time, I work on my Rosetta Stone lessons, and I watch TV with subtitles to learn new words. I wish I knew Spanish already! I WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE!! I’ll learn fast!

 Emilia and Ahimara at Fort Coquimbo, Chile

The girls with their father at Fort Coquimbo.

On my second day here we drove to the beach side of Chile to San Antonio (not Texas!), where the frigid ice water comes from the Antarctic and the ocean is too cold to even put my foot in! The beach was beautiful. I helped with the driving. Regular highway speed is 120km which is about 75mph. The scenery is stunning, the family is wonderful, I am relaxed, and I am happy to be here. What an adventure! I experienced Christmas and New Year celebrations in a new country with different traditions. But one thing is always the same, and that is love; love for family, friends and neighbors.

 Cecilia, Emilia, Me and Ahimara at La Serena Port

Riding horses on the beach....

La Serena, Chile

 I will meet the Rotarians next week after the holidays are over. I will also be introduced to the home for handicapped children and adults that I want to volunteer at. Emilia and I are going to Machu Picchu, Peru, for a week Jan 18th. I am going to the South of Chile on Feb 5th with Ahimara for another week. I will also be going to Buenos Aires, Argentina with Emilia to register for her next semester of college Feb 17th. My time in Chile is one of travel, language, adventure, service and love. I will enjoy every minute of every day! I am very blessed to be here.

 Me at a dam

Touring a Capel distillery