Time really does fly by when you're having fun by: Emily Rhatigan

As my third week in Chile comes to an end, I do not even know where to begin on the experiences I have made and more importantly the new group of friends I have made.  It is crazy to think how such a trip could bring together a group of people so different with so many different experiences before this one.  I am so grateful Morgan asked me if I wanted to go on this trip and really be pushed out of my comfort zone.  Now that there is just one week left in this trip, I can only confirm that the statement of "time flies when you're having fun" is 100% true! It feels like just yesterday when I was getting on a plane with two practically strangers and Morgan to go to such a foreign place with very minimal knowledge of Spanish. Now, these girls are like my long lost sisters that I feel like I've known forever and we can joke around whenever. As I sit here and write this blog, words can only explain so much of the experiences that had been created!

This week we got the opportunity to do many fun things and see the beauty of Chile. Starting at the beginning of the week with going to the University of Concepcion where we got to see what a University is like in Chile. We saw a spectacular mural painting on the wall of the art building, which has so much hidden symbolism in every bit of the piece of art. We also visited their clock tower and quad like area on campus, which was full of beautiful trees and a grassy area.

On Wednesday, we got the chance to go to Chiflon del Diablo, which is an underground, under the ocean coal mine.  Our tour was lead by a man who used to actually work in the coal mine and live on the property of the mine. Having someone lead the tour who had first hand experience working in the mine made the tour so much better.  He told us that most coal mine families had as many as sixteen children in one family, which is crazy insane.  They worked incredibly long days in really scary, unsafe working conditions. This is the only mine that is under the ocean and the only mine that does tours for the public.

 

On Friday, we spent the whole day in the mountains of Chillan.  After a very long bus ride, we made it to the part on the mountain with the thermal pools.  We got to go swimming in these hot pools which were on an active volcano. The pools smelt like rotten eggs because of all the sulfur from the volcano.  There was very little snow on the mountains, but not a lot yet because it is still more like fall.  At this place on the mountains, people can also ski and snowboard.  After the hot pools, we ate a delicious lunch and then got to shop around for an hour, which was not enough time for how many different places you could look around. When we got back into town, I got to go to to my sisters gymnastics competition and watch her routine.  She is so talented and flexible!

Apart from al the fun, I have been working in the classroom with various ages (1, 2, and 4th graders) teaching English and Math. Although these kids are the loudest, most chaotic group of kids I have ever seen in a classroom, I love them dearly. It warms my heart so much when I am just walking around and a kid runs up to me yelling "Tia, Tia" ( which is what they call their teachers).  Even though, we have not been able to communicate very much because of language barrier, their love is still so strong. Working with these students has been such a blessing and a great way to start my
career off as an elementary education teacher.