Exodus

Antofagasta

On Sunday, April 11th, our mass of volunteers began the inevitable fragmentation that would eventually lead to fifty some odd gringos scattered across the length and breadth of Chile. Those going to the far North (como yo) and those going to the upper South boarded buses bound for lengthy hauls across the vast length of country. We who went North ended up riding in a straight shot for seventeen hours, with our end destination being the capital of Region II, Antofagasta.

That morning, however, we all made a valiant attempt to spend as much time as a group as possible, and to that end a sizable chunk of us met up with "Ministry Mike" and his polola (girlfriend in Chilean) Nicole, who were the two top Volunteer leaders. They promised us a "gringo" breakfest, complete with bacon. Many of us, myself included, could not pass up the opportunity and thus we joined them in one of the richer, cleaner areas of Santiago known as Las Condes. What they promised was true; there was a cafe that claimed to serve gringo breakfast. However, though my plate had on it eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and toast...it was still nothing more then a poor Chilean attempt at a proper brekkie. The portions were very small, and the hashbrowns tasted like stale french fries you eat of the floor of your car days later....not that I do that. However, the eggs and bacon were perfecto, and probably the last I will have for many moons.

We all eventually made it back to the hostel, and by 21:15 I was on a bus that would take us to the bus station, to get on another bus. We were given a proper send off, and there was lots of hugging and hand shaking and besitos (the kiss on the cheek common to Latin America.) As a group, and as individuals, we became quite close, so it was sad to break off and head in different directions. Such is life.

The bus ride for me was not bad at all. The seats were "cama" seats (meaning bed in Spanish) and thus reclined to an almost flat position, allowing me to sleep nearly the entirety of the trip. Sleeping also offered me the mercy to not have to endure the slew of awful movies they played (10,000 BC, 2012, He Just Not That Into You, etc...) I didn't miss anything outside either, because by the time the sun rose and we could see out...there was nothing to see. Desert, hills that look like heaps of dirt, and the occasional rock formation. Then we reached Antofagasta, and as soon as we did, the sky clouded over. Thus, my first vista of the second largest city in Chile was a dismal one. The place looked rough, despite being on the mighty Pacific, and we were all equally bummed. However, the next day, with the sun out, proved the city to be "not too bad."

We stayed once more in a hostel, in a room that we (the four of us gents involved: Mike the Surfer from New York, Matt, Ryan, and myself) all agreed was an improvement over the ones in Santiago. We had a porch that faced the sea and that night, with both doors open and the sound and smells of the sea wafting in, I slept the best I have since I arrived in this country. That night we shared dinner and vino with the group of volunteers already in Antofagasta (the year long program people--we are 8 month.) They brought us fresh made guacamole and we chatted long into night as they told us their horror stories and lent questionable advice (one girl told us she throws tennis balls at her kids when they act up. You can do that here, apparently.)

The next morning our Regional help person, Rio (who is awesome) led us to a swank hotel where we had a "regional orientation." About mid-morning our partner teachers for our respective schools showed up for a little one-on-one work-shopping and scheduling. I write our, but I mean theirs. Mine didn't show. I had to sit sad and teacherless while everyone got the 411 on their school. Afterward they fed us a fantastic meal courtesy of the hotel (palm heart salad or palmitos, fresh salmon, peaches* and ice cream), and then two of our group, Mike and Vanessa, left with their teacher to head south to the coastal hamlet of Taltal. An hour later, Matt's host family showed up and took him away (he was staying in Antofagasta city), shortly after that Ryan, Mary, Hannah, and I were on a bus bound three hours into the heart of the desert for Calama. We watched the sun set over the Atacama desert and by nightfall we were there; Calama es un oasis de opportunidad (read the sign.)

Next up: Meeting the family.

*They eat an insane amount of peaches in Chile. On the bus ride to Antofagasta alone we were each given four peach cups and boxes of peach juice to drink. The national "treat" in Chile is mote con huesillos which is literally an entire canned peach, pit and all, dropped into peach syrup to which puffed wheat germ is added. It tastes exactly like it sounds.