Our Trip to Achao in Chiloe - summer social work with La Universidad Andres Bello where Rafa is a student

Hello!!

Rafa and Jasmyn just got back from Chiloé. We were there from January 7th to the 16th. There Rafa traveled to different clinics on the island of Achao with his classmates. It was a group of almost 70 students who in a week accomplished seeing 300 patients needing restorations, cavities filled, or teeth pulled. To be honest, most wanted their teeth pulled. Many on the islands around Chiloé don´t have the access to dentists or they are too expensive, so it was great that Andrés Bello could offer free services to them.

Jasmyn, stayed behind during the day to prepare meals during the week and make sure her team of helpers (5 different students each day that would stay back to help) kept the “house” clean. We stayed in the dorms for a boarding school of young boys that is not in use because everyone is on summer vacation now.

It was a great experience, but tiring. The university students still partied all night each day so sleep was hard to find. And not everyone liked the food, but we still had some rave about the menus. I think it was the chili that not everyone could eat... He he. The day of hot dogs was the most popular! Chileans love to eat what are called “completos” which is typical hot dog in a bun, but they put diced tomatoes, guacamole (not spicey, just mashed avocados), mayonnaise, and sometimes ketchup or sauerkraut. It is the ultimate hot dog you´ll never see in the states.

We did get a free day though when the boats were cancelled because of winds and rough sea, and a team volunteered to make the supper for Jasmyn. So, Jasmyn joined Rafa´s group of students to travel and visit in Dalcahue. It was relaxing. We saw a rodeo and ate seafood!

On Sunday we also had time, although it was a work day for the university project, to go to church. All the churches had mostly afternoon services which was interesting. Not sure if it was because people are more relaxed there or to allow drunks to wake up and still have a chance to visit church.... They have a problem with alcoholism in the island we´ve been told. The church we went to had a Sunday School in the morning so we went to that. The congregation was so small, but it was amazing to see them so joyful with so little. They had worship with songs on a flip chart and with no instruments. The fellowship and the message were good and it was neat to see how involved the children were in the church.

After church a family invited us to tea. Not just any tea, but “mate”. It´s a type of Andean green tea which you drink hot out of a special cup that has a metal straw. It is very yummy. We felt like at home with the married couple and their three girls. It reminded us of Hannah, Jasmyn´s sister too, because two of the young girls played their violins for us. The hospitality was great. We shared stories and Jasmyn even helped translate some things into English for them.

All in all the trip was great! We even got to ride on a Chilean Air Force propellar plane that helped carry our stuff to the island on the way down.