Volunteer in Chile La Serena Teaching Program

Full name (first and last): Arlene Rosenbaum

What do you do (study or work, where): retired

Where are you from (city and country): Rohnert Park, California USA

1.1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?

Why Chile: I have a friend who lived in Chile and he recommended it. Also to improve my Spanish.

What program: teaching English

Why this program: I do some tutoring and I like children.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program? 

Program: How respectful and friendly the students at the school are.

Host Family: How open they were to make me feel welcome and included.

Country: Chile has many of the same social issues as the US: immigration, cost of education, cost of health care, industry versus environment, legalization of marijuana.

One thing that surprised me about Santiago was how many demonstrations and protests there are. It seems like I saw or heard about a demonstration several times a week, on a variety of issues.

Also, I was surprised that I could see penguins in the northern part of the country at Isla Damas.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program? 

Program: My lack of Spanish skills made it difficult for me to interact with the students in spite of their efforts to communicate with their limited English.

Host Family: My lack of Spanish skills made it difficult to communicate with the host family in spite of their efforts with their limited English.

Country: My lack of Spanish skills made it difficult to communicate with others in spite of their efforts.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….

Clothing: La Serena was colder in autumn than I expected based on the temperature, because the humidity is always very high, something like San Francisco.

Sightseeing: There are many beautiful places to see. From Santiago, I took a day tour to the Andes with Isto E Chile – Embalse El Yeso, which was very good. 

Also, from La Serena I took a tour to Isla Damas where I saw penguins, sea lions, pelicans, and cormorants. Sometimes you can also see dolphins. My host family arranged this locally, which was much cheaper than the tours available online. However, I was the only English speaker in the tour group, but the guide spoke English.

I did not get a chance to tour the Elqui Valley but that was also highly recommended by my host family.

Donations: I brought several first readers (” I can read” books) in English for the younger students. They were greatly appreciated because they are difficult to find in Chile and are expensive for them. I bought them online from Amazon.

Laundry/internet: I was able to do laundry at the host family for a small fee. The internet worked well at the host family but is limited at the school.

Volunteering in Chile

5. Other things volunteers should know about: 

a.- City/town: La Serena seemed like a very nice small city, although rush hour traffic was quite heavy. There is a nice beachfront, although I went in April so it was not beach weather.

b.- Local People: In La Serena people were very nice. I was always offered a seat on a crowded bus. Also, people were very helpful when I asked for directions in spite of language barriers. In Santiago, like other big cities, the friendliness of the people varied quite a bit.

6. Personal Paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible: 

My volunteer experience to assist English teachers in Chile was challenging but rewarding. I assisted several different English teachers for classes ranging from 4^thgrade to 12^thgrade. My main function was to speak to them and read aloud so that they could hear American English spoken with an American accent (although their course book was for British English). I also corrected their grammar and spelling when necessary.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the students were doing. The English curriculum used in the school was quite good, and the English teachers pretty fluent. (The school is a private Catholic school.)

I wish I had been able to participate more in the classroom. Although I had studied Spanish off and on over several years and took Spanish tutoring while I was volunteering, I still struggled to communicate with all but people fluent in English, such as the English teachers, my Spanish tutor, and the university-age daughter of the host family. As a result of my trip, my Spanish has improved immensely, but I am still very far from fluent.

In spite of the language problems, with the help of my hostess, I was able to navigate to and from school by myself, and I was able to generally make myself understood when necessary.

The host family and the students and teachers at the school were very friendly and welcoming. The students were very respectful.

I also very much enjoyed the 2-day tours I took: one to the Andes from Santiago and one to Isla Damas from La Serena.

7. How would you describe your: 

Accommodation: The accommodation was fine. I had my own room and bathroom since there were no other volunteers at the time. The bed was comfortable. However, it was quite cold at night so I needed 3 blankets.

Meals (favorite): The vegetarian meals, which I had requested, were excellent. Senora Vilma is a wonderful cook and everything was made with fresh ingredients. My favorites were the homemade peanut butter and banana bread.

Security: I felt quite safe in La Serena walking to and from the bus and walking around downtown. I felt more cautious in Santiago, where I was warned by the hotel manager not to walk around downtown at night.

Host family: The host family was extraordinarily helpful. Senora Vilma rode the bus with me several times to make sure I knew where to get on and off. She also called to arrange a tour for me and came shopping with me for souvenirs She prepared delicious meals every day. The whole family was very friendly and interested in finding out about me, and in explaining Chilean culture to me.

Gap Year Chile

8. What was your memory of this trip? 

Program: I assisted several different English teachers for classes ranging from 4^thgrade to 12^thgrade. My main function was to speak to them and read aloud so that they could hear American English spoken with an American accent (although their course book was for British English). I also corrected their grammar and spelling when necessary. The students were all very nice and many made a particular effort to communicate with me, as I did with them. The English teachers were also quite nice and fluent in English.

Country: Chile is very similar to California in some ways: geography, climate, earthquakes. The economic system is similar – basically free market with large agriculture and viticulture sectors – but Chile seems to lack a social safety net. Chile’s culture is also somewhat different with stronger family ties in general than the average Californian.

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country? Be as detailed as possible.

Airport: Senora Vilma was right at the gate of the airport when I arrived. She also took me the airport when I left and helped me check in.

Orientation day: On the first day of school Senora Vilma accompanied me on the bus to the school and introduced me to the head English teacher, who supervised me at the school. She also met me at the school at the end of that day and accompanied me on the bus back to her house.

Daily Support: Senora Vilma was always available to help me with anything I needed, including making tour arrangements for me, coordinating with my Spanish tutor, and accompanying me to shop for souvenirs.

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Volunteer Chile La Serena Orphanage

1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?
Why Chile: I wanted to work on my Spanish speaking skills, so I decided to volunteer in a Latin American country. I chose Chile because of the volunteer program it had.
What program: I volunteered for 8 weeks in an Orphanage/ Children’s home
Why this program: I love children and wanted to work with them.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?
Program: Taking care of kids is pretty similar in Chile as it is in the US. From what I’ve seen there aren’t any wildly different practices.

Host Family: My host mom Silvia was very accommodating of my diet (I’m a vegetarian) and always cooked breakfast for me. I’ll miss that back in the States.

Country: Chile is fairly modern, it’s a lot like the United States. There’s McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Nike and even Walmart. Most people have smartphones, too. One thing to look out for is that you should never flush toilet paper, always throw it away (and have hand sanitizer at all times, because you never know when you’ll need it). Sometimes it felt like I hadn’t left home.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?
Program: Understanding what people were telling me to do could be difficult at times.

Host Family: I didn’t feel too comfortable when relatives or friends were visiting, so I would hide in my room sometimes, but if you’re very social and know good Spanish, you’ll do fine.

Country: It takes some getting used to, but in Chile, people greet you by touching cheeks and making a kissing sound (some people go for a kiss). The exception is if two males meet, then they shake hands. It definitely felt like my space was being invaded at first, but then I learned to like it.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….
Clothing: If you’re visiting in Spring/ Fall, bring both pants and shorts. I was in Chile from the beginning of March to the end of April. In March, I was wearing shorts/ Capris and a T-shirt and would be fine, April, I needed pants and jacket. Chileans dress more conservatively than Americans, so leave short shorts and low cut shirts at home.

Sightseeing: Plan to do something most weekends. I spent about every other weekend not doing anything because I thought I had more time, and then 8 weeks passed and I wished I had traveled more. I recommend visiting Isla Damas, Pisco Elqui, and Valparaíso. If you can visit the desert or south of Chile, do it. The geography is very different!
Hostels are a great way to save money and meet new people when traveling around.

Donations: The orphanage I worked in got a lot of clothing donations, so don’t worry about that. Diapers, clorox wipes, lotion, toys, and school supplies are all good things to bring. If anything, monetary donations work best, because they can buy what they need.

Laundry/internet: Data plans are relatively cheap in Chile, so if you’re planning on traveling on the weekends, I would get a SIM card while in Chile. Bring powdered detergent so you can do laundry while staying in hostels.

Gap Year Chile

5. Other things volunteers should know about:
a.- City/town: La Serena has some sights to see, like the Japanese Garden and Archaeological Museum. Public transportation is cheap, so take advantage of it and go places. There are a lot of churches (including a Mormon temple and mosque) if you’re religious, but if you’re not, you’ll have no issues here.

b.- Weather:  Look up information on the climate of La Serena. Depending on what time of the year, weather conditions will be very different. They don’t get snow here, so it won’t get too cold. I was here in Autumn, brought a rain jacket and didn’t use it a single day. Winter may be a different story.

c.- Local People: There will be people who speak English, so if you get lost there’s bound to be at least one person who can help you if you don’t speak Spanish, but knowing Spanish will help tremendously. If visiting a larger city, watch out for people who will come up to you asking for money, it can be scary/ overwhelming if you aren’t expecting it.

d.- Tours: The Isla Damas tours are good, but only in Spanish unless you go with a private company. Check what time of the year the penguins can be found at the island before visiting.

In Valparaíso and Santiago, a company called Tours4Tips does, you guessed it, tours for tips. The tours are really good and you can learn insider information about the city.

Volunteering in Chile

6. Personal Paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible:

This was my first time out of the country. From where my host family lived, it was a half hour walk and half hour bus ride to and from the orphanage, which I used the time to listen to audiobooks. The workers at the orphanage were very nice to me and always asked about my weekend. I loved working with the babies. I wish I had spent time trying to make friends or doing more things in the evenings.

7. How would you describe your:
Accommodation: There were two bed in my room and a TV. I didn’t watch much, but it was nice having it there. The house was your average middle class home and had a good wifi connection.

Meals (favorite): I ate so many vegetables while in Chile, my body is very happy about that. I loved sopapilla pasada, an amazing dessert that’s found in Northern Chile. Tomatoes and cheese cooked in the microwave oven. It sounds simple, but is amazingly delicious.

Security: if you’re worried about securing your stuff you can bring locks and a money belt- both things I recommend anyway for when staying in hostels or walking around big cities. I always felt safe, although I wasn’t out at night often.

Host family: My host family was extremely welcoming and made me feel at home. I went on a trip with them to a national park on Easter and my host mom Silvia took me to places around the city. Her kids introduced me to their friends as well.

8. What was your memory of this trip?
Program: The orphanage was definitely not what I expected, the tías were great and everything was very secure.

Host Family I am going to miss my host family when I go home. They were so kind to me and had amazing food! I’m bringing a new found love of vegetables and tea with me.

Country: The architecture of Chile is really pretty and different from where I live. You won’t find any red brick houses here. The landscape is also very diverse and sometimes it felt like I was on another planet.

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country? 
Vilma was welcoming and showed me around the city sometimes. She gave me advice and information when I wanted to visit other parts of the region. There’s a lot of support if you need it, but they can also be hands off if you’re looking to be very independent.

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Volunteer in Chile Feedback Nick Lauer Teaching Program

1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?

Volunteer in Chile: My school offers a program that funds international service trips every summer and I have wanted to do one for a long time. Volunteers in this program are encouraged to find new countries that have not been visited by previous volunteers and hence I settled on a few options. The reason that I picked Chile out of all of these options as my destination is that it is a Spanish speaking country that is relatively safe and stable. The government is in control and unlike some other South American countries, foreigners run very little risk of danger.

What program: I am in the Education program where I teach Chilean students in their English classes. In this program, I go with different English teachers and teach many different sets of students throughout the course of my day. My work consists mostly of helping give lessons, answering questions, offering support with activities and, more generally, engaging the students in their learning of English.

Why this program: I chose to do this because I think that I am friendly, positive, and work well with kids and that this would be the best use of my abilities. Other programs such as the orphanage or elderly care center were also options, but because of my proficiency in English, I thought I could offer the most help through the Education program.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?

Volunteering Program: I was initially told that I would be working with younger children around the ages of 4 to 5 in a kindergarten-type setting where I would be teaching numbers, colors, basic grammar, etc. While I did teach a few younger classes (one 3rd grade and one 5th grade), I spent the majority of my time with 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. While this wasn’t what I was expecting, I was glad to work with people similar to my age and I actually found it to be easier to relate to the students.

Volunteer Chile La Serena from A Broader View on Vimeo.

Host Family: I was surprised at how easily I was able to assimilate into everyday life with my host family. My host mother welcomed me and made me feel at home and spoke slow, understandable Spanish that allowed me to join in the conversation. I found that I could consistently have a meaningful discussion with my host family which was critical to feeling at home in a new country. Mealtimes were just like at my house and my host mother was always willing to ask me questions to stimulate conversation. Furthermore, my host mother was constantly looking out for my needs, a privilege that I was not expecting.

Country: While I had read in other reviews about the dialect here in Chile and how it is both riddled with slang and also quite fast, I was still a little surprised by just how different it was from the Spanish I had been learning in school. While this was initially a source of concern, Vilma was great at talking slowly and clearly for me, and other Chileans are happy to do so if you politely ask them to do so. In my time here, I quickly got used to the Spanish and for volunteers who are ready and willing to improve their language skills, the new dialect should not be a problem.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?

Volunteer Program: I came to Chile in a time where the kids in my school were at the end of their semester and were therefore not learning new material. I had hoped that my program would entail some teaching of new content, but this seemed not to be the case. However, this was something beyond my control, the control of A Broader View, or even the teachers.

With this lack of opportunity to teach, I had to take initiative to help the children in any review activities that they were doing and found myself constantly trying to find a place where I could be of assistance. Ultimately, I think that I effectively used my time and made a difference in an area other than purely teaching.

Host Family: I really did not find anything difficult about my host family. My host mother was absolutely wonderful and made everything easy.

Country: Again, I found the language barrier to be the most difficult thing for me in Chile. While the conversation with my host family was good, with other people I often had to ask for them to repeat themselves two or three times and much slower (grant it, the Chileans were happy to do so). While I got by fine, I think that conversing with everyday people and talking to native speakers was something I found to be difficult and something I tried to overcome during the course of my stay.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….

Clothing: I (along with many of the other volunteers who have come before me) recommend that you bring warm clothing on your volunteer trip to Chile. I came in the winter time here (June-July) and high temperatures were usually in the 50-60 °F range. While this may seem manageable, without sun it can be quite cold, and I recommend that you bring a heavy winter jacket as well as some lighter sweatshirts and pullovers.

The low temperatures usually dipped into the 40s and occasionally into the high 30s. Without heating, which virtually all buildings in La Serena lack, this can be quite cold and I highly suggest that you bring a hat, gloves, warm socks, heavy jackets, sweatpants/jeans, and other warm clothing.

Sightseeing: I personally loved my visits to the Elqui Valley (Valle Elqui) and Isla Damas. These are two of the most popular tourist attractions in the La Serena area and your host family will most likely recommend these to you. I second that recommendation and found these two places to be some of the highlights of my trip. In addition, visiting the neighboring city of Coquimbo is a nice ½-day excursion and the Cross of the Third Millennia is a unique landmark that I suggest everyone should see.

Donations: I bought a small gift (little American flags) to my school and they were very well received by the students. I gave them to 5th-grade students, whose faces lit up when I told them I had a gift. I think that bringing a small gift/handout is a good idea but not necessary. Also, check with your program to make sure you are allowed to hand out gifts.

Laundry/internet: The laundry and internet in my home were incredibly easy. I paid up front for the internet which cost about $10.000 Chilean pesos for 3 weeks ($15 USD) and the connection was pretty good. For laundry, I paid at the end, after seeing how many loads I need to do in total (I only did 2) and it costs $3000 Chilean pesos for every use ($1.50).

My host mother was great in helping me with the laundry and even did it for me one time when I was away on a tour (not something you should expect).

5. Other things volunteers should know about:

a.- City/town: The town is quite safe, at least during the daytime, and I think it is during the nighttime as well (I never was downtown during the night.) The neighboring city of Coquimbo is a slightly poorer area but common-sense practices should get you through 100% fine. One thing to note is that the walk from the host house to the program could be significant.

In my case it was about a 35-minute walk to the school I was working at but I am sure this varies from program to program. Make sure to either become comfortable with public transportation or a moderately long walk in the morning and afternoon.

b.- Weather: As mentioned before, pack accordingly and plan for cool/cold temperatures. If you bring the right clothes, you will be good but failure to pack properly could result in some cold days and nights. In terms of rain, the winter doesn’t have that much rain, but a safe play would be to pack a rain jacket or other waterproof material just in case. (It only rained once, and that was the day I got here). You can always buy locally sweaters (alpaca at the Recova or a jacket at the mall)

c.- Local People: Again, the local people are great and are willing to help you understand their language. One precaution that I recommend is having a member of your host family come with you to buy street goods the first time if you are not fluent in Spanish just to make sure that nobody is ripping you off and that you know the ropes of how to negotiate a price in a different language.

If you are not buying any products (such as goods at La Recova) then this a non-issue but if you plan on doing so, considering asking your host mother or father to come with you.

d.- Tours: As previously mentioned, I took a tour to the Elqui Valley as well as Isla Damas which I absolutely loved. I highly recommend doing both of these tours, but they are not necessary, and there are plenty of other tours available. I also recommend a nighttime tour to Mamalluca Observatory in the Elqui Valley which has some of the clearest night skies in the world.

The tourism industry is definitely big here in La Serena and there are many options for your weekends. Vilma or your host mom can help you set up whatever tour you need as well as giving you suggestions if you would like to go to other places on the weekends.

6. Personal Paragraph (Gap Year program testimonial), detail as possible:

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Chile. It was an eye-opener for me to see a new culture, a new language, and a new way of life. I learned so much in my three weeks here and wish I could have stayed longer. My Spanish has vastly improved and I have learned things about teaching children that I never realized would be needed. I have formed connections with people here that are going to last for a long time and I hope that I have left a lasting impression on those who I taught and worked with. While I did not expect to be doing the sort of work that I ended up doing, I think that I utilized my skills by helping the teachers with what they needed in the circumstances that I was put into.

I think that if I were to do this again I would probably want to stay for a longer period of time because these three weeks went by so quickly and there’s so much more than I want to do here. I have accomplished my goals with this project and feel that I have expanded my world as well as helping to enhance the world of the children and teachers who I worked with. I will never forget my time here in Chile and I look forward to continuing my service in the years to come.

7. How would you describe your:

Accommodation: My accommodations were quite nice. My host mother had a large house with lots of rooms and a separate area for the volunteers to live. I was alone when I was here, so I had a lot of space to myself as well as my own bathroom which was quite nice. The bed was warm, which was great whenever the nights were pretty cold here without Heating, and there were plenty of blankets if I got cold. My room and bathroom were always clean, and Vilma made sure that she took great care of me my belongings and the house in general.

Meals (favorite): The food here is plentiful and delicious. My host mother consistently made great meals with a wide variety of foods and always took into account what foods I liked and avoided those that I did not. My host mother was a good cook and always made more than enough food for me so that I would not go hungry.

Some of my favorite meals include the chicken empanadas, a classic dish from Chile, as well as the corn soup that by host mother made. I got to try a lot of new foods and expand my palate to some of the traditional Chilean dishes, drinks, and condiments.

Security: Security was not an issue for me here in Chile. I never felt threatened or in the slightest bit insecure and the downtown area as well as my house were completely safe. At night, I could walk around my neighborhood without any concerns and did not feel unsafe in the slightest bit. I had heard that the neighboring city of Coquimbo was a little less safe, but I cannot confirm this because I never spent a lot of time there.

Host family: The members of my host family were some of the most caring, compassionate, and thoughtful people that I have ever known. They were always checking on me to make sure that I was okay and genuinely cared about my well-being here in Chile. They always made sure that I was fed, rested and ready to go for the day and also help integrate me into Chilean culture. By offering a meaningful conversation at the dinner table and opening my eyes to new information about Chile they made me feel at home here in a city far from home.

8. What was your memory of this trip?

Program: My favorite memory of the program during my trip was my last day when I was with the 5th graders. On this day they had already finished their exams and had a free period. We played games where I taught them English words through a variety of different activities and I also handed them out some little American flags. Seeing the joy on their faces and seeing them jump up and down during the games was incredible as well as knowing that some of the games we were playing were actually teaching them words in English. This was a great experience and I will remember it for a long time.

Host Family My favorite memory with my host family was probably when we went to Coquimbo. My host mother’s husband, my host father, was home for 4 days after returning from his work. We took a driving tour of some parts of Coquimbo and stopped at an old pirate fort. This was really exciting, and we saw some penguins and other wildlife as well as getting to see the old ruins and a cannon. After this, we ventured up to the giant Cross statue that is in the middle of Coquimbo and I went up it in an elevator and got to see the view of the top. This was incredible, and I was able to see all of La Serena as well as Coquimbo and out over the Pacific Ocean and I got to share this experience with my host family.

Country: It is difficult for me to pick a single best moment from my entire trip in Chile, One thing that really stood out to me was my visit to Elqui Valley. This was an amazing tour where I got to see some of the different geographies and different cultures of Chile. We stopped at an indigenous pueblo where some indigenous tribes still live, we ate fresh grapes off of the vine and we stopped at a great restaurant where we ate traditional Chilean food with tradition Chilean drinks. There was so much great scenery – rivers, mountains, plants, Wildlife – and it was truly an amazing experience.

9. How were the local ABV Coordinator, the staff, and the support provided in-country? Be as detailed as possible.

The local support staff was incredible in helping me to adjust to the Chilean society and get situated with my program. The coordinator, Vilma, was also my host mother, and she was great at organizing tours, setting me up with the school, getting me acquainted with the city, and so much more. On my flight into the country, my layover was delayed by four hours and I ended up missing a connecting flight to La Serena. Vilma and the A Broader View staff were great in adjusting to this setback and responded quickly to emails with pragmatic solutions. I found my experience to be smooth, easy, and without too much stress. This was a testament to the program design as well as the in-country support by Vilma and others.

Other reviews to read:

Volunteer Chile

Volunteer in Chile

I’m a student at Cary high school. I’m from Cary, North Carolina, USA.

I chose to volunteer in chile to help the school in there attempts to become a more bilingual population. I wanted to practice my Spanish as rigorously as I could and I had been informed that Chile is notorious for its Spanish being more complex.

The host family was very nice and I found it very surprising how alike we were in terms of political and social views. I was able to have several discussions with them about how the politics in Chile were similar to those in the United States.

One thing I found difficult was learning how to use the public transportation. Me and Adrienne would spend up to and hour in the cold mornings searching for a “taxi-colectivo” that wasn’t full. Not having air conditioning was another thing I had to get used to.

I recommend that other volunteers pack warmer clothes. Its usually 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature doesn’t change much throughout the week. During the week ends I would recommend going to places like isla damas. Volunteers should really take advantage of the days they have off.

Volunteering in Chile

My accommodations were very pleasing and I was very satisfied. Silvia, our host mom was a very good cook and I was always looking forward to what she had prepared for us. I loved her rice. I’m not a fan of fish but Silvia made the best fried fish I have ever had. I never felt like I was in danger so I don’t have anything to complain about when it comes to my security. My host family was amazing and I didn’t miss my family at home since I had them for company and they made me feel comfortable in my new home.

My local coordinator, Vilma was amazing. She made sure we had things to do on our days off. I didn’t really feel the need to ask her for any assistance, but I was confident that if I needed anything that I could depend on her.

Why Chile: I chose Chile because it is the safest country in South America

What program: orphanage

Why this program: I have always been interested in working with kids and I wanted to help and support children who need it the most

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?

Program: I wasn’t really sure how hard it is to watch and entertain all the kids at the same time and how well they are taken care of.

Host Family: My host family was super nice, I felt very comfortable and I really liked the food!

Country: I didn’t expect Chile to be so European, I have been to Costa Rica before, so I was hoping for a little bit more South America flair…

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?

Program: It was sometimes hard to know how to deal with the kids because I didn’t  know what they were allowed to do.

Country: I thought it would be way warmer than it was… And at first the public transport system can be challenging

4. Any tips for future volunteers….

Clothing: warm clothes!!

Sightseeing: Isla de Damas, weekend trip to Valparaíso

Laundry/internet: Has to be paid separately (described in website, guides)

5. Other things volunteers should know about:

a.- City/town: It is nice, but there is not so much going on there, the mall is ok and there is a cinema, the Beach is far away (4 miles) , but cool

b.- Weather: in the morning it is always chill and cloudy and during the day it normally clears up and gets (more or less) warm (Spring time)

c.- Local People: the locals are very friendly and helpful, but also shy and mostly don’t know any english

d.- Tours: Isla de Damas is nice and a trip to Valparaíso!

6.  Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible:

This was the second time I volunteered and I am really Grateful for this wonderful experience. The orphanage is far and not even in La Serena it took me normally at least 45 min by bus (traffic its 8 miles from the house) to get there… I really enjoyed playing, feeding, helping the kids it is such a nice (and sometimes exhausting) work. In the evening I normally went to the gym where I made some really good friends! Now, I am looking forward to traveling around and get to see more of Chile! :)

7. How would you describe your:

Accommodation: It was really nice, I had my own room and shared a bathroom.

Meals (favorite): I loved them all, after eating  rice and beans for 2 months I was really Grateful for all the delicious food I got served!

Security: I always felt very secure, Chile is Nummer 29 worldwide from the safest countries (US is number 94)

Host family: My host Family was very very nice, I got along very well with them, especially Vilma always made me feel welcome!

8. What was your memory of this trip?

Program: I loved all the kids, everyone we and unique! The “tias” do an excellent job with the kids, half of the time I even forgot that it was an orphanage….

Host Family always friendly, helped me with everything I needed, we talked a lot in Spanish so I could improve my Spanish skills

Country: Chile is a very interesting country, 4000km long (which I definitely underestimated), long history and worth a trip:)

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country:

very good, I didn’t need any special help, but I am sure it would have been provided kindly

Volunteer Chile

1.- Hi Tell us about you:
Full name (first and last): Ericka Bernard-Bedard
What do you do (study or work, where): J’étudie à l’Université d’Ottawa en Sciences de la santé et je travaille dans une résidence de personnes agées.
Where are you from (city and country): Ottawa, Canada

1.1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?
Why Chile: J’ai choisi le programme avant de choisir le pays. J’aime beaucoup voyager autour du monde et j’ai toujours voulu visiter  l’Amerique du Sud et decouvrir de nouvelles cultures. Ce pays m’offrait aussi la chance de pouvoir travailler avec mes quatre amies. C’est un très beau pays et je connais beaucoup de gens qui l’avait visité et qui me l’on recommandé. Le pays est quand même assez sécuritaire. De plus, venir au chili me donnait la chance de pouvoir pratiquer mon espagnol.

What program: orphanage assistance
Why this program: Travailler avec des jeunes enfants et bébés m’interesse beaucoup. J’adore les enfants. Savoir que j’aide à leurs développements et que je puisse faire une différence dans leurs vies me rend très heureuse. Je travail avec les personnes agées au Canada donc je voulais avoir l’expérience de travailler avec des enfants. Je savais que les enfants allaient apprécier ma présence et mon aide.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program?
Program: À quel point les employés (tías, infirmières, docteur, bénévoles) prennent bien soin des enfants. De plus, les employés étaient très contents d’avoir des bénévoles pour les aider et à quel point ils me faisaient confiance avec les enfants. Même si c’était difficile de communiquer parfois, je me sentais à l’aise et voulu.
Host Family: Ma famille était vraiment accueillante et extrêmement gentille. Je me sentais comme chez moi et ma famille s’occupait très bien de moi. J’étais surprise car même si ma famille ne parlait pas anglais nous avons quand-même pu très bien communiquer.
Country: Il n’y a pas beaucoup de gens qui parlent anglais ou français. C’était donc très difficile de me faire comprendre ou de comprendre les gens qui ne parlaient que l’espagnol. Malgré ce fait, les personnes sont très chaleureuses et acceptantes. De plus, le coût de la vie ici est très cher.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?
Program: Le fait de ne pas être capable de bien communiquer en espagnol ou de me faire comprendre par les employés. De plus, être séparér de mes amies durant le bénévolat était difficile au début car j’ai du sortir de ma zone de comfort pour me rendre à l’aise.
Host Family: La planification des excursions et du transport pouvait parfois être difficile car c’était difficile de communiquer. En général, rester avec ma famille d’accueil était très agréable et une des meilleures expériences que j’ai jamais eu.
Country: La communication était la chose la plus difficile. Ne pas pouvoir bien parler espagnol pouvait m’empêcher de me faire comprendre. J’avais aussi parfois de la difficulté à comprendre les gens puisqu’ils parlent très vite. Ceci pouvait être un inconvénient lorsque j’avais besoin de demander des directions ou des questions.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….
Clothing: Durant l’hiver la température peut être très froide surtout la nuit. Il est important d’amener beaucoup de linge chaud (bas, pantalons, sweatshirt, manteau, tuque). Il n’y a pas de chauffage dans les maison donc la nuit ça devient très froid. J’ai dormi avec un hoodie et une tuque a chaque soir.
Sightseeing: Il y a beaucoup d’endroit à visiter et d’excursions à faire autour de La Serena (pisco elqui, phare de La serena, excursion en mer pour voir les dauphins, santiago…). Il est important d’écouter les conseils de ta famille d’accueil et de savoir dans quoi s’embarquer afin de rester en sécurité lors des visites. De plus, les excursions peuvent être assez couteuses donc il est important d’apporter assez d’argent pour pouvoir les faire car certaines compagnies ne prennent pas de cartes de crédits.
Donations: Il est important de s’informer pour savoir ce qui serait bon à apporter ou le plus en besoin dans le programme. Par exemple, j’ai apporté des jeux et des vêtements pour des jeunes enfants. Avant de décider ce que j’allait apporté je me suis informé auprès de l’organisation afin d’avoir des suggestions.
Laundry/internet: Dans ma famille d’accueil il y avait de l’internet et je pouvais faire du lavage. Je devais payer 5000 pesos (pas cher) pour deux semaines afin de pouvoir utiliser l’internet. L’internet fonctionnait très bien donc j’ai pu parler à ma famille et mes amis au Canada à chaque jour. Ma famille d’accueil m’a laisser faire mon lavage pour gratuit car j’avais apporter mon propre savon à linge.

5. Other things volunteers should know about:
a.- City/town: La Serena est une vraiment belle ville. Même si c’est une petite ville il y a beaucoup à visiter. Les plages et les montagnes sont ravisssantes et la place central contient un beau petit marché oú on peut acheter des souvenirs. Puisque c’est une petit ville il y a seulement une minorité de gens qui parlent anglais donc afin de pouvoir communiquer c’est important de connaître une base d’espagnol. La ville peut être achalandée surtout durant les heures de pointe donc il est important de se prendre d’avance afin de se rendre au travail.
b.- Weather: Durant les mois d’hiver (juin-aout) , il fait assez froid surtout le matin et la nuit (entre 2 et 20 degré), maid la température peut varier. Il est important d’emporter beaucoup de linge chaud et un manteau. Il n’y a pas de chauffage dans les maisons donc il peut faire très froid la nuit.
c.- Local People: Les chiliens sont très gentils, sympathiques,généreux et chaleureux. Les gens ne parlent que l’espagnol donc ça peut causer des problèmes de communication. Même s’ils ne parlent pas anglais, ils sont toujours prêts à essayer de comprendre et aider le plus que possible.
d.- Tours: Il y a plusieurs choses à faire et visiter autour de La Serena. Je recommende d’aller visiter pisco elqui qui est une petit village à 1h30 d’autobus de La Serena. Elqui valley a un paysage extraordinaire et il y a beaucoup d’activités à faire (observatoire d’étoiles, randonné en cheval…). Il y a plusieurs hostals autour de la région aussi. Il est important de bien organiser les tours afin d’être en sécurité. La croisière (eco tours) était aussi une très belle expérience. J’ai pu voir beaucoup d’animaux marins et observer des paysages extraordianaires.

Volunteering in Chile

6. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible:
Ce voyage était absolument incroyable. J’ai adoré visité le chili. Les gens sont extrêmements chaleureux. Ma famille d’accueil était super gentille et très accueillante et je me sentais très confortable en restant chez eux. Être bénévole dans l’orphelinat était une expérience inoubliable. Les enfants étaient très adorables. Avoir l’experience de travailler avec eux était superbe. Les employés étaient super accueillantes et me faisait très confiance avec les enfants. Savoir que je mettais un sourire dans leurs visages en jouant et en prenant soin d’eux me rendait très heureuse.

7. How would you describe your:
Accommodation: La maison de notre famille d’accueil était très belle. Il y avait beaucoup de chambres. Ma chambre était dans un ajout et il fallait passé dehors afin de s’y rendre. J’ai partagé une chambre avec mon amie mais j’avais mon propre lit. Je me sentais très en sécurité dans la maison car elle était entourée d’une immense clôture. Il y avait un salon où on pouvait regarder la télévision et parler. Il y avait deux salles de toilettes dans la maison et il y avait de l’eau chaude pour les douches.
Meals (favorite): Les repas étaient délicieux. À chaque jour nous avions trois repas. Lorsque nous allions au travail Vilma nous préparait un dîner (sandwich, yogourt, fruit, barre granola). Nous avons mangé beaucoup de pain. À chaque matin on mangeait du pain et des céréales, confiture, fromage, fruits. Tous les soupers étaient différents et Vilma était un très bon chef.
Security: La serena est une ville très sécuritaire. Je me sentais très en sécurité dans la maison car elle était entourée d’une grande clôture avec des piques. Je ne me suis jamais senti en danger lors de mon séjour au chili.
Host family: Ma famille d’accueil était très accueillante et chaleureuse. Notre mère d’accueil nous traitait comme ses propres filles et prenait très bien soin de nous. Elle nous a fait visité plusieurs choses à La Serena et elle était toujours disponible si on avait besoin d’aide.

8. What was your memory of this trip?
Program: Les enfants sont mon meilleur souvenir. Ils étaient adorables. Chacun était différent et mignon de sa propre façon. Leurs personalités et comportements sont extrêmements mignons. Jouer avec eux et mettre un sourir dans leurs visages me rendait très heureuse. Je vais m’ennuyer de chacuns d’entre eux et j’espère pouvoir les revoir dans le futur.
Host Family Mon meilleur souvenir de ma famille d’accueil était les soupers et les conversations avec Vilma. Nous nous faisions rire et nous nous amusions. Cela nous a permis d’en apprendre d’avantage sur la culture chilienne et de pratiquer notre espagnol.
Country: Un de mes meilleurs souvenirs au chili était la plage et les gens chaleureux. La plage était super belle et malgré la temperature froide nous nous sommes quand même baigner. De plus les gens étaient tellements gentils et essayait le plus possible de nous aider malgré notre différence de language.

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country? Be as detailed as possible.
Airport: À l’aéroport de La serena c’etais très facile de trouver notre coordinateur de ABV car l’aéroport est très petite. Le coordinateur et vilma nous ont emporter de l’aéroport à chez elle en voiture.
Orientation day: Vilma nous a donner nous a fais visiter le centre de la Serena, la plage et les meilleurs restaurants. Elle nous a de plus montrer où prendre l’autobus afin de se rendre au travail et où on travaillait. Graca à cela nous nous sentioms beaucoup plus en sécurité et à l’aise à se promener seul dans la ville. Cela nous a aider a faire des plans aussi.
Daily Support: Nous avons eu extrêmement beaucoup d’aide de notre famille d’accueil. Elle repondait à tous nos questions et était toujours disponible pour nous aider. Elle prenait soin de nous, nous conduisait autour de la ville et a fait tout son possible afin de nous rendre le plus confortable possible.

10. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers? 
Les informations reçues de ABV étaient très utiles. L’organisation répondait extrêmement vite aux couriels et donnait des réponses détaillés. La seule chose est que nous avons reçues les informations sur la famille d’accueil et les lieux exacts du projet et de la maison très dernières minutes ce qui me stressait un peu. Le guide d’orientation et les couriels afin de bien se préparer pour le voyage étaient très utiles et apréciés.

11. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience?
Oui

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Volunteer Chile

1.- Hi Tell us about you:

I am 19 years old, my mother language is french and I live in Ottawa, Canada.
What do you do (study or work, where): I study Public Relations at the University of Ottawa and I am a receptionist in an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic in Ottawa.
Where are you from (city and country): Ottawa, Canada

1.1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?
Why Chile: J’ai décidé d’aller au Chili car ABV me l’a recommandé lorsque j’ai choisi le programme d’orphelinat. Nous voulions aller au Péru mais il n’y avait pas assez de place pour mes 4 amies et moi. Je voulais aussi vraiment voyager un pays dans l’Amérique du Sud vu que je vis dans l’Amérique du Nord. Un des mes plus grand but était d’acquérir de nouvelles connaissances au sujet d’une différente culture et j’envisagais faire cela au Chili.
What program: J’ai travaillé dans le programme d’oprhelinat dans la ville de La Serena, au Chili.
Why this program: J’ai choisi ce programme puisque je voulais travailler avec les bébés et les enfants. De plus, je voulais travailler dans un endroit qui me sensibilisais. Ceci dit, j’ai choisi ce programme car aider les enfants qui en ont le plus de besoin me tient à coeur.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program? 
Volunteer Abroad Program: Selon moi, la chose la plus surprenante du programme a été que il n’y avait pas beaucoup de bébé et qu’il y a fallu travailler dans une école aussi. Nous n’avions pas été prévenues qu’il n’y avait pas assez de bébés pour mes amies et moi et qu’il fallait se séparer donc, nous avions été prises par surprise.
Host Family: Selon moi, la chose la plus surprenante de ma famille d’acceuil était qu’il y avait emplement de place pour mes amies et moi (nous étions 5 en tout). Nous pouvions dormir et se préparer confortablement sans être dans nos propres jambes.
Country: Selon moi, la chose la plus surprenante du Chili était que presque personne ne parlais anglais. Il était dur pour moi de comprendre, pour une personne qui est complètement bilingue, que pas beaucoup de gens où que nous avons restez ne parlaient que l’espaniol.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program? 
Gap Year Program: La chose la plus difficile que j’ai experiencé durant le programme à l’oprhelinat était que j’ai été séparé de mes amies. Il est plus facile de s’adapter à de nouvelles culture et à une langue (qui est pour nous inconnue) en groupe.
Host Family: La chose la plus difficile que j’ai experiencé avec ma famille d’acceuil était la planification des excursions et du transport. Vu que nous n’avions qu’une base d’espaniol et que notre mère d’acceuil ne parle juste que l’espaniol, il peut y avoir beaucoup de confusion.
Country: La chose la plus difficile que j’ai experiencé au Chili était que mes amies et moi n’avions qu’une base de connaissance en espaniol. Il était très dur de communiquer avec la communauté vu que la plupart d’entre eux sont unilingues.

4. Any tips for future volunteers….
Clothing: Un de mes conseils pour les vêtements serait de ne pas pacter trop légèrement… Un autre serait de vraiment pacter en guise de la température; Nous avions froid la nuit vu qu’il n’y avait pas de chauffage dans la maison.
Sightseeing: Un conseil que je donnerais pour les excursions serait de faire ceux dont ta famille d’acceuil te recommande et de planifier d’avance. Il est important de savoir où tu vas et dans quoi tu t’embarques lorsque tes dans un autres pays que ton pays natal.
Donations: Un conseil que je donnerais pour les charités seraient de t’informer correctement des éléments de ton programme avant d’acheter quoi que ce soit. J’était avertie qu’il y avait beaucoup de bébés à l’orphelinat et non beaucoup de “toddlers”. Ceci dit, j’ai acheté pleins se suces et de linge de bébés et cela ne leurs étaient pas super avantageux.
Laundry/internet: Un conseil que je donnerais face à l’internet et au lavage est d’apporter de l’argent en guise de ceux-ci. Nous avons été chargées pour l’internet et le lavage (nous nous en attendions) mais, nous avions assez d’argent pour payer ceux-ci.

5. Other things volunteers should know about: 
a.- City/town: Quelque chose que les volontaires doivent garder en tête en pensant à la ville de La Serena est qu’il eat nécéssaire d’avoir une bonne base d’espaniol. La communauté de la Serena parle extrêmement vite et il est difficile de les comprendre.
b.- Weather: Quelque chose que les volontaires doivent garder en tête par rapport à la météologie est que il peut faire très froid dans les maison vu qu’il fait dans les alentours de 10°C et qu’il n’y a pas de chauffage dans les maisons.
c.- Local People: Quelque chose d’important à garder en tête par rapport au gens de la communauté de La Serena est qu’il y a beaucoup de gens dans les rues qui essait de vendre des choses mais, ils sont très chaleureux.
d.- Tours: Quelque chose d’important à garder en tête par rapport aux excursions est qu’il faut vraiment planifier d’avance et de prévoir un budget. Les excursions peuvent être plus chères que prévues.

Volunteering in Chile

6. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible: 
J’ai fait mon bénévolat dans un orphelinat et j’ai travailler pendant deux semaine aux côté des éducatrices avec 9 “toddlers”. Il n’y avait pas le même nombre d’enfants à tous les jours mais il y avait quand même toujours quelque chose à faire. Au début la communication entre les educatrices et moi était vraiment difficile parce qu’elles parlaient très vite et elles n’étaient pas habituées en parler en guise de ma compréhension. Elles se fâchaient vite lorsqu’elles voulaient que je fasse une certaine tâche et que je ne les comprennaient pas. Il y a fallu utiliser google translate souvent ce que je trouvais une perte de temps. Cela c’est beaucoup améliorer après 2 jours. D’un autre côté, j’ai adoré travailler avec les enfants; j’étais contente d’apprendre qu’ils ont pleins d’appuis et qu’il y a beaucoup de gens qui prennent bien soins d’eux. J’ai adoré mes deux semaines dans l’orphelinat, les enfants était adorables!

7. How would you describe your: 
Accommodation: Mes amies et moi étions super bien accomodées par notre mère d’acceuil. Il y avait assez de place pour nous tous, elle était une excellante cuisinière et elle prenait soin de nous comme si nous étions ses propres filles.
Meals (favorite): Je suis une personne extrêmement difficile et j’ai adoré tout les mêts que notre mère d’acceuil nous a fait. Elle prenait en considérations tout les aspects différent des goûts de mes amies et moi.
Security: Je me considèrais en pleine sécurité dans la maison de ma famille d’acceuil, dans la ville et dans l’orphelinat en tant que tel. Je ne me suis jamais senti en danger et il y a des clôtures partout.
Host family: Ma famille d’acceuil était extrêmement chaleureuse et acceuillante. Notre mère d’acceuil a tout fait pour nous accomoder et elle prenait soins de nous comme nous étions ses propres filles. Depuis notre arrivée, elle a tout fait pour qu’on soit le plus confortable que possible. Je l’ai adorée!

8. What was your memory of this trip? 
Volunteer Program: Un de mes souvenirs de ce programme était les enfants en tant que tels! Ils étaient adorables! Ils se comportaient vraiment bien et cela me brisait le coeur de penser qu’ils étaient des oprhelins.
Host Family: Un des mes meilleurs souvenirs de ma famille d’acceuil était que nous avions toujours des fous rires avec notre mère d’acceuil. Cela nous rapprochait énormément et j’étais vraiment choyée de pouvoir la faire rire malgré notre différence de langue.
Country: Un de mes meilleurs souvenirs du Chili était que les gens sont super chaleureux malgré le fait que plusieurs d’entre eux ne parlent que l’espaniol et que je le parle pas. Ils essayaient quand même de m’aider le plus que possible.

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country? Be as detailed as possible.
Airport: When we got to the airport in La Serena, it was very easy for us to find our ABV coordinator. The only hickup was that we they didn’t have enough space in the car to fit all of us and our luggage so some of my friends had to wait for another ride. The house was just 5 minutes away.
Orientation day: On orientation day, we had gotten a tour from our host mom and it was perfect! She showed us the best restaurants, the beach and the safest spots around the centre of the town! It really helped us coordinate our plans better.
Daily Support: In the past two weeks, we have gotten a lot of support from our host mom. She helped us with literally anything! She gave us medication when we got sick, she gave us a lot of rides and she was always optimistic!

10. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?  

Je crois que ABV nous a vraiment aidé à organiser notre voyage, tout était préparé pour nous (logement, organisation, programme, etc.); Cela était merveilleux et je n’ai rien à recommander! Il a été facile de voyager.

11. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience? 
Oui, je suis prête à parler à des bénévoles d’ABV potentiels à propos de mon expérience au Chili avec ma famille d’acceuil, le programme, la sécurité, la nourriture, les transports, etc. …

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 Volunteer Chile

1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?
I decided to volunteer in Chile La Serena because me and my friends wanted to volunteer together in an orphanage to help kids. And Chile had room for me and all my friends. We are working in the orphanage and also the school attached to it not only playing with them also helping them in daily tasks at school.
Why Chile: Chile because it came up as an opportunity for me and my friends to work together
What program: Orphanage assistance and teaching/education programs
Why this program: I picked this program because I love working with children, babies and toddlers. Also I’ve always wanted to work with disadvantage kids so this was the right fit for me. Furthermore, interaction with children is a passion of mine.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while volunteering in the program? 
Volunteer Program: The most surprising thing is how fast the kids get attached to you. Also the love the teachers have for the children is truly awesome to experience it every day.
Host Family: The most surprising thing I found about the host family is how good the food was and how caring Vilma is while intersecting with us making us feel right at home.
Country: The thing I found to be the most surprising about Chile is how cold it can get at night during winter. Also how the culture is present everywhere you look from the street performers to the traditional dancing.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program?
Volunteer Program: The most difficult thing I experience is the fatigue from working everyday Monday to Friday, it can get very tiring but always worth it.
Host Family: The most difficult thing I experience with the host family is the language barrier was at times frustrating but with practice it got better.
Country: The most difficult thing I experience in Chile while in the program is again the Spanish was at times difficult to understand, the locals speak to fats, ask them to “hablar mas despacio” .

4. Any tips for future volunteers….
Clothing: Make sure you bring lots and lots of warm clothing because it can get very cold at night in the house. Also bring a tuque and mitts to keep you warm during the day as well as the night.
Sightseeing: Make sure to visit all the area in La Serena and also around to fully experience the culture. Also make sure to go on a couple guided tours to learn more about Chile.
Donations: Bring extra money
Laundry/internet: Make sure to bring extra money to spend on internet and laundry .

5. Other things volunteers should know about:
a.- City/town: It can get very confusing in center town so make sure you know where you’re going. And that Spanish is very important to communicate and get your point across.
b.- Weather: If you’re coming in winter (June-July) time make sure to bring all your warm clothe including a coat or jacket
c.- Local People: The local people are very friendly and always willing to help you if in need but to always be aware of your surroundings.
d.- Tours: The dolphin tour was super fun and also the horse back riding in the Elqui Valley.

6. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible:
In arriving in La Serena I was chocked to see palm trees thinking it would be hot but when walking outside it was very cold. Then coming to Vilma’s home I was very happy to be greeted with amazing food. And along came the first day of volunteering where I was very nervous but settled in after a couple of days, teachers started to talk to me more and the kids would greet me when the would see me come in. This all made me feel welcome and this continued for the next two weeks of volunteering, where I fell into place in a class with 4/5 year olds. 

7. How would you describe your:
Accommodation: They were very good and comfy. But I found it really cold without a heather at night, sometimes I would wear a hat to bed. Also the showers were usually very cold which I wasn’t used to so it was different
Meals (favorite): The meals were awesome, even as a picky eater I ate all the food she made. My favourite food was the bread always warm.
Security: The security in the house was great never felt worried about it once on the trip. But I did worry about security while leaving the house to go to centre town, but Vilma guided me and made me feel comfortable, no problems going to downtown after that.
Host family: The host family was great. Vilma would always talk to us and try to make us feel welcomed with her food and jokes.

8. What was your memory of this trip?
Volunteer Program: My memory of this program is getting to hangout with my friends all while helping out the less fortunate. Also seeing the children smile even when they don’t have much which made me appreciate my life in Canada.
Host Family: My memory of the host family is waking up to Vilma making breakfast  and her coming to pick us up at the orphanage the first day with the biggest smile. Also going to visit areas with Vilma like the giant cross in Coquimbo.
Country: My memory of the country is the wonderful scenery rich is very different from what I see in Canada everyday. For example the big mountains and water views.

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country?
Airport: When walking off the plane I was greeted right away and felt welcomed with a hug.
Orientation day: The orientation day was great because we got to see the town a while learning about it at the same time. Also I learned the important area and historical facts.
Daily Support: The daily support was great from my host family. Vilma really cared about our well being always asking questions to make sure everything was Ok.

10. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers? 
The informations received before travelling to Chile was pretty good, received emails telling me what to bring to be very prepared. Also there was always somebody to answer my questions if I had any and that was very helpful.

11. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience?
Yes

Volunteer Chile La Serena Review Valerie Beland & Ericka Bernard Orphanage Program (In French) from A Broader View on Vimeo.

Volunteer Chile La Serena Review Valerie Beland Orphanage/teaching program

1.- Why did you choose to volunteer in Chile La Serena, what program(s) are you doing and why?
Why Chile: J’ai choisi le programme que j’aime et ça a adonné à être offert au Chili.
What program: Orphanage Assistance, Teaching and Education 
Why this program: J’ai décidé de venir au Chili pour m’occuper des bébés à l’orphelinat. Je voulais venir parce que je savais que mon aide serait bénéfique au développement des enfants orphelins qui n’ont malheureusement pas toute l’attention dont ils ont besoin.  J’ai choisi Abroaderview car ils m’ont dit que la proximité entre l’orphelinat et la famille d’acceuil (confimée par Abroaderview) est de moins de 15 minutes en autobus/collectivo taxi.  C’était frustant d’apprendre une fois arrivée au Chili que la distance entre ces deux endroits est de plus de deux heures allez-retour. 

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced while in the program? 
Program: Le programme était vraiment amusant et enrichissant. L’horaire de bénévolat était accommodant et si j’étais fatiguée, j’avais toujours l’option de terminer plus tôt.  Je pensais que j’allais faire plus de bénévolat avec les bébés mais puisque seulement deux personnes bénévole pouvaient être à Hogar Redes, il m’était interdit d’offrir de l’aide là.  J’ai passé la plus grande majorité du temps dans la classe de la Profesora Fabiola et de son assistante Patricia.  Les enfants étaient tous attachants, souriants et enthousiastes a l’idée d’apprendre des mots en anglais et en français.  J’ai aimé les aider avec leurs travaux scolaires, apprendre l’espagnol davantage et assister l’enseignante avec ses leçons.
Host Family: Après une journée de voyagement pour enfin arriver au Chili, Vilma (host mom) nous a acceuilli moi et quatre de mes amies avec une grosse caresse à l’aéroport de La Serena.  Elle s’est préocuppée de nous pendant notre séjour au Chili.  Elle nous a amené à la plage, elle nous a fait visiter un phare, le centre-ville de La Serena, la Cruz et bien plus.  C’était une bonne guide touristique pendant notre sejour!  Elle nous a aidé a planifier les excursions que nous avons fait durant les fins de semaine.  En plus, elle nous a reconduit et cherché à l’orphelinat à tous les jours.  C’était vraiment gentil de sa part.
Country: Les chiliens mangent du pain pour déjeuner, dîner et souper! Dans le désert de l’Atacama, c’est très très vaste. Il y a de grosses montagnes et pleins de cactus. Les routes loin des villes sont comme dans les films parce que ce sont des chemins de terre très étroits avec des tournants très serrés. Le maisons et les magasins au centre-ville de La Serena semblent tous vieux.

3. What was the most difficult thing you experienced while in the program? 
Program: Ce que j’ai trouvé le plus difficile était la barrière linguisique. Même si j’ai suivi un cours d’espagnol avant d’arriver au Chili, ce n’était pas assez suffisant pour comprendre les chiliens. Les enseignants parlent rapidement en espagnol et les élèves parlent encore plus vite que les enseignants!  Les enfants où je faisais du bénévolat n’étaient pas très fortunés et c’était triste de voir qu’ils n’ont même pas le luxe d’avoir du papier de toilette dans les salles de bains.
Host Family: Ce qui était le plus dur était d’essayer de comprendre ce que Vilma (host mom) disait en espagnol.  Puisque j’étais avec mes amies, on réusissaient chacune à comprendre un mot en espagnol et à définir la phrase qui nous était dit.
Country: Très peu de chiliens parlent en anglais alors il faut s’assurer d’avoir l’application de Google Translate sur son téléphone!  

4. Any tips for future volunteers….
Clothing: -Apporter des vêtements chauds car la nuit il fait très froid.  J’ai même dû dormir avec mon manteau pendant plusieurs nuits. 

-Apporter un manteau en duvet.

-Apporter des petites bottes chaudes

Sightseeing: La plage de La Serena est longue et parsemée de beaux coquillages que l’on peut ramasser.  La vue du haut de la Cruz est magnifique à Coquimbo.  Les couchers de soleil sont beaux à regarder.  Une expédition dans le désert de l’Atacama te permet de voir les cactus, les montagnes avec de la neige dessus, les differents animaux au Chili, etc
Donations: Les enfants se servent de papiers et de ruban adhésif pour faire une balle de soccer et jouer au soccer à la récréation.  Il adorerait recevoir un ballon de soccer et des jouets pour l’extérieur tels que des cerceaux et des cordes à sauter.
Laundry/internet: J’avais accès a l’internet sans fil chez ma host mom. Il y avait aussi une laveuse et une sécheuse mais puisque je me suis amenée beacoup de vêtements, je n’ai pas eu besoin de faire du lavage.

5. Other things volunteers should know about: 
a.- City/town: Je recommanderais d’aller au centre-ville de La Serena en groupe.  Je ne me suis jamais promenée seule pendant mon séjour au Chili. Aller marcher sur le bord de la plage à La Serena est une activité à faire définitivement.  J’ai aussi aimé la vue paranomique en haut de la croix à Coquimbo.  Il y a beaucoup de chiens errants alors il est mieux de se tenir loin d’eux et de ne pas les toucher.
b.- Weather: L’hiver, (août) il fait froid au Chili.  La température est d’environ 10-15 degrés celsius. Il faut des sweaters et un manteau en duvet pour rester au chaud.  Certaines journées, j’ai dû mettre ma tuque et mes gants tellement il faisait froid.
c.- Local People: Les Chiliens sont gentils et souriants.  Les enseignants à mon école étaient très généreux et ils m’offraient toujours de la nourriture.  Les chiliens ont l’habitude de se donner des caresses et un bec sur la joue pour se saluer et se dire aurevoir.
d.- Tours: Apporter de l’argent d’extra pour pouvoir faire des excursions la fin de semaine.  L’organisation EcoTour offre des excursions très amusantes.

6. Personal paragraph (volunteer program testimonial), detail as possible: 
J’ai aimé mon expérience de bénévolat au Colegio et à Hogar. Les élèves et les enseignants étaient tous extrêmement gentils.  Les journées ont passé tellement vite quand j’étais au Collegio.  Chaques soirs, j’avais hâte au lendemain matin pour aller retrouver les élèves et la Profesora Fabiola.  J’ai rencontré plusieurs nouvelles personnes extraordinaires.  Je vais revenir au Canada avec ma valise pleine de dessins que les enfants ont coloriés pour moi! J’espère juste que ma valise ne sera pas au dessus de la limite de poids.   Ce voyage humanitaire m’a vraiment permis de connaître la culture chilienne, de faire de nouvelles rencontre,  de visiter des endroits magnifiques et d’apprécier le Chili. Je suis très contente d’avoir fait les démarches pour venir faire du bénévolat en Amérique du Sud.

7. How would you describe your: 
Accommodation: La maison de Vilma est propre, belle et sécuritaire. J’ai partagé une chambre dans la maison de Vilma avec une australienne.  Cela m’a permis de faire sa connaissance et d’apprendre a la connaître.  L’eau de la douche était chaude.  Il faisait froid dans la maison de Vilma mais c’est normal puisqu’au Chili, les maisons n’ont pas de chauffage. 
Meals (favorite): Vilma nous a servi des céréales et du pain pour déjeuner à tous les jours pendant notre séjour.  Elle nous faisait un dîner (sandwich au jambon ou au salami) à tous les jours.  Les soupers étaient differents chaque soir.  J’étais très surprise que les chiliens mangent autant de pains.
Security: Il y a une grosse clôture autour de la maison de Vilma.  Cette clôture a des piques très pointus alors je ne me suis pas inquietée pour ma securité lorsque j’étais dans sa maison.  Je ne m’iquietais pas pour ma sécurité lorsque j’étais au centre-ville car j’étais avec mes quatre amies en tout temps. 
Host family: Vilma est très gentille et elle s’est bien occupée de nous.  

Volunteer Reviews

8. What was your memory of this trip? 
Program: La deuxième journée lorsque je suis arrivée à l’école pour faire du bénévolat, les vingt-six élèves de ma classe sont venus me faire une immense caresse.  J’étais tellement heureuse car je me sentais un petit peu destabilisée dans ce nouveau pays avec des personnes inconnnues qui parlent une langue différente. Après cette journée là, tout est entré dans l’ordre et je me suis bien amusée au Chili.  Pendant les récréations, les enfants jouaient avec moi et je parlait aussi aux enseigantes  Le chien de l’école (Princesa) nous attendaient tous les matins derrière la clôture de l’école, prêt a nous saluer! 
Host Family: La journée de la fête à mon amie, Vilma lui a acheté un gros gâteau aux oranges, des chips et du Coke. On a chanté bonne fête en français, espagnol et anglais.
Country: Vilma nous a amené à la plage après une journée de bénévolat….Mes amies se sont baignées dans l’océan.  Lorsque nous sommes allés à Pisco Elqui, il y avait plein d’orangers et puisque j’aime beaucoup les oranges, je me suis regalée!

9. How was the local ABV Coordinator, the staff and the support provided in-country?
Airport:  Vilma est venue nous chercher en temps à l’aéroport.  Le transfert de l’aéroport à sa maison s’est très bien passé.  
Orientation day: Vilma nous a reconduit à l’orphelinat/école et elle nous a présenté à la directrice de l’établissement.  Carla, la directrice nous a fait faire le tour de l’école.  C’était une bonne orientation pour la première journée. 
Daily Support: Vilma était là pour moi à tous les jours si j’avais des questions ou quoi que ce soit.  Elle était une bonne source de support pendant mon séjour au Chili.  Les enseignantes à l’école m’ont acceuillie comme si j’étais une des leurs.

10. How was the information you received from ABV prior to traveling? (Emails, website, support) was there anything missing or should be included to prepare other volunteers?  
C’était agréable de pouvoir utiliser le chat sur le site internet de Abroaderview afin d’obtenir des réponses rapidement.

11. Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers about your volunteer experience? 
Certainement.

Volunteer Chile: Teaching Program

1. How was the local ABV Coordinator/staff and the support provided in-country? Volunteer Chile: The local ABV Coordinator was amazing and incredibly helpful. My coordinator, Vilma, always was there if needed. She was always checking in with me to see how I was doing, and would contact me immediately if any issues or concerns arose.

2. What was the most surprising thing you experienced?
   1. Host Family: My host family was first of all amazing. Silvia and Obriel, along with their four kids, created some of my best memories of my trip. The most surprising thing I found out about my host family was their lifestyle, and the lack of heat in the house. At night, it got cold.
   2. Country: The most surprising thing I experienced in the country as a whole was how helpful everyone was, even though most people didn’t speak English.
3. What was the most challenging thing you experienced?
   1. Host Family: The language barrier was the most challenging thing I experienced with my host family. Chileans speak incredibly fast, and it is sometimes hard to understand simple words due to the cultural differences of the language.
   2. Program: The most challenging part of the program in total was not the teaching aspect, but actually the transportation here in Chile. I took a colectivo, or shared cab, everyday from my host family’s house to the school where I worked. My first week using the colectivo was hard for me, because only certain colectivos take you where you want to go. Then once you have the right colectivo, you then need to tell the driver where you would like to go. Many times, the driver would not know where I would want to go, and I would have to describe the area. It was during my second week, when I realized the best way was to ask the driver if they knew where your desired destination was, before you got into the car. This made things much easier. After learning how to use the colectivos, they became second nature. (Always take the same numbers on the top of each colectivo they have specific numbers for specific routes)
4. Any tips for future volunteers…( clothing, travel, personal items, donations)
   1. Bring layers if you are staying during the winter that you can travel in, as well as sleep in.
   2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, people in Chile are very friendly.
   3. Try your best to talk to locals, they provide great insight on the city and culture alike.
   4. Visit the Elqui Valley, I went with two other ABV volunteers and it was wonderful.
   5. Make friends here, they can help you experience more of the city.
5. Other things volunteers should know before coming here: (that’s not in the ABV orientation guide)
   1. It get very cold during the night, pack layers.
   2. Make sure to practice your basic Spanish phrases just to have a means of communication, but don’t worry if you are not fluent.

6. Personal paragraph about the experience (ABV Program Testimonial):

I absolutely loved my experience in La Serena as a whole and working at the Colegio (school). I experienced many different areas of the culture traveling all over the area with other ABV volunteers and friends that I made at the school. It was an incredible opportunity that I learned so much from. A Broader View was great, I will defiantly use them for any future trips.What was your favorite memory on this trip?

1. One night we had a barbeque where we all sat around the grill talking and eating amazing food.
2. Experiencing the city with my friends, and walking on the beach while sunset.

8. How was the ABV USA support prior traveling?

They were great, I had no problems. Volunteer Chile

Teaching Program in Chile