"I taught English at a Government funded institute.  My students’ ages ranged from 18 to 70 years and seeing the day-to-day struggle some of them were facing was a real eye opener.  Many of them worked twelve-hour shifts on a construction site before coming to lessons for five hours in the evening.  Most were juggling full-time jobs and family lives as well as studying for qualifications to give them better earning potential.  Many of them didn’t know any English and didn’t even want to learn it but had to as it had been made compulsory by the institute for anyone wanting to study there.

I found being out there very hard at the beginning.  Getting to know people was difficult at first but once you get involved you are like best friends.  I joined a local hockey team and went on a tour of Argentina and played lots of matches in other South American countries.  This was how I made a lot of my friends and really settled in.

I lived with a Chilean family while there so I really got to know how things work. They are definitely not as materialistic as westerners and appreciate the more mundane things in life, placing a lot of emphasis on family gatherings and barbecues.  

The national drink is Pisco which is very potent and led to many wild nights!  The Chileans love Salsa music and I learnt a little Salsa dancing while over there. Chileans generally go out at 10pm and a club will never start to fill up until 2am.

I worked two very long days each week, from 8.00am until 10.00pm, and apart from about 15 hours of preparation and marking on top, had the rest of the time to do other things and explore the country.  I also had a lot  of paid leave while I was out there and travelled to Northern Chile, the Atacama Desert and the Amazon Rainforest.  I did a 50km four-day trek on the Inca trail to the Machu Pichuu ruins and also stayed with a native family at Lake Titicaca and wore local dress while there.

I learnt so much during my time there, really how to deal with any situation I was put in.  Above all, I learnt to be very patient.  Teaching can be quite challenging as you can’t determine your own success, it’s all down to motivating your students.  Life is far harsher over there and I’ve realised how cushy it is over here.  It was a most fantastic experience and I am already thinking about doing another year in a different South American country after I graduate."