Last days in Chile...

So I have officially left Santiago de Chile after 9 ½ months on June 14th… The last week was filled with parties, tears, lots of gifts and rain. Now I am in heat of Mexico until the end of June when finally I go to Cincinnati…

Updates for everything…

Valentina had her surgery but then had to go back to the hospital because two internal stitches opened since she was moving around too much and laughed too much at my good bye party at Domingo Savio (yes I am serious and you can laugh at this). They did not have to do surgery again but she was in the hospital for a few more days to monitor everything and now she is doing much better.

My good bye party at Domingo Savio was definitely a party. A week before I left the club had an evening just for me – they told me there would be surprises… I walked into the dinning room where the kids had pizza and music was playing, something I expected. Then there were moms in pigtails and makeup that walked through… the moms (not the kids) did a play for me, about all the funny things I had done there. The mom who played me did everything from pronounce all the kids names with a very bad accent, come back from the beach sunburnt (I laughed so hard I cried at this part), and reenact two times I had fallen; yes we all know I am a clutz. After this I received a few gifts, cried a little, and then realized how much more luggage I was about to accumulate in the next week.

Even though I have left my life in Chile I will always remember all the smiles, tears, laughs and crazy days I experienced with VE and Domingo Savio. Good luck to all of you….

Now I am in Mexico until the 29th and having a blast visiting friends! After that need to find a job in Cincinnati for a while and then I may get my Masters. If you got job connections let me know…

Thanks and take care

Repair Day, Liga de Deportes and Argentina

On May 12, volunteers from VE Global, BNAmericas and Domingo Savio staff worked together to complete 5 projects in 7 hours... even though we did not finish everything that day, all is done now and in use. The highlighted projects were a swing set complete with rope climb, two swings, slide and bar to bar, and painted car that the kids can play in. Other projects involved building a fence on the side of the house to keep in the dogs in during club, lighting outside so the kids can play in the evening (gets dark at 6/6:30 here in the autumn) and a mesh fencing around the fence in the front to keep dogs in and out - probably the most time consuming job there and most needed. Thanks everyone for all your help - the people the day of and for Lakota Early Childhood Center and BNAmerica's for raising money!



On May 19th was the monthly Liga de Deportes where about 30 kids have a day of futbol, volleyball and games! The only difference about this one... it was my last (this is the VE activity for which I am the director). It always is a hit with the kids and will continue to be! Best of luck to Anna and Virginia who will continue the Sports Committee with the new volunteers coming.

So what did I do last week? Took a trip to Cordoba, Argentina! And Buenos Aires too... that was planned the day before and worth the 10 hour bus ride each way for a two day trip. I went to Cordoba - a 16 hour bus ride each way - to visit my friend Flor! She was an exchange student at MND my senior year in high school. It was great to see here again! We went site seeing, I met her family and friends who are great and ate tons of food. I posted pictures, those should explain the rest.

So what next? I leave Chile June 14th and then head off to Mexico before I get back to the states June 29. Then I need to find a job...