Signing off from Chile

This is our last report as we pack up and head for home.

We were not able to attend the reconstruction of the daycare center in Talca this past weekend. All the participants were being housed with family and relatives. However from viewing the photos, we certainly were not equipped as the mud and rain necessitated rubber boots and rain gear. The construction went well despite the weather and the children will soon be able to use this facility. Another team worked in Dichato to construct a small house for a displaced family. Excellent work on both sites.

We tidied up our files for the next CAT Team members to continue working on. It was difficult to bid farewell to all the RSA co-workers and consulting folks that we have come to know, both expats and Chilean. Everyone has been wonderful to us and made us feel at home here. We sincerely hope that our contribution has made a difference for those that we insure here.

The Chilean people have endured a lot of hardship in their history, always bouncing back and we know they will this time as well. What we most wish is that they never have to experience another 8.8 quake in their lifetime.

We carry home images of toppled high rises, empty spaces where commerce once thrived, and fishing boats parked high and dry one kilometer inland.

We wish to extend a sincere 'thank you' to the management and staff of RSA Chile. We struggled with Spanish, taught them some English, shared laughs, cheered on their Soccer team on the World Cup and thoroughly enjoyed the vistas of the country.

This is a wonderfully diverse place from the snowy Andes to the plains and valleys dotted with palm trees and cactus, the quaint villages along the coast and the big cities.

We are proud to have done our part to help out.

Thanks to everyone
Mike, Linda and Carolyn