I´m so excited, i think i´m going to lay an egg!

OOOOKKAYYY here goes....it is now Wednesday 25th August and we haven´t had internet for over a week, so i´m going to do a quick overview of the highlights of our amazing adventure of fun.

After Iquique, we headed on a lovely flight and overnight coach journey to rainy Valdivia. In Valdi we met some AMAZING Guide leaders, did some trainings in schools and met with some Guides. It was fun all around, with us trying new foods (crudos - raw mince on toast, YUM) and getting reaquainted with a more British weather pattern - rain rain rain.

Just a day later, we moved onto Concepcion - the city of the epicenter of the earthquake a few months ago. The city had definitely changed, many buildings were no longer there, and there were some with very clear damage, and a few tower blocks completely broken in half. I don´t think any of us were quite prepared for the amount of damage there was, but despite everyting the people of Conce were so ready to welcome us into their commuinty. We spent time with Pamela, which was great, and also did another Golondrinas training. We wacked out the promise bracelets for this one, which was a great hit, along with the funky chicken of course!

After concepcion we moved to Los Angeles, (after an eventful journey with a crazy bus conductor, named ´bus boy´ who helpfully reminded us we were going to Los Angeles, Chile not USA. Who knew??!!). Here we had another fab golondrinas day, it was great seeing the differences in styles of units between the north and south. Our translator, Diego, was great. In the evening we were supposed to go to Temuco, but it was raining there, so we stayed in Los Angeles for a much needed celebration at the house of Lesley. We ate the most amazing food and had a lot of fun, bringing some Spanish in!

The next day (Sunday) we headed to Temuco (where it had stopped raining, OOOOH YEAH) which is where we are now. We´ve had a few much needed days off - doing laundry (it was seriously getting desperate), visiting the lake town of Pucon, and going to a local bar! Yesterday we were taken up the mountains by Juan, which was AMAZING: we´d never seen scenery like it. There were vast expanses of lava fields with massive volcanoes, and then further up the road was completely covered in snow. Incredible.

SO yeah, thats it for now. Today we´re heading back to Santiago ready for the final stage of project. We´ve been having a lot of giggles as a team, and have already made some great Chilean friends.

Love to everyone who is reading this - and to the other projects (sorry Egypt, and possibly Malawi) congrats on finishing!!

Rachel xxx