Dear Kate,
How are you? I hope you are well.
I was in touch with you last year after I did my CELTA Course at International House Belgrano asking for advice on job opportunities etc. before I decided to take a 7 month contract in Chile and I remember you asked me to give you an update on how it all went because it might be useful for future CELTA students to read about.
Anyway I finished my contract just before Christmas in Copiapo and it was a fantastic experience! I really enjoyed my job, teaching for a small institute called Capital London. My students were great and I managed to gain invaluable experience both from a teaching and administrative perspective.
I was also able to improve my Spanish and travel around different parts of Chile; it really is a fantastic country!
The highlight of the 7 months though had to be the unfolding of one of the biggest news stories of the year right on my doorstep – the rescue of the 32 miners! I just felt so lucky to be there for such an important moment in Chilean history. From being in a mining town where there were only another 4 or 5 ‘gringos’ living there, suddenly we had journalists from all over the world, it was very surreal! I ended up going down to the main plaza (where they had set up a big screen) to watch the rescue of the last few miners. While I was in the crowd I was interviewed by the BBC, which was amazing in itself, but just to be in that square with all the Chilean flags flying, people cheering, singing the national anthem etc. there was so much emotion, relief and joy! It really was an incredible moment and one I will remember for the rest of my life.
Another great advantage of working in Copiapo was that I was on a decent salary and was able to save money and so now I have been able to return to Argentina where I am enjoying the holidays; I have had friends from home come to visit and now my parents are here as well which is great.
I have fallen in love with South America so much though that I really want to stay out here for at least another year, I am hoping to either find work in Buenos Aires or further afield once the holidays are over.
Anyway I would just like to thank you again for the advice you gave me which helped me to make the decision to move to Chile and also if you do know of any work coming up either in Buenos Aires or elsewhere in South America if you could let me know that would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Rob
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