Escaping the Chill in Chile

As fall semester came to a close at HKS, the Boston area was in the throes of what would turn out to be one of the coldest and longest in history. I had signed up for a class in January during what's called the J-term that I was very excited about: a fast-paced and very dense all day course in Persuasion that would count for one credit. My excitement about the course wasn't enough to override my distinct hatred for the wind and wet, snow and sleet, and when a classmate mentioned a different J-term class that would take place in Chile, I eschewed a course with known benefit for one with, well, a LOT of unknowns.

A group of about 20 HKS-ers headed to Santiago Chile to embark on a course mean to rebuild communities post natural disasters. The Bio Bio region in central Chile was hit devastatingly hard by a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami that wiped out many communities of many different sizes. After a few days in Santiago learning about the event, its effects on communities, and the efforts that had already been undertaken to assuage the population and rebuild, as well as some team building and extracurricular bonding, our group split into three teams. 

Team Perales with our Advisors

The three teams were headed to Cobquecura, a town of about 8,000, Dichato, a town of about 3,500, and Perales, a town of about 500. The Cobquecura team was running a grant competition for small business, the Dichato team was exploring was to rebuild the town economy through aquaculture, and the Perales team was embarking on a needs assessment to determine what could be done to further assist the residents there. I was on the Perales team, and was dropped off with seven other students in an extremely remote coastal village, whose residents were often said to be descendant from gypsy survivors of a shipwreck.

Perales was decimated by the 2010 tsunami

Walking to the school to start the day

Hombres community meeting

We completely embedded within the town for the next ten days. We worked out of the school learning about the community and trying to figure out how best to approach the residents to reach our end goal of distributing $15,000 USD in the best possible way for the town. We held town meetings and went door-to-door listening to and recording the needs of each of the citizens in Perales and Alto Perales. Many of these conversations were emotionally heart wrenching, but it was also difficult to get people to move on from immediate personal or household needs to look at the bigger picture of community needs.

Mujeres meeting

Our classroom work space

Working outside the girls cabana

Work sessions spanned the entire day, including into the cabanas where at least we could have tapas and wine.

Many of the needs were about better warning and easier tsunami escape paths, and protection of the coastline from high water, but these proposals were already in progress by the government, albeit slow progress. We were finally able to ascertain that the greatest need was a long term solution for potable water for the residents of Alto Perales, who often went four days without potable water and whose water supply was being reduced each month.

The end of the water at the Pacific Ocean

Talking about the water flow with Oscar

The source of potable water for all of Alto Perales (150 people)

Discussing strategy

We ended up writing multiple letters and reports to government officials to increase the pace of government initiatives, as well as explain the water problem in Alto Perales. We offered the residents a step-by-step plan to pursue government subsidized well projects, and explained it to each of the water committees of Perales and Alto Perales. Finally, we gave our $15,000 USD to the Perales and Alto Perales water committees to help pay for technical plans and surveys needed to jump start the project.

Meeting with water committees

The experience was extremely difficult, but very rewarding. I learned a lot about human nature, both positive and negative. I learned about working in teams in an unknown environment, trying to accentuate each person's strengths and shield their weaknesses. Lastly, I learned that many of ideas of "helping out" are seen as unhelpful and too far outside the community; yet many want to complain about these aspects while being completely dependent on outside help.

Perales rugged beautiful but rugged coast

Fishing at sunset

Damage and hope

After the hard work, we returned to Santiago for a debrief. It was obvious that the other teams had a quite different experience than we did, but it solidified and strengthened the experience for our team. Later, a classmate and I joined up with a former classmate and fellow Morocco traveler to explore the Santiago area.

We enjoyed delicious Chilean wine in at a great winery, known for being a plantation whose owners shield Chilean forces in their struggle for independence against Spain. We explored the Andes mountains and then spent a day in Valparaiso checking out street art and eating delicious seafood lunch and dinner. We also spent some time at the beach at Vina.

Awesome tasting area with a bougainvillea that would make LTD jealous

The vacation crew

Underground barrels

Verdict? Delicious

Mike checking the color

Street art in Valpo

Vena Beach

Santiago castle

Chile was an incredible experience and an enjoyable country. I will definitely go back to enjoy the beaches again, and especially to explore the south and Patagonia.