My gap/extended vacation/visionary trip to Chile

After facing the computer for a good 5 minutes trying to figure out a short and concise title for this post, I figured that there couldn’t be a word to describe this trip.

I’ve realized that for many, this is madness. For those that know me for a while, this is also a bit out of character. So apart from doing a little bit of reflecting on my time here in Chile, I will also answer some commonly asked questions.

Why 3 months?

Well, 3 months seemed like a good start at staying somewhere internationally on my own. Also, it was the maximum amount of time allotted for a tourist.

Why Chile?

As many of you know, my parents are from Chile. Throughout my childhood we came every 4-5 years to visit family and friends. This time though, I would be coming on my own. Thankfully I have stayed with family and friends, but it’s been exciting to interact with them first-hand, see and learn from the culture through a different lens, and improve my Spanish (although some might disagree, since Chile is known for having its own form of slang).

Why now??

Yup, that might be the most complex one. I would also find it difficult to understand why someone who is just starting off their career would quit their job and travel to a foreign country. To be honest, this has been a childhood dream that was always considered under that category, just a dream. However, after working as an accountant for more than a year, I realized this was it. Yes, I could go back and get my masters, or study something new, but it would all be for a job. And working isn’t bad, it has its own challenges and fun moments, but I did come to the realization that I had arrived here too quickly. I had graduated as an accountant at the age of 21 and began working full-time before I even received my diploma!

Thankfully, because of that I am still young enough to try new things, I don’t have any debts to pay off, and don’t have a spouse/child to care for. If there ever was a better time to leave, now’s the time. The Lord was good with me and through various conversations and prayers, this trip came to be.

What have you done in your time there?

A lot! In the beginning I was looking for job opportunities but quickly realized that summer season here is taken seriously…

Most people take vacations in the month of February and depending on your financial stability, you might take off for 2 weeks or more. Legally, after 1 year of full-time employment you have the right to 15 days paid time off compared to the USA, where there is no set amount of days since vacations are a benefit, not a right. Small businesses closed, even hanging signs saying, “Will be closed until Feb. 28”.

Even though I didn’t find a job, it gave me time to travel within the country and become acquainted with the different job opportunities.

It’s been a huge blessing to connect with the local IFES movement known as GBU (Grupo Biblico Universitario) and to learn from them. Although the style and activities they have are different from my Intervarsity chapter, it’s been exciting to exchange ideas and to understand their methods.

I’ve been blown away at the student leadership! Although the movement has few staff workers and even fewer as full-time, the movement has grown and matured because of the natural leadership taken by students both within their universities and within their cities. Just like in the US, there’s groups that are thriving and others that are weak, but all in all, it’s touching to hear each city share testimonies about the past year and to see the Lord’s faithfulness through it all. Praise be to God for the ways he is using GBU and these students for his glory!

Lastly, I’ve enjoyed coming after my years in FIU and the workplace and being able to see people and places from my parent’s youth come alive. It’s been exciting and moving to be transported back in time and finally putting faces and landscape to stories I have heard growing up. It has been a gentle reminder of the Lord’s mercy and love throughout the years and how now we can see the ways he has used each situation to mold us.

In the time I have left here I hope to further share with you all the things I have seen and learned. I would love to hear your feedback, are there things you’re curious about, a theme you would find interesting?

If you are wanting to know more about the specifics of where I am going and how you can be part of that please click here for a previous blog post or here for a video update.