Just for today
be free and happy.
Just for today
have joy.
Just for today
you are taken care of.
Live consciously in the moment.
Take your blessings with gratitude.
Respect your parents, teachers and elders.
Earn your bread honestly.
Love others as you love yourself.
These are the spiritual rules of life, according to Rieki. Reiki, Japanese for “Universal Life Energy,” is a holistic healing art, which involves the channeling of energy through the hands. It is a fascinating practice, and I am deeply interested in learning more about it. Recently, I have been more avidly pursuing my interest in all things related to the power of our thoughts and attitude, and the effects of our consciousness on the external world— this area of study is referred to as Noetic Science. For me, reading and learning about these ideas has helped me put my Chilean experience into perspective, relatively speaking.
Our thoughts are powerful; I truly believe we affect others and the world around us by the energy we emit from our conscious thinking. We can not expect to receive joy and happiness, if we do not achieve bliss within ourselves. My experience here in Chile has had a variety of difficulties, but I can not dwell on them, I must continue to think positively, and emit positive energy, or else this will not be an experience worth having.
With that said, my time here in Chile is taking a turn for the better in many ways. Not only do I have somewhere to work everyday, but I am also am slowly falling into my own role in various organizations. I am working in a variety of settings that, I believe, will allow me to have a “well-rounded” volunteer experience. As of right now, I will be working at at the following places (however, because I am in Chile, and because things change, its possible that these may change as well):
SERNAM (Servicios Nacionales de la Mujer—National Women Services)- a women’s center which is part of a governmental organization that promotes the rights and well-being of women. Gretchen and I will be part of a wonderful group of people with a very comfortable and welcoming dynamic. I think this is going to be a great opportunity to learn the value of teamwork as well as being accountable for individual goals.
Semillitas (Little Seeds)- A daycare where Gretchen and I will be teaching English to niños/as. We are also going to start planning a project for the children and, in the future, workshops with the mothers and other women of the community are also a possibility. I love the atmosphere here; it is amazing to feel part of the community after just having started working here. And, even though during the lessons it seems the children are more than disinterested, receiving a hug from all of them afterward is heartwarming.
EPES (Educación Popular en Salud- Popular Education in Health)- We will also continue to work at this public health organization, helping in the office or community as needed. Working here has completely changed my views on so many issues and approaches to be taken when looking at the promotion of health and rights, and I am excited to stay involved and learn more. Gretchen and I will also be using methodology that we have learned through EPES to plan our workshops.
Through EPES, I am also going to be involved at another jardín (daycare), being part of the community work. Tuesdays evenings I will be working with teenagers in themes surrounding health, sexuality, drugs, etc, while Thursday evenings, I am part of a group of women to spread awareness and empower women around the Peñalolen community. I hope that both of these opportunities turn out to be as fulfilling as they seem promising.
Recently, Gretchen and I also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity by participating in day project in Paine, which is just south of Santiago. Although the day started off quite slow, that simply highlighted what a great Chilean experience it was overall. It was a good day of hard work and laughs while constructing a mediagua (a simple, temporary home) and bonding with university students from Santiago. Being served lunch by the family whose home we were helping to rebuild was also a beautiful experience. I do not think I have ever received and shared in food with such a sense of humility and generosity. It was great day and we plan to stay involved in future weekend projects with Habitat.
I am very excited about all of these opportunities to work. Not only are they going to allow me to get involved in a variety of situational settings, I will also have the opportunity to get know different settings around the city. Working at these different organizations/jardines, I see three completely different sides of the city; with EPES in the south, Semillitas and SERNAM in the north, and the other daycare in the east, every day will be a different commute and a different experience. I am looking forward to the chance to connect with the poorer populations in these locations and become a part of the small communities that exist in each. Gretchen and I will be working where tourists don’t usually go to visit and where much of the population doesn’t venture, and that makes me feel as though we will be gaining a much more diverse experience living in this huge city, a city that is much like the States in many ways, until you do actually travel to the outskirts.
So, needless to say, I am slowly spreading my wings here in Chile- slowly filling my role and finding my purpose. I am excited about my opportunities thus far and I think I will be learning a lot about a lot in the coming months! For now however, just for today, I am going to be happy and free, and know that I am taken care of through all of this. I am living consciously and learning to find silence and have bliss in every moment.
