Spots for the 2020 District Friendship Exchanges to Russia and Brazil are open. Friendship Exchanges are exchanges between groups of Rotarians for the purpose of creating connections and friendships. The magic of Rotary happens when these friendships morph into relationships from which projects can be born! Anyone Rotarian can participate in a Friendship Exchange. Anyone with connections in certain parts of the world is encouraged to consider leading a Friendship Exchange. More information on the DISTRICT FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE PAGE.The group visited seven clubs in Santiago, Rancagua, and Santa Cruz. We learned about the wonderful service projects sponsored and supported by each of the clubs. The clubs are small, ranging from 10 to 30 members. We were all inspired by the efforts of each club in their respective communities.
Santiago is a beautiful city of 8 million people with excellent road and other transit options. The subway system and Uber sufficed for most of our transit needs. The news about the riots in Santiago were a concern to all of us before we left. Students concerned about national academic testing and low-income people concerned about increases in transit costs were at the root of those issues. It appeared to be about people talking past other groups of people and not really solving issues that need to be addressed. Chile has reduced levels of poverty in an impressive way. That does not resolve the fact that poor people are being driven further and further from their jobs by rapidly increasing housing costs.
Dick and Liz Fayram stayed with a family in Nueva, one of the communities that make up the larger city of Santiago. It was a target of these demonstrations. There were buildings that had been damaged and fires in the streets while we were there. No one ever felt threatened in any real way. This is part of the reality of Friendship Exchanges.
We visited a number of historic sites, markets and museums. Rancuaga is a smaller historic city where the revolution for independence from Spain was fought. We also visited wineries in Santa Cruz. We enjoyed typical local cuisine and wonderful Chilean wines. Dinners were served with beef, pork, chicken and sausages piled high on platters. We all thought it would be impossible to eat all of it in the beginning. At the end of the meal, it was always gone. Some of the group went white water rafting on the Maipo River and some went to the end of the road in the Andes Mountains.
Our Chilean hosts made us feel very welcome at all times. They refused to let us pay for any of our meals, transportation, or entrance fees. All of the clubs hosted a wonderful dinner meeting. But the Santa Cruz Rotary Club had a group of twelve folk musicians perform tradition music and dancing. This was a highlight of the trip.
Rotarians who have not been on a Rotary Friendship Exchange are missing one of the great experiences that Rotary has to offer. We were warned about Rotary Friendship Exchanges being physically challenging. Some of our days had 18,000 steps in 90-degree weather. These are not easy for anyone. We encourage our fellow Rotarians to participate in this outstanding Rotary tradition whether in helping to host inbound Rotarians or traveling with an Outbound Friendship Exchange.
We expect 10 to 12 of our new Rotary friends from Chile to visit Wisconsin in late May and early June. We hope all District Rotarians will help us in welcoming them to Wisconsin.