Friendship and Connection in Chile
I’ve always wanted to visit Chile! Yet, despite not going more than 4 miles from the hotel during my trip, I had a wonderful time.
When I received the notification I would be flying to Chile, it was tempered excitement. I’d been dying to fly to the country known for The Andes, guanacos and good wine for a long time, but as in many parts of the world right now there is political uncertainty & unrest. Nonetheless, I was happy to get out of the cold Georgia rain and head south to summer weather!
The flight from Atlanta to Santiago was roughly 9 hours. More than enough time to be stuck in a metal tube with 8 other crew members and 220 passengers. Towards the end of the flight it seemed apparent that none of my crew mates wanted to do much more than hit the local grocery store and nap on their layover. I was certain at this point I’d be a solo explorer. I began googling sights and day trips to take from the city.
Ironically as we deplaned, two passengers and I struck up a conversation. One, a Delta FA along with his friend set to vacation for a week in Chile. We discovered we had mutual friends and they invited me along with them for the day as they saw the sights. How tempting! We exchanged numbers and made plans to touch base that afternoon.
Now, to many people a trip to the grocery store may not sound interesting but when in a new region, I’ve found flight attendants can be an incredible resource on local delicacies, wine and spirits! On this afternoon I purchased some delicious Carmenere wine on the advice of a fellow FA which was delicious, and also under $9USD per bottle! #Winning
If you’re like me and never tried Carmenere wine before, it’s a smooth medium-bodied red with a very distinct flavor and almost a hint of spice.
On our grocery store pilgrimage, was an FA (I’ll call him Dennis) who had seemed pensive during the flight. I had met him before but never really spoken to him, he had always seemed so reserved and standoffish. And though I’d planned on hitting the landmarks with the duo I’d met earlier, I instantly felt a connection chatting with this quiet old soul and suggested we check out the park nearby. He agreed and the next morning after breakfast we set out on a 4 mile walk through one of the Santiago’s beautiful parks.
Along our walk, I discovered that Dennis had been married for almost 2 decades and his wife had passed away only a month ago! He told me she had been ill for a long time before passing and that he now felt lost, allowing his home repairs to be neglected and that his health to suffer.. I immediately understood why he had seemed so distant and pensive when we’d met in the past! I wish I could say that I had been able to offer some words of wisdom or had inspired him to find strength in this difficult time, but all I could do was listen and be a caring ear. I felt helpless to say much and felt his pain, imagining how I would have felt in his situation. We walked for a time in silence watching the parrots chatter and chase each other through the trees. And as we neared the end of the park, standing along the lake’s edge was a small flock of flamingos and swans gracefully paddling by. It was a picturesque day and I was happy to share the moment with him.
As we turned to walk back to the hotel Dennis mentioned that lately his only hobbies seemed to be eating and drinking beer. I told him that I’d begun documenting my travels recently and that perhaps he could do the same with an emphasis on food. I was reassured to hear him making plans for the future and truly hope he decides to pursue it.
Now, days later as I reflect on that afternoon I am so happy my first trip to Chile brought a new friend into my life. As much as I always want to visit a new city’s monuments and attractions, I know they will be there the next time I visit. On that particular afternoon I was exactly where I needed to be.
We are all traveling through this life together and being there for each other is part of life’s beautiful journey.