America, represented by wheat, collides with South America, represented by the corn. In this picture you can see the bodies of copper and gold (explained in the photo below), and changes in modes of production.  

Depiction of Native Woman and Spanish Solider ~ Main Panel of Mural. Earth beneath their feet encases bodies made of gold, silver and copper to represent the natural metals which abound in South-Latin America.  

The New Face of Latin America

Typical Housing ~ Quillon 

My favourtie picture of Seba yet...bless

My Little Monkey, Seba ~ Main Plaza, Quillon 

More photos to share...

With only days left here, I've decided to add a few more pictures from my recent trip to the island of Chiloe. It was a tiresome trip to make in only a week, with lots of very hectic driving (stay tuned for post entitled : Chilean Drivers - Certain Death on Wheels), but well worth it for the time my mom, sister and I were able to spend together.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. I look forward to sharing more when I return home. Until then, I'm going to try my best to soak up the sun and spend as much time with the kids and grandma as possible.

Wait for me!

Can you spot the penguins?  

Nesting Humboldt and Magellanic penguins ~ Puihuil islands at the Pacific coast of Chiloe.

A view of the Pacific on our way to see the penguins.

A young boy helps to bring in bags of mussels ~ Castro, Chiloe. 

Handmade dolls typical of the island of Chiloe 

No caption required... 

Market scenes 

Andrea and Mom after the falls 

Lost in Translation...

...is probably the best title I can think of for this post. Forgive me for not writing more often, but I can´t seem to find the words to best describe the roller coaster of emotions this trip has become, nor can I articulate the hundreds of conflicting thoughts I find myself trying to make sense of.

On more than one occasion, I have found myself seriously questioning the value of so-called institutions of ¨higher learning¨ and the education they claim to impart without political or personal agenda. Intrusive, accusing stares have led me to curse the select few politicians, aid workers and missionaries whose actions (or lackthereof) have prompted many to view all North Americans as selfish, arrogant, ignorant ¨Americans¨. It seems I cannot turn my head off to escape the constant barrage of thoughts and questions which await me at my every turn.

My visit to Concepcion´s cathedral earlier this week proved a breaking point of sorts, and for the first time since my arrival I sat, alone, and cried for some 45 minutes.

Que Linda

Salto de Laja

View of the falls with a 'mist-free' lens

Mi nueva amiga, Connie 

T-shirt Caption: We Got Soaked at Salto de Laja!!

Look Mom, No Hands! ~ Connie

More from Salto de Laja

Artisan Market in Chillan ~ Can you spot the imposter?

What to buy, what to buy? ~ Connie at the Market

Morning

I wake to the sound of deep, husky voices

Words pushing through the ceaseless chatter of foreign insects, birds

Rustling palm leaves and relentless sun.

It is morning.

Mountains as seen from hill top behind farm

Sebastian and sister, Connie, being silly while shopping in town

Sebastian on his beloved bike

Plant life on the farm ~ Who said I wouldn't find a cactus?!