7/26/2007 - Letter: AFS experience life-changing

Hello from Pichilemu, Chile, where I am an American Field Service foreign exchange student. I have been living with a Chilean family and going to a public school here for the past six months. At the end of July, I return to Port Townsend, where I’ll be a senior at PTHS this fall.

It’s funny how similar this town is to Port Townsend. There’s a huge tourist draw, especially in the summer, because it’s right on the coast. This also means lots of fishing, like PT. It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody, so it’s really safe. On Saturdays and Wednesdays it has a farmers market, which is a big draw and has good produce: fresh fruit and veggies.

Pichelemu is in the sixth region of Chile, and the climate is dry and sunny most days. It’s winter here now, so the mornings and evenings take up most of the day and are really dark. It’s almost always windy from the ocean, and right now I can hear the waves crashing on the beach even though I’m a few miles away up on the hill in my host house.

The connections I’ve made with people here, including my host family, are going to stay with me for the rest of my life. This experience has totally changed the way I see things and think about the world and life in general.

I felt that writing this little note to my town would be a good thing to do, especially since I haven’t been that awesome about writing to all the people who have helped me out with money for my trip and with support in general. Thank you.

EMMA GUNN

Port Townsend