Written by Alexandra McClain
Harding University Latin America (HULA) students have finally arrived in Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the region Feb. 27 delayed their trip.
The earthquake postponed students’ departure from the U.S. for a week, causing their classes to be delayed.
“We started classes at home by ourselves that week and took Moodle quizzes,” said sophomore Heidi Duncomb.
Aside from delaying classes, most of the damage did not affect the “HULAgans” according to program director Tom Hook.
The damage to the lodgings for HULA students was minimal.
“The quake itself was fairly severe here in Viña, but fortunately, for myself and for HULA, most of the damage occurred south of here,” Hook said.
According to Duncomb, the HULA students have not seen very much of the damage caused by the earthquake.
“We were all surprised when we flew into Santiago,” Duncomb said. “We were expecting to see crashed down buildings and people scattered everywhere, but that wasn’t the case.”
When they landed in Santiago, the group deplaned onto the tarmac and went through security and customs in tents because there was damage to the infrastructure of the airport.
The HULA students have an interest in assisting in clean up efforts but most likely will not have the opportunity.
“Most of the kinds of damage that they could have been helpful in cleaning up was either already mostly resolved or was far enough from our location that it would be very difficult, both in time and logistics, for them to participate directly,” Hook said.
“The big damage is hours away from us, and so I’m not sure if they decided we would be much help to drive that far away because we are gone on trips so often,” Duncomb added. “I know that a lot of us really want to get out there, but the Chilean government seems to be handling it really well.”
The HULAgans are just now getting settled into their apartments in Viña Del Mar.
Since the flight was delayed, the students left the second day after arriving for a trip to the Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.
“When we got here we left the next day for a big trip and are just getting started with classes [Wednesday],” according to Duncomb.
The day they left was the day a 7.2 magnitude aftershock caused a tsunami to hit Viña Del Mar.
“The big earthquake that was a [7.2] two weeks ago sent Viña Del Mar into a tsunami alert, but when it hit we were already on the bus headed to the airport (for the group trip to the Patagonia) and didn’t feel it,” Duncomb said.
There have not been any other major scheduling changes for HULA this semester, according to Hook.
“The other major trips to the Amazon and Machu Picchu, Easter Island and Atacama Desert are to areas not damaged by the quake,” Hook said. “The only real changes are on the trip to Santiago, where some of the museums we would normally visit are closed due to damage sustained in the earthquake and not yet repaired.”
Duncomb said she feels very safe at her apartment and does not fear any lingering aftershocks.
“It’s scary, but I feel really safe in our building, and they have said is the safest place to be in all of Chile when an earthquake hits,” she said.
Hook is very excited for the new cultural experiences presented by the earthquake.
“The HULAgans will be here for less time, they will have fewer “free days” and will feel the need for more intensity in their classes,” Hook said. “But, they will also see Chile in a different way as people here adapt to the impact of the quake on their economy and lifestyle, but those differences will be minor.”
