From 11 August to 2 September, Ms Rieker accompanied Boitumelo Dona, Liana Gouveia, Sania Ince, Veera Khusal and Lea Taylor on an unforgettable Marist Exchange at Colegio Marista San Fernando, a school about two hours south of Santiago.
Our students stayed with host families, quickly discovering that San Fernando may be a small
town, but it has a very big heart. They immersed themselves in Chilean life, joining school activities and helping with preparations for Chile’s National Day on 18 September. The girls learned the traditional dances and even watched the lively Cueca competition. These experiences offered a deeper appreciation of Chilean culture beyond what one finds in a textbook.
The exchange was also filled with travel and discovery. The group explored Santa Cruz and the fascinating Colchagua Museum, spent time in Santiago visiting the South African Embassy, the Marist head office and enjoyed a full day at Fantasiland and another dedicated to shopping.
Some adventures even required mastering Chile’s public transport, trains, buses and the subway (complete with the occasional sprint after a bus that nearly got away!).
