China Overseas Chinese Network, June 4 (Xinhua) reported that the Chinese girl Cindy and her husband had stayed in Chile for nearly 3 months because of the epidemic. However, these days they have had a windfall. "In the days when we were stuck in Chile, we received a protective mask from the Chinese embassy in Chile. We were seen by the security staff," Cindy said.
Cindy showed reporters the epidemic prevention materials received during his stay in Chile.
"We have been seen"
In 2019, Cindy and Mr. Rucksack were on their backs and flew to the Americas to start a global journey. After a short stay in the United States, they traveled deeply in Latin America for more than 8 months, leaving footprints in Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Antarctica. Unexpectedly, an outbreak in 2020 trapped them in Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysén region in southern Chile.
"If there is no outbreak, we may have arrived in Eastern Europe." Cindy said. As the epidemic spread, she and her husband gave up the idea of traveling to Europe in mid-March and stayed in Koyak. "I chose to stay here because Eisen is the region with the fewest confirmed cases in Chile, and the cost of living is relatively low."
Through the Internet, Mr. Cindy and Mr. rented a house at a local price of 5200 yuan per month, but they did not expect that this stay is 3 months, and they will continue to live. After filing the information with the Chinese embassy in Chile, they received 200 masks sent by the embassy to fight the epidemic. Cindy then wrote in his global travel diary: "The good news will never be ordered. After reporting the information to the Chinese Embassy in Chile, we received an echo, and the security staff was watching us. See. I hope everything goes as usual and go home earlier."
Cydy is stranded in Coyhaique, the capital of Aysén in southern Chile. Photo courtesy of interviewees
"The helping hand of the Chinese is around"
Friends often cheer and support the Cindy couple through the Internet, so that they can rest assured that the home can fight the epidemic. At the same time, the help of several local Chinese also brought direct convenience and peace of mind to their "left-behind" life.
By chance, Cindy met a Chinese couple who had recently moved from the Chilean capital to the local area. "Their enthusiasm allowed us to experience the friendship of our fellow countrymen." During the conversation, Cindy learned that the Chinese couple came Chile has been for 4 years. The help of their compatriots allowed them to own a shop in Coyac, but they encountered an epidemic as soon as they arrived.
After learning that Cindy was a Chinese tourist stranded in the local area, the Chinese couple actively invited them to be guests at home and stopped by to visit their shop. Knowing that Cindy and Mr. had only three medical masks left, the Chinese couple presented them with medical masks. "The enthusiasm and friendliness are most vividly displayed. We have accepted their all-round care and help, and the Chinese helpers are all around." Cindy said.
In the winter in Chile, local people rely on burning fireplaces for heating, which can hardly damage Cindy. Mr. Cindy spends a lot of money every day lighting the fireplace. The Chinese couple immediately helped them buy fuel oil when they knew it.
The warmth from the compatriots does not stop there. Living in Chile for a long time, the lack of Chinese seasonings has become a roadblock for their culinary skills. Cindy found a lot of Chinese food in a local Chinese mall. "The'Chinese-style' payout scene appeared at the checkout: after several concessions, we embarrassedly took away a large package of things for free. Even the most scarce masks were reserved for us when the next batch arrived A box. Finally, we also enjoyed a sumptuous Chinese dinner at the boss’s house."
"The unexpected friendship made us feel relaxed and reap the happiness like a flame in a fireplace." Cindy said.
"The locals are very friendly to the Chinese"
In Coyak's anti-epidemic life in the past three months, Cindy went to the streets to purchase daily necessities while complying with relevant local policies and doing personal protection. According to Cindy's observation, the Chilean people have done a good job in protection, and basically wear masks to travel. Since there were only a dozen confirmed cases in southern Chile, after a brief period of social isolation, the local authorities gradually lifted the seal and everything returned to normal.
However, Cindy said that prices have risen due to the epidemic. The position of Coyak is relatively biased, and most of the materials must be transported. During the epidemic, the transportation of materials was slow, and only meat was cheaper. "Taking the house we rented as an example, it was rented directly with the local landlord, and it was 5,200 yuan a month. If it is usually, it is estimated to be 2000-3000 yuan."
Because he has studied Spanish for more than a month, Cindy's local travel is basically barrier-free. "Ask for directions, shopping is smooth, the local folk customs are simple, and there has never been any behavior that is not friendly to the Chinese. Once I went out to ride Uber, the driver told us that it was safe."
In the global travel diary shared by Cindy, there is a passage: "Without the orthodox reasons of studying and working, long-distance travelers do not want to occupy limited resources, and seek a way out on the premise of not adding chaos to society. Long-term travel experience accumulation, Backpackers have strong self-protection and emergency awareness, and can arrange themselves properly in foreign countries."
Because of the epidemic, Cindy and Mr. were forced to stop the pace of travel, but the pace of life continued. Speaking of the future, Cindy said he might choose to start a business. "In the future, we plan to promote South American specialty products in South America. South American high-quality products are worthy of being used by more Chinese." (Gong Xiaofei)