When to Go and When to Stay

You read the news right?

You’ve heard about the earthquake in Chile, the devastation, the destruction which has affected a huge part of the country. It was a stronger earthquake then that which hit Haiti earlier this year, although Chile was more able to handle the disaster; there is after all a difference between developing and Haiti, in a class of its own in the Western Hemisphere.

Government response has been swift, and fairly effective. It seems like things in much of the country where buildings and people where unaffected are now returning to usual; I know this is the case for a Chilean friend of mine, he is headed back to university classes on Monday.

Here is what I am wondering, is it OK for me to go to Chile this summer as a tourist?

I am, or was, planning on spending 2 weeks in Chile this July. One week in Santiago doing a Spanish course and another skiing, visiting vineyards and exploring. I wasn’t going to visit the part of the country most severely affected by the earthquake and aftershocks, the plan was to stay in and around Santiago, before catching a bus over the Andes and into Argentina.

But I’m torn. I’ve been reading Al-Jahzera, BBC and my other usual new outlets and they’ve sort of made me feel uneasy about visiting. I’m not sure why, it’s not a feeling I seem to be able to describe, but still it remains even when I am reassured by my parents and friends that it would be fine for me to go.

Am I wrong to be skeptical about visiting a country 4 months after it has been struck by such an event? What say you Lady Business readers?

Come back next week for thoughts on solo travel- Lady Style.

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