When I was 12 years old, my family and I lived in Punta Arenas, Chile and, one day, my father told me that we would have to relocate to another city. I thought that we would have to move back to Valparaiso, but I was wrong.
Agustín Morales: “My Experience in Rapa-Nui and with its Community”
That was the day that we knew that we would have to travel five hours by plane to Easter Island. I was happy because we would meet new people; however, I was not very happy because everyone that I knew was in Valparaiso or in Punta Arenas.
My first month on the island was very boring because I did not have many friends. However, after a month at school, I met more and more people. And, everyone I met was happy, which made me happy, too. Now, all these years living on Rapa Nui, I am more comfortable because each time I speak with my peers, they are all happy and energetic.
When I started to learn English here, I had already been living on the island for 2 years. This was also when I started to take rugby seriously because my dad told me that I needed to upgrade my body.
That year was when I started getting to know my teammates and my classmates better and I really liked the type of people that they are. My way of relaxing and entertaining myself was with them because they are very extroverted and funny.
My teammates and my coaches were my motivation to continue because their guidance pushed me to see long-term and to give them the best of me. Thanks to that, I have traveled to rugby competitions with them on the mainland, and we have demonstrated what Mata Aito RC (our team’s name) can do to other rugby teams on the mainland.
If anyone asks me what is the best about the island, maybe I would say its people because they form a very beautiful community because they always will help and support you on everything.
Author: Agustín Morales
Date written: November 22nd, 2024
