Sarah Bentley’s sunset over the Chilean Pacific as QCT reaches Chile
Wed, Oct 6th 2004
It is not often that your childhood dreams come true, but for Sarah Bentley, her dreams of seeing the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, came true in a trip wrapped up in challenge, celebration and success.
Sarah Bentley has took up an invitation to provide training in Chile in August with “The Association of British Schools in Chile” at their Educational Centre in Santiago. Sarah ran three workshops at their conference entitled “Thinking”. Also contributing at this conference was Professor Philip Adey from King’s College, London and Professor Robert Fisher or Brunel University.
Sarah's Report
After a flight delayed by two nights in Madrid, a wearying Sarah, Richard and young Max Bentley finally arrived in Chile to be met by their kind host, Freddie Russell-King, Honorary President of the Association of British Schools in Chile. After driving to their hotel, Sarah had just forty five minutes before being collected to go to a large conference, where she would carry out three sessions. On arrival at the airport the temperature was –2o but it soon rose and Sarah could see down from the mountain location of the conference centre to the smog beginning to rise from the city of Santiago below. Luckily sympathy for Sarah’s fraught journey was abundant, but they need not have been concerned. After her first session, translated in real time, a queue of people lined up, waiting in turn to kiss Sarah on one cheek (a local custom) to thank her, and to take photographs of their trainer with her puppets.
After the second session, equally as well received, Sarah had a truly golden moment when one gentleman came up to say: ‘I no englieesh but very well, thanks’! In a full auditorium, Sarah’s third session on releasing excellence had to be completed in just one hour, ending up with a big peer massage session and rapturous applause.
Nigel Blackburn, Director of the Education centre then drove them to Valparaiso – with houses built rather precariously into the hills. It was here that Sarah fulfilled a lifelong dream as she experienced first hand the fantastic views of the cliffs, the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. They watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.
Following this trip, Sarah carried out QCT training at two schools, going down a storm at both. At the first school, after expecting 40 people, 50 arrived and Sarah used the welcome cards and gifts to greet people. Her group of delegates was super, but the piece de resistance was the demonstration, which was one of the highlights in Sarah’s entire career. A group of eleven year-old girls enjoyed QCT in English (their native language of course being Spanish), loving Sam, the big puppet. When the children left, there was an impromptu round of applause. The day continued to progress extremely well and all the evaluations received were exemplary.
Unfortunately during this time Sarah’s husband, Richard became unwell, needing re-hydration in hospital. They aptly called the virus ‘Chileitus’, but we are pleased to say that he recovered over the next few days without further problems.
Sarah then flew down to her next location, Concepcion, and was met by the deputy head of the hosting school. Again, QCT went down very well, and this group, living a long way from Santiago, seemed to need the influence of a trainer, and to embrace the ground rules for the school. They provided a group of children of different ages for the demonstration, who soon relaxed as Sarah played lots of games, and introduced Sam the puppet who they loved.
Throughout the trip there was significant interest in and enquiry about, Jenny’s Train the Trainers courses, and, very excitingly, Sarah’s host was very keen to discuss a TTT course to be held in Chile in the future. So, do watch this space!
There remained just enough time for a little sight-seeing, and soaking up the hospitable culture, sampling the cuisine, and visiting local attractions before having to head for home. Sarah and her family very much enjoyed their stay and brought home very fond memories of the country, the people they met, and the children that Sarah worked with, and of the warmth and friendship they all received.
Tell a friend
Enter yours and a friends name to send them this page.
