EnvOrg flashbacks

When I imagined study abroad, which I randomly tried not to do b/c apparently it goes better if you don't have expectations-but who doesn't have expectations, really?!- my ideal Chilean university experience was very similar to my American one. My goal was to take the most fascinating classes I could, get involved in student activities, ie clubs, that related to my passions and then make as many friends as possible.

Well, I accomplished the first one, and have made a lot of friends, but the club part turned out to be much harder than I expected. Clubs just aren't a big deal at my school, and the ones that do exist(remember its called la Universidad CATOLICA) are mostly centered around faith-based activities like praying, and/or Christian solidarity work. After asking around and getting the same, confused/amused looks, I almost gave up home that student organizations devoted to aetheistic social justice or environmental work existed.

Until....

Every once in a while, a handful of banners will pop up in just one section of campus, advertising an Encuentro Ambiental=environmental encounter. They generally show up the DAY before the event and the past two times took place right in the middle of my classes. However, finally, a poster showed up long enough for me to jot down the little "sustentableuc@uc.cl" email address. I admit that it took me at least three weeks to finally email them, and when I did it wasn't with a lot of esperanza. Most clubs that have email addresses use them for complaints/never check them.
But I sent a cute little, "Hi, I'm Allie from America, I was one of the leaders of my Environmental student org on campus, and I'd love to get involved while I'm in Chile"
Two days later, I got a wonderful response from a guy named "Robert Petitpas"-whose name I remembered only b/c Petitpas is a really uncommon Chilean last name- and we made plans to get together for lunch. However, the day before our lunch, my Ecology Professor said she wouldn't be teaching the next two classes, and instead we had a visiting professor. In walks this young guy, really tan with long brown dreads and wearing Keanes....and he announces his name is Robert Petitpas!! I almost fell out of my chair. What are the chances?!
SO long story short, I introduced myself, we had lunch, and in the span of fifteen minutes of walking around, he showed me the organic vegetable garden in the back of the Facultad de Agronomia(?!?!!?WHAT MY CAMPUS HAD AN ORGANIC VEGGIE GARDEN AND I NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT?!?!) and introduced me to like half the environmental club kids!! Including this guy who's the head of recycling, who is cuuute.
So Robert, who everyone calls Tito, turns out to be a grad student(? maybe? still not sure?) who graduated a while ago but helped start the enviro club, called "Sustentable UC", teaches random classes, and still helps out with everything environmental b/c he basically knows EVERYONE. Really the perfect person to meet.
So when he introduced me to the enviro kids he said, "She wants to help you guys with whatever you need." And they were thrilled b/c apparently there aren't a whole lot of students interested in the club. Then he said, "We're having a panel, and you should speak about your experiences with enviro organizing in the States!"
My eyes opened wide and I just laughed: "Um, I was thinking I could help set up chairs or move tables, but ok..."