May 15, 2008

So today was the last of a lot of things. It was the last full day we would spend in Chile. It was the last company visit we had to attend. It was the last meal we would eat and go out at night together as a group. It was a sad thing to think about but also a really happy day together. In the morning was our last company visit to a company called Multiplant that grows and distributes different flora to various companies and consumers in South America. The air was crisp and clear and the dew was just beginning to disappear as the tour bus full of chipper Pittsburgh students arrived. We were led through the different grid networks of mesh netting and plastic sheets making up the nurseries for the different plants as the owner explained to us a little about Multiplant and its plans for the future. He says he is expanding more into the retail industry because just selling plants is not cutting it anymore. I found it interesting that he was changing his entire business to stay competitive even if that meant selling something completely different from what he was used to selling. I guess he gets more tourists coming through than he gets actual buyers. After the conclusion of the Multiplant tour, our next stop was the "farm" which was not actually a farm at all, but a resort. They had a lot of things we could have done if it were a tad warmer out, but the day was really nice and relaxing. We played ping pong, cards, lounged by the pool, and ate probably more than we should have. We even were able to teach the Chilean students an important American card game they were not familiar with, "Asshole." If they took nothing else out of our visit with them, at least they have a nifty card game to show their friends. When we returned to Viña del Mar, I barely had time to change before it was time for our farewell dinner at Diego Pizza about 4 blocks from the hotel. The pizzas were loaded with toppings ranging from ham and pineapple to corn and ground beef. In my opinion it was one of the most satisfying meals of the trip. During dinner, Jo presented the Chilean students with some University of Pittsburgh apparel and they returned the favor with embroidered polo shirts for everyone on the trip that read "Plus 3 Chile." We all said our thank you's, took some pictures, and then began to prepare for our last night out together back at Scratch night club. It was another late (or early) night but one of the best of the trip.