ISU

Although I have ancestors who have immigrated from different countries, I am most connected to Chile.  My mother’s parents are both Chilean, so that makes me half Chilean. I wanted to know the reasons why my grandparents immigrated so I interviewed my grandfather. He stated he thought he would have a better life in Canada: more opportunities, a safer place to live and a better life for his family.  He claims, the way Chile use to be is very different than it is today. I learned that if I had been born in Chile, my life would be similar to the way I live in Canada today as I would have some benefits and disadvantages living there.

I learned that my grandparents lived through some scary times before they immigrated and Chile was going through difficult times because of the changes in government in the past 30 years.  Trying to seek a better life, my grandfather visited his brother in Canada in 1972, leaving behind his wife and children.  He states that “back in 1973, the government set a curfew that you were not allowed outside after six o’clock.  If you were, the army would shoot you if you did not stop when they told you to. We weren’t allowed to do certain things like gather outside in groups and there were army everywhere. I didn’t feel very safe in Chile and now things have really changed for the better” (Araya).  My grandfather stayed for six months, then returned back to Chile and applied to immigrate to Canada and two years later he was given a visa to be able to immigrate.  Months later, after my grandfather left for Canada and established himself with a job and a place to live in Mississauga, my grandmother,mother and uncle arrived in December 1974.  Below, is a picture of my grandfather in high school, and him at the airport departing Canada after his visit.

After hearing about how my grandfather’s life was before coming to Canada, I researched what my life would be like if I had been born in Chile. I found it interesting that you can not work until you are 18 years old and most females in Chile, “do the unpaid care work- for families, children, elderly parents, [whereas] men often return home late, leaving women to prepare meals, clean the house, and look after the children.  Many women continue to have more difficulty than men finding paid employment [and are] disproportionately affected by economic inequality” (Nathan Associates Inc).  Although several countries have had issues discriminating against women, most portray both male and females to have the same equal rights but in Chile inequality still occurs.  That being said, if I was working in Chile, I would most likely be helping with unpaid work and struggle to achieve my career goals, as opposed to Canada.  The graph below shows women’s participation rate in employment in Chile, being low compared to other regions.

Furthermore, I learned that there are two kinds of healthcare in Chile: private and public healthcare.  The public healthcare systems ensures “the coverage of all people unable to afford the high cost of private medical insurance, providing free medical service to the very poor and elderly” (Iredfield).  The public healthcare system provides “an alternative for people with middle incomes, allowing them access to some of the private system and establishments with an additional pay proportional to income” (Iredfield).  Although this is very beneficial, health care coverage would be dependant on what my family and I could afford to pay for quality health care.

Moreover, education now is similar in Chile compared to Canada.  Much like Canada, preschool is optional,  primary and secondary school are mandatory, and university level education is encouraged.  Chile has two kinds of schools being catholic and public; school is free to attend, but to attend higher quality educational schools, require tuition.  At Orangeville District Secondary School we do not have to wear uniforms, and are free to wear what we want.  In primary and secondary schools in Chile, whether you pay tuition or not, a uniform is required.  Although a uniform is much easier to wear, I like the option of picking out my own clothes everyday.

In conclusion, if I was a young person living in Chile, I do not think my life would be much different in Chile as it is today in Canada.  Although I may have some issues with working healthcare, and education, many things would still be similar.

Works Cited

Dago, Gabriela. “Educational Inequality in Chile.” Politics&Policys, 10 Aug. 2015, politicsandpolicy.org/article/educational-inequality-chile.

Edlin, Mari. “Chile’s healthcare offers public and private plans.” Managed Healthcare, 1 Dec. 2009, managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/managed-healthcare-executive/content/chiles-healthcare-offers-public-and-private-plans.

Smith, Sam. “Father, forgive them!” Jesus on the Cross, 29 Mar. 2013, sam-smith.net/father-forgive-them/.

Summary: Access to healthcare in Chile. 21 July 2010, www.impowr.org/content/summary-access-healthcare-chile.

Women’s Economic Participation in Chile. Nathan Associates Inc., Dec. 2013, www.nathaninc.com/sites/default/files/Women’s%20Economic%20Participation%20in%20Chile_0.pdf.