Story Published: Mar 10, 2010 at 9:20 AM PST
Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 9:20 AM PST
"I didn't know anything about my family for three days so i was really worried about that," said LSCS student and Chile native Cesar Uaui.
Uaui is a sophomore studying business and also plays on the tennis team. He said he was relieved to hear that his family and friends back home were okay. Not the same can be said for the infrastructure of his hometown, Santiago.
"It was a mess," said Uaui. "It is still a mess. All the streets are destroyed. Some people are paranoid because now they are stealing in stores and stuff. There is no food, water or electricity. But the country is starting to build up again."
Unlike in Haiti, modern building codes saved many of the buildings and lives in Chile.
"Fortunately our buildings are really strong, because we are prepared for that," said Uaui. "But this time the Tsunami hit us hard in the south because we are not prepared for that at all."
Uaui hopes to go home this summer and return to LCSC in the fall. He said his family and friends tell him that the earthquake was frightening.
"I talked to my best friend and actually he was at a party when the earthquake happened and he told me that all the people were screaming and the glasses were breaking and he told me it was like a really bad experience for him, "said Uaui. "We had one earthquake and my dad was alive for that one and he told me it wasn't as bad as this one. He was surprised."
Uaui recognizes that it will take time and money for his country to rebuild.
"When Haiti had the earthquake I saw people doing fundraising and I would like to invite people to do the same thing for my country because we really need it," said Uaui.
