Daniel Harper lives in Saundersfoot, attended Tasker Milward School in Haverfordwest and has recently graduated with a degree in history from Aberystwyth University. He is taking part in the English Open Doors programme teaching English in Chile.

In less than a week, he will be in Santiago, Chile, to begin his over four-month experience, volunteering as an English teacher for the Chilean Ministry of Education.

“I have days before my departure where I must say goodbye to friends and family who I shall be unimaginably far away from,” said Daniel.

“I have now received details of my final destination. I shall be staying with a Chilean family, with whom I’ve had no contact beforehand, and am being placed in the most northern region of the country, the Arica and Parinacota region, bordering Peru and Bolivia. This particular region is the driest place on earth regarding annual rainfall and is known as the ‘land of eternal spring’, or so the consulate told me when I verified my visa in London

“After the 19-hour flight from London to Chile’s capital, I will be in attendance for a one week orientation by the English Open Doors Programme, then off to my school placement for myself. My feelings are a mixture of excitement, fear and insecurity. The shock is now setting in that in less than a week I’ll be over 7,000 miles away from my home in Saundersfoot.

“My flight is booked for the day after my graduation from Aberystwyth University and as I look on towards my future and towards Chile, I have no idea what to expect, but to be anxious of what’s ahead is only natural and in fact exciting in a way. Our greatest fears lie in anticipation, I know that whatever is ahead I shall have my friends and family to support me through not only this, but everything to come.”