It is really beautiful to see a crowd cheering and waving flags to celebrate that 33 miners were rescued, but really gets to you, is the emotion and happiness that someone close to the mining industry can give you.

This man is from Copiapo the nearest city to the San Jose mine where the 33 were rescued. His cousin is a miner and his father was a miner, and he is really proud of having miner’s blood inside of him because miners are an important element in the Chilean economy and the fact that every part of the country was celebrating shows how Chileans value this.

When he was talking to me I thought “This is the true Chilean identity: a working and dedicated nation ready to give everything for their brothers.” The man was on the verge of tears and the final “VIVA CHILE!!!!!!” showed that the emotion he felt came from the depths of his heart.