I think it is impossible to be able to express in these limited lines all the magic, the scents, the flavors, the learning, the multi-culture, the humidity, the heat, the kindness and the wealth of a country that seemed to me so distant and strange before this unforgettable experience that I lived during 15 days in May 2008. And without a doubt, I will need more lines to thank those many people who supported me to make this dream real. Special thanks go to the Government of Malaysia, through the Ministry of Woman, Family and Community Development and the Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW), also to the Embassy of Malaysia in Chile and, of course, to the National Women's Affairs Service (SERNAM).

Thirteen years ago I decided to leave the speed and impatience of Santiago - Chile (respecting those who live there, by all means), to move to the calm of La Serena City (in the northern part of my country). It has not been easy during this period to accept that in many aspects, Santiago is Chile. Nevertheless, it has been rewarding to verify by myself that professional improvement and training, is also a real opportunity for those who live in provinces, like me. In this respect, I must mention SERNAM, institution where I have spent the last 12 years of my life, and that gave me the opportunity to apply to this course in Malaysia: Violence Against Women (VAW) for NAM Member Countries.

After almost 2 days of an outward journey, 2 days to return, adding the 12 hours difference between Kuala Lumpur and La Serena, and after fourteen days to my return, I still feel that I need more hours to sleep and rest. Nevertheless, this difficulty to connect and to readapt to my daily activities, has been good for me because I can keep the nice memories fresh and remember the wonderful people I met, and all the professional, personal and academic learning.

The group was integrated by 20 participants: five ladies from Malaysia, two from Philippines, and one each from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Palestine, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Guinea, Lao PDR, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, Indonesia, Mauritius and myself from Chile. I don't have words to express all the knowledge I gain from them. Also, from the excellent speakers and the wonderful logistic NIEW teamwork, which all the time looked after us, supporting us even on the most minimum things. Everybody always made the effort to make us feel like home.

Impossible to forget the tour that NIEW organized for us around Kuala Lumpur, route in which we discovered a city that grows fast among the cultural and religious diversity, with a wonderful vegetation in every corner and with a commerce in expansion represented by big shopping centers, like Midvalley Megamall, where only one of its lateral corridors reminded me of the small shopping center in my City. The night tour to the administrative area, where I saw for the first time a real Mosque (it was impressive), the nice buildings of Ministries, the Prime Minister Palace, etc. The unforgettable trips and walks around Petronas Twin Towers (up to the bridge), the Central Market, KL Tower, Aquaria KLCC (sharks and manta rays above us!!), King's Palace, National Monument and Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

This course together with all the years I have been working against domestic violence has given me the strength to say that it is essential to continue promoting the equality of opportunities and rights between women and men. Any form of violence against women constitutes a serious violation to the human rights. To eradicate this social flagellum it is necessary the collaboration from every society. It is vital to improve couple relationships, so women and men work together for the right to live a life free of violence.

Although it is not a mystery that the violence against women exists everywhere in the world, this course allowed me to know different forms of it in other countries and how they face it. Without any doubt, I rescue lessons and examples that I will continuously share with my colleagues, in order to improve our policies, programs and actions aimed to prevent and eradicate violence.