summerstudyabroad-blog

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My last week in Chile was probably the busiest and most emotionally draining. Wonderstuck would be the best way to describe how I felt the majority of the time. Every time I thought “okay this is officially the coolest thing I have done in Chile” I was proved wrong. I hiked the canyons of the Atacama desert, walked through the Valley of Death, was surrounded by swirls of water vapor that erupted from geysers way up in the mountains. Saw cool petro-glyphics and learned about the Mapuche communities that still practiced cultivation techniques passed through generations. 

Leaving Chile was bittersweet for me. I was ready to go home, but after being there for so long it felt as if I had lived in Chile all my life. When I went home to my host family, it didn’t feel like I was a visitor but rather a family member. I knew I would miss my host mom and staying up talking to her and asking her questions about Chilean culture. I would also miss riding the metro to class and hearing the street musicians play or being able to walk through the city and looking at all the cool jewelry and merchandise the street vendors try to get you to buy. I’ll miss the delicious cheese empanadas and sweet bread that I would snack on on the bus ride home. I’ll miss the feeling of everyday feeling like an adventure or being able to pick a direction and letting myself get lost in the city only to find that I recognized the city more than I gave myself credit for.

This summer was beyond incredible. Easily the best summer of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I’m incredibly lucky to say I left both places without a feeling of regret that I didn’t do this or I didn’t do that. I feel absolutely content. 

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

This week was definitely one of my favorite weeks in Chile. Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are one of the most beautiful cities I have seen in my life, the whole city seems to be an artwork. Just walking through the city, stopping by little shops that sell little mugs and postcards, small pottery, artwork and hearing salsa playing in the streets is so peaceful and breathtaking at the same time. The murals in the city are all so beautiful and literally everywhere. Its called the Museum of Open Skies. We also were able to tour one of Pablo Neruda’s famous houses, it had I believe 5 floors, each its own theme it seemed and wide windows that over looked the sea. Another cool thing I saw was that all over the city were these rocks glued to posts or along stairwells that have initials written on it. Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures inside the house. Being in that house and knowing that it was occupied by one of the worlds most influential poets seemed surreal.

During these city walks I was surprised to see the presence of American politics. Not only in Valparaiso but in other places over Chile it is not uncommon to see artworks that poke fun at Trump. Makes the world feel smaller when I see them.

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Chile has  been incredible, that a 6 week program only begins to scratch at the surface of how complex its society. We visited Pomaire which is a small village known for its artisan shops. While there we spent the day with a family that specializes in clay pottery. We were able to get a tour of there workshop and hear about their lives and how the pottery and artisan business have changed over the years, including the dictatorship in the 70′s. We made delicious empanadas, a common dish in Chile. They are like hot pockets, but can be filled with cheese,mushrooms or shrimp and cheese, or “Pino” which is ground beef and onions.

That same week we also went to Fundación de Menores Domingo Savio, which is a somewhat new program that aims to help at risk kids, or kids with few resources. The kids are able to spend the day at the playhouse, getting help with their homework, eating and cooking a meal, and playing with the volunteers.The kids were awesome to work with. It was a young boy’s birthday the day we went and we sang happy birthday to him in Spanish and helped build “completos” which is a favorite snack in Chile, a delicious hot dog topped with mayo, onions, sometimes avocado or “palta” as they say in Chile.  

http://miclubdomingosavio.blogspot.cl/p/mi-club.html

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

These weeks have been packed with so much, but its been incredible. My third week I got to visit Villa Grimaldi, a former detention center during the dictatorship under Pinochet. The park now stands for hope and a way of bringing peace to the victims who passed through its gates. There are many symbolic works of art in the park, and the way it is structured is in the shape of an “x” where on line is called the walk of death and the other the walk of life. Walking around that park and imagining the fear those people went through...it raised goosebumps. We later in class discussed the parks structure and it was interesting to hear the perspectives on the layout of the park. During the visit we saw a couple playing in the grass, and it seemed inappropriate to us, given where we were and the history that was contained within the park, our professor explained to us that it was seen differently in Chile, as a way to say that even there is so much pain and suffering, love and joy in the end triumph and that Villa Grimaldi no longer has to only symbolize pain, but change and a fight for a better future. That different perspective gave an insight on the sentiments on the Chilean people, that while there is still unrest due to the dictatorship, there is hope underneath that and the resilience to overcome oppression. 

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

This week flew by. There seems to be an endless amount of things to do in Chile, and although we have some weeks left it feels like there isn’t enough time.

To quickly summarize this week’s events we went to Barrio Concha y Barrio Yungay to look at the different styles of architecture in the city. What is interesting about these buildings is the blending of different styles. There are influences from Roman and Greek architecture but also some buildings chose to strictly keep the colonial style architecture. In Chile, it is common to see a building with gargoyles, highly adorned with intricate statues or archways and then to see mosque style structures and Greek columns. It is so interesting and our professor was so passionate about showing us all these buildings that it’s contagious. Another I got to do this week was explore the GAM building in Chile, it has quite some history, it was built during Allende’s time as a way to bring architects, artists and construction workers together to form a communal sense of belonging, and it was designed also to host UN conferences. However during Pinochet’s dictatorship, many things within the building were changed, or destroyed. The building later had a fire accident, though many believe it was arson, in the years to come however, they restored and now it is a cultural center/museum. 

I went to another museum called the Violeta Aparra museum that solely dedicated to this Chilean woman who was a singer, poet, painter and tapestry artist in the 30-40s period. In the picture there are these trees that when you press your ear to them you can hear music on the inside. It was my favorite part. 

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

Great first week in Chile!

When I first landed I thought it was turbulence what shook the plane not the floor, for looking outside it was so foggy I thought we were in the clouds. Santiago is beautiful, full of life and just amazing. In this past week I have mastered the bus and subway system, ate way too many empanadas, a common Chilean dish, gone to visit the historical museum and La Moneda, the center where the Chilean president works. It’s been a tiring week, with all this new information and stimuli but it has been incredible.

My host mother is such a sweet soul. We have dinner together and talk about Chilean ways of life, gender roles, her family and mine. In fact, I got the opportunity to meet her parents and was given a tour of her fathers work. He was a photographer in his earlier years and has a room covered in awards and medals. I was able to look at some of his pieces and they truly are beautiful. 

I also was able to go to an artisan village called Los Dominicos. It feels like you’re in a different era, with the rustic buildings and the handmade intricate products ranging from breathtaking lapis lazuli jewelry, to hand stitched coat and jackets, leather shoes, chairs, ornaments, decorations. So far it is my favorite place.

I am so excited for this upcoming week, everyday feels like an adventure, and I have so much to learn and to see, to experience. 

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

I​ ​felt​ ​that​ ​this​ ​experience​ ​was​ ​different​ ​than​ ​anything​ ​I​ ​had​ ​ever​ ​done,​ ​not​ ​only​ ​in​ ​school​ ​but​ ​in​ ​my ​ ​life.​ ​However,​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​this​ ​program​ ​tied​ ​in​ ​so​ ​well​ ​with​ ​everything​ ​I​ ​had​ ​been​ ​studying​ ​and​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​very  prepared​ ​in​ ​completing​ ​this​ ​course.​ ​Personal​ ​goals​ ​for​ ​me​ ​was​ ​to​ ​really​ ​enjoy​ ​Grenada​ ​and​ ​I​ ​believe ​ ​I​ ​did​ ​that.​ ​I​ ​learned​ ​how​ ​to​ ​swim,​ ​how​ ​to​ ​snorkel,​ ​contrary​ ​to​ ​popular​ ​opinion,​ ​I​ ​really​ ​enjoyed​ ​the​ ​bus  or​ ​car​ ​rides​ ​through​ ​Grenada.​ ​I​ ​loved​ ​putting​ ​in​ ​headphones​ ​and​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​the​ ​window​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​it ​ ​in.​ ​ ​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the ​ ​most​ ​interesting​ ​things​ ​I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​do​ ​on​ ​this​ ​trip​ ​was​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​from​ ​the​ ​orphanage​ ​and​ ​play​ ​with  them,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​such​ ​a​ ​cool​ ​experience​ ​and​ ​it​ ​challenged​ ​me​ ​because​ ​never​ ​having​ ​done​ ​something​ ​like  this​ ​and​ ​then​ ​suddenly​ ​diving​ ​in​ ​intimidated​ ​me.​ ​Another​ ​thing​ ​I​ ​loved​ ​was​ ​snorkeling,​ ​being​ ​in​ ​the  ocean​ ​and​ ​exploring​ ​the​ ​reefs​ ​and​ ​swimming​ ​with​ ​the​ ​fish​ ​was​ ​perhaps​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​greatest​ ​things ​ ​I’ve​ ​done.

For​ ​my​ ​next​ ​endeavors​ ​I​ ​definitely​ ​have​ ​to​ ​push​ ​myself​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things​ ​that​ ​are​ ​out​ ​of​ ​my​ ​comfort​ ​zone.  Learning​ ​to​ ​swim​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​my​ ​biggest​ ​worries​ ​but​ ​it​ ​payed​ ​off​ ​the​ ​most​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end​ ​because​ ​I​ ​was ​ ​able​ ​to​ ​see​ ​beautiful​ ​things​ ​and​ ​do​ ​incredible​ ​things.

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

Everyday is a new adventure here. There is so much that happens within a day that it’s hard to write it all in one journal entry. This past week I visited Carricou, a small island inhabited by 8,000 people. I learned how to snorkel. I also participated in a hike called Hash House Harriers Run where you get to hike through the rain forest, climb through the rocks in the waterfall. At the end of the hike there is a small celebration where people get to listen to music and eat food. Today I was able to go to a sculpture park in the ocean, you have to dive down to see the sculptures clearly. It was beautiful.  This week I was able to go to an orphanage and play with the kids. They had there picture taken and got to decorate picture frames made outta popsicle sticks. It was an incredible experience. The kids were so sweet and full of energy, everyone was having a good time. I was also able to interview the residents at a home on Saint Victoria. I talked to a 61 year old and a 96 year old. They shared stories about traveling, and their families. They were very proud of their home country, Grenada saying it was the most beautiful country. It was incredibly humbling to be able to talk with these women.The staff and the residents were very welcoming, so as intimidating as it had felt initially before conducting the interviews, we soon embraced the challenge. This week also had the opportunity to stop by and walk around the Diamond Chocolate Factory! We were given sample of different types of Grenadian chocolate and were also able to walk around and see some of the local artwork which included sculptures made from chocolate. Yum!

[summerstudyabroad-blog]

My first thought getting off the plane in Grenada was “holy cow, it's so humid!” I wish it could’ve been something deeper, more profound but unfortunately that was it. The second thing I noticed was the attire of those welcoming us into the country. Very professional, clean cut suits and jackets, I couldn’t imagine how they stand the heat. However, seeing their happy expressions and welcoming smiles only raised the excitement I felt as I made my way through customs ready to meet with the others. There are no words or pictures that could do Grenada justice. It is beautiful, and there is this interconnectedness felt throughout the island that I have never experienced anywhere else. This was my first time being able to see the ocean. I remember that first day on the beach looking out in wonder, the immenseness of the view demanded your attention and admiration. The room which I am staying in has a huge window looking out to the other side of the island and out into the ocean. At night the other side lights up appearing like terrestrial constellations. I look out sometimes and I feel disconnected from the rest of the world. It is not only because of the body of water and land that separates me from my home back in Michigan but rather a feeling of tranquility. Life here seems to go by slow and steady. The minutes seem to take their time and the clouds in the sky exercise their own will deciding when they will surprise you with a quick rain shower before letting the sun come through and make you pour with sweat. The people here also seem to go about without cares, confident that they will reach their destination or get their errands for the day done. People wave in the street when you pass by and lightly chide you when you don’t acknowledge their greetings.