I’ve been in Chile for just over a week, but the thought of having to return home in a few weeks feels bittersweet. Chile has been nothing but a blast, from trying local cuisine and immersing in local culture to learning Spanish and everything in between. In such a short time, this place has already begun to feel less like somewhere I’m visiting and more like somewhere I belong.
First Impressions: How beautiful is Santiago! The picturesque scenery of the Andes Mountains forms the perfect backdrop for the city, which is sprinkled with greenery between massive modern and antique buildings. The heat of the summer is prevalent, and makes sunny days perfect for exploring the many historical, tourist, and cultural areas the city has to offer.
Exploring Santiago, however, is nothing without the Metro – Auckland Transport could never compare. Living in Santiago essentially means you are a metro addict, and it doesn’t disappoint. The stations are immaculately clean. The metros are fast and frequent. Looking at the map of the metro lines on the first day was extremely daunting, and realising that I would have to navigate these extensive lines to travel to/from university made me nervous. After one week here, it’s fantastic to feel I have grown comfortable navigating these complicated routes.
Classic Tourist Behaviour: From the first day we arrived, we have been out on the streets exploring the city. In my first 24 hours, I had visited and attended Spanish Mass at the Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago, enjoyed a delicious traditional Completo (Chilean Hotdog), drank Mote Con Huesillo (traditional sweet drink with cooked wheat, dried peaches, and syrup) from a local street vendor, climbed Cerro Santa Lucía which provided us beautiful views of outer Santiago from the centre of the city, and visited Barrio Italia, a local Bohemian neighbourhood known for its vibrant mix of design, gastronomy, and culture.
Throughout the past week, I have not shied away from this classic tourist behaviour. After our university classes, some of us hiked up Cerro el Carbón in sweltering heat. Elevating approximately 600m over a total of 8km (up and down) proved to be a steep challenge (mind the pun). Still, it paid off with absolutely insane views of the city, being 1365m in total elevation. On other days, we visited Templo Bahá’í de Sudamérica, serving as the continental temple for all of South America. Perched on a hill with mind-blowing architectural and engineering design, the temple itself serves as a symbol of how modern innovation and architecture are advancing in Chile. In the evenings, we have enjoyed traditional Chilean Asados (Chilean Barbecue) with grilled steak, pork, and Salchichas cooked over an open charcoal fire.
Furthermore, our second Sunday saw us visit the Museum of Memory & Human Rights, commemorating the victims of the human rights violations during the military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990. The Museum is a must-see for anyone in Chile, and was extremely sobering, demonstrating the humble beginnings of the modern era and population of current Chileans. Places like this have allowed me to develop a newfound appreciation for the hardworking yet simple nature of the Chileans, who continue to build their national identity with an awareness of history and a commitment to collective memory.
Academic Programme: As a PSMLA recipient, I have been attending Seminars and Classes as part of the Apacheta Programme at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), one of Latin America’s most recognised educational institutions. Viewing San Joaquín Campus for the first time was absolutely mesmerising. Being UC’s largest campus, it sprawls over a massive 50 hectares, and takes 20 minutes to walk from the front gates to the back! The buildings are huge and architecturally striking, with many student hubs and areas for students to gather. Being a gated campus, it differs quite differently to university in Auckland, and is something I am very keen to continue experiencing over the next few weeks.
Our first week of Apacheta has consisted of Spanish Language and Immersion classes in the mornings, followed by seminars by guest lecturers on business in Latin America, ranging from building networks in the region to economic history and entrepreneurship/innovation in different sectors. Our morning Spanish classes have been both interactive and fun to attend. Although my Spanish was extremely limited before arriving here, our curriculum and courses, held around a table with the professor, have proved highly effective. Outside of class, I continue to try to learn how conversational Spanish differs from Spanish in the classroom, listening to fellow students speak and asking questions wherever possible. In fact, after this first week, I am pleased to say that I have taken the first big step of being able to order in Spanish! However, conjugating Spanish verbs has not been my strong suit!
Overall, Chile has by far exceeded my expectations. This first week is only the beginning of my travels in Chile, yet it has been packed full of completos, conjugations, and culture. I am enjoying everything on offer here, learning about this great nation one day at a time.