Pack. Uber. Greetings. Goodbyes. Passport and Security Control. 12-hour flight. Then – straight into a country with welcoming arms and a 30-degree climate. The first week was packed with seeing the Cathedral, programme and student introductions, trying Chilean dishes and drinks, hiking up a mountain, park activities, and a whitewater kayaking adventure.
The first three days of the New Year in NZ were spent researching Chile’s history, culture, innovation, and economy. I always kept an open mind, but my curiosity was eager to learn more about what the coming month had to offer. My personal interests for this adventure include relearning the Spanish language (which, as it turns out, Chileans have modified heavily), understanding Chilean culture, and exploring AI innovation in Latin America and its intersection with medicine.
First Impressions!
- Cleanliness: Noticed from our arrival at the airport until now.
- Friendliness: So many locals have invited us out for drinks, asados (local BBQ), and to hang out in various parks in Santiago. Our student ambassador, Pilar, has also been there every step of the way, giving us tips and helping us out where necessary, also joining us for social activities just for the fun of it.
- Infrastructure/architecture: The public transport (metro/buses) is incredible, and the architecture is magnificent (ranging from small buildings to massive cathedrals). Also… who builds the tallest skyscraper in LA in one of the most earthquake-prone regions of the world?
The Programme
My fellow travellers from Auckland (whom I have grown close with already) and I are all taking part in the Apacheta exchange program at UC Chile. There are plenty of other students – including those from South Korea, the United States, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Slovakia – who are taking part in Apacheta, Intercultural Approaches to Public Health, or Climate Risk programmes. We have gotten to know each other through intercultural workshops taught by UC Chile to break down barriers near the start of the program. So far, it has worked great; we learn about each other’s cultures during lunch breaks and evening bar trips!
The UC Chile campus is absolutely mesmerising. It has lots of green space and a centralised area where all the buildings are within walking distance of one another. Our Spanish teacher, Constanza, is engaging and sympathetic, catering to our various Spanish abilities. I have also loved learning about the history and economics of Latin America.
Exploration and Adventures
- Mass at the Cathedral: The architecture was humbling, and the atmosphere was loving. We met some locals here who invited us out for mote con huesillos and completos – super friendly.
- Santa Lucia Hill: A spontaneous decision to view the city on the way back from Mass.
- Picnic in Parque Arauco: One of the other Aucklanders living at the exchange invited us out for a picnic with a local they met. It was joyful to see so many people at the park playing basketball, volleyball, and tennis, riding BMXs, or just hanging out. It was PACKED (but comfortably so)!
- Asado with Aidan: Asado is a Chilean experience where meat and vegetables are grilled with special spices. I call it an experience because, really, it is about hanging out with all of your friends for the evening and eating good food as it comes off the grill.
- Cerro El Carbon: Hamish, Joseph, and I made a spontaneous decision to summit Cerro El Carbon when we had the afternoon off. This was a fun decision; however, we chose the hottest day so far (30 degrees Celsius), disregarding the fact that it was a mountain. The walk reached an altitude of 1365m with 600m of elevation in 6km, making it VERY steep and slippery. By some miracle, we saw three condor – Chile’s national animal – which I was able to capture on video.
- Film Festival: Another spontaneous decision – we were invited to watch Back to the Future with one of the locals here. We mainly ended up chatting, with the movie and skyscraper as a backdrop.
- Pucon Trip: Something I’ve been planning for a few weeks finally came to fruition! I caught the overnight bus to Pucon (about 11 hours), after which I was picked up by Tomas, my guide for the weekend. We immediately went to kayak the Upper and Lower Trancura (18km) with iconic class 3-5 rapids. Afterward, we headed to the Palguin where I met his partner and family; they set me up with camping gear, and we went to kayak the Palguin – a river world-renowned for its forgiving waterfalls, perfect for training. I started the second day by summiting the cliffs next to Tomas’ property, which gave me views of the valley where the Palguin lies. I spent another day on the Palguin and Trancura with Tomas before heading back on the bus, arriving at 7 am, ready for class again.
Final Thoughts
I’m incredibly content with how Chile has been so far. I’ve been in a constant state of stimulation, which has also meant a certain level of sleep deprivation, but it feels like every day has so much to offer. In the coming week, I will focus on making some professional connections, starting with the New Zealand Embassy in Chile.