South Auckland, to South America — the transition has been unreal. When I accepted this opportunity, I knew I’d be missing out on a big part of Kiwi summer. Luckily, Santiago summer does not disappoint. Filled with delicious food, activities, and gatherings, our first week here has been nothing short of amazing.
Weekly asados have been the go recently at our Santiago Exchange residence. The menu has been great, featuring choripanes, very rare (slightly blue) beef, and pork. Our Monday nights have been filled with good company, great vibes, and delicious food cooked by our personal chef, Aidan — a fellow resident from Australia who we’ve become great friends with. I guess this is real diplomatic connections in the making.
Recently in class, we have learnt a lot about Interculturality. We have been privileged to have other programs running at the same time, bringing students from countries such as Australia, Slovakia, South Korea, the USA, and Japan. Overall, we have formed such great connections with everyone so far! I’ve grown a deep admiration for the history of the Indigenous Mapuche people. Coming from Aotearoa, it’s been especially interesting to learn about the tangata whenua of Chile and their history. As someone who is deeply interested in customary land disputes involving Indigenous peoples, I’d love to research further into how these issues have shaped — and continue to shape — Mapuche history here in Chile.
This past weekend, our group went on a few side quests. After fully bed-rotting through December, it felt only right that January be filled with more wholesome, fulfilling activities. We started off our Saturday at the Baha’i Temple at 2pm, in 32-degree heat under the scorching sun. I had been misled into thinking our “hike” was just a gentle walk up to the temple — little did I know that the heat and the brutal Santiago inclines would absolutely not be working in my favour (perhaps bed-rotting in December wasn’t my smartest move). Despite the struggle up, we were rewarded with stunning views and managed to capture some beautiful scenes.
We wrapped up Sunday at the Human Rights Museum, which has easily been a highlight so far. The museum placed a strong emphasis on the human experience, making sure the stories were deeply personal and centred on the people themselves. Walking through the exhibits, it was impossible not to feel connected to the individuals behind the history — their voices, experiences, and resilience really stayed with me.
So far, our experiences have been nothing but incredible, and we can’t wait for what’s to come. ¡Vamos!