2009-10 Student Photo Essays

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If I were a superhero, I would be dubbed Humanities Woman! I love to learn about all things cultural, behavioral, and all around human – which is one of the reasons why I wanted to study abroad.

Except for a one-week trip to Japan as a preteen, I had only ever left the States to visit my maternal family in Santiago, Chile.

I decided to study abroad in Santiago in order to learn more about my cultural roots.

In this photo: My cousin and I (right) have some fun at a local playground in Algarrobo, Chile.

The Andes mountains at dusk. They stand guard over the city of Santiago like prehistoric protectors.

Despite the fact that I see these mountains every day as I walk to school, they never fail to be spectacular.

I currently attend the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile where I take courses on the geography, history, foreign policy, and culture of Chile.

School is challenging but rewarding, and my Spanish is getting better every day.

The CSU program organizes many cultural field trips. During a recent trip to the Isla Negra, we visited the estate where the great poet Pablo Neruda is buried.

As you can see, traveling has given me additional superpowers!

Pablo Neruda had a great love for the ocean as well as an eye for beautiful art.

This statue became one of my many loves since arriving in Chile.

On another trip, we went to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in downtown Santiago.

As an anthropology major, I was thrilled because the museum was full of wonderfully preserved, culturally rich artifacts from different indigenous groups.

In this photo: Victor, another student in the program, unsuccessfully challenged a statue to a staring match.

I also learn a lot about Chilean culture just by walking around the city.

In a testament to the globalization that has quickly swept Santiago up in a whirlwind of modernity, this statue of a Mapuche native stands in contrast with the growing metropolis beyond it. (The Mapuche is the strongest indigenous group in Santiago.)

I find it striking that this figurative man will always be toiling away as his parcel of land grows smaller and smaller around him.

On Halloween, I got to attend Femfest 2009, a free concert featuring women's bands.

Femfest was sponsored by the government in an attempt to break down the machista culture that still permeates some of the less privileged sections of Santiago.

This particular band was terrible, but their costumes were a hit.

If you decide to study abroad in Chile, be prepared to try all types of new food, like the chirimoya.

It looks like a shy artichoke, but those "leaves" you see are a visual joke. The outer layer is actually completely smooth.

The inside is insanely slippery and juicy, and the big black seeds are the size of almonds.

Also, brace yourself for the street dogs. They are basically an institution on the streets of Santiago.

Some people complain that the dogs are an eyesore in the city, but most of them are friendly and stay out of your business – unless your business is trash!

And be sure to get out of the house every once in a while and go dancing.

It's very easy to get sucked up in schoolwork and miss out on fantastic opportunities, like dancing at an ice skating rink.

I live with a lovely host family, and one night we went to a rink in the shopping mall Bellavista de la Florida.

My two host siblings and I danced around while my host parents sang karaoke!

I am having a great time in Santiago – spending time with my family, exploring the culture, and making new friends.

"You will make friends for life," they tell you at those study abroad meetings.

"Sure," you may think, "but they must be exaggerating a bit."

There is no exaggeration!

Don’t underestimate the wonders of travel; it brings people closer on levels you wouldn’t imagine.