Month: May 2022

As I write this blog, I’m sitting here thinking about how everything felt like it was moving at a million miles per hour back in March. A week would pass, but it felt like we had done a month’s worth of things. Now, Izzy and I are finding ourselves to be more independent, having now completed two trips by ourselves.

But we’ve found that being able to do that has made time move so much faster. It’s a really strange but also a really cool experience studying abroad in a country where I’m constantly using Spanish. I’ve been forced to listen more and I’ve found that my brain sometimes thinks in Spanish first when I begin to say something in English. I’ve thought a lot about the concept of only being able to fully express yourself with your native language. Sometimes, there are feelings that I simply can’t express in Spanish, just like there are also phrases or feelings that don’t directly translate to English. I’ve had to take on a new personality abroad because I can’t make all the same jokes or references that I’m used to. A

t times I miss being able to express my old self, but I’m constantly navigating how to express myself in a new way which has been so fascinating. Right now, I can’t imagine going back home and feeling like I’m losing the part of myself that I’ve built here. Coming to terms with the fact that we’re halfway done is not something I’m loving, but I’m continuing to make the most of every moment as best I can.

Excuse my soapbox, back to traveling:)

Last week, Izzy and I had the pleasure of visiting the South of Chile to hike the base of Torres del Paine national park. It’s quite the process of actually getting to the park, but we were up for the challenge. First, visitors have to fly to Punta Arenas, later catch a bus to Puerto Natales and finally take another bus or van with a guide to arrive at the park. We left early on a Tuesday, and traveled almost the entire day since we had a connecting flight with a layover. After enjoying a beautiful sunset and taking pictures with the famous Punta Arenas sign, we stayed the night there in a hostel and got up the next day to take a bus to Puerto Natales after enjoying breakfast.

The bus ride to get there was about three hours long, but we arrived just in time to catch the sunset and take some beautiful pictures of the mountains overlooking the water. After grabbing some dinner, we had to get some last minute details organized with getting a tour guide for the hike the next morning. Once everything was in order, we settled into our next hostal, ready to take on the hike the next day.

Our alarms sounded at 5:45am the next morning since our guide was going to pick us up at our hostel around 6:15. We slept for almost the entire two hour drive to the base of the Torres. Our guide gave us walking sticks and we were all bundled up in our hiking gear because it was COLD. Keep in mind we were in the South of Chile…very close to Antarctica. But once our bodies got used to the temperature the hiking got easier and we just kept the end goal in mind as we made our way up. After going up many hills, scaling some rocks and having quite a few snack breaks, we finally made it to the famous viewpoint. In the native Tehuelche language, “Torres” means “towers” and “Paine” means “blue.” We soon could see with our own eyes why it was given this name. The three torres began to form around 12 million years ago when glacial erosion caused the sedimentary layers of earth to wear down and leave the granite rock towers that can be seen today. Basking in the presence of this view has to be one of the top highlights of our entire trip so far.

The next morning was lowkey, as our bodies were recovering a bit from hiking for so long. We enjoyed a couple delicious hot chocolates at a café with a mountain view before catching a bus back to Punta Arenas. We still had two more days to enjoy the coastal city. We didn’t have much of a plan, but we knew there was a lot to see in the city. However, not everything we wanted to see was very close to each other. Then, we had the brilliant idea that we should rent bikes for the day to get around easier and this was hands down one of the best decisions we made. We rode along the coast and enjoyed the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair. 

Our first stop was the Cemetery of Punta Arenas, which sounds a little strange but the architecture of a lot of the gravesites was truly amazing. There were many extravagant structures built around the grave and it was cool to see how so many families continue to celebrate their loved ones who passed away.

Next, we made our way to the well-known Cerro de la Cruz which was a beautiful viewpoint at the top of a hill in the city. We were able to look out and see almost the entire city and the sea from a bird’s eye view.

After we rode around a little bit more looking for souvenirs and exploring a little more, we turned our bikes in and stopped for a late lunch. Later that night, we decided to book a last-minute tour for super cheap to one of the southernmost points of Chile to see a famous faro (lighthouse). It was built in 1904 where the first outposts of Spanish conquerors were established in the Strait of Magellan.

We also were able to see another historic place on our way back, called Fuerte Bulnes. Named after President Manuel Bulnes Prieto, the fort was built to further his colonization policies and protect the Strait of Magellan. It is considered the first Chilean settlement which was really interesting to be able to see and imagine people living in this tiny area. 

After driving back and picking up our stuff at our hostel, it was time to head to the airport to catch our flight back home. We were able to pack so much into our time in the South of Chile and we’re so grateful for our time there.

The following weekend, the professor for study abroad students that took us to Valpraíso, Florencia Casanova, allowed us to stay in her apartment in Santiago for the weekend to explore the capital. We took a bus up to the city Friday afternoon and enjoyed a delicious ramen restaurant before taking a walk through the park. We then headed back to the apartment to plan out all of the things we wanted to see the next day. And, of course, we had to try the ice cream place across the street.

Saturday was a very busy day, packed with seeing famous tourist locations. We started our day in one of the most central points of the city, the neighborhood of Bellavista. This area was very interesting, as we observed lots of graffiti and street art as a form of protesting part government figures/policies. Chile has endured a long journey to be able to exercise the rights that they do today, as the country was once under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and other very conservative leaders that followed him.

We then decided to take a tour through one of the three houses of Pablo Neruda that are still standing and now used as tourist attractions. Unfortunately, we were only allowed to take pictures outside the house but not inside. Neruda was, and still is, a well-known Chilean poet and diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1971. He was a close advisor to Salvador Allende, who was the first ever Marxist or left-leaning president to ever be elected. Neruda’s legacy seems to still be highly criticized by citizens with more traditional views as he was an ardent Communist, and some even think that he was killed by the Pinochet regime for his pro-Allende views. In any case, it’s super cool that all three of his houses are still standing and being used to honor his stance and work against the dictatorship.

Our next stop was the Cerro de Santa Lucía, where we climbed a small hill and had a beautiful view of the city. We loved seeing the statues and old brick walls that were present on this hill.

The last stop before dinner was the Palacio de la Moneda, the famous building which houses the president, Gabriel Boric, and his three cabinet ministers. During the presidency of Manuel Bulnes, who also led in the colonization of Fuerte Bulnes which we visited the week before, the palace became the place of presidential residence.

Although our trip to Santiago was short, we were able to see many locations in a small amount of time, and we even figured out how the metro system worked there!

Whew, that was a lot of writing. The month of May has flown by, but we’re looking forward to the adventures that await and we’re continuing to learn and grow in the Spanish language every day. 

Hasta la próxima,

Jordan

I’ve officially spent an entire month in Chile, but it feels like I’ve been here for so much longer. Everything is becoming more familiar. I know which streets the city bus takes to get from the school back home, I understand the dialect more and more every day, I’m training with the university’s basketball team and I’m finally feeling comfortable. I still have a lot to learn, but the initial shock of being here has passed.

One of the highlights of this month has been spending the weekend in San Fabián to celebrate Semana Santa and el Día de Pascua (Easter). Izzy and I both went with our families who have vacation houses next to each other.

We spent Saturday taking a short hike through the countryside nearby. At the end of the trail there was a beautiful river where we relaxed in the sun and took photos with our family. The rest of the day was spent lounging under the shade of a huge tree in a field near the end of the trail, surrounded by the picturesque Andes Mountains. We enjoyed a delicious picnic with many popular Chilean snacks such as crackers with cheese or salsa, ham and cheese sandwiches, fruit and a pastry called calzones rotos.

After eating, my host dad showed us the national Chilean bird, the Condor, flying in a flock above us amongst the tall trees. We found flat rocks to skip and had a competition for whoever could skip them the furthest. All in all, it was a day of enjoying each other’s company and the beautiful area around us.

Another highlight has to have been our recent trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, two more touristy cities in Chile about an hour northwest of Santiago. This was a trip that we got to take with our study abroad coordinator, Florencia, who has visited these cities many times before with other students.

As part of our study abroad program, there is money included to be able to go on two trips with her, and this was our first one. We stayed in Viña del Mar, in a hotel called Cape Ducal that was built to look like a vintage boat. Our room overlooked the sea and some of the city and we watched the sunset from our balcony the night we arrived.

The next morning, we wanted to see a couple famous locations in Viña del Mar before we headed to Valparaíso. The first was called Castillo Wulff, a historic castle overlooking the sea, which was built for the Wulff family of German immigrants in 1906. We then stopped at the Reloj de Flores, which is a giant, functioning clock made of flowers and a popular spot for tourists to take photos.

We were then off to Valparaíso, a city known for its steep hills and colorful houses. The architecture is reminiscent of Europe, which is attributed to the influx of European immigrants who arrived in the 19th century. We caught a micro, (a local bus), to make the short ride over from Viña del Mar. The area that we stopped in was filled with shops, restaurants, colorful buildings and wall murals. We probably spent two hours just walking around, taking photos and soaking everything in. The city was so refreshing for us to see since it had a completely different feel and style than our small town of Chillán. 

After we explored for a while, it was time to grab some lunch. We stopped at a restaurant called Fauna, where we could see an expansive view of the city right from our table. Valparaíso is known for its seafood, so I figured I had to try their salmon, and it was absolutely delicious! It was so relaxing to just talk with each other and enjoy our surroundings.

Izzy and I ventured off on our own after lunch to shop at the markets in Plaza Sotomayor. There were all kinds of handmade products being sold, such as jewelry, clothing, spices, magnets, key chains and knitted stuffed animals amongst many other items. To end our day, we stopped for a scoop of ice cream before catching another micro back to our hotel and watching the sunset from the beach.

The next morning, we visited sand dunes in Concón, a city about 20 minutes away from Viña del Mar. We hiked to the top of the highest dune and had so much fun taking photos and running barefoot through the soft sand. It was a relaxing change of pace from the bustling city of Valparaíso and we were grateful that we were able to experience both environments. Once we returned that afternoon, it was time to make the long drive back to Chillán.

April has held a wide range of experiences for us. While we’ve been able to enjoy lots of family time and become more comfortable speaking Spanish, we’ve also become more confident in ourselves and have taken our first trip away from our families. Each day spent here leaves us more sure of our ability to communicate and get around in an area that at first seemed so foreign. If we’ve already changed and learned this much in just a month, I can only imagine where we’ll be by the end. All I’m focusing on is appreciating every moment.

Hasta pronto,
Jordan