Karen Andrade
International Studies 492
Professor Kenneth R. Curtis
December 1, 2014
Chi-Chi- Chi- le- le- le- Viva Chile
“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone” by Wendell Berry. As I traveled to Chile for the study abroad semester program, this was my experience as Wendell exposed in her quote. As I heard many of students say, “Studying abroad changed my life”, the phrase that was continuously repeated by students that had previously studied abroad. It was undoubtedly true for them as it was for me. Experiencing studying abroad by first hand has totally changed my life. As a child of immigrant parents from El Salvador,
…show more content…
Chile is the longest north-south country in the world at over 4,600 km in length, however on average it is just 150 km wide from west to east. The capital city of Chile is Santiago, which has a population of around 7 million people, about 36% of the total population. The Easter Island are Polynesian islands and Chilean territory. It is the world's most isolated island, located 2,300 miles (3,700 km's) west of Chile. Easter Island is famous for its 887 'moai', giant figures carved in volcanic stone. The Chilean capital, Santiago was my home. It was suddenly cool in the mornings and very hot in the afternoon and cool again in the evenings. Chile is hot and cold in a single day. The Andes run down the eastern sides, two hours outside of Santiago to the west are beaches the biggest Pacific coast. Santiago had its beautiful attractions from dining, green valley landscapes, a famous seafood market, and the stunning scenery of the Andes. On one hand, Santiago hand a two hour away access to the pacific coastal beach, on the other side its access to the beautiful cordillera de los andres (The Andes). Santiago was such a safe place; Chilean people were so respectful and amiable. However, the only negative factor was Chilean’s excessive smoking habit, a habit I had to get use to. Consequently, Chile was not only a climate diverse country but has also a diverse culture and
Ben Feinberg wrote What Students Don’t Learn Abroad about how students will go to other countries, but when they are asked “what they learned” (Feinberg 1) they answer by saying things like, “I became a risk-taker, or I can do anything I put my mind to” (Feinberg 1-2), but they do not share anything about what the other country was like, instead they talk about how the trip changed them, or taught them something about themselves that they did not already know.
Daily life in Chile depends on where you are located within the country. With it being almost 4500 miles long, the geography, the culture, and even the economy depends on the location. The north end, closest to Peru, is known for its agricultural resources, especially in mining. The central part, specifically Santiago, which is the nation’s capital and where most of Chile’s population is located, is the center of business. The south though, is colder, with thick forests that make growing seasons short. Despite the large differences even nation-wide, Chile is growing quickly. In 2013, Bloomberg found that “Chile’s economy grew by 5.5% in the last year—faster than predicted, and significant growth during a period when much of the world has seen only [small] economic expansion. (Gaiser) Chile is seen as one of the best South American countries, even with a smaller population. It has a population of about 16.8 million in 2013, 6th largest in South America. (South American Population) They are excelling in terms of competitiveness, peace, freedom, stability and prosperity. (BBC)
As an immigrant myself , my family did not have much at the beginning and just
The Republic of Chile, or Chile, is a South American country. It can be found west of both Bolivia and Argentina and south of Peru. It is a Southern Cone country, one that is south of the Tropic of Cancer, as well as a coastal country. Chile holds the title of longest north-south country in the world, stretching north to south approximately 2,670 miles and from east to west, only 217 miles (as cited in Wikipedia, 2013). Due to its geographical location, Chile has a remarkable climate and landscape.
The Andes Mountains cover a third of Chile (Infoplease). The north of Chile, Desert North, does not get much rain and has an average temperature of 70°F in the summer and an average of 60°F in the winter. The middle of Chile has a mild winter. Middle Chile also has a warm, dry summer. The yearly rainfall in Santiago is 14 inches. The average temperature of winter is 52°F and the summer’s average temperature is 69°F. South Chile has mild winters. The winter average temperature in Valdivia is 46°F with a summer average temperature of 62°F. Throughout all of the seasons South Chile has heavy rainfall, averaging 86 inches of rain yearly (Hintz
in Chile is amazing! Chile has so many different qualities. People in Chile have many things to do throughout the day. The most interesting things about Chile are, they do many things throughout the day without stopping to rest, they practice religion, their traditions, people, food, clothing, shelters, and recreation.
Uruguay's climate is a very temperate one. The average temperature for the warmest months 71° F, and for the coldest month, June, 50° F. Rainfall is also very well distributed along the year, and averages about 35 in a year. During the winter months cold storms blow from the southwest, yet frost is almost unknown in most parts of this country.
This serves as the gateway to Chile and all other nearby locations. It is a perfect location for spending holidays as well as for travelling to further South American cities. From Santiago, it takes only five hours by bus to reach Mendoza, Argentina. 3. That Chilean salutation: Chilean welcome will definitely surprise you when the random local people show their friendliness asking about your education or travel experience. They are also very hospitable and usually invite you at tea or dinner at their homes.
I am currently living at home and commute to school to save money. I want to use this time of studying abroad to be away from my family and friends, even though it is going to be super hard to leave my dog for four months. While I am abroad, I do not want to completely disconnect from everyone, but I would like to keep it a minimum. Studying abroad lets you see different people’s cultures, lets you find things that you like that you did not know before, and allows you to meet foreign people, and surrounds your daily life by their influences. What I expect to get the most out of this trip is to realize how blessed I am with my life.
Bouchaud, Andrea. "Transitioning Into Life Abroad." Weblog post. The Study Abroad Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Hadis, Benjamin. "Why Are They Better Students when They Come Back? Determinants of Academic Focusing Gains in the Study Abroad Experience." Frontiers Journal. Dickinson 11 (2005): 57-70. Print.
“A student of life considers the world their classroom” – Harvey MacKay. This quote exemplifies what I aspire to become, a student of life. This is a person who is constantly learning, growing, and evolving, and using the lessons they learn as their platform. In order for one to become a student of life, I believe that learning experiences don’t necessarily always have to happen in the classroom. I have found that through traveling and real life experiences, my way of thinking about life and how things happen has been shaped with a broader understanding of knowledge, rather than just by sitting in a classroom and taking notes. I feel strongly that the traditional model of learning is very effective and that there is much to be learned in this manner, however being able to take what you learn and apply it on a much deeper level through visiting new places and experiencing new cultures and cuisines has helped me develop myself further and become a more well rounded individual.
From Jacmel, Haiti my step- father immigrated to America at the young age of eighteen, my mother followed suit in 1994 pregnant with me. As a
I always want to be an international student because I believe that learning in different surroundings will offer me a chance to explore the world. In order to become one, I have been preparing myself for this upcoming challenge. Long years of studying and paying most of my attention to school work made me wonder whether it is worthwhile to spend so much time on textbooks and became curious about what it is like to study in another country. In 2011, I seized the opportunity provided by my senior high school and became an exchange student in the U.S. . I didn’t fit in perfectly in the beginning, but throughout my exchange year, I had learned to adapt m...