Kia ora from Aotearoa. I have arrived safely back after the most spectacular four weeks in Chile! My final three days in Chile was filled with ups and downs as we made the most of the time we had left and said our goodbyes.
Highlights
Thursday: Today was one of the highlights of the trip for me as we left the concrete jungle of Santiago to visit Cajon del Maipo and Embalse El Yeso. We left our accommodation at 5 am and made our way to San José de Maipo. I was in awe watching the sunrise above the snow-capped Andes. We stopped by the Maipo River and watched the sediment-stained water cascade down the rapids. I love hiking and the outdoors, so getting the opportunity to stand at the foothills of the Andes was incredibly special. We visited El Yeso, a reservoir in the Andes, and sat by the water, taking in the scenery and skimming rocks. I was unexpectedly struck by the beautiful multi-coloured bands on the mountains caused by layers of coloured minerals. The landscape was so foreign to what I have experienced in New Zealand, but I felt an underlying sense of connection. After visiting the reservoir, we visited Casa Chocolate and got homemade ice cream and chocolates. Casa Chocolate was out of a fairy-tale, and it was a lovely and delicious end to our day trip. In the evening, we went back to bachata and salsa class. I really enjoyed the time I spent learning to dance on this trip and felt so welcomed in the dance class community despite the language barrier. This speaks to the kindness and friendliness of the Chilean locals we met. After this, we went for a goodbye dinner with our newfound friends from China and Singapore. It was a terrific closing to an unforgettable day.
Friday: We visited Casa Central de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile this morning and said our final goodbyes. After this, I visited the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. They had a fantastic exhibition dedicated to agency, taking back power, forms of protest, and the importance of democracy in relation to the Chilean dictatorship. In the evening, we visited Parque Bicentenario for some ice cream and watched the sunset over the city with our friends from dance class. The park was beautiful, and it felt like a perfect space to reflect upon my time in Chile, watching the sunset on our final evening.
Saturday: Today was our final day in Chile, and it was filled with emotions. It was hard to believe my time in Chile had come to an end so fast. Looking back on everything I had done and my personal and professional development, I felt very proud of myself and excited to share my experiences with my friends, family, and colleagues back home. Sonja and I visited the top of the Costanera Center today as a symbolic ending to our trip. The Costanera Center is the tallest building in Latin America and provides 360-degree views of Santiago! Looking out over the city, I felt sad to leave Santiago but grateful for the time I spent there. We finished the day with our last ice cream in Santiago before heading to the airport.
Reflections
This trip was life-changing, and it is hard to describe how special this experience was. These last three days were a fantastic end to my time in Chile, and I can’t stop thinking about how I can go back in the future. In closing, if I could provide some advice for someone considering going on an exchange, I would urge them to take the leap and do it. This month was exciting, scary, and unknown, yet it became so familiar and like my home away from home. I learned so much about myself and have come home more self-confident and inspired in my studies. It is okay to fear the unknown but don’t let it stop you from making the most of whatever opportunity awaits you. I believe the most unfamiliar and sometimes challenging situations are when you grow the most. Thank you for following along on my journey in Santiago. Until next time!