Santiago is covered in the scroll of graffiti. Letters, names, numbers, words, thoughts, pictures, and posters fill the cityscape. Everywhere. Walls are tagged, benches are tagged, windows are tagged, statues are tagged. If there is a surface, there is a tag. The youth of Santiago, notably the writers of these countless words, tell their stories on the walls of the city. They mark their territory by naming themselves and their thoughts. Signs of anarchy, signs of peace, signs of frustration, signs of happiness all appear in the graffiti space of Santiago. Because graffiti is illegal here, all of these words have been placed on these walls in the style of guerrilla graffiti. Fast, precise, to the point. Oftentimes graffiti overlaps and layers, creating a cacophony of tongues. Taggers riddle their riddles. Riddling, riddling, riddling away.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
My Heaven (aka La Vega)
by Julia Morgan
La Vega Central is a gargantuan produce market teaming with stalls & vendors of extremely fresh fruits and veggies and seeds and nuts and spices and salsas and pretty much everything else that can possibly resemble goodness. I could literally stay there for hours. DAYS, even. Pictured below is the lovely Carmen who sold me a kilo of my beloved Peruvian camotes (sweet potatoes) for a bit over $1.
La Vega Central is a gargantuan produce market teaming with stalls & vendors of extremely fresh fruits and veggies and seeds and nuts and spices and salsas and pretty much everything else that can possibly resemble goodness. I could literally stay there for hours. DAYS, even. Pictured below is the lovely Carmen who sold me a kilo of my beloved Peruvian camotes (sweet potatoes) for a bit over $1.
Definitely one of my favorite adventures so far.
So stoked to go back.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The Art of Living
by Bethany Hertrick
Charles Morgan, a British novelist who lived during the early 1900s, once said, “The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up.” As one might assume, living in Chile is very different than living in the States. There are numerous cultural differences of which one must be aware. For example, people in Chile dress up every single day. Athletic clothing is considered appropriate only for athletic events (imagine that!). Another cultural difference is that Chileans are, in general, much quieter than North Americans. You won’t hear Chileans shouting, yelling, or laughing obnoxiously as is common practiced in the U.S. (no offense to any reader who may participate in said practices). When faced with these cultural differences, you have two options: cling to your own culture or embrace the new one. Every student in our group has chosen (either consciously or subconsciously) to either complain about how “weird” the culture is and resist the changes, or face the changes head-on with an open mind and the belief that maybe our way isn't the best way. It is only after we have chosen the latter that we can truly master the art of living in a different culture.
Charles Morgan, a British novelist who lived during the early 1900s, once said, “The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up.” As one might assume, living in Chile is very different than living in the States. There are numerous cultural differences of which one must be aware. For example, people in Chile dress up every single day. Athletic clothing is considered appropriate only for athletic events (imagine that!). Another cultural difference is that Chileans are, in general, much quieter than North Americans. You won’t hear Chileans shouting, yelling, or laughing obnoxiously as is common practiced in the U.S. (no offense to any reader who may participate in said practices). When faced with these cultural differences, you have two options: cling to your own culture or embrace the new one. Every student in our group has chosen (either consciously or subconsciously) to either complain about how “weird” the culture is and resist the changes, or face the changes head-on with an open mind and the belief that maybe our way isn't the best way. It is only after we have chosen the latter that we can truly master the art of living in a different culture.
Antes de Morir
by Bethany Hertrick
Graffiti and wall art are a common sight in Santiago. However, this particular work of art caught my eye. The giant chalkboard wall invites passers-by to write down things they want to do before they die. Some responses are funny like "pass math class" and "find a unicorn," while others are more serious like "adopt a child" and "meet my dad."
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A Country's Pride
by Matt Johnson
Below is a picture of La Moneda. La Moneda is comparable to the US's White House. The president, Sebastián Piñera, works here on a daily basis. The day our group went to this site, it was very hot outside and we had been walking for a while. While I wish I was in better spirits in seeing this sight, La Moneda was still one of the most interesting parts of the trip so far. There were guards posted all around the building.
I like to make the comparison between this building and the pride of Chileans. They take on a certain air about themselves when they talk about their country. This is refreshing to me, and every day I am reminded as to why they have such a devotion to their country. They have a beautiful country, and I have been blessed to be on this trip!
Below is a picture of La Moneda. La Moneda is comparable to the US's White House. The president, Sebastián Piñera, works here on a daily basis. The day our group went to this site, it was very hot outside and we had been walking for a while. While I wish I was in better spirits in seeing this sight, La Moneda was still one of the most interesting parts of the trip so far. There were guards posted all around the building.
I like to make the comparison between this building and the pride of Chileans. They take on a certain air about themselves when they talk about their country. This is refreshing to me, and every day I am reminded as to why they have such a devotion to their country. They have a beautiful country, and I have been blessed to be on this trip!
Las Gafas de Allende
by Hilary Lamb
For our Cross Cultural class, we split up into groups to
give presentations covering the history of Chile. We took a trip one Friday to the Museo Histórico Nacional so we could gather information for each topic. My group (me, Spencer R, Andrew, and Ibeth) had the subject of Allende,
Pinochet, and the coup that happened in 1973. We had learned a little during orientation about this controversial
period in history, but it was interesting to get closer and see memorabilia
from the time period.
Salvador Allende,
the first democratically elected Socialist, was elected in 1970. His overall goal was to convert the country to Socialism. During his presidency lots of strikes and
protests started arising because the people were unhappy with the way things
were being run. There were countless
political and economic problems. On
September 11, 1973, amidst the escalating violence, there was a coup and the
military attacked La Moneda, the building where the president works and where political people work. Allende was given an opportunity to escape,
but locked himself inside and eventually took his own life. General Augusto Pinochet emerged as the new
leader. Long story short, he ruled as a
dictator of Chile until 1990, when he eventually stepped down.
There is so much more to this whole event, this is only a
snippet. It's a very sensitive topic in Chile, one that is still full of passion and emotion still to this day. But it is interesting to see how
this event has shaped and changed so much of the Chilean culture and I find it
really fascinating. I hope that I can
continue to learn more about the history and politics of Chile throughout the three months here.
(A part of Allende's glasses, found in La Moneda after the coup. From the Museo Histórico Nacional)
Why Sleepless in Santiago?
by Ibeth Nuñez
We have been in Santiago for more than two weeks now and we are starting to see a pattern to our lives. We even have blocks of time when we can sleep but why are we still Sleepless in Santiago? I have been talking to a few people in the group and even when we have the opportunity to sleep-in it just doesn't happen. Why? I have realized there are three reasons why I think we will still be Sleepless in Santiago until the day we depart.
The Excitement. We are in a huge city in an amazing country. There is so much to explore that it is so hard to stay in bed when you can take the metro, the bus, a taxi or just walk to a new and interesting place! We are starting to know our neighborhood and some key places in the city but there are still many new neighborhoods, cities, and a whole different culture which surrounds us.
We have been in Santiago for more than two weeks now and we are starting to see a pattern to our lives. We even have blocks of time when we can sleep but why are we still Sleepless in Santiago? I have been talking to a few people in the group and even when we have the opportunity to sleep-in it just doesn't happen. Why? I have realized there are three reasons why I think we will still be Sleepless in Santiago until the day we depart.
The Excitement. We are in a huge city in an amazing country. There is so much to explore that it is so hard to stay in bed when you can take the metro, the bus, a taxi or just walk to a new and interesting place! We are starting to know our neighborhood and some key places in the city but there are still many new neighborhoods, cities, and a whole different culture which surrounds us.
The Experiences. We have only been here for 16 days and we
have already made so many memories. There has not been a day when I have not
heard of something interesting and fun happening to someone in the group. These
experiences fuel us to keep exploring and learning new things each step of the
way.
The Fear. I am not sure if this applies to everyone but I
know it applies to me. I don’t want to get to the end of the trip with regret
of not exploring enough, meeting awesome people, or getting to enjoy the beauty
that surrounds us every day. So even if we are sleepless in Santiago we will be
able to end the trip knowing we enjoyed this experience to the fullest.
I am not sure who came up with the name but it sure
describes our lives in Chile. :D
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Bronze Butterfly
by Seth Lykins
Pictured below is one of the many street performers of Santiago. This bronzed butterfly woman moved with whimsy and grace, passing out fortunes of good luck to those who monetarily endorsed her performance.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
A Chilean Potluck
by Chris Netterville
Friday night, most of the group got to meet in one of the guy's rooms near the top of the building. We were a little cramped, but I think it made dinner all the more fun. The people on our "social committee" helped plan and make food for the event, and I know we all had a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who helped make last night so great! And to those back home, know that we are still having a blast!
Friday night, most of the group got to meet in one of the guy's rooms near the top of the building. We were a little cramped, but I think it made dinner all the more fun. The people on our "social committee" helped plan and make food for the event, and I know we all had a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who helped make last night so great! And to those back home, know that we are still having a blast!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
by Rachel Lowry
These pictures can hopefully give you an idea of the everyday things we see here in Santiago! The first one is a little more serious than the second, but I like them both equally. The first picture is of art in a metro station. All metro stations have some kind of art displayed. Some stations have themes and some have a mixture of pieces. This piece reminds me a lot of Chile with the mountains and the volcanoes. The second picture is of one of my favorite signs in Santiago. A simple play on words makes me laugh every time. "Aquí" in Spanish means "here" in English, but it is an advertisement saying that they can copy keys at the place. Just a few things around Santiago that make it unique.
Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie
by Rachel Craddock
On our walk from our university to La Moneda last week (that was only last week?), I was amazed at the number of stray dogs, most of which were sleeping in any shade they could find... sometimes in the middle of the sidewalk. And the Chileans don't seem to notice them at all; they just walk by or over the dogs and on to their destination.
Some things our culture has deemed a problem just aren't in other cultures.
I didn't think the stray dogs of Santiago would bring me to this realization!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A Snapshot of Santiago
by Anna McRay
This is the Plaza de Armas. It is located in the heart of the city. Actually, it is the heart of this city. Santiago was designed with a grid pattern (by Pedro de Gamboa), and this Plaza is the centerpiece. The Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago (seen here), the Central Post Office Building, the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, and the Museo Historica Nacion are all located around the four edges of this city center.
It is a beautiful area full of life, people, smells, and color. Artists and food vendors set up their treasures to be sold to passers by. Here, Julia Morgan and Hilary Lamb find it very difficult to resist the urge to buy all the beautiful paintings of this talented artist.
I imagine that this area of town will become a favorite for many of us over the next three months.
Santiago as a Poet
by Julia Morgan
A recently proposed discussion question asked us to describe Chile as either poetic and poor, or modern and materialistic. From what we've seen so far in Santiago, I’d describe it as an intriguing twist of all four.
It really doesn't matter how insignificant the
topic of conversation. What matters is that interaction/connection happens.
Borders are crossed. We accept the invitation to be bold. And Jesus meets us there.
Hallelujah.
A recently proposed discussion question asked us to describe Chile as either poetic and poor, or modern and materialistic. From what we've seen so far in Santiago, I’d describe it as an intriguing twist of all four.
But mostly poetic.
Amongst all the intensity
and busy-ness, there’s so many songs of beauty and goodness that serenade and
harmonize in the streets and landscapes of this, what is to us, new and foreign
city: the deep-colored Andes. The closed stores on Sundays. The aura of passion and creativity and brilliant colors in the local
artwork. The rainbows of fruits and vegetables available on almost every street
corner. The steady, warm breezes. The sunsets, oh, the sunsets..
And at first, it feels like
everyone keeps to themselves here; while that is mostly the case, it’s not in
an anti-communal way. No doubt that more listening happens as opposed to
useless chatter. Quite the contrast when compared to the United States. I love
it.
And you’ll discover still
more beauty as you learn to embrace uncomfortable situations (like conversing
in a foreign language) instead of tiptoeing around them.
I know I have.
Though I've taken about five
years worth of Spanish classes, intimidation is still no stranger. But my
confidence grows more and more with every victory here—even the small ones—like
the other day when an older Chilean woman and I shared a laugh about how odd a
certain pair of fluffy shorts looked, but agreed that they would be comfortable
to wear. (I now own said fluffy shorts, just, so you know.)
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Observations and Dogs
by Matthew Johnson
My observation may start out somewhat cliché, but the stories that I am going to tell will be unique to many people. In Chile, there have been many cultural differences than those in my daily life in the United States. Riding the metro, paying for the public bathroom, and foods I have never seen before are just a few of the adjustments I have had/gotten to make in my first week in South America. Two events have occurred that I could not have anticipated before coming on this trip. First, on our third day in Santiago, a few members of the group were walking back to the hotel. By the time we arrived back at the hotel, we had a pack of four dogs “herding” us along the sidewalk. When strangers would walk by our group, the dogs would run ahead and start barking, and once the strangers had passed, the dogs would prance back in toe with our group. After this experience, I knew I was in for an interesting and different adventure while in Chile. Secondly, there seems to be no sense of personal space in this city. With a population of 5.5 million, Santiago is jam-packed with people traveling to work or school on their daily commute. On the metro, because there are people pressed up against one another, one has to protect their belongings in fear of pick pocketing. I’m sure there will be more aspects of life that I will need to adjust to while I am here, but I couldn't ask for a more interesting and unique experience this semester.
My observation may start out somewhat cliché, but the stories that I am going to tell will be unique to many people. In Chile, there have been many cultural differences than those in my daily life in the United States. Riding the metro, paying for the public bathroom, and foods I have never seen before are just a few of the adjustments I have had/gotten to make in my first week in South America. Two events have occurred that I could not have anticipated before coming on this trip. First, on our third day in Santiago, a few members of the group were walking back to the hotel. By the time we arrived back at the hotel, we had a pack of four dogs “herding” us along the sidewalk. When strangers would walk by our group, the dogs would run ahead and start barking, and once the strangers had passed, the dogs would prance back in toe with our group. After this experience, I knew I was in for an interesting and different adventure while in Chile. Secondly, there seems to be no sense of personal space in this city. With a population of 5.5 million, Santiago is jam-packed with people traveling to work or school on their daily commute. On the metro, because there are people pressed up against one another, one has to protect their belongings in fear of pick pocketing. I’m sure there will be more aspects of life that I will need to adjust to while I am here, but I couldn't ask for a more interesting and unique experience this semester.
La Puesta del Sol
by Chris Netterville
Yesterday it was cloudy for the first time on our trip (and supposedly for a while now in Chile, since their summer season is their dry season). In the early evening, we noticed that the edges of the sky were changing colors from our 2nd floor apartment windows; some of us decided to head to the roof (18th floor) to see the array of colors while the sun waned behind the mountains. Not to brag about the beautiful sky here, but it seems that the Chilean "puesta del sol" (the sunset) is always magnificent:
Yesterday it was cloudy for the first time on our trip (and supposedly for a while now in Chile, since their summer season is their dry season). In the early evening, we noticed that the edges of the sky were changing colors from our 2nd floor apartment windows; some of us decided to head to the roof (18th floor) to see the array of colors while the sun waned behind the mountains. Not to brag about the beautiful sky here, but it seems that the Chilean "puesta del sol" (the sunset) is always magnificent:
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday Afternoon
by Rachel Lowry
As I walked out of the apartment on a mission to find a Wi-Fi area to do homework in, I was completely unaware of the cultural lesson I would learn. It may not be what you’re thinking. Wi-Fi is very accessible all over the city, though it’s not the most reliable in our apart-hotel rooms, so I was excited to see what cute café I could sit outside of and do some work. It hit me when I turned the corner onto the main road our apart-hotel is off of that all of the stores were closed because it was Sunday. At first, I was pretty upset that I would have to try and find the McDonald’s just to get Wi-Fi (which ended up happening after some searching) and that it wasn't so easily accessible. After walking about a block and thinking about the situation I had found myself in, I realized how wonderful it actually was. Being from the states, I have grown to assume I can get anything I want at any time. I was then able to find the concept so nice that everyone was taking that day to rest or fill up the parks to enjoy the weather with friends and family. It was really beautiful.
As I walked out of the apartment on a mission to find a Wi-Fi area to do homework in, I was completely unaware of the cultural lesson I would learn. It may not be what you’re thinking. Wi-Fi is very accessible all over the city, though it’s not the most reliable in our apart-hotel rooms, so I was excited to see what cute café I could sit outside of and do some work. It hit me when I turned the corner onto the main road our apart-hotel is off of that all of the stores were closed because it was Sunday. At first, I was pretty upset that I would have to try and find the McDonald’s just to get Wi-Fi (which ended up happening after some searching) and that it wasn't so easily accessible. After walking about a block and thinking about the situation I had found myself in, I realized how wonderful it actually was. Being from the states, I have grown to assume I can get anything I want at any time. I was then able to find the concept so nice that everyone was taking that day to rest or fill up the parks to enjoy the weather with friends and family. It was really beautiful.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Santiago Night Life
by Julia Morgan
A big adjustment for all of us has been the extremely late descent of the sun (around 20:30-21:00). Being summertime, all the hubbub doesn't even start until nighttime. This is a view from the top of our 18 story apart-hotel building, taken at sunset.
An Intro
Hola from South America!
Currently, there is a group of 24 Lipscomb University students taking part in LU's "Hola, Chile!" Global Learning program for the 2013 Spring semester, led by Site Director Linda Zelnik, Linda's husband Ian Zelnik, and Dr. Laura Williams.
We are housed in the middle of the country's capital, Santiago, and are taking classes at a local university named Universidad Alberto Hurtado (UAH).
This blog was created so we can share our discoveries, experiences, and overall evolving lives as a group of students from Nashville, TN living and studying in a completely foreign country for the next three months.
Sleep just might have to be an afterthought for awhile. Having been here almost a full week now, we've noticed that so many wild and beautiful learning experiences happen every single day.
And we would like to invite you to join us.
Stay tuned for more blog and photo posts!
Peace to you!
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