Monday, April 29, 2013

Sketch: Allende's Tomb

by Spencer Richardson 


Here is a sketch of Allende's tomb at the General Cemetery. He is a member of the Bussi family and several other members of his family are buried there. His tomb is prominent among them and is the easiest to read when looking in the door.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Sketch: Valle de Elqui

by Seth Lykins

This is a reflective sketch I did of the night sky that we saw in Valle de Elqui. It was truly breathtaking and this does not do it justice.

Sketch: Universidad Alberto Hurtado

by Rachel Lowry


This is a sketch I did at UAH one day during our lunch break. I am usually not a doodler, but I challenged myself to this that afternoon before class and hoped I would enjoy the memory more than a simple photograph. While sketching, I was so relaxed and actually kind of enjoyed it and ended up creating a memory that really is more enjoyable to look at than a picture.

Sketch: Patagonia

by Ibeth Nuñez

I started drawing this at the airport on our way to Patagonia. I didn't think I would draw much on this page: it just started by finding a place for my donuts sticker because it said Patagonia. Since I had time on my hands I started to draw some random things on the page, and as we traveled for 9 days in Patagonia, this is what I came up with.  

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Sketch: General Cemetery

by Anna McRay

 

This is a sketch of a scene at the General Cemetery or the Cementerio General in Santiago. Our entire group spent an afternoon here after we took a tour of Villa Grimaldi, one of the centers for torture during the dictatorship from 1973-1990. I really enjoyed visiting this cemetery because it was interesting to see how it was divided based on social status. The cemetery holds about 5 million people and is so large that it contains several streets and city-size blocks. Each street indicated a section of economic status. The people of high class are buried near the front, closer to the chapel. The poor people are buried in graves (like the one pictured) near the outskirts. 

Sketch: Where is home?

by Emily Riddle


I don't really draw. Ask my friends. I wish I was an artist and I try to be, but it usually fails or ends up with me being frustrated... I mean, "fascinated." Throughout my journal, whenever a quote would come up or something would happen that would stick in my head, it would usually take up an entire page. This is one of them. At the time that I wrote/drew this, I was thinking of home as my house in Tennessee with my family. It has now grown to mean something completely different. I now consider myself to have 3 homes. My home in Franklin, my home at Lipscomb, and my home in Santiago. It doesn't matter if my home is a literal building anymore. I have come to learn that my home is the people surrounding me.

From Strangers to Family

by Bethany Hertrick

Yesterday was our last day of re-entry classes at Lipscomb. It was a bittersweet moment because, on one hand, we're finished with our school work for another semester, but on the other hand, we're closing an important chapter in our lives and saying goodbye to each other for the entire summer. As we sat in Ezell 363 yesterday, I couldn't help but think about when our group was in the same room three months ago for orientation.

At that time, we were all a bit timid and perhaps apprehensive about what the semester might hold. We all made sure to sit by the people we felt most comfortable around, but none of us really talked much in between lectures. When lunch time rolled around, the majority of us met up with other friends to eat. We acknowledged other team members when we saw them on campus, but it was never more than a simple smile or a wave. Most of us would say that we didn't really know each other before boarding the plane to leave, so it makes sense that we would act the way we did. We were strangers. But yesterday, as we all held hands in a circle and prayed one final prayer together, we were anything but strangers.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Williams and Señora Zelnik led an activity where we all shared our favorite memories from the trip. Specifically, we talked about our favorite restaurants, quotes from the trip, bloopers, places to go in Santiago, and personal excursions. Our laughter was uncontrollable as we shared inside jokes and unforgettable stories from the trip. At lunch time, a group of about ten of us flooded the student center to eat one final meal together. We all crammed into a single booth and enjoyed the privilege of being “loud Americans” again. Since we got back, seeing one another on campus is like seeing long-lost deeply loved relatives. We usually give each other big hugs or wave frantically and ridiculously from across the room. It hasn't been unusual to see a group of us hanging out in Starbucks, sharing life and “real” coffee together. It's crazy to think that even though we spent three months living together, we're still not sick of each other. Sure, we get annoyed sometimes and we have our disagreements, but doesn't every family?

I guess that's the best way I can describe our group. We are no longer strangers, but a family. We have the caring, motherly figures, the protective and knowledgeable father figures, the obedient daughters, the mischievous sons, and just about everything in between. Although I was incredibly glad to see my real family in the Nashville airport, I was also sad to say goodbye to my Chile family. We've grown so close over the past three months, and each one of them has positively impacted my life in one way or another. I wouldn't trade this study abroad experience for the world, and I feel so blessed to have shared it with such wonderful people. ¡Viva Chile!

We Are Family

by Emily Riddle

I'm not going to lie: I thought that our final Synthesis Mind Map presentations were going to be very stupid... boy was I wrong. Everyone had to explain how they changed over the course of the trip. Many people, including myself, had things happening before the trip that affected how we changed over the three month period  we spent in Chile. One main thing that everyone talked about was how we have become a family. A Chilean family. Looking back at our first picture as a group in the airport in Nashville before leaving, we look so awkward and you could tell that we didn't know each other that well. Now, looking at our last group picture in Lima, we are close and hugging and happy (not that we weren't happy before). I didn't know anyone very well before going on this trip. I knew their names, but that was about it. These people have seen my “orange concentrate” and we have bonded in a way that I do not have with anyone else. I cannot express how much I love each and every one of my Chilean family members. Without them, I would not have made it these three months abroad. I am going to miss them this summer. How am I going to live without seeing them every day?!

The Bison

by Emily Riddle


Last night, nine of us painted the bison on campus. For some of us it was our first experience and for others it was their fifth. Even though we are not the "¡Hola, Chile!" group anymore, we are still a group. For each and every one of us this trip will have a special place in our hearts. We are now bonded in a way that is hard to recreate. Even though we are back on campus and now going our own ways for the summer, I cannot wait to make new memories in a new place with this group.

VLOG: Peru and Being Home!

by Brandy Richardson and Anna McRay

Saying Goodbye

by Ibeth Nuñez

By the end of the week in Peru, we were all ready to be home. We were tired and the anticipation of going home was building up. We all knew that the end of our trip was coming to an end, so how was our last time together on a bus? Let's just say there was a lot of singing and dancing involved.
Wednesday was our last time together as a group and needless to say there were some tears involved. It is so cool to think how a group of strangers became like a family. We got to experience many things together, and we were able to build a community that helped us get through the hardships of being away from home.
Now some of us are already home while others are making their way home. Saying our goodbyes was bittersweet. Even though many of us will still keep in touch we know it will be hard having the whole group together again. 
We all had our crazy fun moments and those other moments that drove people crazy. I would not change anything from our trip because all of those frustrating, awkward, and at times painful moments all created the awesome experience of studying abroad with an awesome group of people. I just want to let you guys know I think everyone in the group is awesome and I am glad I got to experience Chile and Peru with you. I will miss you guys!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

¡Lollapalooza Chile 2013!

by Brandy Richardson


Our last weekend in Chile, the majority of our group went to Lollapalooza at Parque O'Higgins in Santiago! Lollapalooza is an incredible music festival that started in Chicago, Illinois and has started to branch out all over the world. When we found out months ago that Lollapalooza would be while we were in Chile, we saved up to be sure to buy a ticket! Some of the bands that performed include The Black Keys, Pearl Jam, Major Lazer, The Temper Trap, Passion Pit, Of Monsters and Men, and Franz Ferdinand. It was a great way to spend our last weekend in this incredible city!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

by Brandy Richardson

Today, Thursday, April 25, 2013, marks six days since we have been back from our three month adventure in Chile. Being back, even just for these six days, has been quite a bittersweet experience. Seeing all of the many people I have longed to see for the past thirteen weeks has been so incredible, but at the same time being away from the twenty-three people I shared this experience with has been a journey all on its own.

I am excited to see how the friendships we have made over the past three months evolve as we settle back into our "routine" here in Nashville. I pray that we can all continue to be a part of each other's lives. I believe God puts people in our path for a reason and I have no doubt in my mind that God put our group together so that we could learn together, grow together, and experience the world together in a way that not many people will ever get to do.

Over the next few days, weeks, and months as we process our experience, I hope that rather than be sad about being away from Chile, we can take our experience and be thankful and thank God for where we are in the present. Being thankful for the present is something that I learned to embrace more than ever while I was in Chile. There is no use in wasting your life away by wishing for what's next. The future is inevitable, so live in the present and thank God for what He has laid before us. As long as we put our faith in Him, we have nothing to worry about.

5000 Miles Travelled, 24 Friends Cherished

by Chris Netterville

After arriving home on Friday, my initial reaction was of course to hug to death my parents, my siblings, and all my dearest friends I had so greatly missed. I was exhausted from the trip but also ecstatic to be back in Nashville with those friendly faces. When asked how my trip was or how my group was, initially I would react interestingly enough, saying, "Well, it had its ups and downs," thinking to myself of all the little nit-picky details that I had come to fight over with members of the group, even as late as just before arriving home.

Now, looking back on what is already almost a week of being back home, I cannot express how excited I was this week to see my friends that I had made in Chile. Over a weekend of not being with the twenty-four people I had lived with and considered all my younger and older siblings for three entire months, I was able not only to see past the silliness of the small feuds I had with them, but also to recognize the value and weight that their friendships held in my life. This large group of individuals that I knew not a single one of before has become one of the closest-knit groups that I have had in my life, and each of them hold a place in my heart as friends who grew closer together along our South American travels.

Looking back, I cannot express how much of a blessing each one of them have been in my life, whether in helping me keep my sanity on the trip and/or showing me ways to overcome my own hurdles in my life, these guys have been the support group that I needed during Chile and that I will come to miss over this summer and for years to come.

That is why, effective immediately, they all have to pinky swear that we will hang out again, have reunions, and still be friends.

Only joking, but seriously, they have been amazing, and I will cherish the memories made with them for years and years to come.

A quick note to any readers considering studying abroad and following this blog to better understand the adventures that come along with such a trip: know that I fully and highly recommend any study abroad experience, not only for the amazing places you will see, the amazing people you will meet, and the amazing challenges that you will overcome, but also for the amazing group of friends you will bring back home with you and cherish for the rest of time.

Sketch: Moai

by Neely Baugh


I'm not much of a sketcher (I can barely manage stick figures), but I think this one turned out alright. Easter Island is still one of my favorite memories from the trip. 

Sketch: Café

by Will Hedges

Since I am literally nauseated by the idea of some kind of new sketch or trying to pull a terrible one out of my journal, I had no idea what I would post here for a sketch.

However, thanks to Sra. and Dra., I didn't have to worry too much about it. They gave us back our pictures from a meeting last November about something that we were looking forward to in Santiago, so I'll end the semester the same way I started it. Here's an early excerpt from my personal blog:

One thing I'm looking forward to is just hopping on the metro and finding a café somewhere, just taking time to write or read or something. Basically, I want to pick a stop, and just go. Maybe I'll get lost for a while, just to take a step back and take it all in.


It's not that there is anything special about this picture, except that this is more or less what the cafe across the street looked like: just a small building between some bigger buildings with some tables out front.

I lived my dream of just café cruising in Santiago, and I'm glad I did. It was always a nice way of taking a step back and just chilling out for a bit.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

These Crazies

by Will Hedges

So this is my dad.


This is actually my dad up on Huayna Picchu. 

I was so lucky to be able to have my folks come down while we were in Peru. Most of you already know this story, but my dad has wanted to see Macchu Picchu ever since he saw it in NatGeo when he was 10, and when he found out we were going, I think he started having his mid-life crisis.

I just feel so blessed to get to share this experience with him. I think I was more excited for him to get to go than myself.

My folks are just so goofy. Of course my dad thought it was super funny to hang off the edge of a cliff. Mom, however, didn't quite see the humor. She said we were taking years off of her life and I was her only son and needed to stop trying to give her a heart attack.

Anarchy Today, Everyday Tomorrow

by Will Hedges

(written 11 April 2013)

I was not going to do my final blog post about this, but I couldn't not write about the student riot I saw on TV.

Today, I went to Café Comics with Neely and Delaney. I had already heard that it would probably be a little difficult to get around Santiago today for the student riot, we had seen the Carabineros all over the place today, but nothing too out of the normal.

Except for the news.

The news was wild. The student riot was completely out of control. I saw police in the streets with paintball guns, countless canisters of tear gas thrown, a massive police truck/tank spraying water at anyone running towards it. It was the craziest thing I'd ever seen.

However, it was even crazier because I was there. How many times have you seen rioting on TV? For me, countless times, but this was going on a mere four metro stops from my apartment. I even asked the waitress in disbelief it it was live footage. She said yes, seeming completely unfazed.

It was a proverbial train wreck - I came here to get homework done, but I couldn't look away from the TV on the wall. My jaw hit the floor when I saw a bottle fall toward one of the water tanks and the top of the truck burst into flame. I saw a molotov cocktail thrown on TV, not even a thirty minute walk from where I was sipping a latte.

And that just stopped me.

I'm not sure if I'm amazed by what's actually going on or the fact that it's become so commonplace that it doesn't bother anyone here anymore, save for the Carabineros and the kids involved, I suppose. How many times did it happen before everyone got so complacent? As far as I can tell, people don't really remember when it started. Profe Juan goes to the protests (obviously not the riots), but even he and Viviana said that just as often as not, it descends into this chaos. It's not even a surprise.

My question is, how do people ignore it? It lasts for an afternoon, people tear down the street signs and the bus stops, everything's covered in paint, but everyone just goes on tomorrow. These kids go home, take off their bandanas, wash off the paint, and go back to school, their jobs, the skatepark. Anarchy today, everyday tomorrow.

Museo National de Bellas Artes

by Spencer Richardson


This is a statue from the Museo National de Bellas Artes. I chose this because most of the art could not be photographed and this was one of the most prominent statues when we first walked into the museum. There were several other statues and sculptures in the first room of the museum as well. I really enjoyed the art displayed at Museo National de Bellas Artes and the diversity of works.

Chao, Chile

by Rachel Alexander 



This is a scene from some street art I saw in Valparaíso on our last free travel weekend in Chile. Chile was a magical, almost whimsical experience, kind of like this street art. I like to think of myself as the girl on the moose, waving goodbye to Chile and all of the joy it brought me, promising to come back again one day, maybe even on a moose.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Sketch: La Moneda

by Claire Pendergrass


This is my sketch of the presidential palace in the middle of Santiago, called La Moneda. This was one of my favorite sites in all of Santiago because it was so much more accessible than our White House, and I loved the architecture. It was only a short walk away from our university, so we often walked by it. We also had the opportunity to tour this building one of our first weeks in Santiago, which I thought was awesome and was one of my favorite visits on the trip.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sketch: Guanaco!

by Chris Netterville

This actually very large animal is related to the llama. Called the guanaco, it lives wild in many regions in South America, including our two favorites, Chile and Perú. Enjoy!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Sketch: The Final Day

by Spencer Warren


The final day of the trip was full of emotions for me. There was sadness from knowing the trip was over, excitement on the journey to Nashville, happiness in seeing our families and friends, and frustration in readjusting to the culture. This sketch highlights some of the major moments from the final day of our study abroad journey.

The Archangel

by Spencer Warren


This statue is located in the beautiful Cathedral of Santiago. It is a representation of St. Michael the Archangel defeating Satan. This was one of the most beautiful sculptures I have ever seen, and the message of it is very powerful. Every time I had a spiritual struggle on this trip, this sculpture gave me peace and comfort. It was a reminder that the battle has already been won. 

Our Special Today Is Guinea Pig

by Spencer Warren

To finish off our travel abroad experience, our group had the pleasure of visiting several sites in Perú. We also got to indulge in many different Peruvian dishes over the course of the trip. I was able to observe the wonders and strangeness of the Peruvian diet. All of the food was amazing and by far the best food I had on the trip, but some of the meat was very foreign to my regular diet.

One of the most famous and strangest dishes that I was able to observe was baked guinea pig. Guinea pig is popular meat choice that has been around a long time in Perú. The Incans even dedicated a rock to this animal in Machu Picchu. The guinea pig would come out of the oven and be served on a stick with all of its body parts intact. I never had the chance to try guinea pig, but the natives compared the taste to that of chicken. Because I have had a guinea pig as a pet, it was very strange to see how popular this animal was to eat. I do not know if I will ever be able to partake in eating a guinea pig, but it was fascinating to see how much emphasis this culture puts on breeding guinea pigs and making them a part of their diet.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Sketch: Heart Divided

by Bethany Hertrick


As I was thinking about what it will be like to go home in a few days, I couldn't quite put my emotions into words. This sketch represents the conflicted desires of my heart. On the one hand, I'm excited to go home and see my family and friends and eat a cinnamon sugar soft pretzel from Auntie Anne's. But on the other hand, I've made so many amazing memories in Chile, and it will be hard to tell this beautiful city goodbye.

More Than a Teacher

by Bethany Hertrick


One of my favorite parts of studying abroad has been having Chilean professors teach our Spanish classes. Although each Spanish class was three hours long, many of us looked forward to class because we knew we would have engaging (and sometimes very entertaining) conversations with our professors. Profesora Viviana (pictured above) taught me so much about Chilean culture and gave me the confidence to converse in Spanish with native speakers (a daunting task for a gringa!). All in all, I consider Viviana to be more than just a teacher; she is a dear friend.

We Run This City

by Andrew Dorris

We knew that it was coming, and we had been training for it for many weeks now, but on Sunday Julia, Rachel Alexander, and I finally ran the half marathon of Santiago. What an amazing experience it was to line up in front of La Moneda with 25,000+ other runners!, most of which knew zero English. On top of that, we were 3 out of around 100 others registered who were representing our country. The whole thing was fascinating (in a good way) and very memorable. Throughout the race we would hear the chant of "DIGA CHI-. DIGA -LE. CHI CHI CHI. LE LE LE. VIVA CHILE." They seem much more patriotic than we do in races in the U.S., and it was a great way to pump people up. The thing that threw me off the most was the start, which with 25,000 runners had no organization. No corrals. No suggestions. It was a free-for-all, and why not I suppose? Other than that it felt almost like running through your hometown that you have gotten to know. I must brag on our support/cheering crew (Sra. Linda, Dra. Laura, Bethany, and Spencer Richardson) who made it to multiple spots to cheer us on. Although we may not have won any prizes or age groups, I know we all accomplished our goal. And the finish was really fun. They gave us fruit and sprayed us with fire hoses. (Yep. Fire hoses.)

The National Congress of Chile

by Spencer Richardson 

On Easter weekend several of us went to the coastal city of Valparaíso to check out the sights there. One significant sight in Valpo is the National Congress of Chile. It stands as a beacon of democracy in Chile and as a silent reminder of its dark past. To many, the location of the Congress is a sore subject. The National Congress was moved to Valparaíso during the last years of the reign of Augusto Pinochet, the late dictator of Chile; the constitution that provided a way for him to be ousted also moved Congress from Santiago to Valparaíso. Many believe it is a very flawed constitution and the current location of Congress is a reminder. I would like to see the Congress move to the much more historical setting in Santiago than remain in Valpo so that eventually all of Pinochet's mandates can eventually be removed.

Lollapalooza

by William Marquette

This past weekend several of us went to the Lollapalooza music festival. It was an incredible experience and we were able to hear a lot of great music. The highlight for me was being able to see Pearl Jam and The Black Keys. It was kind of funny because most Chileans knew the lyrics better than any of us. For The Black Keys a few of us were able to get right in front of the stage, which was fun, but at the same time a little scary. It was so packed that they had staff members lining the fence who would pull people out of the crowd who had passed out. At the very beginning of the trip when we bought the tickets, it seemed like such a distant thing. I remember thinking we have a full three months here and so much to do. Now that we have two days left in Santiago it really is unbelievable how quickly these past months have gone by.

Going Green

by Claire Pendergrass


This is a picture of some graffiti near our university in Santiago. It literally translates to, "The land is not man; man is of the land." In Santiago, there has been a movement towards trying to promote recycling and "green" ways of doing things in order to benefit the environment, and this graffiti shows this sentiment.

VLOG: CHI-CHI-CHI LE-LE-LE, VIVA CHILE!

by Spencer Warren, Marissa Valenzuela, Claire Pendergrass, and Emily Riddle


Now, Let's Not Start a Riot

by Rachel Alexander

Today, I want to go to a student protest. But will I?

No.

It’s not even midday yet and I have had to let my common sense prevail in telling me that going to a student protest would be the last thing I need to do on my last Thursday in Santiago. It is kind of like going to Bravissimo, the gelato place around the corner, and getting one of their MASSIVE bowls of gelato that has four gigantic scoops of the delectable dairy confection along with cookies, pieces of chocolate, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream: it looks so enticing, but it will wreck you in the end.

Although there have been other protests since we have been here, today’s is the first official demonstration protesting for free education and improving the quality of schools. The demonstration was organized by the Leaders of the Confederation of the Chilean Students, an umbrella organization of Chilean student federations.

Protests like the one today started gaining popularity back in 2006 when high school student protests known as the Penguins’ Revolution, or The March of the Penguins, began. These protests occurred from late April to early June of 2006 and were given this name because of the students’ black and white uniforms they wore. The students were protesting for free travel passes on the metro, waiving the university admissions test fee, the end to municipalization of subsidized education, and quality education for all.  

The next onset of protests started in 2011, with high school and university students protesting for direct state participation in secondary education (paying for citizens’ college educations) and an end to the existence of for-profit in higher education. These demonstrations were massive and heightened in August of 2011, where sometimes they had upwards of 650,000 to one million protesters who marched through the streets, many of them damaging public property. They were the largest protests since the opposition marches of Augosto Pinochet in 1990. The protesters would also stage kiss-a-thons, hunger strikes, and fake suicides to get the attention of the government so that their voices could be heard.

Most college students in Santiago are skipping class today to participate in the protest. If the protest becomes violent or destructive, the Chilean police force will try to quell the protesters with the use of water cannons, tear gas, and large military tanks. Although one may argue that it would be a great cultural experience to see such a protest, I think I will kick it here in Providencia for the day and count my blessings for living in a country that does so much for its education system. 

The Speed of Time

by Daniel Hutchison

Throughout the trip, the speed of time has constantly been changing. As the coined term says, time flies when you’re having fun. I will also add that time almost freezes when you are growing character and not in a rush. Living in Santiago now for almost 3 months has revealed to me just how prominent the changing speed of life is in my life and others'. Having experiences in downtown Santiago and in the beautiful nature-scape of Easter Island has confirmed these intuitions. Time literally slows down in environments where a slower life is accepted. The urban human can be limited to the false obligation to keep up with the fastest, when the reality is that people are only restricted by the restrictions they accept as truth. To simplify all this babble, I will say this: whether it be in South America or North America, it is up to us individually to choose the speed of life and how we live it.

Hide Me Away, O Lord

by Rachel Alexander



Sometimes living in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from friends and family, for over three months can be tough. Really tough. However, we serve a God who continuously seeks us to give us safety and refuge from our troubles, no matter where we are. I experienced this in full back in February when I hit my "dessert place" portion of the trip. I made this piece for my Principles of Management project and I am so glad I can take it back home and have it serve as a reminder of how God earnestly sought me and continues to do so, no matter where I am.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

A City of Kayaks and Art

by Andrew Dorris



The city of Valparaíso is filled with art throughout the streets. I found this just down off one of the cerros (hills), along with multiple other interesting pieces. This one was one of my favorites as it reminds me a lot of Van Gogh's "Starry Night," which I used to dream of recreating as a kid. Way to go, Valparaíso street art!

A Day Spent with Kids

by Marissa Valenzuela

Today I had the amazing opportunity of volunteering with a company called VE Global. They recruit volunteers from all over the world (I met a girl from France!) and train the volunteers how to interact with kids who come from terrible family situations. VE Global has had various programs throughout the summer for the kids, including one in reading and some in super awesome sports activities. Their most recent program was in art, and they just ended their summer program today with an art festival. For weeks now, the kids, ages 2-18, have been working on various artwork and dance performances. It all took place at El Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral, a building that stands as a reminder of the importance of education in Chile. As I sat in the back of the room watching them showcase their art and perform their dance numbers, I was just amazed at the handiwork of God. These kids who have had terrible pasts are now on their way to a better future. God has been present in their lives all this time and is continuing to work in them. Maybe volunteering with them again is in my future???


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Sketch: Bugged Out

by Lauren Wilcher


This is a sketch of a strange, creepy bug that flew straight into my face on top of a climb we took in Santa Lucía. It had a stinger that was HUGE and it almost got my neck. It was the only time I ever felt unsafe here in Chile, believe it or not! It hit me in the face when I was feeling homesick and it kind of distracted me from that and made me realize where I was, and how appreciative I was for my experience here in Chile! I guess you could say I was feeling bugged out, then it hit me. ;)

Sketch: Rooftop View

by Hilary Lamb



It certainly isn't perfect, but here is my sketch of the view from the roof of our apartment building. We've been so blessed to have an amazing view of the surrounding mountains and the city for the past three months. (Below is a picture of the same view, just for reference.)

Gotta Teach 'Em Young

by Neely Baugh

Lollapalooza this weekend was a festival, not only of music, but also of interesting outfits. Especially on the second day, when DeadMau5 (pronounced "dead mouse") was scheduled to play, people showed up sporting variations on the artist's famous helmet. This little boy, riding on his father's shoulders and holding his own among the other DeadMau5 impersonators, caught my eye, and I borrowed Will Hedges' camera to chase after them and snap a picture. A little creepy? Possibly. But I'm sure it wasn't the first or the last time that happened to this kid and his father that day. This sight is just too awesome to pass up. 

Sketch: A Work in Progress

by Marissa Valenzuela


The first night we arrived in Santiago, I took this picture of the tallest building in South America. I remember thinking how cool it would be if the building were finished by the time we left Santiago.


On March 28th, I was sitting on the roof writing a paper for Global Justice. I looked at this building, and since that first night, it still isn't finished. I was then reminded of a verse God had given me before this trip. "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Just as this building isn't finished, God still isn't finished with me yet. I've grown a lot on this trip, but after three months of growth, I'm still just a work in progress. 

Monday, April 8, 2013

Sketch: Chilco Flower

by Rachel Craddock

This is my favorite flower I've found in Chile: the Chilco, or the Hummingbird fuchsia:


I discovered them while we were in Patagonia. Here's a picture I took of one so you can see a better representation... :)



There are a lot of color variations, but this seems to be the most commonand, to me, the prettiest!

Lollapalooza Weekend!

by Hilary Lamb

So as Marissa pointed out in the previous entry, this weekend was Lollapalooza Chile 2013, something that most of us have been looking forward to for months. Yesterday I got to see one of my favorite bands of all time, Keane, and so I just had to share! We had an awesome time and it was a great experience during our last weekend in Santiago.

Going Big before Going Home

by Marissa Valenzuela


[Lollapalooza 2013 at Parque O'Higgins in Santiago]

April 6th and 7th... Two days many of us were looking forward to since way before even stepping foot onto the streets of Santiago. We got to see some of our favorite bands including Of Monsters and Men, Keane, and The Black Keys!!! Though it was a great weekend, waking up this morning was bittersweet knowing that my last weekend in Santiago is over. However, I am so thankful for the experiences I have had in Santiago and am thankful that before I go home, I went big by listening to some great music with some AMAZING friends that have now become my family. Hurray!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Complimentary Chilean Dudes - Something to Learn

by Julia Morgan

Having just purchased my weight in bananas/mangos, I was walking back from the local farmer's market when I heard a voice from across the street, "Hola rubia! Eres linda! La más en todo el mundo!" aka "Hello blonde girl! You're the most beautiful girl in the world!"

This very generous compliment came from a muchacho and his amigo, both about my age, as they crossed my path going the opposite direction. I smiled and giggled out a "Gracias!" in return.

Girls (especially blonde-haired gringas) wandering around in Chile get countless whistles and looks and comments as it is, but for some reason, this instance really made my day.

I thought of a point made in a blog post that showed up in my Tumblr feed recently:
"...we also forget just how much of an impact words can have. It reminds me of the power of speaking love and encouragement. Many times, I go about my day not vocalizing the thoughts in my head, thinking praise of someone but never actually telling them so they can hear how much value they have."

I'm not saying that we should become insanely egotistical or flirt with everyone in sight, but what if we actually started believing the things that are true about ourselves? And what if we weren't so reluctant to outwardly speak the things that are true about others?

"I can see a lot of life in you."

Though seemingly a bit too forward at times, I think Chilean dudes are on the right path. Maybe there's a happy medium. And maybe we can all start speaking, truly speaking, life and love and truth and peace and hope and happiness and encouragement again.

Look at 'Dem Moai Men!

by Brandy Richardson


A little over two weeks ago, our group had the blessing to travel to Easter Island, one of the most remote locations in the world. While there, we explored the mysteries of the moai, learned about the heritage of the Rapa Nui people, and swam in the Pacific Ocean! I took this photo at one of the first sites we traveled to where a series of the moai were reconstructed and put back onto a platform, as they would've been when they were first created.

A Homemade Meal

by Spencer Richardson 

Last weekend Rachel Alexander and I went to a friend's house near Valparaíso. Rachel met Lilli at the University's basketball practice and they quickly became friends. After riding one of the worst bus rides I have ever ridden we arrived to Lilli's town. She met us at the bus stop and we walked to her house. Her house was awesome! She had a dog, a cat, and three chickens. THE DOG HAD A WHEELCHAIR! It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Her mother made us one of the best meals I've had in Chile. I miss home cooked meals, especially because I am not a very good cook. I wish we had more opportunities to make Chilean friends and have experiences like this one; however, I am still very exited for coming home in two weeks to all the home cooked meals I can eat!

Easter Island Rainbow

by William Marquette 


Our time on Eastern Island was amazing. One of the best parts was simply being able to enjoy the daily rain. It hasn't rained for over five months in Santiago so this was definitely a welcome change. This picture was taken right outside of my hotel room.

Powerful Rocks

by Spencer Richardson 


This is a picture of a rock found in the shore of Easter Island. There are several places around Easter Island where magnetic rocks can be found. Our guide held a compass above this rock and we saw its effects. This rock was placed in the center of four other rocks surrounded by a short rock wall. We all touched the rock to pick up some of its powers, but so far we've seen nothing. 

Display of Unwillingness

by Anna McRay

Merriam-Webster defines the word "protest" as "the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval, a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or a course of action." One thing that I have noticed this semester, especially since the Chilean students started their semester in March, is how involved with and passionate they are about what they believe. As Lauren discussed in her post, there were several marches, protests and demonstrations in Santiago last week in commemoration of The Day of the Young Combatant. I think it is quite remarkable that so many students (our age) are so convicted and concerned about their education that they are willing to face police forces and tear gas to show their objection to the current system. We were instructed to not travel across Santiago after 10 am on Friday (The Day of the Young Combatant) because the protests often become violent, and it would not be safe for us to be anywhere near  them. Although, I do wish that these protests and marches could be peaceful demonstrations without the tear gas and danger, I have great respect for the young people of Chile for boldly taking a stand for their beliefs and their rights. I do not know many young people in the United States that would do the same.

Día 45 - 27 Feb 2013 - Can’t I Just Buy Some Headphones? (or, Recharging My Phone AND Buying Tweezers, or, Why Lipscomb is Going to Take Away My Chemistry Degree, or, So Much Weird Stuff Happened Today That I Don’t Know What to Call This Post)

by Will Hedges

I ended up derping around until 3 AM AGAIN last night. YAY ME.

I was delirious with sleepiness this morning all through CCE and chapel. It started off with drinking a Kem Extreme (like Vault in the States), then it was compounded by a cappuccino vainilla from the school snack shop. I started thinking I was having heart palpitations, and Neely dropping her desk table made me jump straight out of my seat.

Then, and I don’t remember this, Dorris was going to speak some in chapel, and the way Neely tells it, I sounded like I was in complete awe of him speaking, a la “Is Dorris gonna speak to us?” and proceeded to have a sloppy awestruck grin at this new finding. I don’t really remember this morning at all.

After we got all of our journals checked and everyone got out of Global Justice, we walked to the mall again for stuff for our big Patagonia trip on Friday. This started off with a trip to Yogenfrüz for Dorris, of course.

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I didn’t need much here, but I did want to get headphones. So let me tell you how that went.

So, they had some Skullcandy earbuds like the ones I had that broke when we were in Viña, but they were in this locked cage looking thing. So I asked the guy if he could get some out for me, and he said his boss had the key and would be back in like a half hour. 

So that was fine. I just wandered around the mall for a little bit looking for Dorris and Rachel and didn’t realize that the second floor of the mall is actually the first floor? Well then.

Anyway, I came back to get the boss to open the box, and he told me to pick out some from a different rack, because he didn't want to get the keys. Really?

Whatever, I found some others that will suffice. Thanks for nothing.

So now that I had picked out a pair that I didn't really want, there was only one person working the cash register who kept leaving to register someone for a Falabella credit card or something. This proceeded to take about 30 minutes, until finally the other girl there realized that I’d been there for almost an hour just trying to buy one thing. Muchas gracias, dama amable.

Side note: It's interesting that "the customer is always right" mantra is NOT a thing here. Not that that's a huge deal, but for example, if you walk up to a counter, they are not going to engage you until you essentially get in their face. It takes some getting used to, especially compared the US where service industry is extremely customer-focused. Anyhoo.
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[THIS IS THE MOST STRESSFUL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.]

We wanted to get some snack foods like Chewy bars, etc. for Patagonia since we’re going to be far and few between towns, meals in the parks we’re going to visit are going to be grossly expensive, etc. and so we did that.

However, while we were there, this very nice lady came up to us while we were contemplating trail mix and asked if we were from the States, and was not surprised to find that we were. She asked if the walnuts she was holding were pecans and was disappointed to learn that they in fact were not. Her name was Marcela and she used to live in Texas! She asked us about our trip and studies, etc. and invited us over to her house so that she and her daughter can practice English with us, since they've only been here in Chile again for the past few years. How exciting! Get this: she’s from Easter Island! That made our night.

We ended up walking back so that I could find somewhere to recharge my phone. If your prepaid phone runs out of money, it texts whoever you’re trying to call that you are trying to call them, so that they can call you, because incoming calls are free. Clever, but annoying for sure.

I found this little kind of junk shop where there was just an old Asian man working with a sign that said I could recharge it there. So I did. Then I realized that he had tweezers in his shop. And I needed tweezers. So I bought tweezers. Random, but hey, when the opportunity arises…

Once we got back, I got to Skype Hannah for a bit, but a lot of us had been thinking about trying the Jazz Café that’s right outside our metro stop. So why not now?
The three of us went and I got their promo of a cortado and torta de mil hojas (thousand-layer cake). However, my cake did NOT have a thousand layers and I was VERY unhappy. Not really—it wasn't my favorite, but it was solid.
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I just love cafes, y’all. SO MUCH.

Well, after we stayed until the cafe closed, Rachel needed to get some baking soda to put in the shoes that she washed that were starting to smell pretty raunchy. We went to Ekono and couldn't find any, so Rachel and I asked an attendant if they had it and we tried to describe it, first like sugar, and then like sand. She was thinking we meant artificial sweetener, then salt, and then flour… it was getting hard. We tried telling her that you use a little bit in baking… still nothing. She finally said “Ah, ¡polvo!” (literally, powder) and we were really excited to figure it out! So we bought a little packet and left feeling pretty awesome about our success.

I had also bought some green tea that had writing almost exclusively in Chinese on it and proceeded to nurse my poor throat that is feeling more and more raw these days while Rachel began to treat her shoes. She said it didn't really smell like baking soda, nor did it really feel like it either.

That was when we realized that the label said “Polvo para Hornear.”

Literally, Powder for Baking. How the heck did we not realize that it said baking powder right there on the freaking label? Then, we learned that baking soda is called “bicarbonato” here (bicarbonate, from sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3). 

I even KNEW that that was the formula for baking soda.

Lipscomb is NOT going to let me have a chemistry degree with their name on it.
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[I can’t facepalm hard enough right now. Best part: Rachel snapped this during real, unposed facepalming. I’m so disappointed in myself.]

After rethinking my whole life/career plan, I finally got to meet Neely's boyfriend on Skype! We’re basically already best buds anyway.

I also found out that Rachel is in barbershop singing which is probably the most interesting niche hobby I've ever heard of and now I’m legitimately fascinated by it. The Barbershop Harmony Society moved in next to my high school, and I thought it was the weirdest, most random thing ever. Yeah, Rachel interned there. I know this part is random—but really, like how many people do you know that do barbershop singing?

I thank you greatly if you’re still with this post at this point. I recognize that this one has been a tough one to follow.

Until next time, ¡chao!