Submitted by Nicolas Caceres on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Chile sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
To reflect on my trip to Valparaiso, I can say I enjoyed seeing such a structurally different area. This town full of art and close community felt like a paradise from which I didn’t want to leave. The following day was ours to use and I used it to go to the closest mall I could find to buy a Chilean soccer jersey. It took a lot of asking around, but I eventually found the store and made a successful purchase. After my trip to the mall, I took a step back and realized how self adequate I and my classmates have become in getting around a city that speaks so little English. From shopping to getting lunch, we were able to do it ourselves and get a message across in a different language which is extremely satisfying. The last important visit we made was to the Memorial Museum of Human Rights. This museum depicted all sides and artifacts of the dictatorship rule in Chile under the man named Pinochet. What struck me the most was a section dedicated to children’s drawings of their perspective of the rule and how they just wanted it to end. The cruel images of family members going missing and the phrase “Where are they?” made me realize how traumatic these events must have been for those children. This museum is important to the country of Chile to remember those who were lost and to remind the people of their country’s past.
Video of Valparaiso View Nicolas Caceres 19W Chile DLLC-ta4ewy