Submitted by Gabrielle Dilone on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
I am writing this reflection as I have just come back from my weekend getaway to Iguazu in Argentina. Personally, one of the reasons I applied to this study abroad was because there was the opportunity to see one of the seven wonders of nature in the world: Iguazu Falls (Cataratas del Iguazú). I have always been someone who enjoys nature, hiking, and traveling to see how powerful nature can be on our planet and being able to see Iguazu in person was on my bucket list. There is truly no picture that can capture what I saw with my own eyes. The falls were so powerful that you stood in the Garganta del Diablo (the devil’s throat) and you were baptized by the mist and sparkles of water coming from so many feet below. Walking a mile back to catch the train in the middle of the rain forest, I couldn’t help myself from reflecting back on everything that was surrounding me. I just got to see the biggest waterfall in the world and while I am soaked walking back, I am seeing coatis (South American Racoons), catfish in the river because of how clear it is, and all the little butterflies that kept on landing on me. I will never be able to explain how much that feeling felt so lively, but it truly was one of the best feelings I have ever felt in my 21 years of living and I truly hope to feel that again soon.
