Category: Latin America

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.

Submitted by Chloe Hundley on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Panama sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

This past week in Panama has been one of the best weeks of my life! I have already learned so much about this country’s culture and history that I didn’t know before and I am improving my Spanish every day by speaking with local people. I was so nervous to come here at first because I have never left the country before, but my host family has been so accommodating and I am experiencing so many unique things.

After a day of getting settled in, we went to a beach called Praia to have lunch as a group and do some sight-seeing on the way. It was a great opportunity to practice our Spanish with each other and prepared us for the next day, when we went to Casco Antiguo and had to ask local people for help finding things during a scavenger hunt. Although I still struggle, especially with understanding what other people are saying when they speak fast, my Spanish has gotten better every day because of how much I use it here. My host mother and sister are both trying to learn English, so it is interesting to give each other advice on how to learn the languages better. A lot more people in Panama are learning English than I expected; almost every Uber driver that I’ve had has talked about how they went to Canada or the United States to study English. Talking to Panamanians, especially my host family, has been my favorite part of this experience so far because I have so much to learn about this country.

On Saturday, we all took a bus to Las Tablas for a festival and I have truly never seen anything like it before. All of the women and young girls wore hand-sewn dresses, elegant jewelry, and beautiful make-up and danced down the street while we got to watch, try local foods, and shop around for things similar to what they were wearing. All of the men wore traditional Panama hats and danced in the street as well. Another holiday we were here for was the 9^th of January, which commemorates the many lives that were lost over the battle between the United States and Panama for control of the Panama Canal. There were no classes that day and no one had to work because it has such a strong impact on the country’s history.

Besides these trips, I have also had the opportunity to go to various beaches, Panamá Viejo, and the national park. All of the beaches are beautiful and completely different from the Delaware beaches that I normally go to. They all have palm trees and other tropical aspects, but are surrounded by mountains and have a distant view of the city’s skyline. Panamá Viejo was incredible as well because we got to see the ruins from the original capital of Panama and go to a museum about the origins of Panama. I have already gained so much from this experience and can’t wait to learn even more in the next few weeks!

Submitted by Isiah Hiatt on the 2019 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

This winter I am studying abroad in Costa Rica. One thing that wasn’t that shocking to me is that we have rice and beans for every meal. Breakfast rice and beans, lunch rice and beans, and for dinner rice and beans. The Ticos love their rice and beans. Since Costa Rica is a Latin American country, eating rice and beans is the norm. One thing that was shocking to me is that Costa Rica is classified as a third world country, but we live in beautiful houses. I understand that we are living with middle class to upper middle class families, but most of the houses around us are like that.

Another really shocking thing is the amount of staring. At first I didn’t realize it, but then three days ago my roommate brought up that we have been getting stared at a lot. The next day we went to the mall and I finally saw first hand what he meant. This one guy was just staring at my one roommate. They see a lot of tourists, so it was strange that the one guy was just staring at him. It’s not only strange for that guy, but  also everyone else who stares. I think the reason why I didn’t realize the staring is because I have a light brown complexion so I kind of look like a Tico. Due to that, I don’t think the eyes were ever on me specifically so I never realized it. On the other hand, my roommate is darker and looks different from the normal skin complexion. At UD, I have never seen anyone stare at the international students so it is a little strange and uncomfortable to know that my friends and potentially I am being stared at while we walk around.

On another note, transportation here is really cheap. The most expensive bus I have been on so far was roughly $1.30 USD. Overall, my first week in Costa Rica has been interesting and I have learned quite a bit already. I am excited to see what the rest of the program holds.

 

Submitted by Elise LaFramboise on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Panama sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

I have just finished my first week in Panama! It’s been so fun learning about the culture and people here! One of the first things that I’ve learned about is the change in prices here. Everything is so cheap! At the cafeteria at our university, you can buy a plate of beans and rice for 35 cents. The food is also different here. In Panama, they have much fresher food than what is found in the United States. You can always find fresh seafood and fresh fruits and veggies. Many of the restaurants here are similar to those in the United States, but the more authentic restaurants definitely have a different feel to them. If they are by the sea, there are dogs wandering around the restaurant that also hang out at the beach. There are also people walking around the restaurant selling handmade products like bracelets or hats. Today, we went to a festival in a place called Las Tablas, where we got to see traditional Panamanian clothing and dance, which was very cool.

Submitted by Lawson  Schultz on the 2020 winter session program in Brazil sponsored by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences…

After a flight from Manaus to Tefe, our group traveled by motor boat to the Uakari River Lodge. The lodge is located in the Mamiraua Reserve in the Amazon rain forest as an opportunity for ecotourism. The lodge prides itself on being very sustainable as it is completely solar powered, uses recycled rain and river water, and serves local seasonal foods. Additionally, the guides and staff at Uakari Lodge are most often from local communities from around the Mamiraua Reserve.

The forest of the reserve becomes flooded swamp in the wet season. January is the beginning of the rainy season, so our group was able to hike. In addition to hiking, we took motor boat trips, canoe rides, went fishing, and had classes held in the lodge. Although we only had one opportunity to fish, catching piranhas appeared to be the favorite activity of the group. By the end of the week, the majority of the group was covered in mosquito bites, sunburn, or rashes, but reluctant to leave the local guides we had bonded with. Although only two members of the staff spoke English, we were able to appreciate what wonderful people everyone there was.

On our last day, we traveled to Caburini, one of the communities, to better understand the local way of life connected to the rain forest. The head of the community gave us a tour and told us about the history of their community. They grow their own crops, fish, and raise chickens and ducks. There are not enough children in their community of about fifty people, so they take their children into Tefe for school so they can learn to read and write. As we visited, they were preparing for their community wide party in which they will honor their patron saint in February. Other local communities will be invited and the festivities last for ten days. Before we left, we played football with the guides. Many students noted the football game as the highlight of their trip and the perfect way to end the week.

Submitted by Meghan O’Brien on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Brazil sponsored by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences…

Hello from Brazil! This is Meghan O’Brien on the landscape exploration abroad program. My first week in Brazil has been incredible and I can’t wait to continue to learn even more about the culture. We first flew to Manaus, Brazil where we spent one day exploring the local parks and restaurants. After one day in Manaus, we departed for our next destination where we spent a week at the Uakari Lodge located on the Amazon River. As we arrived to the lodge by boat, we were surrounded by miles and miles of the river and the tropical rain forest. This breathtaking scenery was truly amazing and we were able to experience what it is like to live along the Amazon. We went hiking, canoeing, fishing, and went on night boat rides to see the pink river dolphins and the sunset. We saw “caiman” (crocodile), snakes, monkeys, birds, and other species as part of the Amazon’s vast wildlife. The members of the lodge are from the local communities along the river and they could not have been more welcoming and knowledgeable. Both the lodge and the communities work together to preserve the area while also showing tourists this astonishing part of the world.

My favorite part of this week was visiting one of the local communities. It was a 30 minute boat ride away and it consisted of about 50 people with about ten buildings. These locals live completely off the land and enjoy fishing, cooking (Tapioca and Mandioca are some of the most popular items used in cooking), and playing soccer. There are insufficient educational services for the children, therefore, they take a boat ride everyday into the city of Tefé for school. This was an inspirational experience and the “president” of the community showed us their many plants and gardens. He could not have thanked us enough for coming to learn about his environment.

Moreover, we also dove into the first week of classes for plants and human culture and field sketching. For plants and human culture, we learned about local plants in Brazil and also those from around the world. We each presented on a Brazilian artist focusing on the elements of art. For field sketching we worked on those elements and incorporated them into drawing in the field while on our hikes or around the lodge. These two classes definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone and I am learning so many new things.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed Brazil so far and the Brazilians have been nothing but welcoming. It was so interesting to learn about our guides and how they grew up. The relationship between the lodge and the communities is so special and it is inspiring to see everyone working toward a common goal of preserving this beautiful part of the world.

I am really excited to experience Rio over these next three weeks.

Submitted by Andrew Huffer on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

This past week in Buenos Aires, Argentina has been an amazing experience, but there have been some cultural differences that have made this experience a little challenging. The main challenge is the difference in their eating schedule. Here in Argentina, breakfast is a small meal that only consists of croissants or some type of bread with jelly or butter. That is very different to the typical American breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and whatever else you would want. The other thing is that dinner is not usually eaten until after 8:00 pm which is super late compared to the United States where it is eaten between 5:00-7:00 pm typically. These were adjustments I have had to make, but it is all worth it because the food is incredible.

 

 

Submitted by Margaret Costello on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

This week was the first week of our program and it has already been such a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. One of the first things that we did was go to the Plaza de Mayo and see the Casa Rosada and the Catedral Metropolitana. The Casa Rosada is the executive office for the president of Argentina, similar to the White House in the United States. The house was painted pink because it was a mix of the two colors, red and white, that represented each of the opposing political parties in Argentina, symbolizing unity. This really stuck out to me because I loved what the color of the building stands for, especially because in class my professor continues to say that Argentina is very polarized politically. Although there is a lot of political tension, the house and Buenos Aires still stands as a symbol of oneness. I noticed the same theme in a movie that we watched in class called Fresa y Chocolate. The film is based in Cuba around the time of the Revolution and focuses on two men who become friends despite all of their differing social and political views and opinions. The two men learn to love and respect each other, even though one supports the revolution and the other is against it. These two examples of tolerance, respect and unity is something that I really appreciate about the history of South America.

Another experience during this week that I am very grateful for is the friendship of the girls I live with not only our friendship with each other, but also with our host mom, her granddaughter and grandson. When I thought about coming to Argentina, I was very excited imagining all the new connections I would make with other students in this amazing city. I also imagined becoming very close with my host mom and learning about the differences and similarities between our two lives. My expectations have already been wildly exceeded, but something I did not even think about was making friends with an Argentinian my age. Sofia, our host mom’s granddaughter, and I have already made a connection that I believe will last a lifetime. Before coming here, I could not even imagine how lucky I would be to make such an amazing friend from a completely different part of the world. Sofia has taught us so much about her life and, although there are some big differences, in the end we are very similar. She has taught us and showed us many different things about Argentina and her day to day life that you can not learn just by taking a class. I am so grateful for the many experiences I have had in only this first week and I am very excited for what is to come next, as well as to continue our adventures with Sofia.

 

Submitted by Adamari Rodriguez on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

As I reflect back on my first week studying abroad in Argentina, my favorite excursion we have taken so far would be visiting El Tigre. El Tigre is a town in the province of Buenos Aires that is located at the Parana Delta. Unlike the United States where the main form of transportation is by vehicles El Tigre uses the river as the main highway. Therefore, in order to go to the grocery store or if they need a service like an ambulance, they all move around on boat. The tour guide stated that they call El Tigre a wild Venice for that reason. In addition, every house by the river has a private dock and instead of addresses that we are used to, each private estate gives their home a unique name of their choosing. However, what surprised me the most about this neighborhood was that as a foreigner one would think that being that close to the river would lead to the dangers of flooding. Despite that assumption, we observed how the entire town is well prepared for floods and that is evident in their architecture and lifestyle. Everyone has boats so flooding does not really phase the locals as I thought it would. I learned that the worst thing possible about living at El Tigre was actually the low levels of the river. That poses a problem because it prohibits transportation for both sellers and consumers. Overall, El Tigre was an incredible experience and insight into a different culture whose entire life is centered around a river.

Submitted by Regan Pavlock on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

After a few days of settling into my host family’s house, my classmates and I were taken on a tour of Recoleta, an upper class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. All of the students in the program are living with host families in the Recoleta neighborhood, so I was eager to see more about the place where we are staying for a month. Our first stop on the tour was to El Cementerio de La Recoleta, which is a well known cemetery in which affluent and influential Argentinians were buried. Entering the cemetery, I was taken aback by the large and ornate mausoleums that lined in rows inside the gates of the cemetery. Walking through the rows, our tour guide stopped and explained the importance of especially famous Argentines with incredible displays to hold their tombs. However, in between the notable mausoleums that our tour guide told us about, I was impacted by just how many unique mausoleums were created in order to pay respects to family and friends who had passed. Every tomb was different in style, and a mausoleum that seemed modern and new could be sitting directly next to one that was crumbling away after tens or hundreds of years in the cemetery. In American culture, many people opt to be cremated after their deaths, as opposed to having a large memorial build to house their coffin. Even if a person is buried in a cemetery, usually a simple gravestone serves to mark their grave. I was impacted at how much effort went into creating the mausoleums for the dead, and couldn’t help but think about an American cemetery in comparison. However, seeing each and every individual plaque or gravestone in El Cementerio de La Recoleta reminded me that in the end, all cemeteries serve the same purpose, even if they are displayed in wildly different ways.