Category: Latin America

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

This week, I spent a lot of time going to see modern and contemporary art. Buenos Aires is one of the biggest capitals in Latin America for contemporary art. The first museum that I visited was the MALBA, or the Museo de Arte Latin-americano de Buenos Aires. This museum was really cool because it had a lot of famous artists that really define Latin America. For instance, I was able to see the famous Frieda Kahlo with the monkey and the Parrot on her shoulder. The second place I went to see modern art this week was not a museum, but it was the Cultural Center Recoleta. This place is super cool and it is free and open to any and everyone. This place is filled with lots of contemporary art that changes every month. One of the exhibits this month was a feminist one with lots of political art. This was really cool because it is very reflective of the time as women are trying to legalize the right to abortion. If I lived in Buenos Aires, I would be at this place every day because it is a great place to meet other people my age as well as just a place to hang out and study in an open and free environment.

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

As our last week in Argentina comes to a close, I have come to realize just how unique the culture of Buenos Aires is. This past week, we have had free time to explore the city and visit some of the more “touristy” attractions that the city has to offer. On Sunday, we visited a popular market in a neighborhood called San Telmo. This market spans many blocks of the neighborhood and local artists and residents sell their artwork and other creations, as well as antiques and other small things. There is also a large food market where you can buy produce and other local delicacies. We also visited a museum of modern art, as well as local gardens. I really enjoyed these experiences this week because I felt more like a local. Particularly when we spent the day at the market, I felt as though it was a part of my daily life just like other locals. Looking back over the past month, I am very grateful for the experiences that I have had. I am looking forward to returning home and sharing my experience with my family! 

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

This week, the program allowed us to have a free weekend. My house decided to stay in Recoleta, Buenos Aires to be able to explore some famous attractions before we leave. We had the opportunity to go to the famous market of San Telmo to get some souvenirs for my family. San Telmo is known for its extravagant market that stretches for miles and goes through the entire town. I began at the heart of the market and walked my way to the end of the line.  I could best compare the market to a flea market in the United States. However, this was much different because it was divided into different categories. For example, the indigenous tribes had their own street with their own crafts. Then there was a section of only antiques and then clothes. When people want to go shopping, they go to the market because everything is handmade. I spoke to someone at a stand and he said that he painted everything individually by hand and that it took him hours to do. When I think of the United States,  I think of mass production and everything being fast. Here, they really take pride in the products and they really rely on the market as a part of their income. That is why it is so massive. San Telmo is a poor neighborhood, but they rely on this market as a tourist attraction. I was disturbed because as a tourist I was drawn to this market, but on my way, I passed a mind-boggling amount of homeless families. I was glad I was able to contribute to their individual products because it really makes a difference in their lives.

Submitted by Carly Liberatore on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Chile sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

Last week, we spent five days in Puerto Natales visiting the Torres del Paine National Park. This park is located in southern Chile close to Antarctica. We spent our days hiking through various terrains and rock climbing. Lakes and rivers that we saw had unique colors ranging from grey to a light turquoise due to the melting of the glaciers. Initially, I was a bit nervous because I did not know the itinerary each day until the night before. However, I trusted our fantastic tour guides and just enjoyed the events that each day brought. The trip exceeded any expectations I had beforehand and I learned how going with the flow can result in a great experience.

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

My third week in Panama ended with one of the best weekends of my life. With every experience here, I am reminded of how friendly and generous people are and how beautiful the country is. After the last class of the week, I met a Panamanian student at our university and talked with him quite a bit. The student enthusiastically offered to give me a tour of part of the city and I didn’t think twice before accepting. During the tour, we talked about pretty much everything, comparing our two different cultures and expressing our feelings about the world in general. He practiced his English and I practiced my Spanish and we both helped each other. The experience was amazing and I think he will be a good friend going forward.

On Friday, I visited the canal with the group and afterwards took a bus to another side of the country, Santiago in Veraguas. There, I met up with a friend who I had met when he studied at the ELI in Delaware in the fall. We drove to David in Chiriquí and met up with another friend from the same group at Delaware. The two showed me some of the best hospitality that I have ever experienced. Not only did they let me stay in their homes, but they drove me around all of Chriquí and paid for all of my food. They were proud to show me their country and I will never forget their generosity. I saw mountains, waterfalls, and rivers. This region truly showcases the natural beauty of Panama. We picked tangerines from trees that my friend’s family owns and ate lunch in a tiny family restaurant in the middle of the mountains. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and every person I met was extremely kind.

I will never forget this weekend in Panama. Before, I felt like I only really knew the city, but now, I feel like I truly experienced so much of the country. For the next weekend (our last in Panama), I think that I will return to the region to meet up with my friends. I can’t wait to explore more of the country and talk with even more people!

 

 

 

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 was probably the busiest one yet, but I enjoyed every second of it. At Aldeas, I helped out more with the art activities and also played games like charades with the children. This was great because it gave me the opportunity to talk more with the kids and learn about their situations and how things are different in Panama. One day, we talked a lot about how our school systems differ and how they learn English compared to how I learned Spanish in school and it was really interesting because I have never heard that perspective. We also played charades, which was really fun and helpful because it taught me a lot of vocabulary that I don’t use on a daily basis. It was also funny to the children when we got confused over words that we didn’t know because they were so basic to them, but we never learned them in our classes so we had to explain how hard it can be to learn a language just from a class versus speaking it at home. Bonding with the kids at Aldeas is always a fun way to end a tiring day. It’s hard to believe that I only have a few more days with them.

On Friday, we finally got to see the Panama Canal, which I had been anticipating since before I even arrived. Every single day, the canal is mentioned in my classes here, so it was neat to actually see it in person knowing how much it has impacted the history of Panama. After watching the boats pass by, we walked through the canal museum to learn more about its influence on literature. It was really interesting to see why and how so many people came to work on the canal and how much it has influenced Panama and the rest of the world. There were also sections of the museum that talked about the different animals and insects that were around when the canal was built so that we could get a more realistic perspective.

After the canal, a group of us went to Valle de Antón for the weekend and it was genuinely one of the best weekends of my life. We hiked a lot, went to the hot springs, jumped off of waterfalls, and went to a butterfly exhibit. This was also really interesting because I do a lot of outdoor activities at home, but they were completely different here. Activities like cliff jumping were a lot less regulated and there were a lot of different plants and animals, especially butterflies, in the nature exhibits that I had never seen before. Overall, it was a great week and I am excited to see what the rest of this trip brings!

Submitted by Mariapia Scotto Di Carlo on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

I am writing my final reflection on going to El Mercado in San Telmo, also known as the Fiesta de San Telmo. This was an incredible experience for me because ever since we visited San Telmo on a group tour, I always wanted to go back. Lucky for me, we had some extra time this week so I and my housemates were all able to not only go back and see it again, but also experience the market. It was a long cobblestone street filled with amazing back to back vendors that stretched so far, by the end, we reached the Casa Rosada in Playa de Mayo (another thing we wanted to see for a second time actually)! I think the coolest thing to me was actually what each vendor was selling. On the left side of the street, tons of vendors were selling antiques of all kinds. Anything from old pesos, to plates, to old Coke bottles from the World Cup with soccer teams on them. On the right side of the street, there was anything and everything to buy. These items were along the lines of homemade jewelry, mate cups, art by local painters, Mafalda merchandise, and so much more. Upon walking further down the street festival, there were even stores – especially chocolate stores and those with homemade sweets handing out free samples. My housemates and I all walked around and were buying little gifts for our family and friends, but my favorite part was actually speaking with the vendors and hearing where they were from, or how they got into making their jewelry or selling what their products. They were so funny and it was cool to be integrated in the culture and learn their motives as to what they were selling. It was also amazing how it was all outdoors on such a beautiful day. It reminded me of a farmers market in the United States, but with so much more than fruit. I am so grateful I got to spend the Sunday at the market in San Telmo, it was beautiful, and I loved it!

 

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

I have officially spent three weeks in Panama! I have been having such a fun time and I don’t want to go back to the United States. This weekend, for the first time, we traveled to somewhere relatively far away and stayed there for a night! It was an amazing experience. We went to Valle de Anton, which is a mountainous region in Panama. It was interesting to see the pace of life there compared to Panama City. Life is a lot slower paced in Valle, a more rural area, which I liked a lot. Everyone seems a lot more relaxed, and the town itself is very tranquil. It was a big change between the city and Valle de Anton, but I liked the change so much that I am thinking of going back to Valle de Anton next weekend. It was beautiful there! I have also enjoyed Panama so much that I am actually thinking about going to grad school here. They have grad schools for what I want to do (Occupational Therapy), so this is something that I am considering since I love the country! This week has been amazing and I am sad that my study abroad program is going to end in less than two weeks.

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

Over the weekend, we took a three day excursion from Rio de Janeiro to Inhotim and Tiradentes. All 19 people fit into one van. On the way to Inhotim, we went on a detour to Oscar Neimeyer’s house, also called Casa de Canoas. His living room had glass walls on both sides. One side overlooked his pool surrounded by a neat checkerboard lawn designed by Burle Marx, while the other included views of a large pond surrounded by various foliage. The whole area was surrounded by cloud spotted mountains.

Our next stop Inhotim, is a museum and botanical garden. The large park included dozens of paths, leading to outdoor sculptures, indoor exhibits, and beautiful plants. The exhibits included a variety of modern art displays, including sculptures, videos, and everything in between. The rain poured down during our entire visit to the park, but everyone had a partner and an umbrella to attempt to remain dry. While on the path, one group spotted a very small orange and black snake, later confirmed to be poisonous.

We got back into the van for another long drive, this time headed to the city of Tiradentes. In Tiradentes we stay in a beautiful lodge. The whole city had historic architecture, tiled roofs, and cobblestone roads. Many of us walked 5km to a waterfall. On the way there, we met a rust colored dog that followed us the whole way to the waterfall. Once we got there, we went swimming, enjoying the cold water. Later that day, back in the town square, a parade performed. People in costume on stilts, a lively band, and decorations lined the road, ending our time in Tiradentes with a bang.

Submitted by Mariapia Scotto Di Carlo on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

This week, we were able to see an authentic tango show right where it originated, Buenos Aires! I had seen tango in movies and obviously heard of it, but being able to see the show was an incredible experience. The cast opened with a group dance with incredible costumes, energy, and music performed by a live orchestra above the stage. After the first act, pairs took turns sharing the stage performing different forms of tango (some faster, slower, etc.) It was so cool to see different flares added into the dance. There were also some singing acts that took place, one even sang a famous tango song we learned about in class! It was the coolest dinner and show I’ve ever been to. It was incredible being able to apply what we learned in class and have seen in movies to having it right in front of us. I’m so grateful for such an experience! The way the tango dancers moved was so fast and intense, it seemed like it was only one person! Truly an incredible experience!