The South American Dream
Participating in the study abroad program to Chile was the best decision I’ve made last year! I not only experienced Chile and South America for the first time but also learned immensely about Chilean history, culture, export markets and people. This program was a mind-boggling experience that has changed my perspective, widened my horizons and taught me many lessons. The theme for this program was to study supply chain and development of Chile's export market economy. The program particularly focused on export markets for fruit, vegetables, wine, fish and copper. The program began on December 9, 2016 and ended on December 17, 2016, and counted as 3 credit hours towards my major. This is one of the few programs that is tailored for MBA and MS students as well as senior undergraduate students. Learning and travelling with Master’s students and fellow undergraduate students was indeed an insightful and a unique experience. Also, this program provided a holistic educational experience since we got to learn first-hand through lectures, case-studies, discussion with leading academic and professional experts, company visits and cultural sightseeing. The Capital City Santiago, the capital of Chile is a world class city with a cosmopolitan culture and modern telecommunications networks; it is the nation’s business, political, cultural, entertainment and educational center. The landscape of its financial center is filled with skyscrapers where many multinationals and banks have established their regional headquarters. While touring the city, I often noticed a mix of architecture styles. Some buildings had Spanish architecture and some had French architecture while some regions in the city did not seem as developed and urban as others. Personally, I got some ‘Asian vibes’ from Santiago as well because of its crowded streets, street-food vendors and the small shops on almost every corner of the city. The Chileans My first impression of the Chileans was that they were warm, merry and helpful people and throughout the trip, I couldn’t help admiring their respectful and congenial attitude. I remember during our city tour on the bus on our first day, I was touched and surprised by the welcoming ‘hand waves’ and cheering by the local people. Even though the program was just a week long, I believe I had the opportunity to learn and explore the Chilean culture to a great extent. One of the first things I noticed was that Chileans greet in a different way i.e they touch the other person’s shoulder and kiss on a cheek. I remember the first time I greeted Angela’s (our program coordinator) mother the ‘Chilean way’ when we visited her house, she appreciated it and liked the fact that I was immersing in the culture. I was fortunate to also make new local Chilean friends at social gatherings wherein I loved how the Chileans did not make me feel like an outsider and actually made an effort to get to know me. Despite the language differences, we shared personal stories such as our childhood dreams, life goals and hobbies. Being an international student who has experienced American and Chilean culture, I have never so quickly built a strong personal bonding with anyone. The Company Visits I really like how this study abroad program was focused more on ‘practical learning’ than classroom learning through the different plant tours. Throughout my college career, I’ve learned the way of doing business in the US and so learning about Chilean industries was an academically enlightening experience. It was also interesting to learn about the business approach of global companies like Unilever and Luxottica from the perspective of the Chilean and South American market. Upon further reflection, I believe that even though many Chileans follow the American culture closely, they are very patriotic and love their country. In the plant visits, each presenter was professional, informed and helpful. What I found interesting was that almost every presenter emphasized on the role of history and/or geography in developing the economy of Chile. Each presenter somewhat attributed their business practises to their history and highlighted the past that had shaped the thoughts of people, companies, education, and economy. So I think a lot of the cultural differences that I experienced in Santiago are results of their history. They respect their roots and are passionate about making Chile rise higher than its tragic past. Vina Del Mar & Valparaiso On our last full day, we visited Vina Del Mar (a coastal resort city) and Valparaiso (an important port city). These two cities are beautiful, vibrant and colorful. From watching sea lions swim in the pacific ocean to walking past numerous palm trees that dotted Vina Del Mar, we spent an afternoon full of scenic views. Valparaiso also had a unique experience to offer. A labyrinthine city of passageways spread out over dozens of hilltop neighborhoods, Valparaiso is a hub of flourishing urban art. I loved walking in the streets of this city wherein houses had funky, colorful and interesting art on their walls. It was as if walking past lively and colored depictions of Chilean art and culture. Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso have left me with enchanting and cherished memories. A week of lifetime experiences in Chile While a week wasn’t enough to fully learn and immerse in the Chilean culture, Santiago and its people helped me make the most out of my experience through local company visits, shopping, dining, dancing and sightseeing. In that one week, I lived a different life from home in India and home in the US, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Through this experience, I’ve understood the importance of language, knowledge of cultural cues, understanding the people and basically being open-minded to embracing and immersing into a new culture. I also learned that I want to travel more because there is so much to learn about our world and I have noticed myself grow as a person in that one week! Now that I’ve been back, I’ve been supporting Chilean tourism by encouraging all friends, family, and strangers to go experience Chile because it’s totally worth it. |