Author: Devon Basinger

I’m already planning my trip back.

It’s really hard to describe how it feels to be back home right now. Since it was a spring break trip, as soon as I came back I had a lot of work to do from other classes. There was really no rest time in between where I could really take in the experience I just had. It kind of makes it feel like it almost didn’t even happen. Although, I keep finding myself saying sí to my roommate so it definitely did happen haha. It’s just hard to believe that I’m back already. The week went by so quickly, I wish I would’ve gotten to stay just a bit longer in Santiago because who knows when I’ll be back there again. Funny thing is, if there wasn’t a study abroad trip there, I don’t know if I would have thought to visit there myself. So now it feels a little weird to miss a place I didn’t really think that much about just a short while ago. I’m already thinking though about how I want to visit there again someday. Maybe bring my sister and show her the city, since somehow I have become the world traveler in the family. 🙂

artists de la calle

As the end of our trip now rears its ugly head, I look back on my Santiago experience and think of some of the major differences between what I’ve seen and experienced here versus back in Colombus. The large amount of plant life penetrating the cities here, the language barrier, the weird trash pick-up baskets, and (what stuck out most to me) the amount of street art here. It seems that everywhere you turn there is some moral, tag, or scribble; and no surface is safe. It’s on buildings, street signs, the road, benches, and literally all of the bus windows. The people here are creative and it shows through the marks they’ve made on their environment. Over the week I’ve seen lots of reoccurring tags in different locations through the city. Whoever did each of them has that innate desire to leave something personalized and recognizable for others to see. Even though it may not connected to their name what matters to them is knowing they have this entity out there that everyone can see that is inherently theirs. Art is all about creating and making something outside of yourself that evokes something in other people who see it. What better gallery than a cityscape that millions of people live and work in? Back home grafetti is certainly more frowned upon back home. But I’m a person that thinks that any art opposed to no art is usually good art. I think it adds interest and depth to santigo. It makes the large city feel more personal and connected. It helped me to recognize the cultural perspectives of the people here through their own handiwork on their city. Continue reading artists de la calle →

Valparaiso Around the Corner

I can honestly say that the city of Valparaiso is the the most beautiful and unique city I have visited. Not just because of the vibrant colors on all of the buildings, it’s the unique organization and topography that help to make the city so memorable. Being built on the side of a mountain, makes the view of the city and the navigation through the city very different from the flat Ohio fields where I grew up. Everywhere you go there are either stairs or inclines, hardly a flat place in sight. The constant changes in elevation and everything being packed so close together make it hard to see very far in most directions. This aspect allows for many hidden doorways, alleys, and drop offs everywhere you turn. Just walking through the streets of this city is an adventure. The surprises at every turn give the city a very playful and fun atmosphere.

The compactness of the city also exaggerates its eclectic nature. Everything, old and new, the wealthy and shanties are often butted right up next to one another. This allows for even more stark visual contrast. No matter where you look, you don’t know what you’re gonna get.

 

Precolumbian Cemeteries ?

Today, I really enjoyed the Precolumbian Art Museum. When I entered the basement exhibit, I was shocked by the stark contrast to the ground level. The dimly lit exhibit room brought focus onto the pieces and put a heavy air on the room’s atmosphere. My favorite piece I sketched today was the Chemamulles, which were the giant wooden sculptures. I found them extremely ominous and unsettling. They draw your eye to the end of the room where they’re located because they’re all staggered, standing about staring right in your direction. The soft light that shines on them from directly above gives them intense shadows on their faces which only adds to their ominous presence. I think they freaked me out because I read a plague earlier in the Museum that was talking about how people would sometimes carve the figures of evil spirits to contain their power. When I first saw them that is what I assumed they were. Since they’re so large, I thought they must’ve been for some very  powerful evil spirits. Their purpose though, is that they were to be placed on top of graves in Mapuche cemeteries. They represent the spirit of those buried there and are supposed to assist them in their journey to the afterlife.

 

What terrifying cemeteries those must have been.

 

Devon’s Pre-Departure Post

I just want to say that I am beyond excited to go to Chile! This will be my first time on an airplane and my first time leaving the country so this is kind of a big deal for me haha. My big goal on this trip is to gain confidence and experience travelling abroad because I eventually want to travel all over the world. I’m writing this in the airport and everything is just now starting to feel real. I’m so excited to experience another culture! I think it will be interesting as well to see how much spanish I was really taught in high school. I’m most excited though to practice my sketching skills thar I’ve learned so far and hopefully get some cool sketches to show for it. I packed colored pencils that I’m pretty excited to incorporate into my sketches as well. Another thing I’m really pumped for is trying all the new foods I possibly can. I’m a big believer that one of the best ways to experience and learn about another culture is through their food. I’m especially excited for street food like sopapillas. I’d also like to track down some of those deserts that are similar to moon pies but better and Aimee brought them in with all that other Chilean food one day.