Author: Hallie Burke

Sad to Say Goodbye to Santiago!

A full day of classes completed and fully immersed in Columbus, OH, I can safely say that my time in Santiago was well spent. It feels strange being thrown right back into my regular routine after being in a totally new place and a culture foreign to my own. After leaving the airport, I had lunch with my mother and attempting to put into words and pictures just how meaningful this trip was to me was practically impossible. Never being abroad before, I had no idea what to expect and was even scared to go through customs for the first time! I surprised myself with just how much I pushed myself and allowed myself to fully embrace all of this newness and I am very proud of everything I got out of the trip.

I am a creature of habit. I wake up at the crack of dawn everyday, eat the same foods, go to bed at the same time every night, I live my life like clockwork. This trip threw my routine for a loop, and through it was challenging at first, the break was much needed and allowed me to enjoy the food and culture more than I could’ve ever imagined. I had no expectations when it came to meeting others on the trip as well, but so quickly the entire group became close and I met people in various years and bonded with people in my own year, I feel like we all have this new unspoken connection that will last a lifetime and I’m so grateful to have gotten to know all of these people.

Santiago was unlike anywhere I have ever traveled to. I am still working on adjusting to the bitter weather, bland dining hall food, and identical brick architecture that Columbus is full of. Chile was vibrant and no two buildings looked alike, it was stimulating and thought provoking. I loved the colorful pedestrian streets and unity between landscape and the built environment in areas such as Valpariso, Cerra San Cristobal, and our day trip to Cajun de Mapio. Overall, I will remember this trip forever and it has hugely impacted my education and life!

Food For Thought

As our Santiago adventure draws to a quick end, I stopped and reflected today on everything I’ve gathered from this trip. There is definitely a new and unique aspect to learning and understanding architecture when you visit the site as oppose to seeing images in a classroom, but this has also been a huge culture shock to me as well. Never traveling outside of the country, I’m used to seeing elaborate and architectural marvels in the US, but nothing could’ve prepared for the atmosphere here in Chile. The people, the lifestyle, the food, everything is so different yet so similar. I think a great way of understanding these similarities and differences is through food, we were given the freedom to choose any meals we would like and I think this gave leeway into how we got to experience the culture here.

I can’t read Spanish, so a majority of the time ordering I would just be guessing and hoping it all went well. I was forced to break out of my comfort zone, and to my surprise the new flavors and courses were all outstanding, I don’t think I had one bad meal. On a larger scale than just discussing what kind of french fries I tried, I believe this basic human necessity – food – is a means that brings people together throughout any language or cultural barrier. It is a medium for socialization, exploration, connection with others, and so much more. On this trip, my meals were opportunities to connect with my peers, teachers, Chilean locals, etc. and brought me a new understanding to foreign countries.

 

 

An açaí, chirimoya ice cream, two flavors I don’t think we have in the US and I have never tried before.

Griled chicken with a merlot sauce. I find it interesting how Chileans incorporate wine into their cooking and daily lives as it differs from the US greatly.

Passionfruit mousse, again a flavor I’ve tried before and I don’t think I’ve ever had mousse!

Hake (?) fish from the restaurant Ambrosia, another new try that came with a variety of unique sauces, fine dining is something I’ve come to really enjoy and admire on this trip.

Defying Culture Through Layers

Today, I highly enjoyed visiting the Pre Columbian Museum. I have always been a big fan of art museums, but this was unlike any other I had traveled to before. I found it very interesting that there were ancient, older exhibits paired alongside newer, modern pieces because I don’t think I’ve really been somewhere that combines modern art with historical works. The interactive and contemporary installments reminded me a lot of the Contemporary Art Museum in Cincinnati as well as the MOMA in NYC, while the ancient relics reminded me of the Cincinnati Art Museum, it was an interesting combination. I could definitely sense the boundaries between the two types of artwork and liked how the North Courtyard and upper levels were informational areas and ancient artwork areas, while the South Courtyard and lower levels were more modern. I found the museum organization and structure pleasing and easy to follow for someone who isn’t anywhere from there. The multiplicity of layers throughout the museum (the exhibit sections, the never ending mirror, layered video installment piece, South Courtyard artwork, etc.) gave me the impression that to this culture, there are many layers that mold it into what it is today, and it is important to direct each chapter, hence the combination of new and old work.

orange, never ending mirror in the Pre Columbian Art Museum

 

blue/purple never ending mirror in the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Museum, very similar to the Pre-Columbian mirror