uncovering chile

Consider Chile: the world’s longest country, surrounded by the vast Andes Mountains on the East and to the West, a coastline edged with beautiful beaches. The scenery sounds like incentive enough, but the rich culture and political changes occuring in Chile are what make it a country well worth exploring.

Elizabeth Benjamin ’09, an anthropology major, is taking advantage of the opportunity to study this developing country by spending her fall semester with a Mapuche Indian family in Santiago. Focusing on education and social change through an SIT program, Elizabeth attends intensive Spanish classes and lectures on specific Chilean themes. Due to the recent turbulence in this country, Chilean politics has been a major focus of the program. In Elizabeth’s opinion, the largest disparity between Chile and the United States is the substantial political mobilization of the Chilean people. Elizabeth explains, “Here, people are unhappy with their government and they actually do something about it. People are not afraid of their government and believe that the citizens have the power to make the changes necessary for Chile’s growth.”

But politics was not the only thing drawing Elizabeth to Chile. While adjusting to the smog in Santiago, one of the most polluted cities in the world, she has been taken opportunities to explore country’s culture and cuisine. She has enjoyed manja, a dulce de leche caramel spread, and the versitile empanada stuffed with vegetables, meats, and cheeses. She also spent a night at the carrete, a weekly downtown fiesta. Elizabeth recalls, “To make a long story short, I arrived back at my house at 8:30 a.m. after a long night of playing the drums, dancing to salsa and reggae ton, and riding in a Jeep with thirteen people!”

Although the lucrative copper mines in the northern part of the country make Chile one of the most economically developed nations in Latin America, it is often overlooked by students traveling abroad in favor of more established European countries. But Chile’s tumultuous past—and its promising future—are sure to attract more people like Elizabeth interested in exploring its unique political landscape and rich culture.

-jenna fain '09 and kaity hill '09