My first month in Santiago

The 4-weeks of intensive Spanish courses have helped me to communicate with more confidence. I gave presentations in Spanish about Rotary, the Polio-Plus program, and the Ambassadorial scholarship to two Spanish schools in Santiago, Ecela and Efrontera. Most of the students and staff were really interested in studying abroad and intercultural exchange. They appreciated the presentation and the handouts with detailed info about Rotary and the scholarship opportunities. It´s been easy to spread the word about Rotary since most of the exchange students and Chilean students around me are interested in learning about other cultures and languages, and would love to take part in the opportunities offered by Rotary.

I attended a banquet where the new Rotary Vitacura officers were introduced. I introduced myself and sponsor district to many Rotarians and found a Rotarian mentor, Dr. Gerardo Torres, who has been a good resource for me.

With the Spanish school activities and friends, I had the chance to explore the sites of Santiago, including the San Cristobal and Santa Lucía mountains, la Iglesia Catedral (the largest Catholic Church in Chile located in Plaza de Armas), the Palacio de la Moneda (Presidential Palace), and the Pre-Colombiano Museum that recounts the history of the Americas from ancient times. The city has a very beautiful view of the Andes mountains, especially from the peak of Mt. San Cristobal, which is in the heart of the city.

We had a costume party to celebrate the Spanish school's anniversary.

I´m living with a very generous and warm Chilean family. I´ve tried many traditional Chilean foods, from soups with porotos (legumes) to lentil dishes and choripan (a combo of sausage in bread). I spend breakfast and dinner with my Chilean host mom and another exchange student from the US. This has been a great way to further my understanding of the culture and language.

I´m looking forward to starting my classes at the university this week and exploring the options for research and community service.