And we’re off! Today was Day 1 for us in Santiago, Chile and we are loving these new sights! We have been witnessing a different way of life, but we also have been seeing some similarities to our life back home.
The main event for today was the Costanera Center. This is the tallest building in South America, reaching up to 980 feet tall. In Des Moines, our tallest building is only 630 feet tall. Surprisingly, while walking around the center we encountered a lot of familiar stores and restaurants all the way here in Chile. Places like H&M, Forever 21, Adidas, Nike, Burger King, McDonalds, and Johnny Rockets to name a few.
For lunch I decided to try something new. I am currently on a continent different from my own so I want to try foods that I could not get back home.. aka no McDonalds or Burger King for me. As I was sitting in the food court I began noticing a lot of people getting food from La Lucha Sangucheria. I figured the locals knew what was up so I decided to follow the masses. When looking at the menu I was reading, or attempting to read, a lot of foods and drinks I had never heard of. In situations like this you must come to the realization that not everything you get is going to taste like what you thought it would, but that’s the fun part!
I ended up choosing a sandwich consisting of chicken, pineapple, and cheese. I was a little skeptical of all of these flavors together but it ended up being an amazing sandwich! I have never seen or heard of pineapple on a sandwich in the United States but I am here for it!
Today I tried different food, saw different sights, and smelled different smells but not once today did I feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable. People are just going through their lives, just the same as me. Today I saw many people coming to and from work, students shopping and hanging out during their summer break, and life carrying on as normal. Life in Chile may not be my normal way of life but I have felt so comfortable here because of people’s welcoming attitudes and hospitality.
~ Aspen
Hi, Welcome to Chile 