El Fin

When you return from a trip abroad it is important to reflect on what the experience meant to you. Our last class involved discussions centered around realizations in business culture and social culture of Chile. When looking at the business culture we found the approach and flow of the workday to be much different than here in the United States. In Chile, they have much longer work days. They come to work later, eat lunch longer, and many times grab an ice cream before going back to the office. There wasn’t such a ‘hustle and bustle’ feel that one can expereince in the United States.

In our last class, we also discussed our attitudes toward the different culture we experience being in South America. Everyone on the trip seemed to have a good sense of adaptation when traveling, but it was interesting to hear what things shocked certain people. As a group, what we found frustrating is trying to tell your story when returning home. So often you get the simple question, “How was it?” But, how do you explain a two week trip to another country in simple terms? Even if you do sit down for hours and talk about your experiences, it is hard for people to imagine what it truly was like. However, this is also what makes traveling such a great experience. At the same time, this is what makes traveling such an intimate experience. Only you or maybe a few others can understand what you saw or felt. Going on this trip allowed all of us on the J-Term to create a special bond with each other that we will always share.

One of the most important things we gained from this trip was the connections we made. Our amazing guides, Alejandra and Claudia helped us explore and learn about their country. They were so knowledgeable about their history and passionate about their culture. These women made all the difference in our experience. They had great recommendations, whenever we wanted to get out and explore the area and offered us first-hand accounts of Chilean history. I am so grateful for them and it is so reassuring to know that I have someone to call when I return to Chile.

-Aspen