Hello! My name is Katia, and I am a senior double majoring in Wildlife Biology and Spanish with a certificate in Global Leadership. My Global Theme is Resources and Sustainability and my Global Challenge looks at what social justice or sustainability techniques can Latin America employ to combat climate change. For my Beyond the Classroom Experience, I studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile. I had the incredible opportunity to stay with a Chilean host family which gave me a beautiful window into the culture. When I initially decided to study Wildlife Biology and Spanish, I went into college thinking there would be little to no overlap between the two areas of study. Later, I realized that studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country and taking science classes could be a great way to merge these two interests. Most of my classes will transfer back for my Spanish major, but I also had the opportunity to take a climate change class called “Medioambiente y justicia social: nuevos caminos contra el cambio climático en América Latina” where we learned about the major ways climate change is impacting Latin America and the ways in which we can begin to combat them. 

Much of what I have learned about climate change has come from a more science related perspective, and this class combined a little bit of science and philosophy which created some really eye-opening points of views for me. One of my favorite units of the class involved reading an article written about the relationship between the Mapuche, an indigenous group in Chile, and the Araucaria, a tree endemic to southern Chile and Argentina. The Mapuche have a reciprocal relationship with this beautiful tree; they sustainably harvest the seeds for food, and in exchange, they protect, care for, and honor the spaces that the trees occupy. Sadly though, a much more extractivist mindset dominates the world and the natural spaces we live in. The Mapuche can teach us an important lesson that in terms of combating climate change, perhaps one of the best places to start is a change in mindset. Instead of taking resources solely for consumption, maybe we express gratitude to the earth and its natural gifts. What ways can we express gratitude or give back to the earth?

A picture of my dad grinding wheat to make flour using Mapuche tools in a traditional home. 

Another part of that class involved a field trip to a community close to Concón, Chile, designated as a “zona de sacrificio” or “sacrifice zone.” Coal plants were built in this area, contaminating the ocean and killing ocean life, interfering with important local food sources and the economy of this town. We met with a few local women who meet several times a week to discuss ways to fight back against the government, demanding the right to a clean and safe environment. Seeing the love that these women have for their community was inspiring. After many defeats, they are still fighting for their families, their communities, and their way of life. Those women remind us of the importance of the collective voice. 

My favorite part of the study abroad experience were the moments I shared with my Chilean host family. I spoke only in Spanish with my host mom and created a relationship with her that will last well beyond my time in Chile. While abroad, I had the opportunity to reflect on the importance of cross-cultural, cross-country communication, skills that I strengthened particularly with my host mom. We went to the mercado to shop for fruits and vegetables, we went to local ferías to thrift clothes, we walked on the beach together, she taught me Chilean words like bacán, fome, cachai’, and chascona, we shared deep conversations at meals, and so much more. I know that I have a home in Chile when I want to go back and visit my new family. There are aspects of Chilean culture that are quite different. Public transportation is incredible and used by pretty much everyone. Chileans show affection and greet people using physical touch (a hug and kiss on the cheek). I think the important thing for me though was to try to not compare Chile to my life in the United States. We can appreciate the differences and try to learn about a new culture in a respectful way. 

My Chilean host mom goes by Paty, but I always call her mi querida Patita. 

My time in Chile was truly a life changing experience. I was constantly immersed in the culture, speaking Spanish and expanding my vocabulary, trying new foods, and making new friends. Chile is also unique in its geography; the Atacama desert in the north, Patagonia and huge glaciers in the south, la cordillera de los Andes to the east, and the Pacific ocean to the west. The environmental diversity is astounding, and is one of the reasons why I would love to visit Chile again. 

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Patagonia

Climbing the most active volcano in Chile with my fellow GLIer Rayne!

Endemic flamingo species that live in the Atacama desert feeding on crustaceans living in salt flats. Hasta pronto, Chile!