Chile
Butler University - IFSA in Valparaiso, Chile
http://www.ifsa-butler.org/
Dear Office of Study Abroad:
One of the highlights of my time abroad in Valparaíso, Chile was spending a weekend at the home of a Chilean friend from the university I attended. He introduced me to many of his friends and family, gave me a tour of his town, took me to the vineyard where his uncle worked, and even brought me to a huge fiesta with his extended family.
No, I wasn't traveling to a booming international metropolis, nor was I getting to see famous monuments. However, I consider this experience to be more valuable than either of those. I was able to take part in an extremely close-knit environment in which it was not work, careers, or money that came first (which, in my view, can often be the case in American culture), but rather relationships with family and friends. The way I was embraced by all the people that I met during the weekend (as well as other Chileans throughout my semester abroad) was unforgettable. It didn’t matter that I was a foreigner or that my Spanish was still somewhat lacking; what was important was that I was a guest of my friend, and that made me part of the family while I was there.
The interactions I had during that weekend trip, and others similar to it, have shaped how I connect with those I am close to at Duke. Instead of spending more time than necessary thinking about how much work I have to do or how much money I need to make in my first job, I try to put those cares aside (plenty of time for those later) and just focus on enjoying the moments I have left with my friends here; after all, that time is fleeting, and as such, I try to relish every minute of it.
– Jeff Dahlberg