Hasta Luego, Chile!

  • Visiting the ocean and taking a surf lesson in the cold waves of the Pacific—so different from the beaches back home!
  • Learning to make empanadas (a delicious stuffed pastry!) with local friends.
  • Seeing a real volcano and learning how it helped shape the land around it.
  • Walking through busy city markets full of fresh fruit, handmade crafts and music.
  • Attending the Vendimia (grape harvest festival) in Santa Cruz and learning how wine is made—Chile is famous for its vineyards!
  • Traveling up north to the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, and seeing the stars light up the night sky like magic.
  • Getting to share my love for Chile with my parents when they came to visit, and having an asado with them and my Chilean family!

I came to Chile through something called the Fulbright Program, which gives people a chance to study, teach or do research in other countries. It’s a way for people from all around the world to learn from each other and share ideas. I feel very lucky to be part of this program because it helped me meet new people, grow as a student and learn about life in a whole new place. Programs like this help build friendships between countries and make the world feel a little more connected.

I’ve learned so much—not just about Chile, but also about myself. Living in a new country helped me become braver, more curious and more open to trying new things. Sometimes things were hard, like speaking Spanish every day or missing my family. But each challenge taught me something important.

I’m so thankful to the amazing people I’ve met here and to all of you for coming along with me on this journey.

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