My trip to Chile was definitely one of the best parts of my entire college experience. From February 27th to March 9th, we explored a huge range of environments and experiences—from remote islands to vibrant cities. One the main reasons Chile was somewhere I wanted to go was that I had never been to South America and the Pacific before. I really wanted to experience that part of the world in its full, so I challenged myself to engage on every part of the trip with much vigor and enthusiasm as I could.

After some scary trouble in the airport. We arrived on Easter Island, one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. Known for its iconic Moai statues, it was surreal to walk among these ancient stone figures and hear the legends tied to each one. We stayed at the Tupa Hotel, swam at Pea Beach, and visited incredible sites like Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku. It was stunning, with rocky coastlines, soft white beaches, and grassy hills stretching into the sea. I was especially fascinated by the history of the Birdman Competition and the ceremonial village of Orongo—it really brought the island’s unique culture to life. This combined with the moai gave me one of the most important realizations of the trip. If a place as small as Easter Island could have such a wide and diverse history, then every corner of the world, no matter how remote or quiet, likely carries its own deep stories waiting to be uncovered.

Next, we headed to Santiago, Chile’s bustling capital. The contrast was striking—suddenly we were surrounded by tall buildings, subways, and nonstop city energy. From there, we took a day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. Valparaíso was not the most exciting stop on the trip but the street art made it worth seeing. Seeing the Pacific from here felt totally different than on Easter Island—colder, busier, louder. It gave me a new perspective on how geography shapes experience.

We also spent a day in the Andes in Cajón del Maipo, hiking through jaw-dropping landscapes and enjoying a picnic with wine and cheese near the mountains. Back in Santiago, we took a city tour with a local guide who shared insights into daily life and food culture. On our final day I walked through protest in the capital on women’s rights, which gave me a deeper understanding of the social and political climate in Chile, and the serious issues faced by women in the country. It was powerful to see how people came together to advocate for change and how public space was used as a platform for expression. As my last activity on the trip me and some of the other students visited a winery near Santiago. The winery visit ended up being one of my favorite experiences in mainland Chile, as I was able to learn a lot about wine making and sample a solid number. The winery trip also rounded out my samplings of drinks from across the trip.

Before the trip I was quite worried about spending so much time with a group of people I did not know. This ended up not being an issue and I quickly made friends with most of the group. Knowing that I can function in that kind of situation was a big area of growth for me, because in the past its the kind of thing I would avoid out of anxiety.

As such my biggest piece of advice for anyone thinking of studying abroad is to put yourself out there. You need to make an active effort if you want to connect with people and have a fun time. Try to organize things so you can go to meals with people and hang out—don’t just lock yourself in the hotel room between activities. My second piece of advice would be to wear sunscreen, and lots of it. I don’t think there is a single person on the trip who avoided getting sunburnt.

This trip to Chile pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible ways. I came back not only with amazing memories and photos, but also with new confidence in myself and a deeper understanding of the world. I think my favorite experience would have to be Rano Raraku, the moai quarry. It was unparallel visually. The whole area felt like a window into another time—unfinished statues scattered across the grassy hillside, some still partially carved into the rock. Overall, this journey to Chile was more than just a trip—it was a transformative experience