Meet Global Grant recipient, Aspen Reeves! Aspen is currently participating in the ISA Chile: Valparaiso Latin American Studies & Courses with Locals program where she's spending the year in Vaparaiso, Chile. She's started classes with Chilean locals, and when she's not in class she's been exploring the city and learning about Chile's rich history. Hear from her below:
Hello again! August was certainly a busy busy month for me in Chile! Not only did I finish up my summer classes for the month long spanish intensive, but I went on my 1st ever solo-trip to a town called Vicuña in the Valle de Elqui (where author Gabriela Mistral lived and worked), went hiking at the famous National Park La Campana (which Charles Darwin summited and wrote about during his studies in Chile), and began my semester classes with local Chilean students!
This past month has also involved taking a deeper dive into Chilean history and culture and I have learned a lot about the effect of the Pinochet regime on the Chilean people both in the 1970s and 80s and today; which included an excursion to Santiago to visit the Museo de la Memoria, El Cemeterio General, and Parque de la Paz Villa Grimaldi (an extermination and torture camp during the regime that has now been converted to a memorial site). With the 50th anniversary of the end of the dictatorship (which is not officially recognized as a such by a large portion of the country) coming up on September 11th- followed by the Chilean independence holiday on the week of September 18th- emotions are certainly high surrounding the topic of nationhood and human rights as of right now. As a student of international affairs, and as someone who has focused on human rights throughout my college education, it has been extremely educational and impactful to be studying here during this important time in Chile’s history.
Thanks for sharing, Aspen! We're looking forward to hearing more.
