Pictures From the Trip

If you would like pictures from the trip, please email. I have had trouble uploading them, but they are available in a word document if desired.

Leaving the Country with All That I Learned (5/21-5/22)

Friday morning was spent packing, including all the souvenirs I had bought during the trip. I intentionally got up early to go shopping one last time, but all of the shops were closed. I found out that it was a Chilean holiday, after I realized that the former and current Chilean presidents were speaking (one of our lecturers had mentioned this earlier in the trip). I was disappointed that I could not shop one last time, but was happy with what I bought. I went back to the hotel to relax since I already packed. As a group, we went out to eat for the last time. We went back to the hamburger restaurant, because the owner recognized us and was very friendly. It would be my last meal in Chile.

Before departing for the airport, a few more students stopped by the hotel to say goodbye. It was weird to think we would never see them again (although some said they planned to visit Pittsburgh, so maybe we will). The bus ride felt unusual. After living in a country for so long, it begins to feel like a second home. At the same time, I was excited to go back to the U.S.

In retrospect, things I will remember from Chile are the abundance of street performers, particularly during traffic lights. That was an aspect I was not expecting, but it was an interesting way to see a variety of talents such as juggling and dancing. Drinking was also a big difference, since students could drink at younger ages.

I also experienced difficulties ordering and shopping. It is hard to communicate with actual Spanish speakers and is something my 8 years of speaking Spanish had not prepared me for. Viña and Santiago both reminded me of a city but on smaller scales. Social differences were minimal, but they had later nights, easily going past four in the morning.

Chileans accepted us and were more than willing to talk to us, even in English if they knew how. My overall experience was a positive one and I look forward to traveling again. I would like to stay in a country for a longer amount of time in order to gain more cultural awareness and to better understand social differences. If I had the chance, I would love to go to Chile again, and hopefully see the incredible students and people that I met.

Horseback Riding Through the Scenery and Saying Goodbye (5/20)

Today we went horse riding for several hours. It was my first experience on a horse, but I did not feel overwhelmed. My horse was rather tame and I was able to direct him rather easily. The start of the riding was exciting because we crossed a river on our horses. Despite how high the water was on the horse, it was still able to move with ease. The scenery we passed was beautiful. We were on sand dunes for a while, which was a very smooth ride. Eventually, we got to the beach which was a great view while riding. It was a big, open area that was perfect for galloping. It was scary to go at faster speeds, but still safe as long as you held on. We crossed the river again, but this time the water was moving faster (it was depositing into the ocean). Our guides found an area where the water was not as deep and the water current was minimal. When we passed the river, there were fish that did not get deposited with the water. So, our guides caught and killed one and brought it back for lunch.

After riding, most of us felt pain, particularly in the legs. I did not notice it as much, because I am use to my legs hurting from playing hockey. Still, I was looking forward to lying down later. For lunch, we had a barbecue (with three different types of meat) and sat around a fire. I began to realize that our trip was almost over and we began reflecting on experiences. We noticed that there was nothing that went wrong during the trip and that all experiences were positive.

At the farewell dinner, Werner and several students were there. They gave us hooded sweatshirts from Santa Maria University and we gave them t-shirts from Pitt. It was a nostalgic feeling but still fun to see the students one last time. The pizza was delicious and had even more toppings than expected. It reminded me of Primanti Brothers’ sandwiches, an attribute that the restaurant would be immediately associated with. After we said goodbye to Werner and the Chilean students, we went back to the hotel as a group. When we went to bed, we knew we had to get ready to leave the next day.

Sports on the Beach and Even More Dancing (5/19)

We spent the morning shopping at markets again. It is amazing that no matter how often you shop, you can always find another souvenir to buy. Every vendor will have something unique, which is why the market system thrives. If it were not profitable (although the profits may not be large), then there would not be so many participant sellers in the market. However, if too many enter the market (thinking it is an attractive industry), then profits will lessen, possibly causing people to exit the industry (making it more of an unattractive industry). When we came back for lunch, we went to a restaurant as a group that specialized in empanadas. There were about 50 different kinds that mixed and combined chicken, cheese, meat, sausage, crab, shrimp, vegetables, and sauces. This restaurant was in monopolistic competition, because it specialized in one product (but many varieties of it). However, it was not a focused firm, because there were options for food other than empanadas; though empanadas were the specialty.

In the afternoon, we went to the beach and participated in games with Chilean influence such as sack racing and popping balloons. We also played volleyball and soccer on the beach, which was difficult since there was not as much traction to move. After sports, it was another relaxing day, just sitting on the beach and listening to the ocean. We also met a student from Alaska who was there to translate Spanish for his father who was there on business. This implied how important it is to be able to speak multiple languages, particularly Spanish. It opens up opportunities to travel and to communicate with a larger sector of potential customers.

At night, we had another salsa class. I wanted to learn a different style of dance, such as Reggeaton or modern dances that younger generations enjoyed, but the class was still enjoyable.

An Oceanic Museum and Memorabilia (5/18)

Today, we visited Isla Negra. It was a tour of the house of a former sea captain that was located on the beach. The artwork was beautiful, a house that was entirely a museum. For that reason however, we unfortunately could not take any pictures. However, the house did remind me of the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh (they converted his house into a museum, intentionally left in its original condition, just like Isla Negra was). Here, almost everything was related to the ocean. Artwork included miniature models of ships, tables constructed of ships that had wrecked on the beach, seashells, paintings, and even a bug collection. I was impressed of the good condition of the house, despite how old it appeared to be. It is unusual to think that someone could have lived in the house, but it was unique nonetheless. The view of the ocean was great as usual with larger than normal waves. We ate lunch at the restaurant in Isla Negra and had the option of fish again, but eating it yesterday, most of us had meat. The souvenirs in Isla Negra had an oceanic theme, which I thought was different than most of the shops I had seen.

After the tour, we visited the world’s largest swimming pool. This massive pool spanned about five condos in length and used seawater. My guess is that it combined five Olympic-sized pools, possibly more. For dinner, we ate at the hamburger restaurant again. I did not have it with guacamole this time, but tried their Chilean hot sauce, which was tasty. At night, we went to a bar to communicate with more Chileans.

Chile’s Growing Economy that Continues to Expand, Traveling in the City, and the Fish Market (5/17)

In the morning, we visited Bolsa de Comercio Santiago (the Santiago Stock Exchange). I had high expectations prior to the visit and the entrance resembled what I think the New York Stock Exchange looks like (I have yet to visit to say so for certain). We discussed how capital markets strongly influence Chile’s economy, such as the mining industries that originally mined for nitrate and petroleum but now mine for copper (one of Chile’s chief exports). We talked about how public works projects, such as highway infrastructure, are financed through purchasing bonds. Hence, Chile’s economy enhances through an active investment sector. Additionally, retail thrives through an influx of stock commissions.

What surprised me was that advancements of the Internet have severely altered the stock market and how transactions are conducted. I would expect this in the United States, but was not aware the Internet would be so prevalent in Chilean business. Then again, Chile is one of the most advanced South American countries, so the use of advanced technologies makes sense.

The presentation of the company included a video and power point that had a lot of useful information about the history of the stock market, Chile’s economy, and where it is headed in the future. When we visited the stock floor, it looked very modern but was nearly empty. This is because of the technological influence. However, certain aspects of the floor are now national monuments and cannot be changed. I wish the floor would have been active, so that I could gain the exposure of the rapid transactions occurring that I had expected.

Later, we toured Santiago. I noticed the city was very crowded and that the buildings reminded me of the setup of downtown Pittsburgh. There were street vendors (this open market was becoming a trend) and street performers. The atmosphere was unique and reminded me of a boardwalk near beaches, but with the influence of Chilean culture.

For lunch, we went to a fish market that served many types of fish (most, I do not believe I had eaten before) and were in large portions. With its close vicinity to the Pacific Ocean, Santiago (and most of Chile), had a strong market for fish (and at cheaper prices than they would be in Pennsylvania). After lunch, we took a trolley (like the incline in Pittsburgh) that oversaw the entire city of Santiago. The Andes Mountains were also visible for the first time on the trip, which was an exciting site to see. Naturally, there were many shops for souvenirs, and a giant statue of the Virgin Mary (demonstrating how influential Christianity is in Chilean culture).

For dinner, we went to a small restaurant that served Chinese food, empanadas, and other Chilean influenced food. I had Hawaiian pizza which was a unique combination of flavors. Although I have tried Hawaiian pizza in the United States, it had a distinct taste that I enjoyed. After dinner, most of us stayed in because it had been a busy day.

Glorification of Soccer and Italian Cuisine (5/16)

On Sunday, I woke up early to go shopping before the soccer game. In Viña, I realized that not a single shop was open. After walking around, I assumed they were closed because of the game. This implied how important soccer was to the community and Chileans. People who were on the streets were wearing jerseys of the team (including one I had bought when we visited the rock that oversaw the Pacific Ocean). I talked to a few of them, asking where good places to watch the game were. I felt a sense of belonging, because the Chileans were open to communicate with me and willing to share the experience. Again, this broke down the cultural barrier.

For lunch, we went to a Mexican restaurant near our hotel and the waiter said we could not order any Mexican food (Chile was playing against Mexico in the soccer game). The game was exciting and reminded me of watching a game of the World Cup, as I do every four years. However, I do not feel that we obtained the full experience, because we did not watch the game with Chileans. Soccer is an instrumental part of the culture; essentially every game mirrors the Super Bowl in relevance from what I can gather. Better yet, I wish we could have actually gone to the game, but that may have been too much to ask for.

For dinner, we ate at an Italian restaurant as a group. There were not too many choices that had Chilean influence, but the food still met expectations. I had a very Italian-influenced dish (gnocchi), but it tasted like a home-cooked meal would, possibly straight out of Italy (I have not traveled there yet, but I will say it is similar for now). We decided not to go out tonight, because we have an early company visit tomorrow (which I am fine with, because I want to be attentive since it is my company).

Exploring the Cities and Learning Their Market Segments (5/15)

Saturday was a free day to explore Viña and the surrounding areas, so we took advantage of it. In the morning, we shopped at a variety of stores in a plaza that would resemble a shopping mall. What was different was that many stores sold cell phones. This was interesting because the lack of product differentiation implies that this industry is likely not competitive (perfect competition), and that consumers do not prefer one store over another. Also, there were plazas that resembled markets, with individual owners selling a variety of souvenirs (a popular Chilean custom). You could find the same souvenirs in a lot of shops, but sizes, prices, and designs of these products differed, implying an industry that resembled monopolistic competition (sellers attempt to gain more profits by entering its own market segment—no direct competition in that segment; they are the only product).

For lunch, we ate with Mimo. A few of us had pizza that was loaded with toppings (pepperoni, Spanish sausage, and tomatoes). The ingredients immediately reminded me of Chile, as did the large portions. We also had a drink that mixed Pisco with pineapple and ice cream. The drink had a strong flavor but a tasty one, definitely with a high Chilean influence. We walked around shopping after lunch to see different types of stores but there were not many. There were different types of bread shops, specifically selling bread, which is not seen in the U.S. This shop would thrive on consumers who only want bread, but a supermarket would be more fitting for customers who want an assortment of products.

In the evening, we went to the beach to watch the sunset. I have always enjoyed watching sunsets over the ocean and it was just as enjoyable in Chile. After the sunset, some of my fellow classmates decided to go swimming in the ocean (they brought swim trunks, unlike the Chilean student from the resort and spa). They said the water was cold, but it was the first time that many of them had been in the Pacific Ocean. I still have not been in it, but I plan to eventually, especially when I start to travel more after College.

For dinner, I ate at McDonald’s with a few students. Ordering was difficult and due to the language barrier. However, we were able to resolve the issue by communicating with the workers. At night, we went back to Camilo’s rooftop to enjoy the view and converse with Chileans. I felt that the language barrier was lessening and that I could communicate more easily and have more in-depth conversations.

Relaxation at the Resort and Spa While Still Learning Chilean Customs (5/14)

As we were concluding our first week in Chile, what better way than to relax at a resort and spa? My first impression was that the location was extravagant, and could be afforded only by the upper class of Chile, which was a minority representation. There was a large swimming pool, saunas, and an entertainment room, where we spent the first part of the day, playing Foosball and ping pong.

Later in the afternoon, the group played soccer together at the resort. It was on a hardtop court, like tennis would be, and was not full-sized. Nonetheless, it was still exciting to play and participate in a sport that thrives in Chilean culture. After soccer, we had a buffet-style lunch that could be paralleled to a Thanksgiving feast. There were various types of meats and sides and an assortment of Chilean desserts, including flan. Like most of the food, it was delicious.

When we finished eating, the weather started to worsen, but that did not stop us from enjoying ourselves. There was an area enclosed by a roof that had a bar, ping pong, and a game that involved tossing disk-shaped stones into a frog’s mouth or the holes surrounding it. The game was unique and reminded me of games played at picnics and graduation parties, like horseshoes or boccie would be. This was the first day I started to feel homesickness. As much as I was enjoying the cultural exposure and new, unique experiences; I also missed being able to communicate with my girlfriend, friends, and family. Still, the day at the spa was relaxing and much needed after a busy first week.

For dinner, we went out for Chinese food. I had their chicken but with a Chilean sauce that was spicy (as expected) but enhanced the flavor of the chicken. At night, we went to a bar anticipating to meet Chilean students. Like in business at times, there was miscommunication and we did not meet them, because there were two bars with the same name.

More Chilean Businesses and Thriving Industries with a Chilean Barbeque (5/13)

At Viña Indómita, it was interesting to see how vast of an area the vineyard covered. There were lots of dead grapes because it was late in the agricultural season, but we were still able to eat the grapes. They had a different taste than in the U.S. (and had pits in them) but were tasty nonetheless. There was a patio that oversaw the vineyard and the surrounding area. Also, it was unique to stare at Viña’s huge sign that mirrored that of Hollywood’s. It seemed to be a trend for other businesses to use large white letters of its company name. Inside Viña, there were lots of barrels filled with wine. We even saw workers extracting wine from the fomenters. It was a unique experience and definitely would be an industry I would consider. After, we were able to taste wine that was made at Viña. The white wine resembled pineapple and both red wines had distinct (but different) tastes of grape. Almost every student bought a bottle and it was very cheap (it is a domestic product and was not imported).

During lunch, I indulged in more Chilean cuisine. It was breaded steak with ham in between topped with cheese, eggs, onions, and French fries (bistec pobre). It was my favorite meal of the trip thus far and very filling, especially after the wine tasting. Afterward, we toured LAN airlines. There was massive space for the airplanes and we got to see the engineers working on them. It was unique to see the inside of the planes and to discuss the industry. International flights interest me, but I feel that there may be too much engineering involved for me to comprehend. Still, the tour provided quality information and we received free items from LAN.

At night, we had a barbecue at Werner’s. The food was delicious and there as a lot of it. Most of us had seconds and thirds. After dinner, we practiced social dances that were more common in clubs and among Chilean students. This was fun, as the sound of the music resembled that of the U.S. but the dancing was vastly different. Later, we went to a multi-floor night club that incorporated many Chilean dance elements, each room specified to a particular type of dancing (salsa, Reggeaton, and so forth). We stayed in the room with social dancing for the most part, but it was fun to watch Chileans dance and try to dance similarly.

Chilean Businesses and Thriving Industries (5/12)

This was our first day of company visits which was the most anticipated part of the trip for most of us. At Codelco (the smelting company), there was an introduction about business aspects and the industry. It was fun to reflect on what was discussed and what I had learned in classes. For example, the presentation discussed the capacity of the plant and breakeven analysis (costs of raw materials were included). Some of it was in Spanish (such as the tour), which made it harder to understand. However, when translations were given, it was easier to communicate. I feel that Codelco meets my interest of supply chain management, but it is too engineering oriented for me.

At Centauro, the tour was very relevant to my career interests. We discussed the Porter Analysis for a new product and how it gets to the market. This led to discussions on supply chain management and made me reconsider the industry of agriculture. It was interesting to discuss how geography affects the industry and cultural perceptions of the industry. We received free samples of packaged products straight off the assembly line, which was a unique experience. We also discussed how Centauro intended to start making a new product at the facility and how it would need to expand the size of the facility to meet the capacity and how the startup costs of making that new product were high.

In lectures at the university, we discussed taboo topics. This was interesting, as they would never be discussed in a business setting and likely not between locals and foreigners. We discussed how centralization affects business and how punctuality is not stressed. We learned this first hand, as our company visits were running late so our lecture times were pushed back. This is considered socially acceptable and is often expected. In the United States, we are expected to be on time and often early (such as for job interviews and luncheons). We had empanadas twice that day, and I understand why Chileans like them so much. They are filling and relatively cheap.

During our third salsa lesson, I learned that I made very little progress. Couples salsa became a little easier, when we continued maneuvers from the last lesson. However, when new steps were incorporated, it was hard to keep up. At night, we went to the rooftop of Camilo’s apartment. It was a large area, had an outside grill, and was designed for parties. My favorite part was looking out into the city. Nonetheless, this opened up another opportunity to interact with locals. Many spoke English, but I tried to interact by speaking Spanish so it was not as obvious that I was a foreigner. After the rooftop, we went out to the bar and talked to Chileans on a balcony.

Cultural Relevance to the United States and More Dancing (5/11)

We took the bus to the University again and had a lecture about working in Chile. The lecturer was an undergraduate business student at Pitt who went on Plus 3 in its second year. It was fun to converse with a student who already had the experience and who could relate it in a business perspective. I recognized much of her lecture from my Managing in Complex Environments class, so it was easy to relate the material. After discussing the mining and agricultural industries, I feel they do not meet my interests. However, I enjoyed discussions on the rigid market structure of Chile and how it related to supply chains.

I ordered drinks from the snack bar outside the café during lunch, and it was difficult to communicate what I wanted. Still, I was able to. In a plaza between buildings, Chileans were playing Foosball. This opened up another opportunity to interact with students, as the game was a common interest. Chileans were very competitive but were also very social. They welcomed us to play with them and rotate playing with other students. After lunch we discussed Chilean economics and how it compared with other South American countries. We learned that Chile is relatively well off, along with Argentina, Brazil, and a few others.

In the evening, we had another salsa lesson and incorporated couples dancing (which made it even more difficult). Although we had a new instructor, he was just as talented. Still, it was fun to try to engage in a Chilean custom, as Chileans like to dance and many dance very well. At dinner, we went out for hamburgers. However, since we were in Chile, I incorporated Chilean ingredients by adding guacamole to the hamburger. It was good, and very cheap for the size of the hamburger.

Chilean Cultural Explosion and Salsa (5/10)

In the morning, I was expecting that there would not be hot water, as students were use to taking leisurely showers. Despite there being cold water the night before, it was not a problem in the morning. Most students ate breakfast that was provided at the hotel, which consisted of tea, orange juice, bread, cereal and milk, yogurt, and an assortment of fruit.

After breakfast, we met another Chilean student who helped us take a public bus to Santa Maria for the first time. Although Pitt students get to ride buses for free, we had to pay for our fare. Riding the bus was relatively cheap, even for foreigners (compared to what one would pay riding public buses in Pittsburgh for non-students). Buses traveled very quickly, which I was not prepared for. One had to be sure to be seated or holding on to the railings. At the University, there was security at the entrance. This was different than Pitt that had security at every building, but safety was not a concern, as there was no way to enter the University otherwise. Buildings appeared to be castles, which made the University unique (possibly differentiating it to appeal to students who may apply). The campus was large, but was not too spread out like Pitt’s campus. What was different was that there was no campus housing. Students had to commute from apartments near the campus. Also, the hotel overlooked the Pacific Ocean, which was a beautiful site. There was an outer plaza that was relaxing in which many students hung out.

During the department reception, we discussed the purpose of the trip and what we would learn during the two weeks. The first lecture taught us about industrial and business engineering, but we learned how personable Chilean culture can be (we were all asked to introduce ourselves and explain why we were on the trip). The lecture transitioned to discussing Chilean history, politics, and literature; which refreshed discussions from pre-departure meetings. Our lecturer, Mimo, could go into more detail because we already knew basic information about Chilean culture. We learned about gender inequality and related it to the political transition from former President Michelle Bachelet to current President Sebastián Piñera. Also, it was interesting to discuss the earthquake from a Chilean perspective. Mimo’s personal story captivated what it actually felt like to endure the earthquake firsthand. Lastly, we discussed the differences in culture within Chile between the North, middle, and South. Because Chile is long in geographic length, different cultures persist in different regions (which can be seen in differences between the New England States, the South, the Mid West, and the East and West Coasts in the U.S.).

The lunch line was a unique experience, because it was long at first, but moved rapidly. It was fun to talk to Chileans when we found tables. What I remember from the experience was large portions of food. At the snack bar outside the café, I began to notice that many students smoked but cigarette advertisements said not to because it was bad for health. I thought this was severely different from the approach in the U.S.

Later, we went on a tour of Viña del Mar. There were many beautiful buildings and statues. The best part of the tour was visiting a giant rock that oversaw the ocean. I was disappointed that my camera batter died and I could not take pictures of everything I wanted, but the experience was still memorable. During the tour, I also noticed the abundance of street vendors. Even on the rock, there was a seller of Chilean attire (such as soccer jerseys). I was not use to seeing this type of market in the United States, but it is convenient like a shopping mall to have many sellers in close vicinities. At dinner, we were introduced to empanadas, a Chilean delicacy. They were delicious; these ones were filled with crab meat and cheese. Also, Coca-Cola was served in a bottle, which I had not seen in years. I learned that it is indeed true, that Coca-Cola is one of the most recognized words in the world.

At night, we had salsa lessons. Our instructor was very talented, despite the difficulty of the dance. It was a unique experience, but it was hard to learn quickly, lacking a dancing background. Most of us felt similarly, so we could struggle learning how to dance together. After, we learned that Chileans go out to clubs late into the night. We went to a karaoke bar which was different because I am not able to go to bars in the U.S. Also, almost all of the songs sung were in English, which shows how culture from the U.S. spreads into South America (and to the rest of the world).

Voyaging Abroad and Learning the Basics (5/8-5/9)

The first day had an atmosphere of excitement amongst students despite the 10+ hours of plane flights that students encountered. Students were immersed into Spanish culture rather quickly, as many travelers on the flight from Atlanta were Spanish speakers (as were the bi-lingual flight attendants and pilots, who had to communicate with a more diverse set of travelers than ones on a domestic flight). Nonetheless, it was an opportunity to practice Spanish speaking skills in order to be able to communicate with students and locals in Chile.

After the flight landed, it became a little overwhelming in the airport.
International flights have more rigid rules, as countries are protective of what is brought into their territories. Also, it was very crowded at the airport and many people were holding up signs with people’s names on them, almost like they were there to pick up celebrities. It felt surreal yet exhilarating at the same time, because students were already learning about Chilean culture. After everyone picked up their luggage and got through customs, students met with Camilo, the Chilean student who was met at the airport. After, students took a bus ride from Santiago to the hotel.

My first impression was that there was an abundance of beautiful scenery, from the Andes Mountains, to trees and plants. At this time, we were able to practice speaking Spanish with Camilo after everyone introduced themselves. I realized quickly that Chileans speak quickly and use slang that I am not use to hearing. This made the communication barrier more difficult, but Camilo also spoke English which lessened this barrier. After moving in, students were able to explore the city and find lunch for the first time. It was early afternoon, but not many restaurants were open which was surprising. We found a Mexican restaurant near our hotel that had menus entirely in Spanish. This was expected and a great opportunity to practice ordering food. Although the waiter had trouble understanding some students’ speaking, it was not an issue. The most interesting part of the meal was that water was served in a bottle and we were charged for it. I am use to having water for free and unlimited quantities. After lunch, most students took naps (although Chile does not have a siesta). It was only the first day and students wanted to be rested for the first day. At the introductory dinner, it was fun to eat as a group and experience ordering food together. When we were eating, there was a video playing of influential movies and music playing from the U.S. than the Chileans listened to and watched frequently. It was interesting to see this parallel between cultures.

After dinner, the group went to a gas station nearby to pick up snacks for the week. What was most interesting was that the gas station sold alcohol, which students were not use to in the U.S. Anyway, the first day in Chile was a learning experience that introduced Chilean culture, with similarities and differences to the U.S.