Andres Almonte, an International Affairs major and IAFS Global Grant recipient, shares the unforgettable experiences from his journey in Chile, through the program . In his latest update, Andres recounts a remarkable October, highlighted by a trip to the awe-inspiring Atacama Desert, where he explored stunning landscapes and unique wildlife. His travels also offered a deeper perspective on globalization鈥檚 impact on local communities鈥攁 theme he connects back to his IAFS studies. You can see more photos of Andres' early adventures on this聽.
I鈥檇 like to share my third update on my experience studying abroad in Chile this semester. Overall, October was a great month, and I have been having a very good time. Without a doubt, the highlight of my month was my trip to , the world鈥檚 driest desert. At the beginning of October, I travelled to Atacama with three of my good friends that I have met here in Chile. While there, we were able to participate in many activities and see truly amazing natural landscapes. For example, on the trip I visited natural hot springs, salt flats, and the 鈥淰alley of the Moon鈥� where聽聽was filmed. Additionally, I saw many animals that are uncommon in the US: flamingos and alpacas.
While this was an amazing experience for me personally, I also was able to relate my experience to what I have been learning in IAFS as well as some of my classes here in Chile. In Atacama, I saw the clear effects of globalization as the town and its economy were clearly built to accept tourists, something that it has done successfully; when I went, the town was full of tourists from the US and Europe. The negative side effect of this is that San Pedro has become inaccessible for the average Chilean citizen because American and European tourists are willing to pay prices that are much greater than what most Chileans can afford. This trip was ultimately a good opportunity for me to reflect on the pros and cons of globalization in the global South.聽