Bridging Worlds

Learning, Culture and Connection in Chile

My first morning in Santiago, Chile, the city greeted me with a kaleidoscope of life. The Andes rose sharply in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow in the early Chilean winter. Street vendors sold fresh empanadas and pastel de choclo, their aromas blending with the crisp mountain air. That morning, I also met my host family, who would become my home away from home for the summer (Boston’s summer is Chile’s winter). For someone who had never set foot in South America, the vibrancy of the city and the warmth of a welcoming family were both exhilarating and comforting. By the end of my summer, I had not only navigated these streets with confidence but also immersed myself in meaningful work supporting children’s literacy and education.

Andes mountain.

Working in Chile

Thanks to the opportunity provided by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), I spent the summer interning with Fundación Crecer con Todos, a nonprofit dedicated to improving child literacy and reading comprehension across Chile. The organization’s mission came alive for me not in abstract reports, but in classrooms filled with energy, curiosity and challenges. My work stretched across both the hands-on and the analytical: visiting schools to observe lessons, meeting students and teachers, analyzing student performance data, and collaborating with mentoras—the literacy coaches who support teachers—to design strategies tailored to each classroom’s needs.

Colleagues at work.

One of my most memorable moments was joining a pre-kindergarten interactive literacy class where children were just beginning to recognize and write the alphabet. Instead of paper and pencils, they learned through creative materials—tracing letters with their fingers in trays of sand, salt and even flour. The classroom buzzed with excitement as the children giggled over the textures and proudly showed their letters to their teachers. It struck me how something as simple as a handful of salt could transform into a powerful tool for learning, sparking both tactile exploration and the joy of discovery. Watching their small fingers shape the building blocks of language reminded me that literacy is not only about reading books but about cultivating curiosity, playfulness and confidence from the very start.

School visit.

The work also taught me lessons that went far beyond technical skills. Designing assessments and crunching numbers were important, but what mattered most was listening: to teachers who worked tirelessly despite limited resources, to students whose lives were shaped by circumstances beyond their control, and to mentoras who brought a mix of creativity, persistence and heart into their work every day. Through them, I learned that empathy, patience,and adaptability are just as essential as any data set or policy framework.

I was fortunate to be surrounded by amazing colleagues—a team of passionate mujeres (women) and dedicated mentoras who believed deeply in the transformative power of literacy. Their commitment inspired me daily. They reminded me that education is not just a technical challenge, but a profoundly human one, built on relationships, encouragement and the belief that every child deserves the chance to discover the joy of reading.

This internship also gave me the opportunity to work at the local level, where the impact of programs is visible in real time. For years, I had studied education and child welfare through policy reports and academic research, but in Chile, the theory met reality. I wasn’t just reading about literacy interventions—I was watching them unfold in classrooms. Seeing children’s faces light up as they proudly traced letters in salt or sand made the impact feel immediate and tangible. Those expressions of joy and discovery reminded me why education matters: it’s not an abstract goal, but a daily process of empowering children to unlock their potential, one letter at a time.

Living in Chile

Living with a Chilean host family added depth to my experience that no school or office could replicate. From our first dinner together, where we shared homemade pastel de choclo and swapped stories about our childhoods, I felt an immediate sense of belonging. My host family welcomed me not as a guest, but as part of their daily life—inviting me to celebrate birthdays, join weekend outings, and learn the subtle art of Chilean humor and etiquette. Mealtimes became a cultural classroom. I learned to navigate local dishes, practice my Spanish, and adapt to rhythms that were entirely new. Evenings spent sharing tea, discussing school, and listening to their experiences gave me insight into Chilean culture that no guidebook could offer. Their warmth softened the inevitable moments of homesickness and encouraged me to engage fully with my work and surroundings.

 La Vega Central Market.

Santiago itself is a city of contrasts: historic neighborhoods with cobblestone streets sit alongside modern high-rises; bustling markets overflow with fresh produce, flowers, and crafts; quiet parks offer spaces to pause and reflect. I quickly fell in love with local traditions, from mercados (markets) to the ritual of a mid-morning once (a light tea and snack) that punctuates the day. Food was a highlight. Empanadas filled with cheese or pino (beef, onions, olives and raisins) became a lunchtime staple, while completos—Chilean-style hot dogs loaded with avocado, mayonnaise, and sauerkraut—offered a delicious twist on a familiar comfort food. I even ventured into tasting mote con huesillo, a traditional drink made from dried peaches and husked wheat, and quickly understood why it’s a summer favorite. Beyond food, it was the warmth of people that left the deepest impression. Chileans welcomed me with curiosity and generosity, eager to share their perspectives on education, social issues and daily life. Even in professional settings, I noticed how relationships and personal connection often guided collaboration, teaching me lessons in patience, empathy and cross-cultural communication that no classroom could offer.

I am deeply grateful for the SIP Chile cohort I shared this experience with, as well as to the DRCLAS Chile Office for organizing all the thoughtful cultural immersion activities. What could have been a solitary internship became a collective journey of discovery. Through lectures on Chilean history, live concerts filled with traditional rhythms, and excursions to places like Pablo Neruda’s homes, I not only learned about chilenismos—the special turns of phrase that bring Chilean Spanish to life—but also built friendships that made every adventure richer. These moments outside of work were just as formative as those inside the classroom, grounding my professional experience in a deeper understanding of Chile’s culture, creativity, and people.

SIP Chile Family.

Of course, the summer was not without challenges. Navigating terminologies at work, understanding local educational practices and communicating effectively in Spanish required patience and persistence. Living in South America for the first time also meant confronting homesickness and moments of cultural adjustment. Yet these challenges fostered resilience. I developed confidence in presenting ideas in Spanish, collaborating across cultural lines, and adapting to unexpected situations—skills that will carry over into any professional context.

What made this summer truly transformative was the interplay between professional and personal experiences. After working in classrooms or analyzing literacy data, I would walk through Santiago’s neighborhoods, visit markets and spend evenings with my host family, reflecting on the stories I had heard and the lessons I had learned. Street murals told stories of social resilience; small cafés invited conversation over coffee; and the Andes loomed in the background, constant and grounding. Moments like these reminded me why education and community engagement matter—not just for policies or programs, but for the human lives they touch.

By the end of the summer, Santiago had become more than a city—it was a classroom, a laboratory and a home all at once. I left Chile carrying lessons that transcended professional skills: the importance of empathy in education, the value of listening before acting, and the joy of discovering a culture with open curiosity. My host family, the children I worked with and the people I met along the way all contributed to an experience that shaped my perspective in ways I could not have anticipated. I returned with a broadened worldview—and a lasting appetite for Chilean completos, empanadas and the warmth of a family far from home. ¡Chile, hasta pronto!