Hi friends!

I hope you are enjoying the last few days of your break and of the year 2010! I want to share with you what I consider my most memorable winter break when I was in college. By the end of my sophomore year, I was certain that I wanted to study abroad in Chile for a whole year. I was a Political Science major with an emphasis in Latin American studies, so it seemed like the perfect fit. So in August of 2004, I took a 10 hour flight from SFO to the city of Santiago, which would be home for two semesters.

I had a great time in Chile. It was a great opportunity to take classes with Chilean professors and make many friends from Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay. At first I did not really like Santiago since I arrived in August, which is their winter in the southern hemisphere. It was was cold and rainy all the time. But with December, summertime arrived; the first time in my life I would have a summer Christmas!

Two of my good friends and I decided to take a trip to the Patagonia to see the beautiful national parks and glaciers of the southern tip of the American continent. On Christmas eve, we hiked around 30 kilometers at Torres del Paine National Park, a stunning trek surrounded by forests, lakes, mountains, and glaciers. We spent Christmas at a shelter with other hikers from around the world with music and great food. Though I missed my family, it was a great experience that I won't forget.

What has been your best winter break?