Alex Meek

Choosing to spend Spring 2026 studying in Santiago was the most impactful gift I could have given myself as a learner, young person, and global citizen. 

The variability of my days was part of what made the semester so exciting: moving from university classes to my internship to fieldwork to grabbing a drink, studying in a cafe, or visiting a cultural event with my friends kept me the best kind of busy. Middlebury’s program allowed me to engage with all parts of the city and all the faces of Chilean culture every week, and I’m proud to report how much I came to love Santiago.

Apart from independently researching local community-based alimentary programs for my internship at FOSIS Región Metropolitana as part of the Social Movements Track, I gained experience in both office and field environments, establishing relationships with people involved in all stages of project execution and familiarizing myself even more with the city. 

At Universidad Alberto Hurtado, I took classes that I wouldn’t have been able to take at my smaller college and was touched by the openness and generosity of the Chilean friends I met there. Those forged connections, along with the awe I have for the dedication of my fellow Middlebury in Santiago students, have left me profoundly more inspired, confident, and capable.