As most of the people who entertain my blog are also my friends and we keep up with each other on a multitude of platforms, my latest 2017 adventure becomes quite less news, and more update and inform… I’ve applied and been accepted to the 2017 UW-Green Bay Chile Travel Course to study Sustainability and Water Resource Management in South America for 13 days in August! (Not familiar with how amazing and stunning the country of Chile is?  Click here and enjoy!)

Aside from being a visually stunning country, Chile is also one of the most stable and prosperous nations in South America, and one of the most sustainable examples in the world!  According to the course description: Most of the Chile Travel Course will take place in Santiago, a thriving metropolis surrounded by mountains and vineyards. It’s the cultural, political, and financial center of Chile with countless things to see and do.

The opportunity is on the cusp of finishing a long-awaited Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin.  The Chile Travel Course allows the opportunity for hands-on learning, from a country and businesses which are thriving with sustainability initiatives, and provides three credits in an abbreviated course. The trip fee covers airfare, accommodations, excursions, and transportation to and from the hotel, which is located in the financial district.

I mention this specifically because I’ve been sort-of fundraising to help cover the costs of the expenses by selling hand-crafted goods!  For this, and everyone’s willingness to support my sustainability adventure and in essence “lighten the load” of exploring this opportunity, I am so thankful… This is beyond an opportunity of a lifetime for me, so I’m eternally grateful that anyone would be interested in supporting me! In fact, Tri-Sports Junction will be helping my efforts by carrying my double-lined fleece neck gaiters at their festival this weekend in Sykesville, Maryland!  So if you’re in the market for a free festival or find yourself without anything to do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, go out supporting some local shops: check it out!

Several students had the opportunity to take a similar travel course in 2015, and the recap of their experience can be found here.  Recently, the coordinators released the following itinerary, in case you’re wondering what we will be studying and learning:

Tour Nueva Renca, a thermoelectric central combined cycle power plant; Universidad Del Desarrollo (UDD) tour and lectures

Visit to Vina Ventisquero, a sustainable vineyard (ummmm yes please!!!)

City tour of Santiago and visit to Los Dominicos Market

Visit to Valle Nevado ski resort

Tour of Chagres Foundry, a copper foundry; UDD lectures and meetings

Tour of Port of Ventanas

Visit to Valparaíso, a World Heritage Site, and Viña del Mar

Fly to Concepcion; tour of Refinery Petrox; lectures and meetings about water economy and management

Visit to Chillan

Visit to Huachipato Port

Have you been to Chile or South America?  What was your favorite part??  Or where would you go if you could learn about another amazing culture?  Thanks for reading and stay inspired!