"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming."

Pablo Neruda

"We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever."

President Michelle Bachelet

"Only an organized and conscious people can bring about a different kind of society."

President Salvador Allende

"Don't cry when the sun is gone, because the tears won't let you see the stars."

Violeta Parra

Chilean composer, songwriter and visual artist (1917-1967)
“Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say 'tomorrow.' Their name is today.”

Gabriela Mistral

Chilean poet-diplomat, educator and humanist; 1945 Nobel Peace Prize for Literature laureate (1889-1957)
“Dime cuáles son para ti las diez palabras más bellas de la lengua castellana y te diré quién eres.”

Nicanor Parra

Chilean poet, mathematician and physicist, 2011 Premio Principe de Asturias (1914-2018)
“Hay tantos niños que van a nacer con una alita rota y yo quiero que vuelen compañero. Que su revolución les dé un pedazo de cielo rojo para que puedan volar.”

Pedro Lemebel

Chilean essayist, chronicler and novelist (1952-2015)
Photo Credit: Sebastian Tapia Brandes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sepiabrindis/
"The cultural invasion is like a leafy tree which prevents us from seeing our own sun, sky and stars. Therefore in order to be able to see the sky above our heads, our task is to cut this tree off at the roots."

Víctor Jara

Chilean teacher, theater director, poet and political activist (1932-1973)

Overview

Santiago skylineThe capital city of Santiago is located in Chile’s central valley, geographically equidistant from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. Founded in 1541, Santiago’s rich history offers cultural and historic sites throughout its many different neighborhoods, from the 19th century neoclassical architecture and winding streets of the downtown area to the city’s Parque Forestal, which offers Chileans a vast green space to exercise, meet with friends or family, and attend concerts and other cultural events. About 40% of Chileans reside in one of the 20 different communes/districts of Santiago, making it one of Latin America’s most populated cities and Chile’s cultural, political, and economic center.

The CASA-Chile program provides undergraduate students with the unique opportunity for full immersion in Chilean culture and the Spanish language, while receiving transfer credit to apply toward their home university degree. Students take a Pro-Seminar course as well as 3-4 local university courses with Chilean students, completed at one or more of three top local universities: Univeridad de Chile (UCH), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), and Universidad Diego Portales (UDP). The CASA-Chile staff provide students with a list of possible courses and provide individual academic advising. The program includes an orientation program to assist students in learning about the Chilean lifestyle and help familiarize them with Santiago, and also offers cultural activities, local excursions, and lectures to introduce participants to the local context.