What I do during my spare time



Since I arrived less than two months ago in Santiago, I still have a lot of places to discover around the city and its suburbs. Nonetheless, I spent a large amount of my free time (meaning mostly my weekends, as I finish class on Thursday at 12) getting to know more the capital that I have dreamed of during half a year. In fact, when I had to make choices for my exchange year (six in total), I selected all the five santiaguinas universities that have a learning agreement with Sciences Po. I really wanted to come here.
That’s why since the beginning of the semester I had the time to visit plenty of tourist places, wandering next to La Moneda, exploring the Cerro San Cristobal, visiting the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, listening to an audio guide in La Chascona to learn more about Pablo Neruda… etc. I also had the chance to spend a weekend in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. On another note, I enjoy nature, thus it truly fulfills me that some parks are accessible by bus.
      These types of hobbies are really different from what I did in France, where I had less time for myself. I was very busy being captain of the basketball team, being secretary-general of my university’s student union, and in between studying. On weekends when I went back in my parents’ house, I used to visit my grandmother who lives near us, hang out with my high school friends, or just chill with my family in front of a movie or behind the oven. Now that I am far away from them and from my everyday life, I must occupy my mind to not think of what I left. I am grateful to my roommates for always suggesting outings, if I were to live alone, I probably would have stayed in my apartment binge-watching TV shows.

    

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