Chile: Global Gateway Summer 2026 (Discoveries)
Program: UW Global Gateway in Chile, Summer
Rashaad D: “That’s new to me” Moment
One of the most eye-opening discussions we’ve had in class focused on the life cycle of a simple T-shirt. Before this course, I never stopped to think about everything that happens before and after a shirt reaches my closet. We learned that a T-shirt’s journey begins with raw materials, moves through manufacturing, shipping, retail stores, and eventually disposal. What surprised me most was realizing how much water, energy, labor, and transportation are involved in producing something that many people wear only a few times before replacing it.
That discussion took on a completely different meaning when we connected it to the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. I learned that the desert has become one of the largest dumping grounds for textile waste in the world. Every year, around 59,000 to 60,000 tons of used and unsold clothing arrive in northern Chile from countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. Of that amount, roughly 39,000 tons end up abandoned in the Atacama Desert because they cannot be sold or properly recycled. Some estimates suggest that only about 20% of imported clothing is successfully resold, leaving the rest to accumulate in massive piles that are now visible from space.
What challenged my assumptions was learning that donating clothing does not automatically mean it gets reused. Many of these garments still have their original tags attached and have never been worn. Because much of the clothing is made from synthetic materials, it can take up to 200 years to decompose. In some cases, the piles are burned, releasing toxic pollutants into the air and affecting nearby communities. Standing in Chile and learning about this issue made it feel much more real than reading about it online. It reminded me that consumer choices made thousands of miles away can leave visible environmental impacts in another country. This discussion helped me better understand the global consequences of fast fashion and encouraged me to think more critically about sustainability and my own consumption habits.
Alexa H: A Home away from Home in Santiago
On the free afternoons, I like to wander around downtown Santiago to explore the city with members of my cohort. On one of these days, we stumbled upon a street market in Barrio Lastarria, a small neighborhood in Santiago. As we browsed the stalls, a handmade jewelry stand caught my eye. The pieces were all beautifully crafted, with intricate designs surrounding gemstones of varying color and sizes. While stopping to look at them, the stall owner began to chat with us. He began telling us where each stone was from, mentioning that some were from Peru, Chile, and one from Colombia, his home country.
From there, our conversation unfolded naturally, with him asking me where we were from, why we had come to Chile, and how long we planned to stay. I returned the questions and we discovered that we had something in common, he had studied nursing in college, while I am studying pharmacy. That small connection made the exchange feel more personal. He was extremely warm and welcoming, wanting to know more about study abroad and explaining his move to Chile. Eventually, I bought a purple amethyst necklace, and he took a photo of it to post on his Instagram. He gave me his account so I could see the post later, and now we follow each other.
This interaction was memorable because it wasn’t forced, instead it felt like an everyday moment that people would have while walking downtown. The connection became more heartwarming when he made the post of our jewelry, with a caption about how his jewelry was traveling to a foreign country and making a footprint on the world. That small exchange created a shared link between Chile, Colombia, and the United States. It felt familiar to walk the streets of downtown and it reminded me of the value of community across places.
Julissa R: Sustainability in Santiago
Arriving in Santiago, I anticipated being in an atmosphere similar to a big city in the United States. However, this was truly not the case. I had entered a large, urban area filled with many different kinds of buildings with their own unique architecture, and clean, well-maintained streets. I was in awe and very surprised to see trash cans on almost every street corner, with many having three divided portions: one portion for general waste, another for recycling, and the last one for glass. These observations started to put things into perspective, and I began to understand just how important sustainability has become for Chilean culture.
Entering grocery, convenience, and retail stores, you will not see a plastic bag in sight as they were banned in Chile back in 2018 in order to encourage individuals to bring reusable bags with them instead and reduce overall waste. Food places also offer wooden or paper utensils or straws and really prioritize energy conservation. For instance, in hotel rooms, to use lights and electricity, one must put their key card into a slot meant for the power in the room. As soon as it is taken out, the electricity will no longer be available in the room. It is also very popular and encouraged to shop in second-hand stores and donate or reuse items in order to move away from further contributing to the excessive waste on the planet. Additionally, Santiago is known to have the largest fleet of electric buses that make up more than 60% of the capital’s public transportation system.
Upon my return to UW-Madison, I greatly look forward to spreading awareness and advocating for the implementation of many practices that I’ve seen in Santiago. Specifically, I would like to create bins or drop-off centers for unused clothes or miscellaneous items in order to encourage and make it easier for students to donate items. Furthermore, I would explore incorporating the key-card method for students in dormitories in order to conserve energy. Although only two weeks have passed since being in Santiago, I am grateful that I have learned so much already and feel excited that I will continue to expand my overall knowledge as the program goes on.