Eight student-athletes from the University of Richmond are participating in a cultural immersion trip to Chile as part of the EnCompass Program, according to a May 4 update. The group is traveling through the country from May 1 to May 9, exploring local customs, history, and cuisine.
The program aims to give students hands-on experiences with different cultures and environments. During their second day in Chile, the group visited Valparaiso after breakfast at their hotel. Their guide Victor explained local traditions such as Sunday road closures for community events and pointed out significant landmarks like the headquarters of the Chilean Navy.
While in Valparaiso, students watched a traditional cueca dance performance and explored street art throughout the city. The tour guides discussed how murals are used to limit graffiti in certain areas; however, some murals incorporated graffiti elements. Veronica Rrapi from Women’s Soccer wrote about how these artworks connect public expression with current events.
The itinerary also included a visit to Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s house for an audio-guided tour. Students learned about Neruda’s life and viewed his collections before having lunch at Los Compadres restaurant on Playa Portales beach. Despite cool fall temperatures, several students took a swim in the ocean.
Later that day, they attended a professional soccer match between Santiago Wanderers and Deportes Temuco where fans’ enthusiasm added excitement to the experience. The evening concluded with dinner at a local farm featuring fresh produce grown on-site and dishes prepared directly from ingredients harvested during their visit.
Rrapi said this experience was “incredible” and expressed gratitude for “the many new things we were able to learn and see today.”
