Studying aboard through GEO's Advertising and PR in Chile program was a wonderful experience. We had the opportunity to create an advertising campaign for Kingston Family Vineyards, a Chilean-American Winery located in the Chile's Casablanca Valley. Using equipment I lent from the J-Cage in the SOJC, I was able to capture and edit photos to use throughout our campaign! 

My friends and I were also able to explore different locations around Viña del Mar during our free time. Some days this looked like sipping chilean wine in the mural-filled streets of Valparaíso, and other days it entailed walking along the Chilean coast while snacking on warm bread and fresh produce. We also were able to travel to various nearby cities like Concón, La Serena and Santiago. My favorite "side quest" was to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It had been on my bucket list to travel there ever since learning about Río de la Plata in Spanish class my freshman year. We got try classic Argentinian food like empanadas y alfajores; visit historic landmarks like the Obelisco and Casa Rosada (their version of the White House, but it's completely pink!); and explore iconic parts of the city like La Boca neighborhood, El Mercado del San Telmo, and the MALBA museum just to name a few.

All in all, my summer in South America was nothing short of extraordinary. I got to check both seeing penguins in the wild and visiting Buenos Aires off of my bucket list. But most importantly, I made memories and friendships I know will stay with me for years to come. I'm incredibly grateful for GEO's help in creating an unforgettable summer study abroad experience!

Ally Thomas

Advertising and Public Relations in Chile, Summer 2024