About Me

Hi! My name is Sapphire, welcome to my blog!

If you're on this page, you probably looking for a bit more information about who I am and what I'm doing. (Or you clicked the wrong button... oh well... either way, stick around!) Hopefully, after reading the following, all your questions will be answered - well, maybe not all... there's got to be some mystery around here...

What Is This?

'Tis a blog! 

One Blog to rule them all, One Blog to find them. 

One Blog to bring them all and in the...

...okay, okay, no. Sorry, not the time. 

But yes, this is a blog. About my travels, adventures, and experiences through Chile and beyond. My plan is for this to be a space where I can recount my stories and offer my honest opinions on University (home and abroad), Travel, and Life. (42... that is the answer).

Who Am I??

I am Sapphire!! 

21 years old (birthday 18th March, send presents) and studying Politics, Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Southampton, UK. 

I love dogs, I love books, I love films and I love traveling (would be a bit awkward if I didn't, seeing as though I'm currently on the other side of the world). 

I also have a rather large soft spot for cars. Specifically, ones that are either old, look like they'd be great in an apocalypse, or possibly... be a Robot In Disguise.

Google Maps, 2018

Where Am I???

I'm in Chile!!!

More specifically, Concepción. About 6.5h south of the capital, Santiago, by road - it's one of the biggest cities in the country with a large student population and beautiful surrounding countryside for hiking and camping when you want a breath of fresh air. 

What Am I Doing????

I am studying here!!!!

As part of my university course, I have to spend my 3rd year abroad in a Spanish speaking country either studying, teaching English, or working. I chose to spend my year studying at Universidad de Concepción, taking modules in History, Politics and Spanish (who'da thunk it?) While I'm here, I'm going to be writing a research project as part of my work for University of Southampton, and also spend some time traveling!  

Why Chile?????

It's different!!!!!

Yep. To be quite honest, that's what it boils down to. I thought long and hard about where I should go and what I should do, and knew I had to make the most of this opportunity. Now, I love Spain, but I've been there quite a few times. It's easy to get to (and more importantly, get back from) and I was worried that if I went there it would be too easy to find people who speak English or to even pop home every holiday. 

My main aims for this year were to improve my Spanish as much as possible, live somewhere new, and turn the whole experience into something I maybe otherwise wouldn't have gotten around to. So, I chose the place the furthest away from home as I could! The other side of the world, another continent, another hemisphere... how can this not be an adventure?

Also, the history of Chile is really interesting and gives me a lot to sink my teeth into when it comes to writing my research project. On top of that, it has the advantage of being one of the most recommended places to travel in the world with its deserts in the north and penguins in the south... not to mention the mountains and volcanoes! 

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So hopefully, that's given you a little more of an idea about what I'm doing and who I am. 

If you've got any questions or have anything you want me to write about, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll see what I can do.  

I'll be going into more detail and talking about lots of things I haven't mentioned here in my blog posts, so subscribe to the mailing list for notifications of new posts!