Study Abroad

Latin American Studies and Political Science Major, Julian Padilla ’24 studied abroad in Argentina and Chile in a program focused on “Human Rights and Cultural Memory”. In Chile, he and other UC Students were a part of building a database for victims of human rights abuses that occurred during Estallido Social in 2019. An article about this project featuring a quote from Padilla was published by Universidad Alberto Hurtado. 

What made you pursue this travel opportunity?

Coming from a Mexican background, I wanted to travel somewhere in Latin America, that was outside of Mexico. In multiple courses at UCSD I have explored both histories in Argentina and Chile, but what better way to learn than to experience this in person.

How were you able to make it possible?

I think like a lot of people, I was intimidated by the cost of the program and the financial aspects of it. Fortunately, through financial aid I was able to have most of the program covered which eased my anxiety. There are a lot of resources out there including UCSD Study Abroad which helped me with concerns that I had. Most importantly, I took initiative and I was determined to make this happen. I had to be selfish and think about what I wanted for myself.

What did you do there and what did you learn?

We learned about the past dictatorships in both countries and the struggle for human rights and democracy in their history. We were able to speak with people who were around during this period and hear their stories. We ate typical foods, learned traditional dances, and immersed ourselves in the daily aspects of life. From waterfalls, to deserts, to mountains, to snow, there were countless places that I visited. Latin America has incredible natural beauty that I hope to continue to explore in the future. I was also fortunate enough to be able to experience the Madres de Plaza de Mayo do their weekly march in person. These are experiences that I will never forget and motivate me to learn more.

What advice do you have for other students interested in studying abroad in Latin America?

My main advice is to trust your gut feeling and to not be scared. It can be daunting thinking about studying and living in a different country, with a different language and culture, but it is an experience that you will not regret. Try to immerse yourself into the culture and be understanding of the space that you are in. There were times in the months leading up to the program where I doubted myself and I did not believe that I could do it. But I managed to push through and looking back I am forever grateful that I did study abroad. I made incredible connections with professors and friendships with people not just in the program but people that I met outside of that. There is so much more out there to learn that a textbook or an article cannot teach you. Do not be scared to go out of your comfort zone and explore something new.

Padilla gave his final presentation on the United States' role in the 1973 Chilean coup at the International Conference “Human Rights, Social Justice, and Transitional Justice in Chile” on November 23, 2023.