Louisville, Ky.----Hello! My name is Rebecca Bloemer, a rising senior on the Wingate volleyball team. I am writing part two of the volleyball team's Chile blog. After we toured around Santiago and nearby cities, we flew to southern Chile into the city of Puerto Montt. We walked around the port; many of us bought colorful scarves from the local vendors because southern Chile is known for its wool and wool products.
After our shopping spree, we went for a short nature walk. During this trek, we learned about the alerce tree. The alerce tree grows very slowly and is used as the siding for many of the houses in southern Chile because it does not rot. After a long day of traveling, we settled into a local bed and breakfast to rest up for an adventurous next day in Puerto Varas.

The next day we drove to Volcan Osorno, which is in Puerto Varas. We saw a crater that had been formed from the volcano. After miles of switchbacks, increasing elevation and beautiful scenery, we reached a skiing area on Volcan Osorno. This was an adventure for all of us, as we attempted to climb the steep volcanic rock that seemed to slide every time you though you had your footing.

After this adventure, we went for a six-kilometer hike down Volcan Osorno. We thought we were hiking down a volcano. With this thought in the front of our minds…the hike sure seemed to have many uphill climbs! During the hiking adventure, we saw and walked through where the water runs down the volcano when the snow melts or when there is much rain. I enjoyed being able to take in the views and being able to explore off the trail some as well!

After the hike, we all enjoyed a salmon lunch. To complete in my opinion what was the perfect day, some of us went kayaking in the lake that is next to the volcano. The opportunity to kayak while the sun set over the beautiful snow-capped mountain is probably the most memorable image from the trip for me. After a day of adventure, we all enjoyed a relaxing night back at the bed and breakfast!

WINGATE UNIVERSITY’S W’INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM

Each year, eligible students in their junior year of study are offered an opportunity to spend 10 days abroad with a Wingate faculty member after a semester of study related to the relevant destination. The W’International program, created in 1978, makes a study-abroad experience available to students at little extra expense beyond the semester’s tuition charge.

Since the program’s inception, students have traveled to more than 30 countries in virtually every corner of the globe. Typically, eligible students may choose one of six different destinations. Three W’International trips leave right after Christmas each year, while the other three leave right after Commencement in May.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.