Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best experience of my life! Past Review

By (California State University - Long Beach) - abroad from 06/06/2016 to 07/29/2016 with

Adelante: Valparaiso/Vina del Mar - Intern in Valparaiso/Vina del Mar

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained experience working with under-served communities and learning how to offer help while being sensitive to the cultural, and other, differences that factor in to their experiences and their way of understanding society. Also, I learned how to live on my own and take care of myself. The experience was definitely worthwhile because It helped me with my educational and professional goals and helped me grow as a person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Spanish classes were one-on-one, so they are catered to your specific needs.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration was absolutely amazing! They were very sweet and incredibly helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I got along great with my roommates and we each had our own room.

* Food:

The empanadas are delicious and you can't get enough of their bread! However, I absolutely love spicy food and, ironically, Chile does not have any chile (or "aji" as it is called in Chile).

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I speak Spanish fluently which made it easier for me to integrate with the culture. They could tell I was a foreigner because Mexican Spanish differs from Chilean Spanish, but that did not hinder my integration.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The closest I came to health issues were allergies, but some allergy medication from the local pharmacy was all I needed to get me back on track.

* Safety:

Walking around Valparaiso, it's better to be accompanied, carefully hold on to purses and wallets, and to not speak English so that you don't look like a tourist. Vina del Mar, however, is the safest city I have ever been in!

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Adelante Abroad, along with my on-site director, was in constant contact with me before my departure and throughout my time in Chile. I was kept informed about everything and they promptly answered all my questions and concerns. They were incredibly sweet and helpful, making my first independent travel experience much easier.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Overall, it is not expensive but I spent more than I should have on souvenirs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Between $100-$150 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Vegetables and fruit are much cheaper if you buy them at the Feria rather than the grocery store. Also, make sure you take your time to look at different souvenir shops because sometimes you will find the exact same things for much lower prices.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

It was not necessarily a foreign language because I was already fluent in Spanish, however, Chilean Spanish is much faster and they use a lot of vocabulary and slang that differs greatly from the Spanish I know.

How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Speak it all the time, including with roommates!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • International Center
  • Internship
  • Excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Contact information between roommates before they depart
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that work attire and nightlife attire is much more casual than it is here. That piece of information would have saved me a lot of luggage space.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.