Being a "Gringo" for 5 Months Is Definitely Worth Trying Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes weren't too difficult but professors could use improved English speaking skills. Not much homework (mostly reading) but grading system is unclear often due to grading being done often by ayudantes (assistants to professors). Lack of feedback on papers especially at local university. CIEE Spanish language classes were better but teachers did not take suggestions very seriously in terms of changing course content.

On-site administration of your program

CIEE gave 2 great field trips during long weekends and had other cultural activities throughout the semester. Helped in course registration and first few days becoming acclimated to Santiago.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Given own room with host family with bed, closet, desk, and night table. More than enough blankets were provided given Chile's lack of indoor heating. Housing was a bit far from university though (15 minute walk to train station, 25-30 minutes on the metro).

Host mother was very accomodating to my vegetarian diet but tended to repeat recipes a lot. You will probably be tired of bread and avocado by the time you get back to your home country.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very integrated thanks to interaction with host family, other CIEE students, locals at universities, and other foreign students from Europe.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

CIEE provided 3 good hospitals if health issues arose. I did not need to use any health care services while I was abroad. Health care is cheaper though in Chile than in the U.S. No vaccines needed for the program and issues such as animal rabies were nonexistent. Smog in Santiago during the winter did make me cough though a little.

City was very safe if you followed CIEE's general guidelines (don't have large amounts of money out in the open, take cabs home late at night, stay with others when travelling). Don't speak loud in English so you don't attract attention to yourself.

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

Only costs were for travel to other parts of Chile and Latin America and also travel on metro. Generally cost about $3-5 a day to use metro. Meals provided as part of stay with host family, as is housing. Meals and housing cost less than a semester at Villanova would have.

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

Most CIEE e-mails were sent in English but some were in Spanish. Using Spanish with host family was encouraged greatly but workshops with CIEE used English so students could express thoughts and concerns more easily. Chile is definitely a country where English is not common so it is a good country to practice Spanish in.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Host Family
• Field Trips by CIEE
• Travelling around Latin America

• More Cultural Activities
• More Interaction with Local Students
• Better Food

The Academic or Linguist