Chile: Everyone should go! Past Review
By Hannah A (Health Policy Analysis., University of Rochester) for
IES Abroad: Santiago - Study in Santiago
It was definitely worthwhile. Just to really live and be in a different country and culture for such a long time is completely different than just traveling. You get to really know the people and how things work and begin to feel at home there. That can be a confusing feeling but I feel blessed to have made more than one country my home.
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 workload was challenging at times because there were a lot of oral presentations and visual powerpoints required which was difficult to produce so frequently-however I think they were necessary in facilitating a learning environment for improving the spanish language. Everything we did forced us to speak spanish, which though challenging and terrifying, really helped me gain confidence in my ability to talk to other people and my family there. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The people who worked in the IES center in Chile were some of the most interesting and compassoinate people I have ever met-which made them very enjoyable to talk to and work with. However, on a professional level, the culture of the country was at times more relaxed and laid-back than I was used to, and at times I felt left to fend for myself in situations I was surprised at. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Middle class family-mother and 2 daughters and grandmother who lived there, among the others who visited. They were very kind and friendly towards me-formed a close friendship with one of the sisters |
| * Food: |
The main food dishes in Chile are simple so sometimes the variety of things to eat was a little scarce. However, they are famous for many things as welll and I feel that I got a good taste of many different foods, and a "real" experience of what it is like to live and eat in the country. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | on a non-travel week-anywhere between 20 and 50 US dollars, sometimes less. For trips I tried to spend no more than 200-300 US dollars for each. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan to spend more-and save as much as you can for travel! And make yourself go places, doesn't have to be a plane-ride away, just explore the place you're living in. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish Literature Course |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced the language with my family, my teachers, and everyone I interacted with, on a daily basis. I still spoke english with my friends on the program, which did slow the process a bit, but the amount I improved over the 4 months makes me very proud, and I felt like I could say whatever I needed to say, and could understnd most of what was going on. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is a great program in an incredible yet disregarded city. Go because you can and because many people don't. Few people pick Chile to study abroad in and because of that you have an even more unique experience. Chileans are some of the nicest and most interesting people! You will have a great time and there is so much to see and do. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Claudia Flores |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was a great course with one of the best professors I have ever had. She did a great job targeting both the medical and public health side of healthcare, and we learned how to talk about various issues in the modern world related to health and medicine, in spanish. I felt like everything I practiced and did in the class applied to something I was trying to do in everyday life, and real conversations I would have with people. Again, one of the best professors I have ever had. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | None really-just check in with your study abroad office (and check your mailbox!) for notifications about transcripts coming through and getting approved. They will let you know if you need to get approval on anything afterwards. |
