Chile: The Bombdiggity Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload is much lighter in comparison to American universities. The main difference is that the Chilean system is based off of rote learning rather than critical thinking. If you want to make an A on a test, you have to repeat verbatim what was said in lecture, or else you will not get full credit, even if the answer you provide is similar to the actual answer. I did like that the professors were always willing to help and answer questions, and would encourage students to start a discussion.

On-site administration of your program

They were very slow in getting things done.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

In my host house, I felt more like a guest than part of the family, but the majority of my peers felt assimilated with their families, so I was just unlucky. Other than that, I absolutely loved where I lived. I lived right next to the metro station, which was very convenient since I had to ride the metro every morning to go to either school or my internship.

Chileans love to put huge quantities of salt and mayonnaise on their foods, so be aware. Do not be modest when your host mother asks if you liked a meal to tell her that you did not like it. Chileans are used to honest criticism and will not offended. Many of them are under the impression that all Americans love greasy foods, so you may have a mother that serves you greasy foods everyday. You don't want to be put in the position where you end up eating the same thing every day that you don't really like. Go cuisine exploring in Santiago! I had some of the best meals in Santiago. In general, one of the best cuisines is Peruvian food. If you like spicy, flavorful food, this is definitely your calling, as opposed to bland Chilean food. There is a really good Peruvian restaurant in Bella Vista and another one in the Plaza de Armas area, but really any Peruvian restaurant will be good. There is a very good Indian restaurant called Rishtedar--best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. It is also reasonably priced. There is a small Turkish wrap restaurant called Istanbul that serve great wraps. They are located all over Santiago. You can also get really great gelato in Santiago. The best gelato shop I went to next to Cerro San Lucia. I do not remember the name exactly...it may have been called Opera. In general, the gelato and coffee shops on Monjitos (which is located downtown, in the Plaza de Armas area) are great. I would usually study at one of the coffee shops on Monjitos, as they provide free WIFI and great coffee/sweets.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The adventures I experienced in Santiago were some of the most life-changing events of my life. I am naturally adventurous, so I took the liberty to always go out and explore the city and arrange field trips with my friends as well. Some people go into the program not wanting to go on any field trips, which is fine, but I strongly believe that the more traveling one does, the better your study abroad experience will be. I traveled to the Atacama Desert with my friends for a long weekend and stayed in a hostel called Backpackers (GREAT hostel! it doesn't look great on the outside, but it's lovely inside, and the owner is an amazing, helpful person). We sandboarded, went on a star tour, rented bicycles and mountain biked to Valle de Luna to watch the sunset, and went to the famous geysers which are located close to the border of Chile and Bolivia. Each one of these experiences was absolutely amazing, and contributed to my submersion into Chilean culture, improvement in my Spanish proficiency, and overall personal growth. In addition, I feel it is very important to establish a good balance between exploring and studying. It is important to keep up with academics, but it is also important to remember that most of the learning you will experience is from actively taking part in the Chilean culture. I decided to hike to a glacier in Cajon de Maipo with 2 of my friends the day before an exam. I am forever grateful that I made this decision, as the 3 of us got to witness one a beautiful sight of a glacier and volcano in the Andes Mountains, while still making an A on my exam the next day. With a good balance, you will go home with not only good grades, but wonderful memories. Also, take advantage of the skiing opportunities in Chile. I had never gone skiing before until I traveled to Chile, and it was definitely one of the most worthwhile experiences.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The smog in Santiago is terrible, and you can immediately tell a difference in the clarity of the air as soon as you step out of the airport for the first time. The program definitely did address this problem, though, but there is not much you can do about it. Just enjoy the times it rains, because the smogs clears up for 24 hours and you can temporarily breathe some clean air. If you have any sort of health emergency, definitely go to a private clinic rather than a public hospital. The quality of care will be much better. The IES program did a good job of explaining these concerns.

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

Majority of the time I would have to use Spanish. I would speak to my professors, host mother, and locals in Spanish. Chileans are known to speak Spanish much faster than other Latin Americans, but Chileans appreciate foreigners attempting to speak and will help you. The best way to improve your proficiency is to go out of your way to interact with locals. The only time I would use English is if a Chilean could tell I was a "gringa" and wanted to practice their English. Even if it is frustrating and tiring to use your broken Spanish with native speakers, push yourself to continue practicing rather than using English because that is the only way you will improve.

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• Host Family
• Apartment

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• International Students
• Local Students
• Host Family

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• Americans

• The cross-cultural experiences

• Grading and teaching style