A Whole New World: Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom Past Review
By A student (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) - abroad from 02/23/2016 to 07/14/2017 with
IFSA: Santiago - Chilean Universities Program, Santiago
I learned more than I can articulate about culture, language, food, and most importantly myself. It was a life changing experience as cliche as that might sound, but it's true. I am so glad I went!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Taking classes at two different universities at the same time was a bit complicated, but IFSA-Butler provided plenty of resources including a private tutor to make it easier. They even gave cultural advice about how to talk to professors and other students about classes. The required Spanish class was very helpful even though I had already taken 6 years of Spanish. It was catered to our specific needs and interests. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Isa Yevenes was extremely helpful and accessable for everything from help scheduling classes to hugs to life chats. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I wanted and requested a very interactive host family, and that is what I got. My host mom made me feel like part of the family and would pause every now and then to explain cultural significances and language nuances to me. I even traveled to the south of Chile to get to know my host mom's mom. The housing itself was nice as well. I had my own room and bathroom, and it was in a nice location for me to walk around and explore or run errands. |
| * Food: |
Oh my goodness!!! The food was incredible! My host mom made delicious food fresh for dinner each night, and the food in general was phenominal! Fresh fruits and vegetables were available everywhere even in winter, and every store has at least three kinds of fresh bread. Luckily, my host mom shared some of her recipes so I can still enjoy some of the dishes, but nothing beats fresh chilean avacado! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It took a while to really become integrated, partially because of the language/accent differences and partially because of the time it takes to adjust to a culture, but by the time I left Chile, I felt Chilean. I could walk on the street, and strangers would come up to me to ask for directions like I was a local! Once I was more comfortable with speaking Spanish, I really began to experience the culture and find my niche. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never had any troubles, but some areas of Santiago are known for pick-pocketing. Our program advisor did a good job of pointing out where those places were and letting us know how we could keep our belongings more secure, so by the end of the first month, I wasn't afraid to travel most places on my own. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
The program can be a little expensive, but there are plenty of scholarships to make it reasonable. Then I personally chose to budget for more spending on souvenirs and food, but someone could spend less than $50 a week on food, transportation, outings, etc if they wanted to because the program is so all-inclusive. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Apply to every scholarship and talk with your home university about shifting your regular financial aid to include your study abroad. You'd be surprised what they can offer. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Everything was in Spanish generally and we were often reminded on outings to try to use Spanish so that we could better experience the culture. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had finished the highest level Spanish that my univeristy had to offer. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Watch movies and shows in Spanish and try to do it without subtitles in English. Start with Spanish subtitles and then gradually take them away. It helps you keep up your listening comprehension. Then find an excuse to practice speaking in a low pressure environment. Whether that is with a professor or other students. Then don't be discouraged if you make a mistake. Make a mental note and move on. Also, don't be surprised if you nap a lot when you first start speaking the language a majority of the time. Your mind has to focus more for a while which can wear you out, but it will pass as you practice more and more. Then last but not least, when you get there, avoid English at all costs. As your native language, it will make it harder to learn the language than full emmersion (even though it is extremely tempting). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Try to connect with local students as soon as possible. Making friends with natives of your study abroad location that are your own age make the experience so much better. |
