Live with a Host Family in Valparaiso Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was surprised (but not really) at the unstructured nature of the classes I took in Chile. Even though we had a syllabus, the topics we actually covered in class were not usually the ones given on the syllabus. This made it hard at times to prepare for exams or to know what was expected of me as a student. However, I don't feel that this detracted at all from my academic experience--if anything, it was an excellent cultural learning opportunity. As well, ISA's amazing tutors met with groups of students from my classes to help us whenever we were having difficulty with anything, including helping us prepare for tests, papers, reports, etc. Just be aware that the classes in Chile will, just like much of your study abroad experience, require you to be flexible and keep a sense of humor!

On-site administration of your program

My expectations were consistently exceeded by this outstanding program. From the moment I registered to the day I left the country (and even afterwards), they took care of every detail of my stay to make sure that things went smoothly. The on-site staff were so friendly and welcoming and were always available to help with whatever I needed. I couldn't have been more satisfied with my program and its staff.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was immediately treated as a member of the family from the very first time I met them. My host family was incredibly warm and welcoming and I hardly even felt homesick because of how much they made me feel a part of their life. I still keep in touch with them and it's been almost 4 years! I was given my own bedroom and provided with furnishings, bedding, and access to their computer and laundry machine. I lived about a 15-minute bus ride from the main university building and it was easy to access public transportation to get to any part of the city from where I lived. The neighborhood was safe and very beautiful and I felt comfortable walking there by myself during the daytime.

Watch out for the bread! It is delicious but because it is served at almost every meal, I can guarantee that you will gain weight if you are not careful to limit how much you eat! Also, be willing to try new foods -- I discovered some new favorites (like avocados!) that I am so glad that I was willing to give a try.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Take time to explore the city of Valparaiso! There are so many hidden treasures there that you can get to very easily -- don't waste all your money traveling out of town because there is so much to see and explore in the city itself. The program does a great job of taking you to many of these places, but it's even more fun to go back there in a small group to explore on your own as well.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My only advice is to not go off on your own no matter how safe you think you will be. Whether you are traveling or in the city, please stay with someone else and don't let your friends leave the group either.

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

I spoke Spanish all day, every day with my host family (who did not speak any English)-- I would highly encourage you to stay with a host family if you want to improve your fluency! Most of the other Chileans I met did not speak any English. I found that about one third of the other study abroad students in my program tended to speak English all the time with each other, and about one third tried hard to stick to Spanish, but that proved difficult to maintain over the entire semester. I needed to use Spanish every day because of living with a host family, taking public transportation, and taking classes entirely in Spanish.

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• Host Family