Chills for Chile September 04, 2025
By Elena A (Philosophy, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/25/2025 to 07/08/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Santiago
It was super worthwile, I learned about a different culture and part of the world, and in how to be there, what it means to be myself.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was wonderful being welcomed into chilean university classrooms as an international student. Both professors and other students were interested in the different perspective my lived experience had brought on the topics of discussion, and also went out of their way to fill me in on the reasons behind their own persectives when I didn't understand. Professors were incredibly passionate abouot what they were teaching, organised, and very aware of students needs and states, this meant that while not as many institutional resources were available, they were t least in my experience, not as needed. While perhaps not quite as rigorous in the traditional sense as courses back in the U.S, I was glad for it since it was in a different language, and I had to do a lot of background work to understand. I felt like I learned a lot from my courses. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The host program was incredibly organised, allowed us to be independent as can be, but was also there whenever we needed inspiration and guidance, moreover, they provided wonderful tools to help us adapt, and the class on culture was truly beneficial. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I heard mixed reviews on housing, but my personal experience was beyond wonderful, and a massive part of why I loved my time in Chile, my host mum was supportive, had all of the best tips, gently corrective of my spanish and cultural mannerisms, but also encouraged me to be extremely independent. |
| * Food: |
the produce in chile is wonderful! and I was able to cook a lot, or my host mums mum would cook for me and my host mum and leave us little lunches and dinners and snacks. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Extremely integrated, obviously to an extent, as I was at the end of the day, not a chilean, but I had mostly chilean friends, grew to know the humor and time perception, what food was eaten when, and how to address my friends parents properly! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health care issues, thankfully, and didn't need to get any vaccines as I had travelled previously. |
| * Safety: |
I think Santiago is safe, if you keep your eyes open and follow locals advice on where to go/not to go. I would recommend going some places never alone, but for the most part, the city is navigateable, even by bike, solo. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I learned so much about chile, and about myself, I was able to live a genuine life that honoured my foreigner status, but also allowed me to live a cotidian local experience. |
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) |
this being said I know how to not spend money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | -30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | substance use is expensive. splitting food with friends, eating at home before going out to dinner. |
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 |
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| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 250 |
| 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? | speak speak speak, even when you think you are being stupid, every word helps |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | that i wouldn't want to come back to wellesley.... |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
