Discovering new things about the world and yourself June 30, 2022

By A student (Environmental Studies - Policy, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/23/2022 to 07/15/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Valparaiso

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was definitely worthwhile. As someone who has lived in a rural area my entire life, abroad was very intimidating at first. However, I learned that I do have the skills to navigate and be successful in a city (a foreign city!). Culturally, seeing the differences between Chile and the U.S. was very eye-opening and at times made me appreciate what I have access to back home. I think it is important for people to travel and learn about the norms and traditions in other countries so that they can be grateful for what they have and also learn how to help others throughout the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt pretty safe in Viña del Mar/Valapraíso. I think because they are smaller than Santiago, it is easier to get to know the city quicker and know where things are. I never felt unsafe in the way that I felt like I would be in danger.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I would choose the same program location because it was different than where I have lived in the past (Vermont) but is not too big that I was overwhelmed. The Viña/Valpo location is great because you have two cities right next to each other which are very easily accessible from one to the other. Also, it is only 1.5 hours from the airport in Santiago, so traveling around Chile is accessible as well. If I did it all over again, I think I would choose a different university; however, due to the pandemic, we were only able to choose between two in this area so that is a technicality. I think if I were to go to UAI again as an international student, I would take advantage of the abroad program's activities and events more and try to get to know the other international students. I would also try and start more conversations with Chilean classmates, even though it may seem daunting.

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 room/board/meal expenses paid to the host family, I think I was able to live on a student's budget during the rest of the week. I definitely spent more than I would at Middlebury, but that is because when you are abroad you need to try new things (this is not including non-program trip expenses)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Micro fares are pretty cheap in USD, so weeks when I did not go out to dinner or get drinks I would say maybe $4 total. During weeks where we went out, I would say up to $35
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Before coming abroad I made a savings account that is separate from my checking account. To make sure I still had some money left after abroad, I put a substantial amount into the savings. This way, I limited myself to only spending what was in my checking account. Some advice with taking out money at an ATM: because we have international debit cards, there is an extra fee that can be about $10 USD. So, if you take money out, it is worth it to take way more out than you think you need. Ex. If you only need $20, take out $50 because it is more "bang for your buck" so to speak

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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?	I had completed two 300 level (305 I think, and 307)
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?	Talk with your host family as much as you can! Some of the best cultural immersion comes from family meals or outings because they teach you about the culture and you get to practice your language skills.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans
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?	Country's geography Host family Cultural Activities
* What could be improved?	Specificity during orientation (not over-dramatizing anything as well) Communication about classes and activities further in advance
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb here and be super obvious as an international student. Although that may have been true in the beginning, people will not single you out for being "extranjera" and usually the reality is that they think you are Chilean before speaking with you. Also, although Chilean accents and speed can be hard to understand, it is not as difficult as everyone makes it out to me. When you didn't hear someone or didn't understand, say "Como?" not "Que?"

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Prensa y Poder
Course Department:	Periodismo - UAI
Instructor:	Daniel Avendaño
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This course was not extremely challenging, however it did require the most reading and writing out of all my classes at UAI. I really enjoyed this course because it was discussion based and each week we learned about different case studies with various themes. I found that I learned a lot about important events in Chile and the U.S., some of which were new to me. Because there were many discussions, I tended to listen and observe more than speak because as the only international student I was a bit intimidated to talk a lot. When the professor asked my opinion or for some background about some of the U.S. cases, I did participate. We were assessed with a reading quiz every week, had two content tests based on application of the case studies, and a book test based on a book of our choice about a "journalistic bomb". We also played Kahoot, an online trivia game, during some classes, to learn more about the themes of case studies.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I have not transferred my credits yet. I don't expect any issues because I participated in a Middlebury Schools Abroad program as a student at Middlebury College.