Public Health and a Vibrant Community in Chile July 02, 2022

By A student (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 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?

I was able to get to know a new city in a different country and really feel at home there. While the language immersion was difficult at first, I really appreciated the opportunity to

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Classes definitely had less work, but that meant there was more emphasis on exams and other projects. Middlebury has great resources to offer with plenty of check-ins from the staff who want to ensure your doing the best you can.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The staff here in Chile are amazing! Juan, Paulina and Lindsay are all super helpful and supportive. They want to ensure each student has the best experience possible.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My host family was amazing and I immediately felt welcomed into their home and a part of their family. I had my independence but it was also great to spend time at family events to better immerse myself in the language and culture.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The program was extremely supportive and healthcare was made easily accessible whenever it was needed. The staff was there to clarify the process and ensure that everything went smoothly.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes This program had both the language immersion and the experience in the health care system that I was hoping for. There was also a great community here, as everyone I met was welcoming, the program staff, my host family, students, etc.

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)	it wasn't too difficult as food was included in our payments to our host families each month. I did spend more than what I normally would as I went on trips and tried to do more activities to better experience Chile.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$40

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?	Two 300 level classes
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?	Just make sure you are immersing yourself to Spanish. Stick to the language pledge even with your friends as it will only help you improve.

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	the diversity of Chile's geography my host family and the people I met my internship placement
* What could be improved?	options for nursing classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish there was more emphasis on supporting us at our universities, in terms of how to join activities, etc. Also, more specifics on public transportation (it's a pretty confusing system if you don't know exactly where you are going).

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:	Cuidado de Enfermería en el Ciclo Vital
Course Department:	Enfermería- UNAB
Instructor:	Karen Caro, Francia Rivera, Milena Castillo
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This class is a second year nursing class that covers the basics of the nursing process, with a seminar, a lab and a clinical component. It is an intensive class as there is a lot of material to memorize each week and you are expected to know it all. The clinical component I did not complete due to pandemic restrictions, and while that would have added a lot more hours to my schedule, I think it would have been helpful in applying the concepts and learning how to use them with real patients. It kind of felt like I was just memorizing material with out any end goal. All three professors were great, they had lots of personal anecdotes to add during lectures to reinforce the material. That being said, Chilean professors are not as accesible as US professors, at least in my experience, so at times it was difficult to have my questions answered. The lecture was on the larger side around 70 students, but I would say I participated a normal amount given that. Assessments for the lecture were two multiple choice exams, and for the lab, we had several weekly quizzes as well as a final practical based on what we had learned over the semester. There was also a final exam on everything at the end.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I have not yet had my credits transferred, but I assume there will be no problems as I am a Middlebury student.

Course Name/Rating:	Enfermería en la Promoción y Prevención de Salud
Course Department:	Enfermería - UNAB
Instructor:	Marjorie Haddad
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This class was relatively easy as it was solely a lecture with the only work each week being to review the powerpoint. It was interesting, however, as I had the chance to learn about some key focuses of Chile's public health system that are not so much components of the system in the US. It complemented my internship at a community health center perfectly. The professor was knowledgeable about the material, although at times the lectures could be slightly boring as they lasted for close to three hours. This class had a variety of assessments, the majority of which were group projects, giving me the opportunity to meet Chilean students. There were two group papers, a group project and one exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No, I don't believe I will have any issues as I am a Middlebury College student.