Adventure September 24, 2022

By A student (Neuroscience, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/23/2022 to 07/14/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Valparaiso

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

My Spanish improved significantly, I learned how to adapt to new environments, integrate in new culture, and travel and live independently in a space with constant novelties. Definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I attended U. Adolfo Ibañez, and enjoyed the elective courses I took (an art history and a literature elective). They weren't very rigorous, but the content was interesting and the professors were good. I took one psychology class which was part of the psychology track, and did not enjoy it. The tracked classes are definitely higher intensity/rigor, but my main problem with the class was the lack of theory or applicability in the content taught (it was a class solely on administration of Rorschach tests). Courses taught by Middlebury program were great!
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The on-site administration was fantastic. Juan, Paulina, and Lindsay were incredibly helpful with any problems to arise throughout the semester.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I had a lot of fun and a great relationship with my host mom. We would go on frequent adventures and she took me with her to visit family, etc. so I had a feeling of integration in the community. The food was not the best, which were my main issue with the housing arrangements.
* Food:	My host mom was not a big cooker, so food was definitely not the highlight of my experience.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Living with host families and being enrolled in local university definitely fostered my feeling of integration in local culture/community.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	My only issue was regarding Covid-19 vaccination/vaccine passport. I had easy access to a clinic and no problems otherwise.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I had a great experience. The program fulfilled everything I was looking for in an abroad experience-- feeling of real community integration, rigorous Spanish language improvement, local university/classes, travel.

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 program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Depended on traveling, weekend activities, etc.

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?	Advanced
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?	A 350 level course at Middlebury College
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 TV and movies in spanish

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
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?	Community Integration/Internship Experience Spanish language improvement Travel
* What could be improved?	Guidance for class registration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had known more about university structure and chilean class selection, major trajectories, etc. I think this would have informed and altered my initial class registration.

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:	El Mundo llamada Roberto Bolaño
Course Department:	Literature
Instructor:	Alejandro Martinez
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	¿Somos los mismos? Identidad Chilena
Course Department:	Art History
Instructor:	Maria Chiesa
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Tecnicas de Analisis Proyectivas
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: