La vida en Viña Past Review
By Elizabeth Frizzell (Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 03/05/2018 to 07/06/2019 with
Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso: Valparaiso - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I guess I answered this partially in a previous question, but yes, it was entirely worthwhile. Worth the mountain of preparation and pre-trip stressers. Worth "missing out" on all that was happening at home (I didn't get homesick, I was enjoying Chile too much I think). I can't stress enough how much I will treasure studying abroad this past semester, and I regard it as the most valuable learning and growing experience I have had to date. Studying abroad is an opportunity I wish for every student to experience, and I wish more students would take advantage of the resources that OSU has to offer to make studying abroad during college a reality. It is more tangible than a lot of people realize!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I enjoyed the smaller class sizes, and most professors were very committed to their students' learning experience and participation. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration working with international students was always helpful and very organized. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful in every aspect, and the apartment I lived in was very comfortable and accommodating. My host mom exemplified a typical Chilean mother, immediately welcoming me in with open arms and always reminding me that I was part of the family. She was basically an angel. I can say the same about my host sister. I couldn't have had a better fit! |
| * Food: |
My host mom always made sure I had enough to eat and that they were balanced, healthy meals. Like I said, she was an angel. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The international students were pretty isolated from national students, but I made Chilean friends and spent a lot of time outside of the classroom with them. Staying with a host family is a must in terms of integration into Chilean society. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There are pharmacies on every corner and the hospitals are close, so health care is easily accessible. I never visited the hospital, but the pharmacies typically have every basic healthcare need. No vaccines needed. |
| * Safety: |
You just have to learn to be wary of your surroundings. Petty theft is a daily occurrence and you must be aware of the people around you at all times. I learned this and always kept my valuables in unreachable areas of my backpack, rarely was on my phone in the streets, and walked with a buddy if I was going into less crowded areas of the city. I was never robbed or mugged, but I have a friend who was robbed on a two-block walk home at night when she separated from the rest of the group. That being said, after about 10 at night I never walked alone outside of my direct neighborhood or crowded streets. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I fell in love with everything about my host country: the people, the area, the culture. My study abroad experience is very much a part of who I am now. My worldview has broadened exponentially, which I am so thankful for. I'm already trying to plan a trip back over Christmas break to visit friends and my host family. Chile captured my heart and challenged and grew me as an individual in indescribable ways, and will always be one of the most important seasons of my life. |
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) |
Expenses were similar to what I would have spent in the US on a weekly basis, since prizes are pretty comparable in the area of Chile I lived in. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-60 (disregarding travels) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be aware of what you spend on extra food expenses. I could have spent less on food outside of my home since my host family provided adequate food for me already. It is nice to get a snack with friends after class or go out on weekends however. |
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 |
Most of the students were studying with a Spanish major or minor, so speaking the language was highly encouraged. |
| 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? | A 3000 level course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with locals and spend time with time outside of the class. Always speak Spanish at home with your family as well. My speaking abilities and confidence has increased tremendously, and I owe it to the Chilean relationships that were formed during my stay. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | I can't think of anything specific at the moment. A lot of the things I learned are specific to what I experienced and grew aware of along the way, which aren't entirely crucial to know beforehand. |
