I found a second family and second home in Valparaíso Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I went into the program expecting that academics would be relatively easy, since my friends who went abroad before me said they barely did homework and got straight As. I was surprised about the intensity of the academic side of this program. The school part of the program is only about 2 months so classes are long (from 9am-5pm) and intense. Homework is essays and 2 oral presentations for Spanish classes and for lectures, the only homework is reading and one group oral exam at the end. You get placed in a Spanish class (I-III) and lectures are all in Spanish. I was placed in Spanish I and I found the lectures were a lot more difficult for me, but I did learn a lot in the lecture classes even though I had to put in more effort to understand. The last month of the program you get the choice of doing an internship or an independent research study (ISP). I did the ISP and I highly recommend it because you have more freedom on the subject and if you want to explore Chile, you can travel a bit. You do have to write 25 page research paper in Spanish, but as long as you have good time management skills you will be fine. I was (and still am) not fluent in Spanish but I ended up writing 41 pages in Spanish and had an advisor that helped point me in the right direction.

On-site administration of your program

The administration in country were extremely supportive of us and would have check-ins throughout the semester to check up on our mental health, since going abroad in a country that doesn't speak English can be stressful. They also are extremely responsive about health needs and if you are having problems in your host family.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was extremely satisfied with my living arrangements. It is required to do a home stay, which I was so nervous about. I personally believe that the home stay was the best part of the program for me. They try to match you as best as they could with a family and I was so lucky that my family and I shared the same views in life and were very supportive and patient with my Spanish. I would say with host family, spend as much time as you can with your family and take every opportunity they give you to spend time with them. My Spanish improved from just spending time with my host mom and my host sister. SIT will have you in a house near other students so you don't feel like the only gring@ on the block.

Chileans do not season their food beyond mayo, salt, olive oil, and lemon. I am a huge chef and I love using seasoning so this was difficult at first but it taught me to love the natural flavor or foods! I am a vegetarian and found it very easy to eat. My host mom is an angel and learned how to make high protein meals, like lentils and even veggie burgers, so I can get the food I need. I did have problems in the south and north when we went on excursions because they eat more meat in those regions, but I just ate eggs everyday and was fine. Be ready to eat a lot of really yummy bread. Chileans eat a large, hot lunch and a small dinner (or once) that consists of cold cuts, bread, avocado, and tea. My host family would sometimes give me a hot American dinner sometimes to get used to eating so late and a little, which we are not used to in America. I recommend diving in and joining in on once.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt extremely integrated with the local culture. I was extremely lucky because my host family taught me a lot about the culture and my cerro did as well. I was lucky that my host sister was a year older than me and the other kids of the host parents on my cerro were also my age, so we would go out at night together or just go to the beach together. By the end I was strolling the streets like a Chilean, eating like a Chilean, and using Chilenismos like a Chilean.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I thought that health issues were addressed very well. I had inflamed cartilage in my rib cage while I was in Chile and I was scheduled a X-ray and doctors appointment three days after alerting someone.

I personally would walk back to my cerro alone a lot and walk the streets by myself alone too. Granted, I do not look as much like a gringa than some of my friends. Many people in the program did get pick pocketed and one girl got her backpack stolen off her back. I would recommend never walking alone at night or just taking an uber at night (I found uber to be the most reliable), don't take your phone out or put in in your front pockets or waist band, get a backpack with clips on the waist and on your chest, and if things seems sketchy speak in Spanish. Chile and Valparaíso are like any other city abroad, be smart and remember not to get too comfortable since you will be targeting more by petty theft because you are American.

This program opened my eyes to what I would like to do in life (socio-environmental justice) and showed me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. It didn't hurt that Valparaíso is one of the most unique cities I have ever been to.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

It honestly depends. I ate all my meals with my host family, so I wasn't going out to eat a lot. If I did it was relatively cheap places, I never went out to super fancy restaurants. The majority of my spending came from trips (i.e Air bnbs, bus fare, food while in a different city), buying souvenirs, and bus or train fare. The program does give you some money for transportation costs and they give you money for printing your ISP/Internship essay which are pricey.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

You will be speaking Spanish in all your classes and lectures and the program encourages you to speak Spanish while you are in Casa SIT and the University. You will speak Spanish in your homestays, some parents and siblings can speak english, but they have been encouraged not to by the program. On the northern and southern excursions you will be speaking Spanish 24/7. I honestly was speaking Spanish the majority of the time that I was in Chile, which was very difficult in the beginning of the program, but got easier near the end.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• Homestay
• Excursions
• ISP

• Spanish Classes