Challenging but so worth it! January 08, 2024
By Annessa I (International Relations, Bethel University) - abroad from 08/28/2023 to 12/11/2023 with
SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Cultural Identity, Social Justice, and Community Development
I became so much more comfortable speaking Spanish, but overall I think my biggest takeaway was how much my confidence grew. I interviewed strangers, lived with a new family, navigated a new city, made new friends, and experienced new cultures.
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. |
This program advertises itself as an academically rigorous semester, and it definitely challenged me. I appreciated that we tackled high-level concepts (ie. the complicated legacy of neoliberalism, debates about how to remember a dictatorship past, indigenous resistance movements) even though our cohort was new to Chile and all of us were learning in a second language. Ironically, I found the Spanish classes the least helpful, but conversations with homestay families and daily life in Valparaíso pushed me to grow in my Spanish more than a class could. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Karina and Tania were incredible. I truly felt like I could go to them with any problem. Especially on the excursions, they made themselves available to all students. Danilo made sure everything ran smoothly behind-the-scenes, and when you are traveling with 20 people, it's important to have a well-planned itinerary. The overall structure of this program was intense but well-planned. Thanks to the SIT team, we fit a lot into our one semester. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was placed in a small townhouse in Valparaíso and I had everything I needed: my own room, washing machine (I was able to wash my own laundry, though I know most host families washed their students' clothing for them), kitchen (my host dad cooked all of my meals for me except breakfast). The only thing I would have liked is a desk in my room, but I was able to do my homework at the dining room table or at coffee shops. |
* Food: |
Sadly, Chilean food is NOT spicy. But I absolutely loved my meals in Chile. My host dad was an excellent chef, and as part of the program, host families pack a lunch for their students. One of my food highlights was when we stayed with Mapuche families in the South. Since we were in el campo, we ate a lot of fresh vegetables, eggs, and meat from their farm. I also loved the classic Chorípan-- chorizo sausage with tomato, onion, and cilantro. I know some friends in my program would have liked to be able to cook for themselves, but my experience was excellent. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This is a tough question. I felt integrated to the extent that a tall gringa from the States can feel integrated in Chile. I definitely felt like a part of my host family, and by the end of the semester, I had my favorite spots in Valpo that felt like home. I would have liked to meet more Chilean students my age. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My only experience with the healthcare system was a couple trips to the Cruz Verde to get some medicine. It was a little tricky to navigate/find what I needed, but not terrible. |
* Safety: |
It's true that you have to be careful with how you carry your things and when/where you're walking alone. I know a couple girls on my program had their necklaces stolen, and people will steal your phone if you have it out in a plaza. But beyond that, I really did feel safe. I ran almost every day by the coast, and I never felt unsafe. I made sure to walk with someone if I was going out after sunset, and I always took Ubers instead of public transit in the evenings. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program had everything I wanted in a study abroad experience: host family, Spanish immersion, academic challenge, in-program travel, and opportunity for independent research. I thought it was the perfect balance of independence and structure. |
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) |
With meals and housing included in the program costs, I think it was fairly easy to live on a student's budget. Public transit is cheap and there are plenty of options for low-budget food. It's a university town, so it is full of students living on student budgets. There are also a lot of open-air markets to thrift cheap clothes. |
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 |
Complete immersion. After day 1 of orientation, our advisors and professors only spoke Spanish to us. |
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? | Upper-level Spanish literature 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? | Take advantage of conversations with your host family. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen talking with my host parents, and I think it helped me the most. The month of November is an independent month (either for an internship or for research), and I spoke less Spanish that month than earlier in the semester. You have to be more intentional in that last month to keep up your Spanish. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
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? |
|
* What could be improved? |
|
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Honestly, I think not knowing a lot before you go is better. There were times that I wished we had more information so we could know what to expect, but the reality of immersing yourself in a completely new culture is that you can't have specific expectations. |