SIT: Public Health in Chile-- Well-organized & executed program Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, I was pleased with the educational experience provided by SIT-Arica. The workload was not as demanding as a typical semester at Trinity, but this proves important when you are living with a host family and adjusting to various cultural factors. The grading system was adjusted for American students (Chileans are graded on numeric scale), so we received percentages and letter grades. A rather unique aspect of SIT is that it strives to provide a complete educational experience, not just classroom-learning. Not only did we participate in interesting excursions to places such as Peru and southern Chile, we also had weekly visits to actual health clinics to shadow professionals.

On-site administration of your program

The 'team' of SIT Arica is fantastic; each member is highly accessible via phone and email. They maintain an ideal balance between being friendly and approachable, while still professional. The core team consists of an Academic Director, Assistant Academic Director, Program Assistant and Homestay Coordinator. All are Chilean, well-educated, and familiar with American higher education. The program size worked alright, but at times felt slightly too large (there were 25 students, and I believe 30 were admitted for Spring 2011). Overall, the administration of the program exceeded my expectations, and fully supported students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

All students were placed with a host family in Arica for at least the first two months of the program. Many students decided to conduct their ISP in Arica, and stayed with their families for that additional month. While my host family arrangement was generally comfortable, I chose to do my ISP in the city of Valparaiso, and stayed in an apartment with three other students from my program. I'm grateful for the homestay experience and the opportunity provided to improve my Spanish, but it was less stressful to live with other students. The home in Arica was quite nice, and within walking distance of one of the two campuses where classes were held. The neighborhood was gated, and felt sufficiently safe, but wasn't terribly far from a rather rough part of the city. I was generally treated as a member of the family by my host parents and host siblings, but I had trouble adjusting to live-in maid situation that is common among upper middle-class Chilean families.

Staying vegetarian really wasn't a problem, but in truth, food isn't exactly a strong point for Chile. Expect plenty of white bread, generally served with cheese and avocado. In terms of dining, there are several mediocre, reasonably priced options, but if you want truly good food, you'll easily pay $12-$20 per plate.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

All of the field trips were excellent! I especially enjoyed visiting the southern part of Chile, the northern altiplano, visiting a southern city in Peru, and spending my final month in Valparaiso. I also had the good fortune of visiting during the 200th anniversary of Chile's independence from Spain, and during the rescue of the 33 miners.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Overall, I felt very safe, but also practiced precaution everywhere I went. Namely, it is always useful to be with a friend or group (epecially at night, or when doing something that might draw attention, like running). I did get quite ill at one point, that I think may have been rotavirus, possibly contracted in Peru. However, the program and my host mom took me to a decent clinic, and after the second visit, I was properly diagnosed and given adequate prescription medications. The clinic honestly didn't feel too different from a hospital at home, and most of the doctors spoke English. I did need a couple of vaccines, but as long as you're up-to-date with general vaccines, it shouldn't be more than 2 or 3.

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

I lived with a Chilean family for the majority of the program, which absolutely required daily use of Spanish. Although all classes were held with the other 24 American students in the program, every part of each class was conducted in Spanish. The vast majority of our professors were Chilean, and while a few could speak English, they almost always refrained from using English with us. I wasn't enormously impressed with the actual Spanish class, but the format of the entire program fostered better comprehension and usage of the language.

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