Chile: Challenging though It will change you Past Review
By Anamaria V (International Relations and Affairs., Tufts University) for
Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in Chile
Yes. I cannot tell you what I learned. It is something abstract, but it was the catalyst for everything I accomplished my senior year and there after.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad Católica; Universidad de Chile |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The education is what you make of it. The first semester I took a very easy course load because I wanted to travel to Chile, Peru and Argentina. The second semester I took a more challenging semester and my spanish skills improved greatly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It is a really well organized program. If you have problems with the family, the process of switching host families is not difficult. They also give you a very detailed, even too detailed, orientation of Chile where you meet really interesting people in Chile. I would say it is one of the best programs from what I have seen in Chile, when I was there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had to switch host families twice. The first time because they were extremely neat and I had put on my application that I was not. The second, I got along really well with my host family but they were smokers in a small apartment. The third was a great fit during the second semester. I got my own little section and the family was really nice to be around. If you need to switch because you are not happy with the family, it is not difficult to do and I recommend it until you find a decent fit. Once I found my fit, it made the study abroad experience even better. |
| * Food: |
I am not picky in terms of food. So it was simple. Basically Chileans eat four times a day. The three traditional meals and a tea time. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Tufts has excellent tours and meetings for its students. Those are really well planned. In terms of clubs or sports teams, you have to find the programs on your own. I played soccer and it was a great way of meeting people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Tufts gives you an allowance. It is awesome. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be careful of pickpocketing. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish literature |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Those willing to keep an open mind and are adaptable to different situations. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
ceramics |
| Course Department: | art |
| Instructor: | ? |
| Instruction Language: | spanish |
| Comments: | easy art class |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
history classes |
| Course Department: | history |
| Instructor: | leon |
| Instruction Language: | spanish |
| Comments: | awesome professor. highly recommend him. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
