Home on another continent February 11, 2021
By A student (Duke University) - abroad from 07/27/2019 to 12/13/2019 with
IFSA: Santiago - Chilean Universities Program, Santiago
I gained an incredible sense of independence, realizing that I can make it in a new country that I spoke a language I wasn't fluent in, and had an entirely different culture. I learned so much about different perspectives towards life that have deeply changed me as a person.
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. |
We studied at the two top universities in the entirely of Latin America, and I learned so much! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IFSA staff were attentive to my every need and available all the time. I remember I once had to call my IFSA leader in Chile at 1AM, and she was more than happy to help me out! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a host family was one of the very best parts of my experience. I truly felt like a part of her family after the program, and I still keep in contact with her now over a year later! |
| * Food: |
My host mother literally used to own her own restaurant, so you can not get much better than that! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We studied directly in classes alongside Chilean students in Spanish. I felt like I was truly a part of the community by the life I had to go home. |
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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? | $20 at most |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take the buses! They can take you almost anywhere on the continent for a third the price! |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 |
| 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? | Watch TV shows and listen to music in Spanish! |
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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| 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? | Take the effort to get to know the people who are the most different from you. The people you might never meet again. They can teach you the most. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
