Chile: Non-stop Learning :) Past Review
By Gaby M (Communication and Media Studies., Trinity University) for
IFSA: Valparaiso - Chilean Universities Program, Valparaiso
I have a growing interest in international issues instead of focusing on U.S. problems. I also learned a lot more Spanish and plan to continue speaking Spanish here in the states.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had an almost overwhelming amount of work during midterms and finals but during the bulk of the semester I had a very light work load. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very helpful and organized especially given the strange situation of the strikes and protests. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
My program made accomodations for the girls who were vegetarian or had allergies. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went on a day trip to Santiago and learned more about Chile's history. We also went on one other day trip and a weekend trip. All were very fun and I learned more about Chilean culture each time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Valparaiso/Vina del Mar. However being American you still need to be aware of your surroundings so you're not taken advantage of. |
| 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? | I only spent about $5-10 a week on going out or getting ice cream. I ate all main meals at my host family's house because those were already paid for. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | public transportation is where most of my money went each week. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | grammar and writing class |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with a host family that didn't speak English and all my classes were in Spanish too. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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