Just Chilean Past Review
By El Diez J (EDUCATION., Austin College) - abroad from 02/20/2013 to 07/14/2013 with
IFSA: Valparaiso - Chilean Universities Program, Valparaiso
I learned to speak Spanish. To appreciate my culture more. I loved it.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| 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 courses were challenging and required me to work very hard and ask for help. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They helped with everything, walked us through any issues we had no matter what they were. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My first family was terrible and it took them awhile to change my family. Once they did, it was so much better to have a good family. |
| * Food: |
Chile is not a gastronomic capital. They do what they can. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt we really had opportunities to understand the society we lived in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There were no health issues really. We did get sick from the water, but they had a good doctor available and it was easily correctable. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. It's surprising how suspicious they were of everyone but i never felt threatened. |
| 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) |
Chile was a lot more expensive than I realized it would be. The transportation cost the most. There should be a way to minimize those costs. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-150 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get a metro pass. |
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 |
We were rewarded for constant use. |
| 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? | 300 level classes |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Choose friends who can't speak English. |
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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| 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? | How macho Chilean culture was and what clothes to bring |
