Asados en Pinos Azules Past Review

By (Political Science and Government and Latin American Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 07/24/2014 to 07/15/2016 with

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile: Santiago - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
YES!! Best advice I received before going abroad was: just say yes. I learned to say yes, and become more independent (including a two month solo backpacking trip across Argentina!) and more adventurous.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The members of the PUC International Office are very accessible and open to helping with all sorts of questions, from where to buy a bike, how to schedule a doctor's appointment, to helping find a musical group on campus.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

PUC offers very little support on how to find housing; I was lucky and received a reference from a student of a previous semester. I lived in a university residence with 15 other people for the first semester. I highly encourage the experience! There were mostly people with Spanish as a first language, so Spanish was the common language in the house, and it was a great way to learn and practice the language, including all of the colloquial speech. It was also a great way to meet people, discover the city, and have a ready social group during those first few months. The location was great, and the house was furninshed. I ended up changing housing halfway through my program for personal reasons and conflict with the landlord. I had some problems with my other roommates, but the other apartment was very well located in the middle of the city and had cheaper rent, so it all worked out.

* Food:

The food is not spicy (other than the added merken), and consists 80% of avocado, meat, potatoes, mayonnaise, and pisco. It's possible to eat healthy and cheap if you take advantage of the weekend markets and the city's general market.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

During my year abroad, I met many new and interesting people, both Chilean and foreign. I did have a much easier time making friendships with foreigners than with Chileans, just because it was so difficult to adapt to the group mentality.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Although the PUC has a convenient Medical Center on its larger campus, my experience with female health care was extremely negative. Because the medical center is attached to the university and its Catholic principles, they were not able to provide adequate support. Pharmacies are expensive, have irregular pricing, and I received no support from the insurance of my home institution and my personal insurance in covering the costs incurred while in country.

* Safety:

I did not personally have any problems with safety, but witnessed/heard many accounts of theft on campus, in the metro, and the street. Street smarts are important; don't bring what you don't want to lose.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Yes! It was right for me because it fit all of my criteria (Spanish, South America, Exchange, Capital City, Good Academics) and turned out to have many surprises! Even if I didn't return there, I would absolutely leave for a year; it even felt too short!

Finances

* 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)

I could have done a lot better, but I frequently took the bus/metro (up to 15-20 one-way trips a week), which dug into my budget, especially the first semester when I did not have the student metro card. I also did not go as often to the market as I could have (fruits and vegetables are so cheap there, but pretty expensive in regular supermarkets). I also traveled every other weekend around the Central Region, and went out pretty often.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 80,000 CLP or 120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to the market! Ride a bike, don't ride the metro.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? SPN 322K
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? Make a conscious decision to not speak English, even with other Americans! I only spoke Spanish my first two months. Most people will mirror the language to which you speak to them. Don't just wait for people to speak Spanish with you, use it at every chance you get. Also Chilean Spanish is weird. You'll learn to love it, and it's a great ice-breaker/way to make Chileans laugh when you show them your slang.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Scholarships
  • Language
  • Academic opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Health and insurance
  • Student metro card the first semester
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Just go for it.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!