Healthcare system, indigenous culture and healthcare disparities in Chile Past Review

By Emily N (Biology, General., Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/27/2013 to 12/09/2013 with

SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned so much about Chilean culture and also about the Chilean health system. I also learned about the indigenous groups in Chile and about how their negative relationship with the country and resulting inequality

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	The program included most expenses
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$10 - 15 a week

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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
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?	spend time with your host family and talk to other students on the program in spanish

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Host family learning about indigenous culture
* What could be improved?	Spanish class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish that I had done more reading about the indigenous culture in Chile and in the US beforehand.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Public Health in Chile
Course Department:
Instructor:	Various Chilean health professionals
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Traditional Medicine and Community Health
Course Department:
Instructor:	Rossana Testa and others
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Amazing way to learn from primary sources about the indigenous culture in Chile from Rossana and from the Mapuche and Aymara professionals and community leaders themselves.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Intensive Language Study: Spanish for the Health Sciences
Course Department:	Spanish
Instructor:	Graciela
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	The course was not very challenging - we reviewed basic grammar and didn't have many opportunities to practice our speaking.
Credit Transfer Issues: