Unforgettable Experience! May 16, 2022
By A student (Environmental Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/28/2022 to 04/28/2022 with
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Chile – Climate Studies in Patagonia
I learned a lot about myself and a lot about Patagonia - it was worthwhile
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This program isn't too challenging in terms of passing, but it is very scheduled and academically time-intensive, so be ready for that. There is lots of field work and field lessons - you will learn a ton! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The admin were some of the best people I met in Chile. If you study abroad with SFS, be sure to take the time to connect with them. They really made the program special and put so much into the program and students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
SFS uses community living spaces. I was in a house of 30 in a co-ed room of 7 with a co-ed shared bathroom of 12. While it was a bit of an adjustment at first, this set-up worked surprisingly well for me throughout the semester. I became best friends with my roommates and we had a lot of fun, and I honestly really miss the room of 7 now. But, I could see how it could have gone differently...do not come to this program if you require high amounts of privacy! |
| * Food: |
The food was awesome! You'll have a chef and a dining hall, and meals are provided on field trips too. I am vegan and was told prior to starting the program that my options would be limited...honestly, I don't feel this was even true. I was always eating good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end of the program, every time I left the center I was saying "hi" to locals I knew on the street...but, you do have to go a bit out of your way to make local friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues, but students who did were helped immediately by our lovely admin |
| * Safety: |
Puerto Natales is wonderfully safe. I felt comfortable walking alone at night! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
SFS was a very challenging, but very rewarding experience. I certainly would not recommend this program for everyone, but outdoorsy-environmental students interested in field-learning and an ability to be flexible might just have the best 3 months of their lives with SFS Chile! |
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) |
The cost of the program is high. That being said, you really don't need to pay for anything once you're in Chile. Meals are provided, and travel costs are totally covered. The only things students would need to pay for are optional/personal expenses, such as eating out, drinking, souvenirs, etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10 usd |
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 |
The first month of the program has a Spanish language class component, and there are a few other times when you will have to speak Spanish, but the program is not focused on language acquisition. Most of the practice I got came from speaking to locals for fun, by choice, not through program encouragement. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | AP Spanish |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | That I would adjust! It took some getting used to all of the rules that SFS has, the lack of free time, privacy, or independence that I felt we had...but, as time went on, I adjusted to these drawbacks, learned to work around them in ways that worked for me, and was able to just enjoy the awesome experiences that SFS facilitated. Things got easier! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
