What inspired you to go abroad?
I really needed to have different experiences and adventures, very far away from home.
With friends of my Spanish school in Patagonia.
Why did you choose Patriot Chile?
I wanted to visit this amazing country. My grandfather used to live there and told me about the experience of the Chilean way of living. Desert, mountains, jungle, and sea—everything in one country!
What was your favorite part about Patriot Chile?
My favorite part was the "second part" of my experience. I arrived in Chile and started with my internship program. Everything was great—nice people and a beautiful life experience. The second part of my trip was amazing!! Easter Island and Atacama are maybe the most interesting and beautiful places I’ve ever visited in the whole world.
What made your experience abroad unique?
Beautiful people and amazing landscapes are only two of thousands of points I could tell you.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
I must be honest, at the very beginning I wasn’t so sure about my experience in Chile. When I arrived, Francisco, my coordinator, who finally became a friend of mine, helped me during my stay in Chile.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Maybe staying in Chile during my whole adventure, visiting more of the beautiful landscapes.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I woke up at 7:30 a.m., and started my internship program at 9:00 a.m. After lunch with my colleagues, I came back to my office for two more hours. At 4:00 p.m., two days a week, I went to my Spanish school, where I improved my Spanish skills. Every weekend I tried to visit a different part of this cool country—air tickets are really cheap!
Patagonia, National Park.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
During the week, I liked interacting with my colleagues from the internship program, and with people from my Spanish lessons. On the weekends I did a lot. I visited Pablo Neruda’s houses in Valparaiso and Isla Negra, I went skiing to Valle Nevado—definitely, many things to do.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I stayed with a Chilean family who became a real family for me. The house was always clean and the food was always wonderful. It was located in a very central part of the city. Public transportation is OK in Santiago, they have modern buses and an amazing underground (maybe one of the cleanest I've ever seen).
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
One of the biggest challenges is to understand how the Chilean culture is. Chile is really a mixed country. They are a bit European, a bit Latin American, and a bit Native (Mapuches). This mixed country is one of the most, or maybe the most, interesting countries in Latin America to understand the business world in another way.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I had traveled a lot around America and Europe, but after visiting such an amazing place like Latin America, I can say "I have traveled a lot". After Chile, I visited Peru and Bolivia, two beautiful and very different countries. Machu Picchu in Peru and the Altiplano in Bolivia are landscapes I will never forget!
Would you recommend Patriot Chile to others? Why?
Yes, 100%. I would say Patriot Chile is a very "boutique" provider. A program coordinator helps you really in every step, from the first moment at the airport, until you say goodbye. I hope you have the same luck as I had!