What inspired you to go abroad?
I was originally inspired to go abroad because I started my freshman year knowing that I wanted to study Spanish, but not being a native speaker, I had heard that the study abroad immersion experience really impacts language learning among other things. Things such as cultural competence, independence, traveling experience, going out of your comfort zones, meeting new types of people, etc.
Why did you choose IES Abroad?
I chose IES abroad for a few reasons... one, my university has a very competitive study abroad program in the Spanish department and only offers two locations- Chile in the fall and Spain in the spring. I knew that of those two countries, I really wanted to visit Chile since I had been to Spain a few years earlier on a family vacation and knew that I did not very well understand a very necessary part of grammar (called vosotros) that is used in Spain. I specifically chose IES because my study abroad advisor had suggested it and it sounded like a good fit to me, and since my university had already approved the program for other students, I thought it was safe to assume I would be getting class credits too.
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What was your favorite part about Chile?
This is a hard question... I think of a few things: 1- my host family, 2- how walkable the city was (which was actually necessary for me due to a health issue that came up), 3-the night life
What made your experience abroad unique?
Well considering that I didn't go with my university, I was on my own a lot- even though there were other people in my program. I really like the setup of IES because it gave me the freedom to do things on my own, check out the city with whoever I wanted/whenever I wanted (except for class time), and my host family also gave me freedom in that sense. It was never "be home by ___ time." They treated me like a mature adult capable of making her own decisions, and so did the program. I think it was also unique in the sense that I was dealing with a health issue almost the entire time... but chose to stay despite how difficult it became.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
Going back to the health issue thing, I had to go to several doctors and even ended up in the hospital one day due to blood pressure fluctuations. The IES staff always made sure a staff member was with me, not just in case there was a language barrier, but they also cared a lot and made me feel very safe. Medically, I would say they supported me in a lot and always asked how I was feeling and were very understanding in that aspect. They were also supportive in terms of learning the language. They seemed to be sympathetic, patient, and very open to us as kids on the program to practice their language and also adapt to cultural/daily customs that were different from their own. They also prepared us a lot at the beginning with powerpoints of what to expect which was nice.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Spent more time with my host family. This is hands down the number one thing I would always say because by the end I felt like family, but for a good 2 months I just felt awkward. I think that's normal, but if I would have understood the importance of trying to build a relationship with them/practicing Spanish without being afraid of making mistakes, I would have felt at home sooner and would have improved more in my conversational skills.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I usually had later classes, so I would sleep in a little, make breakfast at my host family's house (they were usually already gone), go to classes, stay at a coffee shop with some friends after, eat dinner with them, go home and shower, then homework/study till bedtime. On weekends, I spent breakfast or what they call "once" together with my host family and then we generally did our own thing- so I would head to the library or sometimes stay at home.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Talking to my host mom, talking to people back home over facetime, traveling, hanging out with friends from my program, and sleeping
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
My host family's apartment was much smaller than what I am used to and the shower was generally cold... but it was tolerable because I knew it was only 3.5 months. The thing I liked best was that it felt like a family.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
Don't be afraid to speak their language; they appreciate the effort. Practice because that's how you get better. You will have good days and bad days (language, confidence, and other things). You will have the best time of your life, but it will be hard to adjust. BUT don't let that discourage you, because you're up for the time of your life.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
My language skills greatly improved and my professors, friends, etc. can see it very clearly; in addition to having a higher confidence- even when I make mistakes (which I definitely still do). I also became very close with my host family by the end and occasionally facetime with them, see each other's stuff on facebook, etc. I also made a lot of good friends in my program who live in the US and stay in somewhat contact with them. It helped me a lot as a second-language Spanish speaker, a culturally-competent student/employee, a more well-traveled and well-rounded individual, a more flexible person, etc. Overall--- a fantastic experience, despite the health issue.
Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why?
Yes because studying abroad provides you with a whole new perspective on the world and your life. It also softens you up to stereotypes, biases, etc., because you have the chance to live somewhere that is not your own and learn to accept things you may have not even considered before. This program is also very well organized and the professors are very enriching.
