What inspired you to work for ISA by WorldStrides?
I always wanted to study abroad and meet people from other cultures. I did not have the chance to study abroad, but I was so happy to meet foreign students and be part of their abroad experience.
I felt it was so rewarding to help foreign students expose themselves to the Chilean culture and take the best advantage of the experience. It also feels great to encourage them to reflect on their experience, their learning, and their growth.
Describe a typical day at work.
I get up at 6:00, do some exercise, take my daughter to school, and then start working.
I communicate with host universities, communicate with host families and check how they and their students are doing, and communicate with students to check on their progress. I also do administrative work.
Once every two weeks, we have group meetings with students to see how they are doing.
ISA staff and students at farewell dinner, Summer 2024.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is being in contact with students and seeing how they embrace this wonderful adventure of studying abroad.
I love being part of their experience—encouraging them to get to know the culture, integrate into it, and reflect on their learning and growth. It’s amazing to see how much they’ve grown and matured because of the experience.
What are some current projects you are working on?
One of the projects I’m working on right now, along with my ISA and WorldStrides colleagues, is a training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
It’s quite a long training with six sections, and it will take a few months. It has been a great experience. I’ve realized how much I’ve learned and how much I still can learn about this subject. I’m really excited about everything I still have to discover.
ISA staff and students at farewell dinner, Fall 2024.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell her to take advantage of every learning opportunity. To take a closer look at all the details.
To learn from both the evident and not-so-evident stuff. To consider both success and failure as part of the learning and growing experience.
To learn from cultural differences and withhold judgment, in order to become a more interculturally competent person.
What makes your organization special?
They deeply care about their clients. They want to provide the best service possible and hope their clients have a life-changing experience through their study abroad journey.
They also deeply care about their employees. They want them to work in a comfortable and pleasant environment. They know how to recognize the great work their employees do.
Why should someone choose ISA by WorldStrides over competitors?
Because WorldStrides deeply cares about their students and faculty. They want their students to have a life-changing experience and to learn in every instance of their journey.
They also value their employees tremendously and encourage them to give their best to students and faculty.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
My organization's mission is to ignite personal growth through a wide range of affordable education abroad opportunities, with a commitment to exceptional support for all participants and their institutions.
We continue to work toward this by doing our job with excellence and to the best of our abilities.
Interview from the General Director of International Affairs at PUCV welcome meeting, Fall 2024.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
Participants take away the result of a lot of effort from us and all our colleagues to provide excellent service and a meaningful experience.
They will have an experience where they learn and grow. Safety is also a very important part of what we provide. Our organization puts a lot of effort into caring for both the safety and well-being of our students, as well as supporting their personal growth.
How do you help support participants?
We support our participants before departure, during the program, and even afterward.
During the program, we help with on-site orientation, health and safety tips, guidance on getting involved in the culture and integrating into it, and academic support.
We also offer tips on relating with host families (when applicable), and guidance through the process of understanding the culture and developing intercultural competence.
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
Oh goodness! I would like to go everywhere! But I guess I would start with Morocco and the Arabic Studies and International Relations program from ISA.
From Morocco, I’d like to explore a bit of other countries in Africa if possible, and also some places in Europe.
If I could do a second program, I’d love to travel to London and do the Social Sciences and Drama program. I’d also like to explore places in Ireland and Scotland.
Snow trip with family and friends!
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It’s important to expose yourself as much as you can to the new culture, to do everything you can to integrate into it, and meet locals.
That way, you’ll learn the language better and truly understand your new culture and home. It’s also important to understand cultural differences and develop intercultural competence.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, for me, is going to a different country and getting out of the tourist and traveler bubble.
It means making a real effort to get to know the culture, understand cultural differences, and withhold judgment about aspects of the culture that seem strange or negative—because they might not be negative from the host culture's point of view.
It’s about enhancing my cultural lens and appreciating the culture as it is. It’s about finding learning and growth in every aspect of the trip.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope it becomes more widespread and that students who don't have many opportunities to travel (as was the case for me) can have the chance to do so.
I hope first-generation college students can see studying abroad as a very real and possible opportunity. I also hope this becomes accessible for ethnic minorities and any other kind of minority.
We will definitely have more well-rounded people if this happens.
