Alumni Interview with Sara Jacques

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I went into college knowing that I wanted to study abroad somewhere, but I had no idea where. I knew I wanted to go to an uncommon place so that I could have a unique experience. However, it wasn't until I found out I could finish my Spanish minor abroad that I started looking at South America. 

Why did you choose IES Abroad Santiago – Politics, Social Justice & Language? 

I knew I wanted to go somewhere I could learn Spanish in context, so I was originally between Santiago and Buenos Aires. I study social justice related topics in school and want to work in the political realm one day. So once I saw a program that included these two things and language, I knew it was for me. 

What was your favorite part about Santiago, Chile? 

The landscape of Santiago was incredible; it's literally a city between mountains with the most incredible sky I've ever seen in my life. The view from my homestay's terrace was stunning at every hour and I could get stuck staring out the window forever. I loved watching the sunrise from behind the mountains as I ate breakfast each morning and reflect off them later in the day when it set. As summer turned to fall I watched the caps of the mountains become snow-covered and as months passed I closely followed the progress of local construction. This was a great place to work, call home, hang out with friends, or do just about anything. I never got desensitized to this awesome view of the city I came to love so much.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

The people I was with, whether that be professors, students, locals or administrators made my experience extraordinary. I made amazing friends who pushed me to think, made me smile, and helped me find, accept, and be completely myself. Professors somehow found the perfect balance between challenging us and making the courses fun. The locals were nothing but kind and patient with me, and administrators made every effort to ensure our success. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

IES gave me indescribable amounts of support, both academically and personally. They wanted all of us to learn, and also succeed in this new context, and stopped at no length to make that a reality. If we had an idea of something, anything, we wanted to do, they would do everything in their power to give us the space to do it- whether that was playing soccer for the local university or start a recycling program in the building. Professors made time for us outside of class hours and became like friends. My economy teacher, for example, would always have an English version of the readings in case we weren’t able to understand the ones in Spanish, and really just wanted us to get the main ideas instead of stress over the little things and language barrier. Throughout the semester we all spent a lot of time together outside of class too, which made time in class even more enjoyable. The relationships and networks that I forged with people were some of the best memories I have of being abroad. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

I wish I challenged myself to speak Spanish in situations where I knew I didn't have to, like with my U.S. friends or with people who could also speak English. This was something that IES really emphasized and told us we would regret, so they were right. While my language skills improved regardless, I think it would have been useful to speak Spanish in every opportunity I had. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

On a normal day, after making and eating breakfast I would leave my apartment and find a MoBike (app-based city bike service) to get to the IES Center. After the 15 minute ride, I would attend class, and after that, I would either hang out on the patio or in the kitchen to eat lunch and do work with friends. Sometimes we would go to one of the hundreds of restaurants and cafes in the area to do the same thing; there are so many places in the area of the center to try. After either having another class or heading over to my internship, I would grab some food (by the food I mean avocado and tomato) and either head back to IES for meetings, a community center to do homework with friends, or go home to eat dinner and get some more work done. On days when we didn't have work, we would hang out at parks or grab drinks at a happy hour, but honestly most nights we worked. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

Exploring the city!! There was such a communal vibe in Santiago that a cool event was never out of reach. Between Instagram, Facebook events, and physical flyers around the city, there was always a cool "feria" or community event to check out, or a new shopping center to explore. There were also so many different areas in the city, with different vibes and attractions depending on your mood. My favorite had to be Barrio Lastarria, an artsy alley-like street with local vendors always posted up around cute cafes and established art galleries. Right around the corner from a massive park where there were always friendly stray dogs eager to hang out, going to Barrio Lastarria was a perfect day or night out!

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

I stayed with a single woman and two other students in a homestay. I liked best how she provided two meals a day because that was a huge expense to not have to worry about and she was a great cook!

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins? 

It's not easy, but it's worth it. Be patient with yourself and open to learning and making mistakes. 

Would you recommend IES Abroad Santiago – Politics, Social Justice & Language to others? Why? 

I definitely would. The experience as a whole was so rewarding and the program was a huge part of that. I learned so much and was given opportunities I would never have had if I hadn’t been with IES. The networks out of the program are incredible and the small schoolhouse makes the whole experience really personalized. Not only is the city of Santiago incredible, but all of Chile and the surrounding countries are also unlike anything I had ever seen before. Between the people I met, the knowledge I gained, and the personal development I experienced, I can say that I would not be the person I am if I didn’t go on this specific program.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

One benefit is a better understanding of your position in the world, as well as a better understanding of yourself. Especially as Americans, it's important that we see the world outside of the US-centric bubble. It allows us to move through the world as the global citizens that we are. I think leaving your comfort zone and experiencing different things in a different place is one of the best ways to gain empathy, independence, and confidence. 

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life? 

I have so much more confidence than I’ve ever had. Between the personal, intellectual and social growth I experienced while abroad, coming home I felt a lot more comfortable in my own skin and eager to contribute to bigger things. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

Meaningful travel means putting your phone down and not just going places for a nice Instagram picture. Meaningful travel is asking locals where you should eat and looking at context behind the museums you visit. It's doing a little bit of research on the places you're going to so you show up and make the most out of your experience. Meaningful travel is going to street fairs and markets to really experience local life and avoiding tourist traps!