Internships in Chile - Adelante Abroad

Dear Reader, I am Attila from Hungary who got a big help from Adelante Abroad. I went to Chile to accomplish my winery internship. This was not my first, nor my second studies abroad, but this was the most convenient one if we are talking about communication, organization, paperworks tasks and so on overall. They always helped me and they were kind all the time. And the winery Casas del Bosque, much more than I expected. Thank you!

Adelante is poorly organized and doesn't follow through on the majority of what they say. I would not recommend that anyone use this service. I want to say right off the bat that Adelante offers $5 amazon gift cards in exchange for each review that participants write (they suggested 5 places). That definitely cleared things up for me in terms of why there were so many positive reviews when the service is overall very bad. I figured I would start off with the pre-departure packet that they give, and go over all of the things they didn’t follow through on. I would not label Adelante as a scam. However, there were several times where they stretched certain definitions, or made things seem as if they would be different than they turned out to be. From the orientation packet “What’s included” section: the “Comprehensive orientation meeting in country” was a 20 minute zoom meeting. Looking back on my notes from that meeting, we were told that classes started on Monday and given the address for the school. To clarify, it was not a school, it was a building that rented out rooms for people to use. The “intensive spanish classes” were just me and the one other person who was also doing the adelante program with me at the time. There was 1 three hour class a day for two weeks. Me and the other person with me were at two completely different levels of spanish learning. This was not taken into account. It was a private lesson with the two of us and a tutor. (The tutor was very nice. It was not her fault that Adelante put two people at very different levels into a lesson together.) Over the course of my time with the program, multiple people arrived whose Spanish was not good enough to survive in Chile (where almost no one speaks English. You need Spanish proficiency to get around, to buy things, to take the buses. We also were not given any information about the buses or transportation and had to figure this out on our own, so being able to speak fluently enough to ask for help was a must. Adelante told people that they would not need to speak Spanish completely because everyone at Adelante speaks English and could help them. However, adelante did not help them at all. I believe that they would say just about anything to get students to go to the country, because once they have paid and are abroad, there’s nothing they can do about it.) I also felt very uncomfortable expressing my displeasure once I was over there, because I didn’t want to burn the one bridge I had, even if they weren’t all that helpful, because they had power over every aspect of my life. We had to do literally everything ourselves. I am aware that they said it was an independent program. I am not saying that they didn’t say that. Food, transportation, every aspect of our lives we had to just figure out upon getting there. Nothing was set up for us besides the classes and the internship. (And by set up I mean they made sure there was one, but they didn’t provide details about schedule etc… that we also had to figure out upon arrival.) Adelante completely fails to communicate anything with the students who are abroad. I believe this is partially because adelante is a side gig for most of the staff, and is therefore not their main priority. I also think it is because they have no idea what is going on. For example, one time I got an email from one member of Adelante’s staff saying that there were going to be students traveling to Chile with Adelante, but that they would be in a different part of the city than me, so I would likely never meet them. I got another email from a different staff member saying that they would actually be staying in the same housing as me. (Side note, this housing was not an apartment or a homestay as advertised, it was a boarding house. Other Chilean people were also paying for rooms at this house, and there were no meals provided, at least not for me.) Another example of Adelante not knowing what is going on is that another of the people who were doing the program at the same time as me got an email from one of them letting her know that her internship started the following day, when her internship had actually started a week ago. This ties into the fact that there are no set times, schedules, etc… set up for the internships. They do not tell you when to go in (times, days, etc… It also ties in to the fact that the people who are there to help you don’t even know the start dates for your internship.) Some people have internships for three days a week, and even on the weekends, while for other people (like myself) it was 9-5 Monday through Friday. Also, out of the three people who did the program at the same time as me (it was staggered, as some people did it for shorter times, but over the course of my time in the program, three other people who were also with the program lived in the same boarding house as me at various times) two of them had their internships switched the day before. For one of these people it was the same type of internship but with a different company, and for another person it was a completely different topic. They were told literally the day before that they had a whole new internship, location, responsibilities, etc… Also, for two of the people I was with their classes and their internships overlapped, so they were forced to choose between two things that they had paid for- either they had to skip out on learning the language, which they needed to get around and survive in Chile, or they had to skip the first days of their internship. In terms of transportation to internships, one of the people who was there at the same time as me had to take a micro (the buses in Chile) to a different part of the city, then walk from there to the bus station to take a bus out of the city, at which point she met someone from her job who she carpooled with to get to her internship. Adelante provided very little assistance in terms of figuring this out. Some additional things that would’ve been helpful to know regarding the micro are that you have to wave them down when you want to get on and tell them when you want to get off, as they don’t stop at every stop. Information about which buses go to which places, what the numbers on the buses correspond to what, etc… also would’ve been helpful especially at the beginning when we were told to use the micro to get to class and pretty much just sent an address and told to figure it out. The “Some events and excursions” that they claim to provide are two walking tours that happen over the course of 8 weeks. For the people who stayed for 4 weeks they went on one walking tour. Other things that they recommend on the website such as visits to Patagonia or Machu Picchu are incredibly difficult to do and figure out (again, especially if you don’t know the language) as they require a plane ride and often cost up to $1000. You definitely can’t do this if your internship is full time, which you won’t know until the day of. Other Chileans were shocked that this was mentioned as a possibility. Other Chileans around me were also shocked by how little I knew about my own schedule, how little information was provided to me, and how unorganized the program was. This is not to say that anyone at Adelante was unkind. They are certainly petty, as evidenced by the fact that I was left on read mid conversation when I said I didn’t have any photos of my internship to share with them, and by the way that they disclose mental health information in their responses to negative reviews in an attempt to discredit the authors. I really hope no one ever gives them any money ever again. I was suspicious going in, because of how reticent and wishy-washy they were with information, but I ignored it because I was tired of being cautious, and I just wanted to do something. I hope that other people listen to that voice in a way that I didn’t, because there are other, better options than adelante.

The work part of the internship was flexible, respectful and I learned a ton in terms of Spanish and about web development. Adelante itself is barely involved and they have almost no company infrastructure in Chile, you’ll basically be on your own, especially after the first couple of weeks. One of the monthly check-ins they sent me (one of like 3-4 emails total I got from the company while away) asked how my time in Barcelona was going. Their in-country directora is very nice but has another full-time job and most times I texted her I ended up having to go resolve the issue I was asking for advice on myself. If you need to change housing or work, it seems to me to be entirely luck-based as to whether they will have anything available for you, and will likely not. If you’re already very independent, tolerant of not ideal living situations and speak the language, adelante is an okay last option if you can’t go through school, work, or a more inclusive program

The internship abroad working for a non-profit organization in Valparaiso, Chile was an incredible experience. The Director, Pamela, was responsive and helpful if you have any questions regarding your concerns while you are abroad, changes to your homestay, and travel suggestions. However, I did not like taking the Spanish courses in Chile, coming in as a graduate Spanish major, because I thought it was not worth my time, for example, learning the greetings and grammar. If you're a beginner, I would recommend this. The professors were great, but I would have changed this if I had the chance to start over and started early with the internship. On the other hand, I liked the part about learning Chilean Spanish, the names of their food, and their culture. I thought it was helpful compared to grammar in Spanish. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Chile. I loved my time there!

Interning abroad with Adelante was the experience of a lifetime. I interned as a mechanical engineering student at a creative coworking lab called Makerspace where I got to collaborate on innovative projects using 3D printers, laser cutters, and other cool tools with my coworkers in the lab. I also had the wonderful experience of leading a workshop in Spanish on 3D design in SolidWorks. My coworkers were extremely welcoming and made a strong effort to help me navigate Chilean culture and traveling as well as spending time with me outside of work! COVID definitely had a negative impact on the experience, as it made travel difficult and made half of my time at the internship virtual. Also, there were very few participants in the program, so it was a struggle to find friends to do things with. Nonetheless, the experience was overall very rewarding, and I highly recommend this program.

I lived in Viña del Mar for four months and I wish I would have chosen to stay a full six months! I absolutely loved living in Chile and I will probably move back at some point. I was a little nervous before starting my program, because I didn't know what to expect in terms of my living situation, who I'd be living with, or what my internship would entail. When I arrived to the house, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the house and the amenities. My roommates changed throughout my stay due to the length and start dates of their stays, but I got along exceptionally well with all of them. The house is in a great location, only a few blocks from the beach and a beautiful muelle (pier), and about a 30 second walk to a supermarket. I always felt very safe in Viña. The spanish classes I took at the beginning did help me brush up on my vocabulary and grammar, and learn some of Chilean slang as there is a lot of it! My the professor even took me out of the classroom to explore Viña and Valparaíso. Valparaíso is just a short metro/bus ride away and it's a beautiful place to spend the day walking through the different colorful cerros (hills). It also has a very lively nightlife, however to stay safe I would recommend going with Chilean people who know the area and nightclubs! I did the medical internship and was placed in a kinesiology (physical therapy) office in the center of Viña, and it was walking distance from my house. It was difficult at first, however within a few weeks I was effectively communicating with patients, leading several patient sessions, and carrying out physiotherapy. My internship helped me so much with my spanish and confidence in communicating, and my coworkers were always eager to teach me. Overall I loved Chile and the people are very kind and welcoming. Be ready to eat the best bread of your life! Additionally, I felt this experience was very good for my resume as I've already been accepted into my top choice for graduate school.

I had a wonderful experience aboard in Chile. My Spanish most definitely improved, or I should say my Chilean Spanish since they use so much slang. I loved our teacher so much, in fact I am still in contact with her. My internship placement also was great, I was an assistant to a professor who had other architecture projects as well. Very nice, welcoming, patient, and open minded. I did start out in a host family but I was not a great fit for me. Adalante though was wonderful in responding quickly and positively in helping find a new housing situation which I was so impressed by. I do recommend if you do the Viña Del Mar program to go during the summer there (winter in the states). I went when it was there fall going into winter, so it got a little boring in Viña itself since it was cold and the low season. This just means we went to Santiago and Mendoza more. During the summer though there would be a lot more to do and you can actually go in the ocean. Overall an awesome experience, I met some wonderful people, learned a little bit about a new culture, improved my Spanish, and my architecture. I also suggest if you can, schedule your flights so you have time to explore Chile itself before or after your internship. It’s such a unique county with its ranging landscapes, and places like Patagonia deserve more than just a weekend trip!

Fue una experiencia linda! La gente es muy acogedora y conocí muchos lugares. Me hubiera gustado poder contactar a la persona con la que iba a vivir antes para poder planificar mejor los viajes. Todo fue 10/10, el equipo del international center está atento de ayudarnos siempre. Hay muchos viajes cortos que se pueden hacer por el fin de semana. Uno de los lugares que más nos gustó fue el embalse Puclaro donde pueden hacer kitesurf. Dentro de Viña, no dejen de conocer Reñaca, Concon (playa la boca y las dunas), el jardín botánico es PRECIOSO, conocer los palacios, tomar un helado en Mo o Coletti y salir a correr por la avenida Perú. Además, en cuanto al trabajo, aprendí mil cosas nuevas, formas de trabajar en Chile distintas a mi país. Me voy de Chile con los mejores recuerdos!

My most memorable experience with respect to the Adelante program would undoubtedly be the opportunity to work at Chrysalis (start-up company development program) at a major university in Valparaíso (a short commute by subway). Americans used to the sort of sort, file and collate internships that unfortunately are typical of so many domestic positions would be amazed by the quality and importance of assignments you'll be offered in a program like this. Working with active Chilean lawyers and legal professionals I got to translate real contracts and internal documents while contributing research to ongoing investigations to ongoing research at the university. For me the chance to participate in this kind of important work was an experience I won't soon forget. I chose my program because I wanted to continue living and studying in Chile. I had previously studied abroad there twice and have enjoyed every minute of living in this wonderful country. I ended up choosing Adelante because of two critical options that really set them apart. First Adelante offers internships in the legal field (amongst a catalog of other options). Quality legal internships can be notoriously difficult to find for students not already enrolled in law school. Taking the international route, with Adelante's support is a great option for those looking to boost their legal resume early on in their career. Secondly Adelante offers internships in Viña del Mar. In Chile the vast majority of internships, jobs, school and human activity in general tend revolve around Santiago but I am a Viñamarino at heart and I implore all international intern candidates to consider the benefits of living in this beautiful, costal (and manageably sized) city. Once you've done so you will see that Viña and Adelante is by far your best option! I lived independently of Adelante, with a host family I met during my first semester abroad in Chile. It is worth noting that if you choose this (or a similar) option, Adelante will automatically refund you the portion of their fee that is allotted for accommodations, a degree of flexibility that does not exist in just every program.

An internship abroad with Adelante is quite simply and experience and an opportunity for which there is no substitute. The chance to gain real work experience abroad, in the country and job sector of your choice is, I think, is invaluable to any ambitious, internationally minded student or young professional. Despite the inherently complicated nature of such an undertaking (coordinating travel, accommodations, placements etc.) Adelante makes it as easy as possible with their friendly and supportive staff of hardworking professionals both on site and in their state-side office. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study or work in Chile. For me personally it was one of the better decisions I have made.

Memorable experience was the fireworks on the beach of Viña during NYE 2014. I chose the program because I found them the most reliable and easy to communicate with. Single bedroom in a three bedroom house with two other housemates. Gas powered stoves and showered, don't use too much hot water or you'll have to shower cold and no one likes a cold shower-well most people don't.

Hi. I'm Jonathan. I was taking part in the adelante program from december 2013-May 2014. I graduated from Uni in June of 2013. I'm half Chilean though I was born in the US and never had a chance to visit Chile and it's something I've always wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to continue working in PR and advertising as it's something I became truly passionate about over the past 2 years. So after my interview with the program's director Kimberly she had just the right place in mind. She told me about my internship placement in Valparaiso with a small but hustling business incubator called Chrysalis. When I met the staff there in December I felt a vibe that would keep me motivated to get as much work done as possible. The staff at Chrysalis are all young and most are post grads while some are still finishing their thesis as Uni for a student in Chile can take up to 7 years to complete. I specialized in Audiovisual production. Which at the end of the day meant that I would be working with the businesses that had been incubated and make videos for them. From a simple 30 second product demo to a 5 minute video over a biomechanics product used by a bioengineering team named Infratec to detect the level of Parkinsons in a patient. I loved the work environment and after I finished my classes at the International Center I decided to intern full time. True this limited my overall travel experiences in Chile but for me it was incredibly important that I begin to pump up my resume and portfolio. I don't regret going full time at my internship one bit, when you do something you enjoy the hours you spend in it shouldn't matter right? At the end of my work I had become close friends with the office and I still keep in contact with them. Especially now that the world cup is going on! Aside from the working aspect is the social aspect, everything not related to work. Vina del Mar is wonderful, the better beaches are further north going towards Renaca and Concon. It's very easy to get between the cities in Valparaiso bay. 20 minute bus rides from central Vina and you're in the heart of Valpo or the coast of Concon. Traffic though can be a little crazy as it seems that everyone enjoys speeding.. The food everywhere is delicious. I never found a bad restaurant. The quality of the vegetables are top, the same goes for the seafood and meat (at least until you have an asado in Argentina...) but there are plenty of supermarkets and fairly cheap to buy good produce on the corners outside the supermarkets. New Years was amazing, spending it on the beach with friends and thousands of others who come from all over Chile and South America to enjoy one of the best firework shows in South America. It's memories like that that last a life time and I have plenty of those from Chile. Remember how I said I'm half Chilean? Well guess what. I got to see an uncle and his family who I've never met before who live in Limache which is the last metro stop leaving Vina going towards Limache (duh!) and my time with my family there was precious as I learned and experienced a lot of what it feels like to be a part of a real Chilean family. Chileans are incredibly loving people and they will care for you if you treat them with respect and have an open heart and mind to their culture. I would recommend this program for anyone, especially because Chile is a growing nation and has a strong economy and it shows as there is construction nearly every kilometer in any direction haha. I love Chile and I hope you consider it too because it'll be an abroad experience like nothing you would expect.

Taking a road trip up the coast to the small fishing village of Horcón, eating the most delicious crab empanadas and sitting on the beach. I chose this program because of the cost, the area, and the internship offered. The apartment was 2 blocks from the beach. My own room, kitchen, bathroom, living room with television, dining area. 2 housemates: one local, and another program participant.

This was a great experience. From the moment I left the airport in the transfer that was scheduled for me to the moment I walked out of the apartment for the last time, my 4 months in Viña del Mar/Valparaiso were worthwhile. The intensive Spanish courses at the beginning of my time there were extremely helpful. The apartment was comfortable enough for my liking. Maybe it wouldn´t suffice if you are used to being pampered, but I believe it is perfect for time spent living abroad in a country that is on the rise. The internship that I had with a local accounting company was interesting to say the least. I received first hand knowledge of the small business environment and had plenty of time to practice my second language. I do wish the program was a little more involved in the social aspect of your stay, maybe organize some more social events or something. I do know there were some other people who came into the program at different times and were staying in other areas, but I did not once meet the people or know how to contact them. I do recommend this program for anyone looking for a vibrant, new experience outside of their bubble.

My experience living in Viña del mar was amazing and I'm grateful for the fact that Adelante was able to provide me with the means to make such amazing memories there. However, I feel that much of it happened through luck—the people in my program made every day unforgettable and I made some friends at my internship that made it fun even though I felt a bit useless there at times. Had it not been for those personal connections, I'm not sure my time in Viña with Adelante would have been half as memorable despite the fact that it is a truly fascinating region of Chile. Internship Placement: The professor that the International Centre chose for our Advanced Spanish class didn't do the best job helping me feel more comfortable with my Spanish—too much emphasis on random essays right off the bat and not enough on review and practice. Living Situation: The apartment on 2 oriente was small but fine, my only complaint is that the kitchen had a very small amount of cooking materials (only 1 dull knife for all of us to share, for example). Cultural Immersion: Absolutely loved the area. Program Administration: I understand that my supervisor for the radio internship could not have a fixed plan of what I was going to do before I got there, but I felt that there could have been more planning as I spent my entire first month not really helping with much since there was no programming during the month of March (break for end of summer/beginning of school).

Adelante is a waste of money. If you plan on doing an internship in Chile, go directly to the International Center (internationalcenter.cl). Adelante did not do anything for me and I've realized since being here that the International Center takes care of everything and plans the internships. Living Situation: The house is not as advertised. I have had problems with a leaking roof since I got here, the house often smells like gas, and there are insects all over the house. However, the staff at the International Center has responded quickly to my requests for maintenance, but the maintenance performed usually didn't help. Also, when I arrived at the house it was filthy. I spent 3 days cleaning the kitchen and the living room; there was old food and pop/beer cans under the couch and the couch cushions. I've also noticed the maid eating/drinking my food while cleaning. Cultural Immersion: The "excursions" that were included the price were interesting, but definitely not worth what I probably paid for them. I could have easily found and done all of the activities on my own. Program Administration: I don't understand if this review is for Adelante or The International Center. The program administration from Adelante would get an "F." They've never contacted me about anything and I feel like I was deceived by their website. On the other hand, the administration at the International Center has been extremely helpful and friendly.