Tracy
Chile
Choosing to study abroad is a decision that has made a lasting impact on my life. I have always enjoyed traveling and experiencing new things, but studying abroad stepped things up to a new level. I participated in the Fall 2008 Chile program and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had.
One key component of the Chile program includes living with a host family who serves as your personal ambassador to the area. They pick you up from the airport and bring you into their family the instant you step off the plane in Concepcion. English speakers are hard to find in Chile, and the host families are no exception, so be prepared to become fluent in Spanish while you are down there.
The food in Chile is fresh, the people are accepting and the sites are breath taking. Daily life in Chile (and most of Latin America) moves at a much different pace than the average American student is accustomed to. Even though I took Spanish courses for nine years in school, nothing improved my language skills orcultural awareness than actually living in a South American society.
I was not originally a Spanish major, but after studying in Chile it was an easy decision to convert from a minor. Spending four months learning Spanish through a combination of classes and trial and error, I now have confidence to converse with a native speaker even if I do not know each and every word I am trying to say. All of my classes worked toward my degree and I came back to St. Cloud State ahead of most of my peers.
Living with a host family was great! My host mom usually had a light breakfast ready for me in the morning to 
start the day off and I returned to the casa for almuerzo (lunch), which is the main meal in Chile. Almuerzo consists of fresh salad or soup, followed with a meat dish and rice accompanied by a fine Chilean wine and finished up with fruit or a small desert. Each evening around 8 pm onces (a light dinner) was served with tea. It was during mealtime conversations that I was introduced to Chilean culture, history and Chilenismos (Chilean slang).
Concepcion is the second largest metropolitan area in Chile with around 1,000,000 people. Although the population is initially a little overwhelming, it is fairly easy to find your way, and public transit is affordable and abundant. The two main ways students get to school in the morning are micros and colectivos. Micros are buses and colectivos are taxis with a standard rate that run on a route and pick up as many people as they can. They run all day and pick up people anywhere on the route (there are no designated stops) and do not run on schedules, so you might wait anywhere from 15 seconds to 15 minutes to catch a ride!
I noticed Chilenos value personal relationships and enjoying life more than stressing about school or work, which explains why my study abroad group was so well received by many. Almost everyone I met was very interested in learning about me or the U.S. and they were proud to share with me what it means to be a Chileno. I met many people from all walks of life in Chile who I will remain in contact with for the rest of my life. When I return someday I know I have multiple places to stay.
Besides classes, family activities and going out in Concepcion, I also had the opportunity to travel to amazing places in the region. Two trips are included in the program fee which show how diverse of a country Chile really is. The first trip is to the north of Chile to the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world. We toured the world’s largest copper mine, one of the largest salt flats, geysers and much more! The second trip was to the south of
Chile where we saw a glacier while navigating through fjords in northern Patagonia. After classes were done for the semester I went on another trip (not included in the program) to Peru to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu.
My semester was also filled with other activities like volunteering, going to the beach, visiting Santiago (the capital and main city), watching futbol and going to el campo (the country). There is so much else I experienced that I cannot put it all down in words.
I truly believe that studying abroad (regardless of where/how long you choose) is a decision that can change your future for the better. It provides opportunities that some only dream of and helps people discover themselves. If you are still unsure about trading your regular day-to-day routine for an experience that will open your eyes to many new things, please stop in the office (located in the basement of Lawrence Hall) and request some more information.
