Santiago, Chile
2023 Spring/Summer Study Abroad in Santiago, Chile
Meet Josie Kasmauskis!
I am an Applied Food and Nutrition major with a Spanish minor at Grand Valley State University. I wanted to study abroad to practice my Spanish and learn about/be immersed in different cultures. I love to cook and hike, two things I definitely got to experience in Chile! Also, I am the creator of this website with a goal to share my experience and the experiences of others with fellow students looking for a program that fits their personal and academic goals.
Program type: External program with USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) a recommended program by the GVSU Study Abroad Office (Affordable Study Abroad Programs)
Most time spent in: Santiago, Chile
Length: 10 weeks (May 25 - August 1)
Semester/Year: Spring/Summer 2023
Year at GVSU when studied abroad: between Sophomore and Junior year
Background
Having been studying/learning Spanish since I was in kindergarten, as I attended a Spanish Immersion school from Kindergarten through 12th grade, I wanted to practice my Spanish-speaking skills during my study abroad experience. I was originally planning on doing a partnership program through the Study Abroad Office at Grand Valley, but it unfortunately got canceled. Nevertheless, I decided to do an external program and it was still an amazing experience, and I received lots of support along the way from those running the program I chose. I think wherever you travel will be amazing, even if it was not the original plan.
"I think wherever you travel will be amazing, even if it was not the original plan."
Example Day
A typical day started out with getting ready to go to school, making and eating a quick breakfast (people in Chile usually don't eat breakfast) and making my way out the door of the apartment. On my way out of the apartment building I would say hi to the concierge and maybe talk to him for a little bit in Spanish. Then, I would meet up with a few people in my same program and we would take the metro to school. I would have a few classes in the morning. Then, I would have a little time for lunch. Sometimes I would bring a lunch, or get something at one of the nearby stores. After my next class, I would either go to dance class or explore the city, usually involving getting some gelato! Then I would come home, do some homework, and my host mom would give me dinner in my room or we would chat over dinner together.
Reflection
After the first couple weeks of transitioning, my time in Chile was probably the most calm I've ever felt. Traveling somewhere unfamiliar allowed me to focus on what was important and understand that everything was probably not going to go according to plan, and that's what made it exciting! This experience has broadened my perspective in a way I could never have imagined before this trip. I am forever grateful for this opportunity, and I hope I can make my way back to Chile soon!
"...everything was probably not going to go according to plan, and that's what made it exciting!"
"If your main goal is to improve your Spanish, try studying abroad in a small town rather than a big city."
Challenges/Recommendations
I think my biggest challenge in Chile was that, despite being in a Spanish-speaking country, it was difficult for me to practice my Spanish outside of the classroom. Being in the capital of Chile, Santiago, most likely was a contributing factor. Many people knew English and would speak to me in English if they saw I was struggling in Spanish. If your main goal studying abroad is to improve your Spanish language skills, I would recommend studying abroad in a small town rather than the capital of a country or a big city.
General Tips
Ask the study abroad office if there is an international student they know who is from the country you want to study abroad in that you could meet up with and ask questions/advice. Talking to someone before my study abroad who was from the country I was traveling to was one of my biggest resources before going.
Participate in the mentorship program run by the study abroad office each semester. This helped me get peer perspective, and get some feedback on what to pack!
Try to attend all the events you are invited to that are specific to your program. Speaking with the person coordinating my program in Chile made me feel much more confident and helped me get many of my questions answered.
Picture Map
Click on the indicated locations on the map to find out more information and to see pictures I took during my study abroad trip.
If you have any questions about the program I did or about my experience studying abroad in general, feel free to email the author of this page, Josie Kasmauskis, at kasmausj@mail.gvsu.edu
La Tertulia (GVSU Spanish Club)
This website is kept up by La Tertulia, the GVSU Spanish Club. This club gives students the opportunity to practice their Spanish and expand their knowledge about different countries where Spanish is spoken. Check out the La Tertulia Laker Link page for more details!
If you want to share your own experience studying abroad and be featured on this website to help future fellow students, fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/anqjj4d2tP5eQwWE9