Returning to Santiago, Chile

After our semesters abroad, my friend Alyssa and I met up at the beach back in our home state of California. She had studied in Copenhagen, Denmark; I had studied in Santiago, Chile. As we walked up and down the sand, we discussed how amazing it was to live in another country, as well as our newfound appreciation for certain aspects of the United States.

“Okay, yes, too much individualism is bad, but I love how quirky Americans are,” Alyssa said, making me laugh. We traded stories about hygge and chilenismos, empowering solo trips, cultural fumbles, and beautiful sights. We couldn’t stop saying how happy we were: to see each other, to be home, and to have had such life-changing experiences. I joked that studying abroad had turned Alyssa from a pessimist into an optimist; she said I might be right.

Ever since deciding to attend Bryn Mawr College, one of my main goals has been to take opportunities for travel whenever I can. I have been lucky enough to participate in the Energy Afterlives 360 program where I went to Alaska for ten days, the geology department field trip where I went to Nicaragua for ten days, and study abroad my junior fall in Chile! I will be going back to Santiago this summer as a rising senior with IES Abroad’s internship program, and I can’t wait to see beloved places and people again while working in a professional setting.

All this being said, of course my advice for any student who is considering study abroad is to absolutely take the chance if you can! Study abroad broadens your perspectives, builds your confidence, and gives you the skills to connect with all types of people across nationality and language barriers. Simply do your research into what program fits best with your major(s), interests, and language abilities. Know yourself and your boundaries, but also don’t be afraid to challenge yourself! It’s what allows us to grow.

To be honest, before my semester studying abroad, I did the bare minimum of preparation. I could barely even speak about the reality of spending five months in Chile to anyone, I was so anxious. I packed the night before and I cried for hours on the flight. But by pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I became stronger, more independent, friendlier, and more flexible. Plus, I gained so many stories to tell!

This time around, with less anxiety about the language, I will be actually preparing for my summer internship abroad. I’ll be brushing up on my Spanish vocabulary, making plans with other BMC students in the program, researching new places that I might want to visit, and—since I’ll be in the southern hemisphere—finding winter clothes! No matter what country you choose and how much you prepare, the most essential part of being a student abroad is keeping an open mind. After all, you’re there to learn! And if study abroad could turn my friend Alyssa into an optimist, how might it transform you?