Dear students who are about to study abroad,

Raise your hand if you are terrified of studying abroad. Yeah, me too.

Studying abroad has been a goal of mine since the first week of college. The prospect of living in a foreign country and being able to integrate into their culture always fascinated and excited me. Yet recently, I’ve been exploring the logistical details that no one focuses on beforehand: How do I get a Spanish sim card? Did I get health insurance for my travel? Do I need a visa? Will I find friends once I get there?

If you are reading this post, chances are the thought of getting ready for a summer in another country is a bit daunting to you. Don’t worry! It is something that was stressful for me as well so I thought that I would share a few tips that have helped me in preparing to travel.

Some Chilean cuisine is fantastic, and some of it is overhyped (by Chileans). Restaurants, Chilean foods, and dessert places: here’s your deep dive.

Hi everyone!

I’m here to share some super exciting news: I’m going to Paris this summer! 

A study abroad is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while, but as I’ve started to get ready for my trip, I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed. So, I’m making this guide to help students figure out A. If a study abroad is the right choice, and B. How to prepare for a long time away from home.

When you think of Spain, you might think of its beautiful beaches, bustling cities, delicious tapas and… skiing?!?!? Studying in Granada, you can have every single one of those. Granada sits right alongside the Sierra Nevada mountains, where you have access to the southernmost ski resort in Europe. 

One of the key aspects of linguistic and cultural immersion is living with a host family. You hear the language even when you’re at home, and you get to learn more about their cultural practices and beliefs as you interact with them. My host mom loves to share her thoughts, and I decided to ask her a question every now and then—when I had the time to listen—about the Chilean perspective on various topics. I asked about therapy, prisons, healthcare, insurance, and other similarly important issues. The other day, we discussed Pinochet.

Every person in Chile has healthcare. There are a few different tiers but in general the plans are separated into FONASA and ISAPRE. FONASA roughly translates to ‘Basic National Health’. ISAPRE represents private insurance companies, and the acronym stands for ‘Institutions of Provisional Health’. This system covers less than 6% of Chileans—everyone else is under one form or another of FONASA. Our insurance under IES Abroad is considered ‘particular,’ so we pay in full and make claims afterwards.