Finding a Home Away From Home in Santiago

My decision to study abroad is one I will neither regret nor forget as it provided me the opportunity to grow academically and personally. Immersing myself in a new country enriched my global understanding; however, as much as I learned about Chilean people, history and culture, I learned more about myself.
As I waited at the Minneapolis airport for my thirteen hour flight to Santiago, a range of emotions swept over me: from excited to frightened, to homesick to exhilarated.Before embarking on my IES Study in Chile, I had never left the United States. I worried about how I could communicate with my host family and others. I had doubts about how I would manage all my classes and assignments in Spanish. I worried my GPA would take a irrecoverable hit or that I would be need to spend so much time studying I would miss the opportunities to explore the country.
All these concerns plagued me during my flight, but the moment I saw the IES group at the Santiago airport, I was at ease. The program and its staff provided resources, answers, orientation and ongoing support before, during, and after my trip. Beyond addressing students’ expected nerves commencing a study abroad program, the IES staff also helped me build confidence, acclimate to the country, and encourage me to embrace the uncomfortable by stepping outside my comfort zone.
Before I left for my study abroad program, everyone I knew who had travelled abroad gave me the same pep talk: it will change your life, you will come back a new person, and you will want to continue to travel. At the time, I listened, but it did not sink in. Now, I comprehend what they meant. My semester abroad did, in fact, change me. I gained confidence to communicate, adapt and find my way in another country. I gained curiosity to discover and appreciate another culture’s beauties and differences. I gained critical thinking skills that strengthened my independence, guided me through obstacles and made me more self-reliant. Most of all, I gained a sense of who I am and how I fit into a world much bigger than my home, my school or my country.