Making Memories in Santiago

Making Memories in Santiago

Hi! My name is Sally Jewell and I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile my junior year in the Spring semester of 2024. I am majoring in International Relations and Political Science, so the Santiago program was a perfect match for me as many of the course options had a political science background. One of the biggest differences between the semester I went abroad and previous Santiago cohorts is that our classes were in English but we were placed in home stays with a Chilean family so we were able to practice our Spanish with the host family.

One of the most positive aspects of this type of study abroad experience is that you are able to focus less on the language barrier in a classroom setting and are able to put more focus on the content you are learning about. Within the classes I took, I gained so much knowledge on Chilean politics, history, and culture. Additionally, you are able to learn within a classroom of people who are studying abroad just like you so you are able to help each other out with navigating a new city and country.

Something that I wished I had known before studying abroad is how helpful everyone is, especially our program directors. Everyone that is a part of the program wants to see you succeed, this includes professors, program directors, and host families. My host family was incredibly supportive and helpful throughout my semester abroad. I found it very helpful to live with someone from the area so they could give me recommendations and advice for how to navigate through this new place. I was very nervous meeting my host family, but the reality of meeting them made me realize that they enjoy this experience. They want to help you around the city and help you learn about a different city and culture; you are not a burden to them and it can be very fun and interesting for both you and your host family to talk about their culture as well as American culture and the similarities and differences between the two.

Studying abroad has taught me that there are a lot more places that I want to travel to outside of the United States. Going abroad can feel very daunting especially if you do not speak the language of the country you want to visit. However, having navigated through Santiago by myself and learning how to understand a different country and culture, I am now more confident in myself to be able to conduct myself abroad in other countries. With all the greenery in Chile, I have found that I love to be in nature and experience the beauty of the world, which is something I do not get to do in my everyday life. This has made me want to explore more areas of natural greenery and see all different sides of the world.

Additionally, studying abroad has made me think more critically about what I want to do post-college. I never really had a set plan as to what I wanted to do in the future, however being abroad made me realize that I have time to figure out what I want to do. I do not have to rush to find my passion or what I want to do with my life. I am allowed to explore unknown places and witness and experience things I would never be able to experience in the United States.

Lastly, I chose this specific program because one of my concentrations for my major is the Americas so I thought Chile would be an interesting place to go further in depth into that topic. I did not just want to be a tourist going around a city and visiting other tourist destinations close to me. I wanted to learn about the culture, history, and customs of the country I was going to. When looking at all the abroad programs together, I found that the Santiago program was one that seemed to prioritize immersing yourself in the culture and learning about the history of the country, which is exactly what I wanted. I am very happy with my decision to go abroad to Santiago, Chile and I know I have gained knowledge and experiences that will help me in the future and I will remember for the rest of my life.

Sally Jewell ’25

Santiago Center (Courses in English)

International Relations and Political Science

A successful semester in Santiago

Hola!! I am Olivia Budelmann and I am pursuing degrees in Mathematics, Spanish, and Environment, Sustainability & Policy. My anticipated graduation date is May 2023. I chose to study abroad in Santiago, Chile during the spring 2022 semester. This program is longer than most of the other Syracuse Abroad programs, so as I’m writing this in June, I still have a month left of living in Santiago!

I selected the Santiago program because of the cultural immersion. Even though it was absolutely terrifying to think about living with a host family and taking all classes in Spanish, I knew it would help me allow me to better learn the language and culture of my host country. And I am so incredibly thankful that I chose this program! I absolutely love my host family – they have had over 20 host daughters in the past, and have treated each of them like they are actually part of the family, not just a student who is living with them.

I have had the opportunity to spend time with both of my host brothers & their families, as well as siblings, cousins, and friends of my host parents. I truly feel as though I am a part of the Chilean family I have here, and I know that that will be the case “para siempre.” When my host brother got married five years ago, 12 of his “gringa” sisters (previous host daughters of this family) flew to Santiago to attend the wedding. Some even brought their husbands and children to the wedding! I feel so thankful to have been welcomed into this family, and am excited to come back and visit for future familial events.

I also feel very closely connected with the program director, Mauricio, and the assistant director, Paula. They are two of the most incredible people I have ever met. It can be really difficult adjusting to living in another country, and it can feel very isolating. However, whenever I needed help or support or was just feeling down, Paula and Mauricio were always right there to help me in whatever way they could. So it was almost like I gained two families when I came to Chile: my host family of course, but also the program directors and the other students in the program.

As a group, in addition to exploring different sectors of Santiago, we also travelled to Patagonia, Valparaíso, and San Pedro de Atacama. In smaller groups, I also visited different parts of Chile such as Pucón and Concón, as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina. I feel so lucky to have been able to travel to all of these different regions, and Paula and Mauricio played such a large role in making that happen.

All of my classes are taught in Spanish, but only one of them is with Chilean students. It has to do with the geography of Asia and Latin America, and it is super interesting to learn about because I would not be able to take a class like it in the United States. We have to do group projects as well, which I was very nervous about at the beginning of the semester (how could I possibly do a project in Spanish with Chilean students?!) but now is something I feel completely comfortable doing, which is such an incredible feeling. It is so amazing to be able to witness yourself experience such a large amount of  personal growth. I have a similar situation with my internship as well. This semester I have been working with Chile Sustentable, which is a very serious and well-known organization. Before this semester, I would never have thought it possible to do a serious internship completely in Spanish, yet now it is something I am in the midst of doing. Qué bacán!!

I am not sure what my plans will be for after I graduate from Syracuse University, but after studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, I know that I want the Spanish language to always be a part of my life. I would love to return to Latin America to study, work, or simply exist in another country so that I can learn the culture of other Latin American countries and continue practicing my Spanish. During this semester abroad, I learned how to navigate a completely different country and culture, and although it was not always easy, I now have the confidence to continue taking risks and trying new things. But of course, I will be coming back to visit Santiago, which I now consider my second home.

Olivia Budelmann ’23

Syracuse Santiago

Mathematics, Spanish, and Environment, Sustainability & Policy