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