Name: Ella Roerden ’27
Major: Anthropology & International Relations
Semester Abroad: Spring 2025
What would you tell a student about studying abroad? Seize every opportunity study abroad gives you! The smaller programs like Santiago are filled with so many experiences that can change your life in ways you never imagined!
Contact: ebroerde@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Living with a host family
Name: Ohemaa Absibuo ’27
Major: International Relations and Spanish
Semester Abroad: Fall 2025
What was your most valuable experience abroad? I worked on a research project with the Lender Center and the Tyler Center, and I had the chance to learn so much about victims of the Chilean dictatorship and research them in depth with archives from the museum that I interned at. I think that it was a great professional experience; I gained a lot of skills and now have a lot of knowledge on the dictatorship.
Contact: oaasibuo@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Living with a host family, Race & Ethnicity, Selecting a program option
Name: Isabella Gardea ’27
Major: International Relations, Spanish Language, Culture, and Literature
Semester Abroad: Fall 2025
What was your most valuable experience abroad? One of the most valuable experiences in my host country was being able to intern with an organization named International IDEA, a group that promotes democracy and advocates for human rights around the world. I was able to do some research on some of the individuals and groups in Latin American countries that work to preserve electoral integrity and combat disinformation. I was also able to research new and proposed legislation in North American, European, and Latin American countries that work to prevent digital gender-based violence, which greatly affects women in politics. Both of these topics were extremely interesting to learn about and I was able to work with Chilean consultants on both of these projects, providing me with valuable professional experience and knowledge.
Contact: iagardea@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Selecting a program option, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Health, safety, and support, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure
Name: Chandler McCoy ’26 (fall)
Major: Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
Semester Abroad: Fall 2025
What was your most memorable experience abroad? My most valuable and unforgettable experience in my host country was celebrating the Fiestas Patrias or Independence Day in Chile. This celebration offered me a deeper understanding of Chilean culture and national pride in a way that no classroom lesson could. Through traditional music, dancing, food, and shared community gatherings, I was able to witness how history and identity are actively celebrated and passed down through generations. Being immersed in the festivities allowed me to feel included in a cultural moment that was both joyful and deeply meaningful, strengthening my connection to the country and its people. Experiencing Fiestas Patrias firsthand highlighted the importance of cultural traditions in everyday life and reinforced the value of studying abroad as an opportunity to engage authentically with a culture beyond surface-level observations.
Contact: cmccoy07@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Lauren Valadez ’27
Major: Anthropology, Spanish minor
Semester Abroad: Fall 2025
What advice would you give to a student going abroad? Take advantage of everything. Make new friends and go everywhere you want because it will not be as accessible as when you are abroad.
Contact: lavalade@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, First time abroad, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Madiou Bah ’27
Major: Economics, Broadcast & Digital Journalism
Semester Abroad: Spring 2026
What was your most valuable/unforgettable experience in your host country? My most valuable experience studying abroad was meeting people from all over the world as I traveled around South America. I learned so much during my time abroad. When people say you learn more outside of a classroom, they definitely aren’t lying. If it wasn’t for my time abroad, I wouldn’t have met so many people of different origins nor would I have gained a new perspective on life and the importance of traveling.
Contact: mbah09@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity, Selecting a program option
Name: Maisie Heisey ’27
Major: International Relations
Semester Abroad: Spring 2026
What was your most memorable experience abroad? My most valuable experience in Chile is between the time spent with my host mother and volunteering at a K-12 school. I would eat at least one meal a day sitting at the kitchen table with my host mother and through her stories I better understood the culture and language of Chile. The connection to my host mother was valuable because she felt like my family when I was missing my own. I had the opportunity to volunteer with 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 9th graders at a Chilean school and it was incredible. This experience was really enlightening because I realized how similar people are everywhere. Despite speaking a different language and being 5,000 miles away from one another, the students in this school would make the same jokes and act the same way that I remember doing when I was their age. I helped the English teachers with their lessons and it was a lot of fun.
Contact: mmheisey@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Selecting a program option, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies & dietary needs ,Cultural Immersion, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure
Name: Sophia Ortiz-Heaney ’27
Major: Economics, International Relations
Semester Abroad: Spring 2026
What was your most unforgettable experience abroad? The traveling. Patagonia and the Atacama Desert are such amazing and unique places I would never have had the pleasure of visiting without this program. In Santiago, the festivals were so much fun. El dia de los Patrimonios was definitely a highlight, where my Chilean friend and I visited many important places, museums, and cultural centers that exposed me to important Chilean places and history while having the objective of collecting fun heritage stickers at each stop.
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad in Chile? Check technology logistics before you go! Will you need to get a physical SIM or e-SIM – are you keeping your US number, or getting a new one? Also, make a list of things you want to do or experience in a new country, as you will have free time. This is a good way to make sure you can make the most of your time abroad in ways that you will enjoy.
Contact: sgortizh@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Meeting locals, Adjusting to a foreign language, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad