Before studying abroad, I had no idea what to expect. I knew very little about Chile or what it would be like to live and study in a country I'd never been to before. That being said, I think this program was the best one I could have chosen for where

I was. It gave me the knowledge I needed to be aware, the support system I needed to feel comfortable, and the uncertainty I needed to be more empathetic. Experiential learning is a big part of this program's academic approach, and it made the experience of learning that much more memorable and meaningful for me. I know that the friends, lessons, and memories that I took away from this program will stay with me long into the future.

The experimental learning offered by SIT gave me a wonderful and rewarding educational experience. The classes and excursions helped me learn about the neoliberal system, non-western perspectives into the social, cultural, and economic situations, and

indigenous communities. I learned about the unity and power of the people to resist oppression in the country and the fight for equality and justice. was able to go out of the country for the first time and learn so much more about Chile. I feel like I really learned about myself and was able to get a non-western perspective of life and social conflicts. I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I loved my homestay family and they gave me a wonderful connection to Chile and the community

SIT Valparaiso is an interesting program that combines traditional classroom learning with excursions to the north and south and a final independent project/internship that pushes students out of their comfort zone. The emphasis of speaking Spanish means

that everyone on the program greatly improves their language capabilities, where I personally went from intermediate to advanced in the time I was there. The homestay families were well-paired and were all very accommodating and experienced.

When I look back on my time in Chile, I can think of 3 major things. The first and most important to me was my host family. I cannot describe what they have done for me in making my experience one that I will never forget. I truly believe that I will

always feel as if I am a part of their family and their home. I hope that one day they have the opportunity to visit me in the USA so I have the chance to reciprocate the generosity they showed me. The second thing is the program staff. In a addition to my loving host family, the staff of this program felt like a second family. They have a wealth of experience with foreign students and will help you with anything and everything you could possibly need. The third was the place. Valpo is a wonderful and vibrant city. It was a very real place with normal hustle and bustle. The experience on public transportation was one I will not forget. It felt like after a while of being there it was my home.

My experience with SIT study abroad was life changing. The particular program that I found myself in: Cultural Identity, Community Development, and Social Justice was exactly what I was provided. The professors involved in this program are well educated,

intentional, and kind. They care deeply about Chile and about our experience within this program. Without the SIT team, my time there would have looked completely different. They wisely chose where I was placed in a home stay, which was my favorite part of my time there. I loved the culture and the way I was able to learn in depth about Chile.

I loved my semester abroad! The coursework was perfectly manageable. The home stay families were all welcoming and it felt like we were part of the family. My favorite parts were the excursions! Chile is such a beautiful country! I am looking forward

to going back some day!

This program takes place in an incredibly cool city, with a really accommodating staff and fun and passionate students. The excursions that you go on to the North and South are beautiful and the independent study was a really great time for students to

explore their interests. The majority of students got along really well with their host families and siblings in every location we went to. As for things that could be improved, the Spanish rigor could be more intense and more immersive. I also believe that the courses we took could be on more complicated subjects. However, with this being said, the staff was extremely open to suggestions and improvements about the program. An overall great experience that I would recommend.

By my title I mean that this program and experience in Chile is one that if you allow it will challenge you to fully explore your sense of adventure and ability to truly sit and revel in the moments that make up the fullness of life. It allows you to

engage and let your mind and curiosity wander wherever they are drawn. SIT provides you with the the kind of rigor that results in something invaluable and everlasting. This program is structured in such a way that you very much make of your experience what you want. This program surrounds you with so many invaluable resources and people that you can take leaps and bounds if you are driven to. It also is such that simply being in Chile, immersed in the beauty, rich history and the vibrant culture, provides you with such inspiration that the passion you enter with will only grow in ways you didn't know it could. Interpret it as you wish, but I came out of my abroad experience with more questions than I did answers to the questions I posed to myself when first entering into the experience. As far as specifics: On Education: Education happens outside of the classroom and that education is fantastic. The education that happens inside the classroom is on interesting and relevant topics but is the traditional lecture at students and in this way not as engaging and eventful as experiential education that nurtures dialogue. Nonetheless constant classes in Spanish do very much help your language skills. Outside of the traditional classroom the learning experience is very much boundless. You are the decision maker in how much you want to challenge yourself to think and grow in new ways. On Housing: Host family experience: My host mom truly became a very special person to me. She also helped so much with making my experience a meaningful one. You simply have to be upfront about any needs but also be flexible and understand that you will sometimes miss things from home. On Social and Cultural Integration: This program is incredible in the sense that you spend a significant portion of it traveling and living with different groups of Chileans. This within itself gives you so much cultural integration. You have to try a little harder to break through into social culture with Chilean youth. Make an effort to join clubs and do things that would draw the people you would like to get to know in Chile. On Safety: Use your head and follow your gut and don't let anything else hold you back. That was my mentality throughout my time in Chile. I never had any problems safety wise. Listen to people who have experience on what areas are ok and which are not. There very much are areas where it is unsafe to go. The administration is very aware of both your safety, independence and desire for adventures and cares for you with all in mind. Keep your head on straight, while still dancing around in the clouds and discovering things you never knew you'd would and all will be well.

This program was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I met such amazing people – host family, program staff, other students, etc. Valparaíso is such a fun and vibrant city, and I had a great time living in the city and learning about Chilean culture

and history. Definite highlights were the trip to a Mapuche community, improving my Spanish, and getting to explore Valpo with the friends I made. My experience in Chile surpassed any expectations I had going into it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. My advice is to be willing to roll with the punches and allow yourself to adjust and adapt to Chilean culture, and you will be able to get SO much out of this experience.

I would recommend this program to anyone studying a humanity, but especially to those interested in human rights work and social justice movements. This program connects you to some powerful folks in the community, and you create some meaningful connections

with active members in the community working to change one of the many problems facing Chile due to an unfair constitution put into effect during the dictatorship (or maybe working to change the constitution itself). You also get to see the very north of Chile (Arica and Putre) and the south in and around Temuco; during those excursions, we learned about the Aymara (in the north) and the Mapuche (in the south). It is honestly such a crazy experience to be able to see such different ways of life, along with their philosophies in life and what they believe our universe is. If anything, this program is eye-opening and humbling; you get to do some community work as a group up in the hills of Valparaíso, meet incredible human rights activists working towards a better Chile, learn about the country's struggle to reconcile with its past, and above all, immerse yourself in rich, Chilean culture. This program is for the curious, the ambitious, the motivated, and the wanderers seeking new adventures at every corner. ____________________ Personally, I am half-Chilean, and I went to be able to study my family's experiences with the dictatorship. If you're reading this and also have Chilean roots, PLEASE consider going. Study abroad is often advertised as the student going to an unfamiliar place, but for me it was a chance to understand where I come from and seeing the full side to my family's history. Even if you're just a Latinx student, studying abroad in your own culture is something absolutely surreal, and life-changing for sure. Consider taking this chance to do it.