Student Profiles
James takes a moment to look out into the San Pedro de Atacama, the driest desert in the world.
Remember to break from those who only try to speak English because you will never expand upon your knowledge of the culture and language if you don't.”
James Estes
James’ major: Neuroscience
Year abroad: Summer 2009
Reason you chose this program: It provided a combined experience of studying Spanish, learning about health care, exploring a foreign country, and having a more worldly knowledge about the ways things are.
Favorite classes: Spanish Health Care Internship
Describe the housing situation: I lived with a host family who only spoke Spanish and cooked fantastic meals. The family was large and inviting, which made a very comfortable environment for my stay.
Best memory: Snowboarding down the peaks of the Andes Mountains.
Biggest surprise: How many McDonalds and KFC's were inside the city!
Experience with culure shock or reverse culture shock: Having to deal with bland food and how I missed certain types of their food when I came back.
Going abroad vs. staying on campus: Forcing myself to understand and practice the language as opposed to sitting in a classroom and pretending to be knowledgeable on the subject.
If I could do it over, I would... spend more time getting to know more of the locals and establish long term relationships.
Fact about your host country that you think people would be surprised to learn: Chile has some of the most diverse climate changes for a country, with the northern parts covered by desert and jungle, and the southern with sea and snowy mountains.
