CIEE - The Council on International Educational Exchange
By Kristi Reed, Marketing Coordinator, CIEE

To give you a little history, since 1947 CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." CIEE is a leading U.S. non-governmental international education organization. Today, CIEE has 60 study programs in over 30 host countries, 500 volunteer projects in 30 host countries, work programs in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, and teaching programs in China and Thailand. Every one of our 40 U.S. specialists has studied or lived abroad (and usually can't wait until the next trip.)

Founded in 1992, the CIEE Study Center in Santiago, Chile aims to provide students with firsthand knowledge of contemporary issues and cultural patterns in Chile, accomplished through an orientation program, supplemental cultural activities throughout the semester, and Chilean homestays. Its goals are also to meet the academic needs of students through enrollment at three outstanding universities in Santiago: the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the Universidad de Chile, and the Universidad de Santiago. You can see some of the pictures in this slide show of the Santiago, Chile program.

Jackie is experiencing what many students before her have, the opportunity of a lifetime. That is what studying abroad is about and our Chile program provides Jackie and students like her with the advantage of enrolling with prestigious Chilean universities. The courses there are ideal for students with an advanced background in Spanish language who want to study in a wide variety of disciplines. As you know, Jackie has been living with a Chilean family as part of what we call a homestay. Homestays help students truly get in touch with local Chileans and become immersed fully in the culture rather than living in a dorm with other American students.

Another opportunity that our students have are our optional excursions such as the CIEE camping trip Jackie recently experienced. She describes it saying:

Nothing could have prepared me for camping Chilean style. Armed with the latest Chilean issue of Cosmo, imported marshmallows, and an ample supply of junk food, I boarded the bus Friday morning with twenty of my CIEE comrades. The bus ride to Parque Nacional de Campana took us north past countless mountain ranges, including the highest mountain in the "Four Americas," according to our program directors. No one was ever quite able to figure out what the fourth America could be...

As the bus pulled into the campground, we began pressing against the windows, unable to believe our eyes. Though the view was impressive, tropical-looking mountains covered in palm trees and cacti, our astonishment resulted from countless cows meandering through our campsites. Throughout our stay, they backed into tents, ate the food off the grill, and caused general confusion (though they provided an unparalleled photo opportunity!) The "cow situation" was only matched by the dangers of the overhanging palm trees, which dropped the occasional baseball size coconut onto the unsuspecting campers below. While our bus driver crawled around gathering the coconuts and extracting their fruit with his pocket knife, the program directors fired up the grill for my first Chilean barbeque.

CIEE has study abroad programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America. CIEE provides several advantages to its participants including dedicated full-time CIEE resident staff on-site at all of our locations, programs that include more for your money and academic excellence both in and out of the classroom. What will your story be? Consider studying abroad with CIEE and exploring the possibilities.

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For more information:
CIEE
7 Custom House Street, 3rd Floor
Portland, ME 04101
Toll-Free: 1-800-40-STUDY
1-207-553-7600
Contact Us

A Chilean legend maintains that after God had created the wonders of the world he had many pieces leftover. He had raging rivers, sprawling glaciers, valleys and soaring mountains, snow-capped volcanoes, sparkling lakes, beautiful forests and deserts, icy fjords and sandy beaches. Rather than let all this beauty go to waste, he put them together in a remote part of the world, and so Chile was born (chile.studyabroad.com).

As is demonstrated by the Plaza de Armas, the Chileans in Santiago know how to allow the old and the new to coexist peacefully. You can see the historic Santiago Cathedral, which shares the square with an ultra-modern skyscraper. The Plaza de Armas is downtown Santiago at its finest and not only can you go there to see the old and the new, it also provides a microcosm of the city's population. All kinds of people mix freely there, with the variety that you will come to love in Santiago.

Santiago is also a very clean city. Its modern subway system, the multitude of wonderful restaurants, and the gorgeous parks will delight you. Santiago provides the perfect setting for studying abroad whether you want to perfect your knowledge of Spanish, learn more about the local culture or pursue a variety of other studies through the many programs available.

People in Santiago are extremely friendly although you may find yourself struggling to keep up with the language at first given that Chilean Spanish contains many slang expressions. With 5 million people in Santiago, however, you will have plenty of opportunities to practice until you get the hang of it. You may find that you need to be assertive in getting the attention of the Chileans, such as making sure a store owner notices you if you need help. Yet more opportunities to practice that Spanish!

Santiago also has much to offer in terms of entertainment and adventure. One of the city's unique entertainments can be found at the heights of the eastern suburb, La Reina, where you can race along on a wheeled toboggan. Climbing and hiking are also available in many areas directly outside the city. Within an hour of the city are some excellent places to go white water rafting or skiing. And as with almost everywhere in Chile, you are also within easy reach of the beach.

If you want to explore the cultured side of Chile, Santiago is definitely the place to be. Chile was home to 2 Nobel prize winners, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda. Santiago features the Neruda museum as well as an impressive tiled mural in honor of Mistral. The city is known for its wonderful museums (there are at least 65 of them), the finest of which is generally agreed to be the Museo Arqueológico de Santiago that features excellent exhibits on Chile's indigenous peoples.

Santiago provides unparalleled opportunities for students wishing to explore the wonders of Chile, both modern and historic, natural and man-made, cultured and adventurous, and everything in between.