This is a topic I touched on in my introductory video if you have seen that, and if you haven't go watch it now! But with this post I want to go a bit more in depth into what swayed me to choose Chile.
For me, the country I chose was always going to be a Spanish-speaking country, despite the fact I also study French. My main reason for this is because I take my education very seriously, and I am always looking to better myself. Spanish for me, has always been that bit more difficult than French, and the marks I have gotten over the past 2 years certainly reflect that.
So why not just choose Spain, it's an exciting country, easier to get too, cheaper flights, no visas required and there are a hell of a lot more people that have been there before for their year abroad who you can ask all your questions too. My parents hate me for being complicated and not taking this option and a lot of you reading this may think me stupid for not choosing to go to Spain, but hopefully after hearing me out, you can understand what led me to my decision!
1. The Spanish in Chile is not the typical Castillian that I have been studying.
You could say I just love making things hard for myself, that's because I do. I love challenging and pushing myself. It's exciting and when you succeed you feel all the more satisfied for it. Not only that, but learning a different dialect of Spanish injects fresh interest into a topic I have been studying for the better part of 8 years. It will also provide me with a broader perspective and wider understanding of the Spanish language. Sure, it is difficult having to adjust, and then revert back to Castillian when I come back in 4th year, but it'll be worth it, and I believe it will actually have a positive impact on my grades.
2. Again if you saw the introduction video I made, you will understand how big a fan I am of penguins.
Chile has a species of penguin unique to the country, and you can see them in their natural habitat along the coast. This was one pull factor for me, and I'm hoping to come away with some penguin selfies and if I can smuggle a penguin through customs, I will!
3. The culture!
I've been to Spain before, and had a taste of the culture there, both in Magaluf and Barcelona, so I've experienced both extremes. My idea of the year abroad isn't to go out and get smashed every single night and treat it like a holiday, it's going to be the exact opposite! Of course I'll be going out with the new friends I make there, but the year is going to be an education. I will be there long enough to experience most of their public holidays and festivals, such as Chilean Independence day, called Fiestas Patrias or Dieciocho (eighteen) due to it being on the 18th September. They take a whole week off from school to take part in activities such as Chilean rodeos, dancing the cueca which is the national dance of Chile, and so much more. I can't wait to be able to experience this crazy atmoshphere. They are so patriotic that every single building is required to hang the Chilean flag on its front-side or on a flagpole outside, and if they fail to do this they can be fined by law up to 40,000 pesos (about £42.00).
4. The travelling!
The Andes, the Atacama desert, volcanoes, glaciers...Chile has it all. It is the impossibly shaped country that boasts so many varied and rich landscapes, and I plan to see them all! The Atacama desert separates the country from Peru to the north, and it is the driest desert in the world! This is the main part of Chile that I hope to see. On the eastern border of the desert, you can find steaming hot geysers which have been created as the water they contain sits directly on top of the path of tectonic plates, and the resulting pressure caused by the plates is so great that it causes the water to rapidly heat up. If you are an adventurous person, you could jump into the geysers as a form of therapeutic activity, something which I definitely plan to do!
Also, if you've ever wondered if the moon was actually pulling a smiley face, as my parents always used to say to me when I was a kid, the atmosphere is so clear, and because of Chile's position near the end of the world, you can see the moon up close, and judge for yourself if it was pulling a cheeky smile! It's a perfect area for astronomers, or people who just want to gaze at the stars, so take these natural beauty's into account when considering a year in South America!
For me, the country I chose was always going to be a Spanish-speaking country, despite the fact I also study French. My main reason for this is because I take my education very seriously, and I am always looking to better myself. Spanish for me, has always been that bit more difficult than French, and the marks I have gotten over the past 2 years certainly reflect that.
So why not just choose Spain, it's an exciting country, easier to get too, cheaper flights, no visas required and there are a hell of a lot more people that have been there before for their year abroad who you can ask all your questions too. My parents hate me for being complicated and not taking this option and a lot of you reading this may think me stupid for not choosing to go to Spain, but hopefully after hearing me out, you can understand what led me to my decision!
1. The Spanish in Chile is not the typical Castillian that I have been studying.
You could say I just love making things hard for myself, that's because I do. I love challenging and pushing myself. It's exciting and when you succeed you feel all the more satisfied for it. Not only that, but learning a different dialect of Spanish injects fresh interest into a topic I have been studying for the better part of 8 years. It will also provide me with a broader perspective and wider understanding of the Spanish language. Sure, it is difficult having to adjust, and then revert back to Castillian when I come back in 4th year, but it'll be worth it, and I believe it will actually have a positive impact on my grades.
2. Again if you saw the introduction video I made, you will understand how big a fan I am of penguins.
Chile has a species of penguin unique to the country, and you can see them in their natural habitat along the coast. This was one pull factor for me, and I'm hoping to come away with some penguin selfies and if I can smuggle a penguin through customs, I will!
3. The culture!
I've been to Spain before, and had a taste of the culture there, both in Magaluf and Barcelona, so I've experienced both extremes. My idea of the year abroad isn't to go out and get smashed every single night and treat it like a holiday, it's going to be the exact opposite! Of course I'll be going out with the new friends I make there, but the year is going to be an education. I will be there long enough to experience most of their public holidays and festivals, such as Chilean Independence day, called Fiestas Patrias or Dieciocho (eighteen) due to it being on the 18th September. They take a whole week off from school to take part in activities such as Chilean rodeos, dancing the cueca which is the national dance of Chile, and so much more. I can't wait to be able to experience this crazy atmoshphere. They are so patriotic that every single building is required to hang the Chilean flag on its front-side or on a flagpole outside, and if they fail to do this they can be fined by law up to 40,000 pesos (about £42.00).
4. The travelling!
The Andes, the Atacama desert, volcanoes, glaciers...Chile has it all. It is the impossibly shaped country that boasts so many varied and rich landscapes, and I plan to see them all! The Atacama desert separates the country from Peru to the north, and it is the driest desert in the world! This is the main part of Chile that I hope to see. On the eastern border of the desert, you can find steaming hot geysers which have been created as the water they contain sits directly on top of the path of tectonic plates, and the resulting pressure caused by the plates is so great that it causes the water to rapidly heat up. If you are an adventurous person, you could jump into the geysers as a form of therapeutic activity, something which I definitely plan to do!
Also, if you've ever wondered if the moon was actually pulling a smiley face, as my parents always used to say to me when I was a kid, the atmosphere is so clear, and because of Chile's position near the end of the world, you can see the moon up close, and judge for yourself if it was pulling a cheeky smile! It's a perfect area for astronomers, or people who just want to gaze at the stars, so take these natural beauty's into account when considering a year in South America!
These are the main reasons I've chosen Chile as my target country, and my reason for Santiago over Concepción, which was the other city that the University offered, was simply because it is the capital city, and a metropolis, the Chilean equivalent of London. It is right in the middle of everything you could want to see in Chile, which for me makes it the ideal location!