When I first landed in Chile, I won’t lie, I was pretty anxious. For most of my life I had suffered from a number of chronic illnesses, however, two months before my departure I began experiencing new symptoms and received a diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia, a severe chronic pain disorder. I feared what my experience might be like abroad, not knowing if or when a flare up might occur, or even how long it might last. I was very close to canceling my plans to study abroad, but knew that a flare up could occur anytime, anyplace - so if I was going to experience pain anyways, I’d rather do it in Chile experiencing a new environment, culture, and language. As I looked out the window on the drive to Valparaíso, the city I’d be living in for the next four months, I knew I had made the right decision.
I am originally from a small Iowa town of 1,000 people, so I enjoyed every moment I had exploring the city - trying out every cafe (and returning to many of them), visiting each bookstore and library, and carefully cataloging photos of the street art in my phone. My wonderful host mom took me to many birthday parties, bingo days, and girls-night-in dinner parties. Being so graciously accepted into her home and family allowed me to truly experience Chilean culture, an experience I am still so grateful to her for. Our late-night conversations over “once” (a snack eaten in the afternoon or evening) taught me a lot about Chile’s history and present, specifically its politics and civil rights movements. Chilean students have such tenacity in their demonstrations for rights in education and that is something I took home with me, and I will attempt to recreate that same tenacity in my future career as a teacher.
"While in Chile, I learned a lot about myself and my disabilities. I grew to appreciate them in a way I hadn’t before. I realized the many skills and traits my disabilities had allowed me to foster, such as the ability to find hope and persevere in every situation. While abroad, I also became much more comfortable and confident with advocating for myself and my needs."
Not only did I live in Valparaíso, but I had the opportunity to travel to the northernmost city in Chile, Arica, and Temuco, a city located in the south of Chile. While visiting Temuco, we stayed with a homestay family in Chapod, a very small rural, Mapuche town. Each trip was absolutely amazing; however, I unfortunately experienced a very bad flare up while visiting the south due to the colder temperatures. Although I had to trade in most of our activities and lectures for lying in bed, I was still able to learn about the Mapuche people--I was greatly moved by the kindness, care, and consideration shown to me by the local community in my time of need. My host family in Chapod, whom I had only known for a few days, made me warm soup to combat the cold, brewed herbal teas to ease my pain, and even prayed for me. Additionally, my instructors and peers offered me support and understanding, all of which made the flare up much more bearable.
While in Chile, I learned a lot about myself and my disabilities. I grew to appreciate them in a way I hadn’t before. I realized the many skills and traits my disabilities had allowed me to foster, such as the ability to find hope and persevere in every situation. While abroad, I also became much more comfortable and confident with advocating for myself and my needs. Having experienced the initial struggle of communicating my symptoms and needs in Spanish with people who were at the time strangers, it now seems so much easier to tell my loved ones, co-workers, or peers in my first language, English, that I am unable to do something or need assistance because of one of my disabilities. Most of all, I learned my needs matter and it’s up to me to make them known.
If you’re considering studying abroad, go for it! I believe studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has an unquantifiable impact. If you have a disability or disabilities, create a plan with your therapist, doctors, study abroad advisor, and family for each possible scenario--the peace of mind in having a plan made the experience much smoother for me. Once you get there, my only other advice is to take notes and lots of pictures - it’s an experience you don’t want to forget!
Josie Mbaye (science education/environmental science major), a Diversity Ambassador Scholarship recipient (now the Global Access Ambassador Scholarship), participated in SIT Chile: Cultural Identity, Social Justice, and Community Development in spring 2023.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP
The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship (formerly Diversity Ambassador) program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.
Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.