Students have until 31 August to apply for exchange places in countries outside Europe, excluding the USA and Canada. Sophie Papczyk, an environmental sciences student, spent a semester abroad in Chile around a year ago - and can only recommend the experience to others.
Valparaíso - Paradise Valley, that was the name of the distant destination Sophie Papczyk set off for in July 2017. After completing her fourth semester in the subject of environmental sciences, the then 21-year-old had secured one of two places available each year for Oldenburg students at the Chilean partner university, the Pontificia Universidad Católica (Pontifical Catholic University). "It was already clear to me at school that I wanted to spend a long time in Latin America," she says. She was all the more pleased that her application for a place to study in Chile was successful straight away.
Studying with a family connection
Sophie enjoyed the experience of studying in another country for a semester. "It was great to immerse myself in a foreign culture and experience something new every day," she reports. Because it was important to her to get close to the people in Chile, she decided to live with a host family. She initially ended up in a small family - mother and adult son - where she was alone a lot. Sophie therefore asked a little later to be able to change again. She then felt well looked after in the second family. "Two parents, three children and two dogs - there was always something going on there," she says.
Both the local contacts in Chile and the International Student Office (ISO) in Oldenburg were there to help and advise her when she had difficulties, she says. For example, when her rucksack was stolen once on the bus. Crime in Chile worried her at first. But on the whole, she felt safe in Valparaíso. "You have to take a few precautions, but then you get by." In general, the people there are very helpful.
Excursion to the blooming desert
Sophie, who is studying environmental sciences in Oldenburg and wants to specialise in landscape ecology, took geography courses in Chile. "Studying there is more like school," she reports. Attendance is compulsory there and there are performance assessments during the semester. The excursions were a particular highlight for her - for example, a week-long mapping trip in a desert area in the north of Chile: "That was really nice. Because it had rained a lot in winter, everything was in bloom there," she reports. At the same time, the excursion was an opportunity to get used to the simple life: "We camped in a village where there was only cold water and electricity for four hours a day - an interesting experience."
At first, Sophie didn't find it easy to make contact with her fellow Chilean students. She did have a good knowledge of Spanish after doing voluntary work in Gran Canaria. "But Chileans speak very quickly and use their own words and phrases," she explains. A professor advised her to overcome her shyness and simply speak to the students. "I did that and made lots of friends." In general, her time abroad has made her much more relaxed and open: "I'm more confident in approaching people." In any case, her time in Chile did not quench her wanderlust. Her conclusion: "Once you've been abroad, you always want to travel again."
