Meet Mia Taggett, an ASA alumna who studied abroad in Viña del Mar, Chile, during the fall semester of 2024. Below, Mia shares her inspiration for choosing a non-traditional study abroad destination, a fun fact about her academic experience, and a few of the ways she has already seen her time abroad play a role in her personal and professional development.
ASA: Share three quick fun facts about yourself!
MIA TAGGETT: First: I am currently majoring in English, Spanish, and Chinese Area Studies, Second: I want to visit Antarctica one day! Third: I absolutely adore cats.
ASA: You studied abroad with ASA in Viña del Mar in Fall 2024. Why did you choose Chile? Was it the right decision for you and why?
MT: I had taken a geology lecture my freshman year of college and, through that, I learned of the natural diversity which is what captured my attention in the first place. I also really wanted to visit Rapa Nui (Easter Island), because I grew up watching documentaries about the history and mystery of the island.
ASA: Was there anything that surprised you about Viña del Mar or Chile generally that would be useful for incoming study-abroad students to know?
MT: The Chilean accent is much different than that of Spain or Mexico, so my first week or so in Chile I felt like I didn't know any Spanish. Even my friends from Mexico had trouble understanding! But, with help from my peers and teachers, I began to catch on.
ASA: Tell us about your accommodation in Viña del Mar. Where was your favorite spot within a five five-minute walk?
MT: I lived with a host family during my time in Chile, and they lived right next to the coast. My go-to location was usually the beach across the street or a local cafe for some chai!
ASA: How did the academics at Universidad de Viña del Mar compare to what you were used to back home?
MT: At my home institution, we get one credit for every hour the class meets per week. So a 4-credit class meets four hours a week. However, the classes I had in Viña worked differently. In Viña, I got one credit for every half-hour the class meets per week. So a 4-credit class met two hours a week, which was super nice and gave me a lot of time to travel and sightsee.
ASA: Did you meet anyone while studying abroad that impacted your life in some way?
MT: I went to Chile not knowing anyone, but during my time there, I got the chance to meet so many new people from many different countries including Mexico, Norway, Germany, Austria, Argentina, and Chile (of course)! I also met my current boyfriend through the international club that I had joined.
ASA: Did you travel beyond Viña del Mar in Chile or further into South America? If so, where did you go?
MT: Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of money to work with for traveling, but I did make it to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)! I mainly traveled through the bus lines around the Valparaiso region (some of these were included with the program) and managed to visit Argentina for a weekend as well. *Easter Island and Argentina were not included with the ASA program.
ASA: What was your favorite meal in Chile?
MT: My favorite was called "porotos con riendas" which directly translates to "beans with reins." I absolutely loved the name because it was a creative way to describe the dish which mainly contained a thick broth, sausage, beans, and long noodles.
ASA: Do you feel like study abroad has played (or will play in the future) a role in your personal and/or professional development?
MT: It already has played such a big role in my life by helping me grow my self-confidence and expand my knowledge of other countries, cultures, and opinions from around the world. I also believe it will continue to play a large role in my life because I definitely plan to return to Chile to work and move in with my boyfriend.
ASA: What advice would you offer to the next group of students studying abroad with ASA Viña del Mar, or students who are currently considering signing up for this program?
MT: The first couple days are hard, no matter what mindset you have, but as long as you power through the jet lag and embrace the adrenalin of living in a new country, you will get through it. Time will pass so quickly, but don't pressure yourself to explore everything during this trip because you can always come back. I highly recommend just living in and exploring the city, because even just one city holds so many fun adventures!
Thanks Mia!