When I announced to my family and friends that I intended to complete my semester abroad in Chile, I was met with typically one of two responses: “Where is that?” and “Is it safe?”. I myself knew very little about Chile or Latin America at the time but was fueled by a desire to learn Spanish and head somewhere off the beaten track. I was sure that Chile would be safe enough, given that my university had an official exchange program with two of its universities - which happened to be amongst the best in the region. I did very little research before going (in hindsight I’m shocked at how little I investigated), but wanted to go into the experience with an open mind and no expectations.

Upon arriving in January 2023, I was shocked at how difficult the language was. Three years of Spanish classes at university and the comments from my local Colombian friends who told me I spoke well had given me false confidence. I was warned that Chilean Spanish was distinct, but I was not prepared for how fast it was and how many unique words it possessed. It took a while to get comfortable with it, but I started having conversations in Spanish from day one because I had no other choice. Most of my housemates didn’t speak English, workers in supermarkets and passengers on the train didn’t switch to English for me even when they heard me struggling in Spanish. This is one of the best ways to learn, the “sink or swim” method, and it made me glad I had chosen Chile over Spain for my exchange, a country where locals often switch to English to accommodate tourists. Although travelling through Chile or Latin America wouldn’t be impossible for a tourist who doesn’t speak Spanish, it certainly would be difficult, especially outside of major cities. For anyone looking to travel or study there, it’s definitely worth learning some everyday phrases for ordering food, asking for directions, etc.

I realised very quickly just how safe I was in the area I was staying in Santiago, Chile’s capital. The city of almost seven million people has many gated communities with security guards and neighbourhood watch. In many ways, I felt safer than in my own suburb in Australia. In the city’s eastern neighbourhoods I could walk around freely without looking over my shoulder. Any concerns I had for safety were the same as a tourist should have in any major city: don’t walk alone at night, don’t have your phone out in your hand on the street, don’t carry any valuables in a loose bag, don’t travel to neighbourhoods locals tell you not to travel to. I abided by these rules and was never in any unsafe situation. I found that strangers were very accommodating and always willing to help. Instead of taking my phone to look at maps confused while on busy city streets, I would often ask someone for help and be met with sincere guidance.

As a woman, we have to take precautions wherever we go. The same rules that I followed in Chile were largely the same ones I follow at home. Don’t let the concerns of others who haven’t been to that country or know anything about it dissuade you from travelling. Do your own research, decide what you’re comfortable with, and make an informed judgement. Latin America is often plagued by negative stereotypes in our media, yet it is a diverse region with 33 countries that are all unique. Generalisations shouldn’t be made for the whole region based on the problems of one country alone. During my time in Chile I travelled to Argentina and Bolivia and my experiences were also positive.

Though being underprepared did teach me valuable lessons, I wish I had done more research on Chile and living abroad in general before arriving. My biggest challenges over there were often administrative ones: navigating the bank system and accessing my money overseas, visas, phone plans, health insurance, etc. It never hurts to be over-prepared and will give you a lot more time to enjoy your destination.