Lara Maldonado Ramalho ’24

Lara studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile through the School for International Training (SIT): Cultural Identity, Social Justice, and Community Development program for the Spring of her junior year at Providence College.

Why Lara Chose SIT & Chile

Lara decided to study in Valparaíso, Chile because she wanted to be in an environment that she had never experienced before. She loved that her program had a big focus on experiential learning. Lara was not just in Chile to sit down in a classroom and take notes but was there to understand Chileans and their experiences on a more intimate level. She wanted to pick a program that allowed her to enrich her knowledge regarding the injustices that Chileans face and the history behind their discriminatory experiences. Lara believes this program gave her exactly what she was looking for.

Her Favorite Memories

Lara enjoyed discovering a new culture and way of thinking. The excursions that her program organized were absolutely incredible. During these excursions, she had the opportunity to live with two indigenous communities. These experiences opened Lara’s mind and helped her understand a different way of living. It was an honor for her to share a space with these communities and learn so much from them.

Biggest Challenge

One of the challenges Lara faced while studying abroad was connecting with people outside of her program. Her classmates were all from the U.S, and they would spend time together almost every day due to classes and excursions. It was hard for her to have the time to meet locals that were the same age outside of the program. This challenge taught Lara that sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone to meet new people, and it is okay to do it by yourself.

Advice for Future Students

Lara believes every student should have an open-mind when studying abroad. When you are in a new place, it is hard to feel comfortable at first and that is completely normal. But remember that you are there to learn about a new culture, language, customs, and environment, which is why it is incredibly important to be open to understanding a new perspective.