By Maddie Hume, ISA Chile Program Manager
Continued from My Life in Chile – Part 1…
After traipsing through the mountains and the desert, I would always end up needing a solid meal. My favorite way to find a bite was to go to the local ferias, or markets, and pick up some fresh ceviche, if I were close to the coast, or some Chilean sausage to make choripan.

Choripan, an asado staple, is essentially a grilled sausage in French bread with ketchup, mayo, and/or a mix of tomatoes, onions, lemon, and cilantro, known as pebre. Sounds pretty basic, but it tastes like the best thing you’ve ever eaten after a long day in the sun or alongside a chela shared with friends.
Although I loved every minute of my travels through more distant regions of Chile, I always felt most at home near the Pacific. While living in this slender country I was fortunate enough to befriend a few locals that showed me the most captivating and special places. For example, the secret beach with the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen is only a short drive from Valpo.
We sat for long summer days sharing commonalities and points of diversion between our cultures while drinking mate on the sand. During my time in Chile I was always surrounded by enchanting vistas, but what remains most vivid in my memory are the people I shared those places with. Had I not studied in Chile, I would not be fluent in a second language, I would not have seen the diversity of nature that can exist in such close proximity, and I would not have made some of my most cherished friends.
At this point, had I not studied in Chile, I’m not sure who exactly I would be!
So, now that I have assured you that Chile is the most spectacular place, what are you waiting for? Apply now! Your Chilean adventure is just over the Horizon.
Mucha suerte,
Madeline Hume
Learn more about study abroad programs in Chile!