City of Contradictions
Although not the prettiest capital city in South America, nor airy to say the least (pollution and smog make it a little difficult to breathe in at times), Santiago still pulls in millions of visitors each year - and after a couple of days here, you'll soon see why. Located pretty much smack bang in the middle of this adventurous coastal country, you'll be left speechless one a less-smoggy day, when the Andes rise high and proud on the West, with the beaches not to far out on the East of this marvellous city. In fact, you can easily go climbing in the morning and relax on the beach with a Pisco Sour for company in the afternoon. Yet it's not just its perfect location that brings in the savvy travellers and international students here.

I was placed in a university in Santiago, Chile. It was an ideal placement for me because I had already lived there for a few months before and was already familiar with the city and their colloquial way of speaking.

How long for?
The placement lasted an academic year—from September through to June, but as I was in the summer hemisphere, I got my summer holidays in January, which was really nice!