Carolyn Kennedy

Carolyn Kennedy (she/her) - Stanford in Santiago

Major: International Relations

Minor: Spanish

College year while abroad: Sophomore

About the photo: This is me on one of our field trips which was a 7 mile hike at Parque Aguas de Ramón with amazing views of the city and the mountains!

Q&As

Why did you choose to study abroad in Santiago?

As an IR major, study abroad is one of the core requirements. Because I am a student-athlete, I can only leave campus during summer quarter. This meant my options were Cape Town and Santiago. I chose to study in Santiago because I wanted the opportunity to improve my Spanish. Additionally, I was very excited about the course offerings for this program. I did not know when else I would have the opportunity to live in South America, so it seemed like the perfect choice. Santiago is very manageable city with lots of opportunities to be in nature and explore!

What were your expectations before you went and how did those change once you arrived in Santiago?

Going into the program I expected to travel to other countries during the quarter. However, once I learned more about the awesome courses being offered and got comfortable in Santiago with my cohort, I realized that I really wanted to lean into life in the city and get the most out of my classes. I was also hit with the reality check that 10 weeks flies by, so I felt like my study abroad priorities changed within the first few weeks. As a result, I did not travel outside of Chile during the program, but I did see a lot of the country itself including Atacama, the Lakes District, Patagonia, and Cajón de Maipo. I still went on weekend trips but prioritized being in the city with my cohort and taking an additional class.

What were some of the academic benefits from studying abroad in Santiago?

I loved learning from Chilean professors, especially in the context of history and politics. It was so refreshing to hear a perspective that was not Eurocentric which can be common in IR courses at Stanford. The staff in Santiago is truly excellent, and learning from those who lived through the dictatorship was an incredibly unique experience. I also valued the small class sizes which allowed for a lot of interaction with professors and opportunities to ask questions. Lastly, my Spanish significantly improved in Santiago, especially because most of the courses are taught in Spanish. After my quarter abroad, I am only 2 classes away from a Spanish minor!

What did you learn about yourself while you were studying abroad?

I learned that I absolutely love living in a city especially when there is great public transportation! I have always lived in the suburbs and found cities to be overstimulating in the past, so I was apprehensive about this element of Santiago. However, being in the city felt so liberating because the metro and micro can truly take you anywhere. I felt settled in Santiago within a week and found it a very easy place to navigate and live. I am now confident that I want to live in a city after Stanford!

What was the most challenging experience you encountered while you were abroad and what did you learn from it?

I found it hard at first to balance staying connected with family and friends at home while also being present and enjoying my life in Santiago. My iMessage was working inconsistently, so there were times were I felt very disconnected from my life in the US. Over time, I got into a routine with calling family and friends in addition to sending them pictures and videos. I tried to be on social media less, so I would not be bombarded with what others were doing. This helped me connect meaningfully with people over text instead of just scrolling and missing friends from Stanford.

What was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make?

As a student-athlete, I am someone who is always running on a tight schedule and values punctuality. As a result, "Chilean time" was a big adjustment for me. Chileans tend to be at least 30 minutes late and there often is not much urgency around social time. Santiago really forced me to slow down and let go. People will arrive when they arrive, and it is not necessary to optimize every minute of the day. This is something I hope to bring back into my Stanford life because once I adjusted I felt much more present and relaxed. I am grateful for this adjustment because it allowed me to develop better friendships and say yes to more spontaneous activities.

What was your favorite part of your everyday life in Santiago?

My favorite part of everyday life in Santiago was cooking dinner and eating with the cohort! We had 2 apartments across the hall from each other, so we would open the doors and play music. It was so much fun trying out new foods together and always following dinner with a movie night. I loved this evening routine filled with connection and good food!

What was the most memorable experience you had while you were in Santiago?

Our language partner invited us over to her house to celebrate her birthday and her baby cousin's birthday with their family. It was amazing to be invited into their home and eat a meal with them. The family-oriented culture is wonderful and her family made us feel like we belonged. I was moved by their kindness to let us into a family experience.

What 5 words would you use to describe your experience?

Freeing, spontaneous, bonding, engaging, and unforgettable.

What was your favorite food or music?

Alfajores - these are shortbread cookies with caramel in the middle and coconut flakes on the outside, they are delicious and sold at most bakeries!

What was the most valuable item you took with you on the program?

Little coin purse - I typically never carry cash so having something that is small and easy to fit in your pocket is useful because the stipend comes in cash.