Elkin Mantilla

Elkin Mantilla (he/him) - Stanford in Santiago

Major: International Relations

Minor: Portuguese & History

College year while abroad: Sophomore

About the photo: Hiking in Patagonia. Mountains appear much larger in person.

Q&As

Why did you choose to study abroad in Santiago?

I am an international relations major with a concentration in Latin American studies. One of the things that was in the back of my mind when choosing my concentration was: do I know the region that I am studying well enough? Learning about it through a textbook is one thing, but it is something entirely different to experience it firsthand. I wanted to deepen my connection to the area by living and studying in Santiago, a goal that I was able to achieve during my time there.

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

I was born and raised in Colombia, so I think without even meaning to I had convinced myself that it wouldn’t be that culturally different from where I grew up. I was completely wrong. I was surprised to find that Santiago is more like New York City (where I am from in the States) than my small town in Colombia. I think the culture shock wouldn’t have been as large as it was if I hadn’t come into the city with any preconceptions.

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

I have taken my share of history classes at Stanford where the professors are so knowledgeable in their subject that they can tell you niche tidbits of history. However, in Chile the professors weren’t just telling you the history, they were a part of it. It brought into perspective just how recent the dictatorship was in the country and how it is still in the hearts and minds of the Chilean people.

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

I am used to being on the Stanford meal plan so whenever I am hungry food is just a short walk away. However, in Chile, we were given a stipend every couple of weeks to buy groceries or eat out. This was the first time I had to budget for food, consider whether to eat out or cook, and worry if the food I was buying/cooking was healthy for me. While the convenience of Stanford dining halls is nice, it was great to pick up important real-life skills through the program.

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

Being away from my family and my friends was a very tough experience at the beginning. Because I went to Santiago in the Spring that meant that I would not see my friends until fall quarter, 6 months after. Maintaining those connections can be difficult, specially when you are not used to it. To overcome this we used discord and called often to check in to see how we were doing.

What was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make?

The biggest cultural adjustment I had to make was speaking Spanish all the time. Spanish is my first language and I am used to speaking with my parents all the time so I was surprised to see that this was the case. For my first few days in Chile, I would accidentally say “I’m sorry” when bumping into someone, or “excuse me” when trying to leave the crowded metro stations. Eventually, there was a shift in my brain and Spanish became my default language, even to the point where when I returned to New York I was saying “permiso” when trying to get off the bus.

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

Although we are given money for transportation as part of our stipend I still refused to use public transportation to go to and from class. I enjoyed seeing the people go by their days in such a busy city, the different shops and bakeries, and just taking in the city as a whole. I don’t think I ever got used to seeing the Andes mountains overlooking the city despite seeing them every day. It was amazing that I could walk for 50 minutes between our residence and the center and the mountains would never appear to get any closer.

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

A couple of other students and I volunteered at a local high school as assistants to an English teacher. Getting to know the students and the Chilean education system is what will stick with me the most from my time in the country. All of the students were very driven and were excited to have us there with them. I think I enjoyed my time there so much because while I was teaching me English they were teaching me about their culture and their lives in Chile.

What 5 words would you use to describe your experience?

Eye-opening, instructive, adventurous, rewarding, and unforgettable.

What was your favorite food or music?

There was this coffee shop near the center that had the most delicious blondies. If you are going to Santiago you should definitely ask me about this place. As for music, my students recommended “Los Prisioneros” and “Los Bunkers.”

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

My Nintendo Switch, I love playing Mario Kart and it was one of the ways that me and my roommate bonded.