Political science major Victoria Ford always wanted to explore her Mexican-American roots, but growing up bi-racial in the United States left her feeling somewhat disconnected from her Spanish-speaking heritage.
Her parents’ stories of cultural exploration inspired her, particularly her father’s transformative experience in Mexico during high school through the IU Honors Program in Foreign Languages (IUHPFL). His two months abroad left a lasting impact, shaping his independence, maturity, and Spanish language skills. Decades later, he could still speak the language and recall the life-changing lessons learned. “It’s amazing how those two months shaped his life,” Victoria shared. “He always encouraged me to go abroad, and it was always in the cards for me.” With both her parent’s encouragement and her own interest, she fostered the idea of studying abroad from an early age as a way to connect with part of her identity.
Victoria’s journey began during her freshman year at IU when she met with the Education Abroad office. After considering various options, she decided on a summer program in Chile. Santiago became her temporary home, where she and another student from her IES program lived with a Spanish-speaking host. Apart from the 2 classes she took through her program, she also took up an internship with an organization, Good Neighbors Chile. Her role required extensive research in Spanish and interactions with local elementary school students, an experience that not only tested her language skills but also deepened her connection to the community.

“My favorite part of the program,” Victoria said, “was the travel. We got to explore so many parts of the country and continent.” Among her most cherished memories was a trip to San Pedro de Atacama, a desert region in northern Chile. She and her cohort camped under the stars, immersed in the local culture through conversations with tour guides and breathtaking views of mountainous landscapes.
Adapting to life in Chile had some challenges. The Chilean dialect was very different for Victoria, who was raised hearing Mexican Spanish. While each Spanish-speaking country has its own slang and place-specific terminology, Chilean Spanish is notable for how much it differs from other Spanish-speaking countries. For example, many food words are based on the language of the indigenous Mapuche people rather than the more familiar Maya, Incan, and Aztec words common in Central America. At first, the language barrier was intimidating, especially when she was tired or had her guard down. Over time, however, she learned to embrace imperfection. “I just had to be okay with making mistakes and recognize that progress mattered more than perfection. When I returned, my Spanish had improved so much.”
Her time in Chile had a profound academic and personal impact. Pursuing a Spanish minor at IU, Victoria found her classes significantly easier post study abroad experience. Earlier, she used to struggle to understand her professor or keep up with the discussions but after her summer abroad she no longer had that issue. On a personal level, the experience strengthened her relationships, enabling deeper conversations with her Spanish-speaking grandparents at home.
Victoria’s journey also reinforced her belief in the value of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Her advice to students considering studying abroad is simple but powerful: “Don’t be afraid. Embrace the unknown, because it’s going to turn out great. Be open-minded and willing to learn. Integrating into another culture, even for a short time, is an invaluable experience. It broadens your worldview and teaches you empathy and understanding.”


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