Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series highlighting George Washington University students’ experiences in the Study Abroad Program. The entries are edited for style and clarity.
Every time I meet someone new, whether they’re Chilean or another exchange student, I would always expect to hear this one question. “Why Chile?”
Sometimes said with a self-deprecating tone, sometimes with a sense of pride and sometimes just out of courtesy. I think of this as the study abroad equivalent to the dreaded first-year conversation starter: “What’s your major?” Though it requires so much more introspection and deliberation when you decide how you’ll answer it. How a person answers that question reflects their journey, what they value and their willingness to venture out of their comfort zone.
I would usually tell a more conventional study abroad reason along the lines of “I came here to improve my Spanish” or “Chile has a fascinating economic and political history,” which are both very true. However, my real response to “Why Chile?” is something that usually garners mixed responses.
In reality, I have been completely enamored with the Chilean Indie scene, which they sometimes colloquially refer to as “la nueva escena.” It’s a strong, influential and rising subculture that I began to discover through Spotify during the pandemic. In short, it’s a melting pot of different bands of indie rock, post punk, shoegaze, metal and countless different genres. What ties them together, though, is the strong interconnected community and the supportive fanbase.
The scene is small, which means I get to watch, meet and talk to some of the most influential people from the scene. I have wanted to go to Chile just to see some of these bands and artists—so much to the point that I learned Spanish from zero since my first year at GW, just to be able to participate in the GW Chile program. I never fail to receive laughs or interrogations from Chileans coming from disbelief. Usually with a sentiment along the lines of: you came on a 28 hour flight just to see this tiny music scene? Their pride shines through our interactions, and it’s always a joy to let people know that their culture is appreciated.
Having my study abroad experience be centered on my personal interest has made this semester unforgettable. I went to countless shows and met numerous super cool, passionate and talented people. Specifically, that curiosity about a subculture in another part of the world led me to a continent I have never stepped foot in and immersed myself in a beautiful new language.
If any culture speaks to you and your personal interests, which can take shape in many forms not limited to music, arts, sports and cuisine, then studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to do so. The biggest advantage for studying abroad with this mindset is that it automatically creates an amazing balance between studying and finding time for yourself without needing to scramble to look for things to do.
One of the big struggles in studying abroad is finding yourself lost in academics or not knowing what to do with your weekend. Not wanting to waste their limited time abroad stands as being one of the worst feelings for a lot of study abroad students. With this in mind, I strongly believe choosing my study abroad journey based on my personal interest over other factors was the best thing I’ve done in GW. In the end, everything fell into place, and I was able to shape every other aspect of my study abroad experience around accomplishing that defined goal.
Kaia Arditha
Spring 2025
GW Chile - Spanish Track (GW Study Program)
Columbian College of Arts and Science
Economics & Data Science Double Major
Information on the GW Study programs is available here.