This exchange has been the best year and experience of my life. I loved every day here. The first couple of months in Santiago were challenging due to the language barrier and strong accent and use of slang, but I forced myself to listen carefully to the people and practise the language until I got a really good grasp of it.
My teachers, course co-ordinators and classmates at Andres Bello helped me a lot and were really, really understanding, compassionate and patient with me. I really enjoyed studying and partying with my Chilean classmates and friends. They’re friendly, loving, talented, fun, thoughtful, warm, kind, interesting, supportive and beautiful people, and they always made me feel welcome, accepted and adored. They inspired me to try new things and helped me to learn more than I thought possible. I absolutely love my Chilean friends and it breaks my heart to have to leave behind the life that I have made here. 
During the year I have studied a variety of music subjects, including guitar, singing, recorder, piano and percussion, plus studied traditional cultures and the history of Chile plus the history of America from the ice age right up to the Spanish Conquest. All of these subjects have been challenging but I have really developed my Spanish speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. I have taken a variety of dance classes as well, including the Cueca which is a traditional Chilean dance, and very hard to master.
Chile is a great place to live and study, especially if you want immersion in a musical culture. I was surprised by the fact that all of my classmates are so talented in nearly every instrument that they touch. It inspired me to try new instruments, including Andean instruments.
It is easy to fall in love with Chile and especially the Chileans. They are wonderful and I strongly recommend an exchange experience to Chile and for music students, Andres Bello is fantastic, fun and rewarding. Everyone is a musician and you can develop new skills every day and develop personally in so many ways.