Adelante Abroad

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6.2 / 10 after 12 Reviews Based on overall, support & value average ratings

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I was a candidate in Adelante's Chile program for three months in early 2017. At the risk of sounding hacknied, the experience was utterly transformative, thanks in large part to Adelante.

After a friendly chat with the feller sent to pick me up from the airport, I arrived to the candidate apartment. Strangely, it was way nicer than it looked in the pictures. Classes at the International Center (Adelante's in-country fixer organization, which also maintains the apartment and a network of homestay families) started a few days later. They were daily group lessons taught by the wonderful Marcela, who took us on excursions in Viña and Valpo as part of the lessons, and advised us extensively on where to buy meat, how to navigate the streets and slang, etc. The International Center crew was not only extremely communicative (and able to speak English, in large part), they took us out and were generally good buddies. I was traveling alone, so that gracious friendliness kept a certain amount of loneliness at bay.

In my second month I moved to a family homestay. There was some confusion here in regard to communication between the International Center and Adelante, but I still ended up in the right place. The host family was extremely accomodating, but a bit controlling. I decided that I wanted to try a different host family a month later, and the Adelante/IC folks had me in a new house the next day. Despite small problems with the host families themselves, Adelante/IC was adament about holding them accountable, and urged me to report any issue that came up.

My internship assignment was spot on. Marcela made sure I knew how to get there and who to talk to (although the beautiful madness of Chilean Spanish made it difficult to chat at first). I was allowed to work at my own pace and take as many tourism days off as I needed. The staff was endlessly cool... if you end up in the area, I recommend you tune in to Radio Valentín Letelier for a (really) broad mix of alternative music.

There are countless wonderful details about the experience that I don't have time to impart, but I gotta mention the excursions to a local vineyard (the first included as part of lessons, the second offered for free when my parents came to visit me) and Charlie (a sweet street dog often accompanied by "the yellow dog," both of whom followed me into supermarkets, churches, and anywhere else). Generally, the atmosphere of the Adelante/IC was one of helpful kindness, and that made good things happen.

I'm omitting a lot of difficult experiences, which were equally essential to the emotional and lingual growth I achieved down there, but none of those were Adelante's fault. In retrospect, I'm awfully grateful for those negative experiences, but pleased to say that they didn't stem from the organization to which I paid $4000.

Adelante is trustworthy and Chile is indescribably worthwhile. Buen viaje, folks. Pick up a slang dictionary on your way.

Program:
Location:
Posted: June 6, 2017
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: abarnboy
Age:
22
Program:
Location:
Posted: March 19, 2017
Overall:
8
Support:
9
Value:
9
By: kaur600
Age:
30

I was very excited to do this program with Adelante Abroad. Unfortunately, the program is less than ideal. If you can, do another program because this program is not worth paying for. First, the housing situation is not pleasant. My apartment had many ants and was dirty upon arrival. Unfortunately, this wasn't very uncommon. Many of my friends' apartments had bugs as well. When I contacted Adelante about this problem, they didn't do anything to help out. What made matter worse was that many of the apartments had very poor wifi connection. Again, when we contacted Adelante about this, they did little to help out.

Regarding the internship portion, my internship was decent. I worked four hours a day. There were many days where I was sitting around and not doing too much. My internship was among the better ones. Some of my friends worked up to 6 hours a day.

Positives: Classes are pretty decent and there are opportunities to go on excursions.

Overall: I would not choose to do this program again or recommend anyone to do this program.

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Location:
Posted: July 22, 2016
Overall:
4
Support:
3
Value:
4
By: EsabelG.
Age:
22

I did the Adelante program in Madrid for four months. This was the first time I worked in an international company and in a different language, and I admit I was nervous! It was definitely a challenge but it was one of the best experiences in my life. All of Adelante's connections in Madrid are top quality. I had excellent language classes, and my apartment was amazing. I interviewed with two companies and selected the smaller company that provided a very supportive atmosphere. To this day my former bosses feel like my small Spanish family. I learned so much; not only about my internship, about the new country I was in, but also about myself. In addition to a quality program, Adelante provided great support. When I had some doubts after my first interview, Adelante encouraged me and was a great help. Throughout the whole experience, and now looking back, I recognize that Adelante was a very good value, and I'm so glad that I did their program. After Adelante I worked in France, then in San Francisco, subsequently I got my Master's Degree at NYU, and now I am a Director at a non-profit. My Adelante experience undoubtedly was a great foundation to my future career successes!

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Location:
Posted: July 19, 2013
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
By: JenniferB
Age:
34

My name is Ernst and I am from South Africa. I completed an internship in Barcelona through Adelante Abroad during the last 3 months of 2012 and cannot express the profound impact this has made on my life. I interned with American company www.partyearth.com, spending my time honing my social media skills and reviewing social hot spots in Barcelona. I fully believe that it's my extensive reviews writing portfolio that landed me a copy writing job withing 2 months of being back in South Africa. My new employers even commented on the high quality of work. Naturally I was glowing and well chuffed! but it wasn't all moonshine and roses...

Within my very first week of the internship (after my 2 weeks of intensive Spanish lessons) I had a massive freak-out, convinced that I had made the wrong decision and was determined to change my internship. Adelante very calmly got the ball rolling in finding out exactly what my issue with the internship was. After two days of counselling, supporting and soothing me they helped me realise that the sudden magnitude of working in another country where I didn't know anyone or speak the language got too much for me and that that was in fact the reason for my panic. They 'talked me down' so to speak, always kind and supportive. And today I am still more grateful than ever that they didn't let my fear get the better of me and helped me to persevere. I have SO MANY awesome memories of that specific internship, not to mention very specific experience and a huge portfolio that is also getting me a lot of freelance work. Simply put: they saved me from making a very stupid mistake. I will forever be indebted to them.

If ever you get the opportunity to intern though Adelante, know that you will be in safe hands. The fact that my initial interview was with Kimberly, the company's director, was already a huge bonus. Knowing that someone with such a high position in the company took time out of her busy day to make sure I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for was more than just a comfort.

I thank you will will promote your good name to anyone and everyone who I cross paths with.

Ernst

Program:
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Posted: July 8, 2013
Overall:
10
Support:
10
Value:
10
Age:
28

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