Mariela Oporto

"My name is Mariela, and I live in the city of Osorno in the Lakes Region. When I first heard about the Work and Travel program, it seemed incredible to me. Despite having my reservations, I signed up and took the risk to travel, trusting the guidance of my program coordinator and understanding how essential it is to speak another language to enter the job market in Chile more effectively. Experiencing cultural exchange, meeting and working with people from many parts of the world, with completely different habits than I knew, and who, in general, also left their countries in search of their own experience, is truly enriching.

I never imagined everything I would live through. Now, back in Chile, I look back, and with absolute certainty, I say that it was simply the best decision I could have made. This experience begins from the moment of overcoming fear, registering, and following all the steps to reach the U.S. and the return, which I must admit I tried to postpone as much as possible.

I worked and lived in a city called Cooke City in Montana, truly beautiful, and I consider myself in love with that place, which I will surely return to next summer. I also had the opportunity to visit big cities like Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas in the state of Nevada.

One of the best decisions I have made, and I hope you dare to travel—you will surely not regret it."