Gabrielle (Elle) Poissant
ISEP Study in Chile – Spanish Language & Latin American Studies
Major: Political Science, Global Studies
Minor: World Politics
Pre-Departure Post
Hello 🙂
My name is Gabrielle (Elle), and I am studying abroad in ValparaĂso in Chile for the Fall 2025 semester. Thanks for stopping in, and I hope you enjoy the ride.
All summer long, I was asked the inevitable question: “Are you anxious to study abroad?” more times than I can count. Most people can’t imagine uprooting their carefully built comfort, stepping away from their routines, and risking the unfamiliar. So when I answered, without hesitation, “No,” it often caught people off guard. But that confidence came from a promise I made to myself a year ago: that I would not let anxiety or fear have the final say in something as life-changing as this. The next 5 months of my life I will carry with me forever, the people I meet, the lessons learned in unfamiliar streets, the quiet triumphs and the loud stumbles, they will live in me long after I return. I am glad to have you here to see how this story will play out.
I’m Gabrielle. I am a junior at UMBC studying Political Science, Global Studies, World Politics, and Spanish. I will be studying at the Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de ValparaĂso. I chose this university for a whole bunch of reasons. The beautiful campus in the middle of the city, the homestay program, and the mandatory volunteer opportunities made my
choice a no-brainer. But, the biggest game changer is their Spanish as a second language program. I looked for a place that wasn’t a perfect picture, or what I already knew, but something real, where I could truly explore beyond the bubble that I grew up in. In about 4 days, that bubble is going to pop, I am going to board that plane, and meet my new reality. But, for now, we are sitting on my bed, staring at a half-filled suitcase, wondering how the heck I am going to fit everything in my checked bag and a carry-on, but that sounds like a future Gabrielle problem.
“That sounds like a future Gabrielle problem” is a phrase I say often now. It’s what I said to myself when I was 18 planning this adventure, and it’s what I have said to myself these past few weeks to stay sane. I spent my summer by the pool, working the same at-home retail job that I’ve had since I was 16, and looking at the number counting down the days on my chalkboard wall. The number started at 65, but is now at a mere 4, and sooner than I would like, it will be a 0. When that number reaches zero, I will step off the plane after a long 12-hour trek, feeling confident and overprepared and probably really sore from sitting that long.
I guess I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious at all. I don’t think it’s because of the experience itself, I am very confident in my ability to be independent and adapt, but in anticipation of the future Gabrielle that will come out of this program. I am excited to be the version of myself that will be shaped by the beautiful city of Valparaiso, by the family that will open their home to me, by the crocheting con abuelos club, and by all the people that I have the privilege of meeting and learning from. For that future Gabrielle reading this, I have 3 questions that I hope you will answer:
- Describe the best day you had this semester, and why was it so meaningful to you?
- What was the most beautiful thing you witnessed that you couldn’t fully capture in a photo?
- What surprised you the most about yourself while living in Chile, and what advice would you give to past Gabrielle?
For whoever is reading, I want to remind you that you are strong, capable, and can do difficult and new things. Thank you all for reading and following along on my journey!
-Gabrielle