Preparation for the Internship

Living in Santiago

This was my first time in South America—and also my first time in the Southern Hemisphere. Leaving behind a European winter for the Chilean summer felt like a perfect escape. Santiago itself was breathtaking; every corner had a scenic view, and the city was full of life.
One thing that really stood out to me was the number of dog owners—I’ve never seen so many in my life! Every day, on my way home from work, I either walked or cycled while enjoying a stunning view of the Andes bathed in golden sunlight. Finding a place to stay can be tricky since short-term rentals are uncommon and can get quite expensive. Luckily, a friend from Uni Potsdam had a family connection in Chile who rented out their apartment to me.
Before arriving, I hadn’t expected Santiago to be as expensive as it was. My rent and grocery expenses were almost the same as in Berlin. The apartments are well-equipped, but just living off the scholarship money alone would have been tough. Having some savings definitely helped make things easier. Public transportation in Santiago is excellent—buses and the metro are the best options, but Uber is also widely used and much cheaper than in Germany. Most of the time, I used public transport, but whenever I had the chance, I opted for cycling, especially on downhill routes. Bike rentals were very affordable; I used Itau Bike, which cost around 2,900 Chilean pesos (roughly 3 euros) for a month, allowing unlimited 120-minute rides very similar to the Nextbike system in Potsdam. There were also electric scooters available for rent, but I preferred bikes. Chile is highly digitalized, and you can pay for almost everything by card. However, for the rare occasions when I needed cash, I used my European debit card at a Scotia Bank ATM, as other ATMs charged high conversion fees. Since I was only staying for a month, opening a local bank account wasn’t necessary. For internet access, getting a local SIM card was a great option—it was cheap and had excellent connectivity.

People and Work Environment

During my time in Santiago, I made many local friends. To my surprise, English wasn’t as widely spoken as I had expected, but that didn’t stop people from being warm, enthusiastic, and eager to connect. It took patience on both sides, but I still managed to form meaningful friendships. We had a lot of pisco sours—the one popular drink I kept hearing about after applying.
Santiago has a very rich culture, and the country has a lot to offer, from museums to the parliament. One of my most memorable experiences was traveling to Valpara´ıso and Vi˜na del Mar—just a two-hour trip from Santiago. Seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time was surreal; it felt like I was standing at the edge of the world (well, maybe not literally—but definitely for flat-earthers!). At work, communication was much easier since everything at ESO/ALMA was in English. My supervisors were the best—they constantly motivated me and positively shaped my perspective on how to do science. I immediately felt at home in the research environment—the perfect balance of passion, hard work, and a relaxed atmosphere. Every Friday, we had a “wine and cheese” gathering where we reflected on our week, shared achievements, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. By the end of my internship, I felt incredibly motivated to continue my research, and I know this experience has had a positive impact on my early academic career.

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend doing a similar internship at least once. For me, the science aspect was the most important, but the whole process challenged me in ways that contributed to my growth—not just as a researcher, but as a person. If possible, I’d suggest staying longer than just one month, as things take time, and a longer stay would allow for deeper immersion. Planning ahead for things like accommodation, a SIM card, and transportation will make the experience much smoother. Chile has become one of the best memories of my life. The people I met have no idea how positively they impacted me. Lastly, I want to thank DAAD for the PROMOS scholarship from the University of Potsdam and the University of Potsdam for providing me with mobility funding—without which, this experience would not have been possible.

Von studienbezogenen Praktika bis hin zu fachübergreifenden Angeboten bieten wir Studierenden einen bunt gedeckten Tisch mit Praktika auf dem Silbertablett.

Nutzen Sie Ihre Chance und bewerben Sie sich jetzt direkt im International Office!

Aktuelle Angebote finden Sie im Praxisportal!