But Otago Polytechnic bachelor of social services student Paige Devlin said it was a pro, because she was not going there to sleep.
She recently won a Prime Minister’s Scholarship to study the Spanish culture and language for a month in Santiago, and she planned to use every second of it.
"I’m really interested in learning about different cultures and this will be great because I can learn about the culture where it is, rather than in a classroom."
She was inspired to apply for the scholarship because being able to speak other languages would be important for her future in social work, she said.
"When we are out in practice, we will most likely have clients that are from different cultures, so we need to learn about them.
"We need to learn how to be respectful of other cultures and be self aware."
Miss Devlin said it would also prove useful in a community initiative she was working on.
It involves spreading a code-word which people can use if they feel unsafe when out and about around the city.
"If people are in town at a bar or a restaurant and they feel uncomfortable with their situation, they can use the code-word ‘red light’ with staff, and the staff will help them get out of that situation."
About 100 hospitality businesses between Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown used the code-word, she said.
"A personal experience of sexual violence is what motivated me to do it.
"It’s important to have a safe way out because it’s very hard to ask for help."
She will spend most of January next year at the University of Santo Tomas on the $4500 scholarship.
"It’s the trip of a lifetime.
"It will be a totally new experience for me."
The 22-year-old plans to do a masters in social work at the University of Otago next year.
