Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Explore Patagonia! Past Review

By (Environmental Science, University of Vermont) - abroad from 09/22/2015 to 12/15/2015 with

Round River Conservation Studies - Patagonia, Chile Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It's so hard to put it all in words. From the academics, to the conservation projects, to the landscapes, to the people, Patagonia is an amazing and wonderful place that has so much to offer for anyone interested in conservation. I gained a lot of valuable experiences in hands-on conservation and met some really incredible people (instructors, students, and locals). I would say it was absolutely a worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A very unique, hands-on, and practical experience. The classes are catered really well to the program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Round River instructors are awesome! Some of the coolest people I've ever met.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

YOU ARE IN A TENT THE WHOLE SEMESTER. That may sound daunting, but you get use to it fairly quickly. I actually enjoyed sleeping in my tent all semester--as long as you have quality gear, you'll live lavishly.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Definitely felt like a gringo. Because the program is all American students (most of whom in my semester didn't speak Spanish), I didn't get to practice my Spanish as much as I would have liked. Working with CONAF is nice though, because you do get some experiences working with local conservation efforts in Chile. And the CONAF guardaparques are really incredible people.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Honestly, Patagonia is one of the safest places to be. Practically no one lives there so you don't have to worry about other people. And the most dangerous wildlife is a caterpillar that stings.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The only thing I had to pay for was extra snacks if I ever wanted them--but even then I never really needed to.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $5
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Really the only opportunities you have to spend money are the days in Cochrane, which are few and far between. If you are concerned about a budget, the one major consideration you should make is souvenirs which could be anywhere from $10-$100 depending on what you get.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Our conservation projects
  • The people I met and friendships I've made
  • The place--Patagonia is beautiful beyond words
* What could be improved?
  • --
  • --
  • --
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I decided to travel in Chile after the program (which I recommend), but I had a bunch of stuff and it was a hassle to lug it around everywhere. Had I thought about it, I would have tried to condense to just my hiking pack and a day pack.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.