Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Adventure of a Lifetime Past Review

By (College of Saint Benedict and Saint Johns University) - abroad from 01/21/2020 to 03/17/2020 with

Round River Conservation Studies - Patagonia, Chile Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Friends, a framework of how to enact conservation globally, an understanding of the importance of community participation in conservation, and how to truly be self sufficient.

Review Photos

Round River Conservation Studies - Patagonia, Chile Program Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There is academic rigor and you learn so much about the world of conservation. There is also rigor in adjusting to having class while on two week backpacking expeditions which presents unique challenges to the learning processes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Due to the nature of field work, our administration had to be fluid and constantly evolving which I believe it did an excellent job of while still ensuring to keep students notified and informed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Because you live in a tent, housing is what you decide to bring, I would strongly recommend a lightweight two person tent. Our camping locations were all awesome and felt very immersive. I just wish Round River had an official base camp which they owned to create a sense of "home" when not on expeditions.

* Food:

As a result of the program's location and activities we mostly cooked all of our own food (paid for by the program) and designed our own meals. While fresh fruits and vegetables were not always available, I was generally satisfied with what I ate and going hungry generally was not a concern.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program does an excellent job of integrating it student's in to both conservation culture, but also local culture through homestays and frequent local interactions.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care was generally excellent and I was confident in my instructor's abilities to provide medical aid in the field. However, I did happen to contract a parasite which I was not able to receive a diagnosis and medicine for (due to lack of tests at the local hospital) until I had returned back to the states, which was frustrating.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe at any point in the trip.

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

It was an amazing experience which I learned so much, met some truly amazing people, was pushed out of my comfort zone, and grew so much in such a short period of time.

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)

I is possible to not spend a single dollar on the trip if a student were to choose to. I would recommend bringing ~$250 for the entire trip.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Bring peanut butter from the states, much cheaper than it is in Chile.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Other
* 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?
  • The expeditions around patagonia.
  • The instructors.
  • The other students on the program.
* What could be improved?
  • Purchasing an official Round River basecamp.
  • Scheduled off days without any expectations.
  • Reliability of cars/trucks
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Bring a music speaker! You will have more downtime at camp than you think you will! (Not too much, but enough where I wish I had brought one)

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!