Perspective-changing and amazing! January 21, 2025
By A student (Geosciences, Hamilton College) - abroad from 09/03/2024 to 12/16/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina: People, Environment, and Climate Change in Patagonia and Antarctica
I gained a broader perspective on the natural sciences outside of my major, gained research and science communication experience, greatly improved my spanish skills and confidence using the language, learned my capability of adapting to different lifestyles and cultures, and met a great group of peers from whom I learned a lot.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I came out of this program with a broader base of knowledge in the natural sciences, research experience, and so much more confidence in my Spanish. I also learned during the ISP period that I enjoy research and am looking forward to my senior year thesis. Academics are incredibly manageable compared to my home institution; intensity only picked up at the end of the class period when a few final assignments were due within the same week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the administrative staff are amazing and elevated the program so much! Maria, Viole, and Lida were constant sources of support and guidance. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived just with a host mom, which was the perfect arrangement for me. We were at the end of the bus line, so there was about a 30-minute commute to the center of town. This varies for everyone, as host families are located all over town. |
| * Food: |
Host families provide breakfast and dinner, and the program gives a small stipend for lunch every day. Grocery stores and minimarkets are easy to find, and there are a lot of cafes and restaurants near each class location. A lot of students meal-prep lunches to save money and have more control over their diets. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You get as much out of the experience as you put into it. In order to make local friends and meet a lot of people, you have to seek out clubs and events. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Ushuaia has a great healthcare system! I attended physical therapy appointments all semester. I reached out beforehand, and the program administrators helped me find a provider that worked for me. |
| * Safety: |
Ushuaia was the safest city I've ever visited. I never felt unsafe, even when walking alone at night. Just use common sense, and you'll be fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I gained so much from this program, especially from living with a host family and experiencing everything with an amazing cohort of students. |
Finances
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* 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) |
As the program gives a daily stipend (as of fall 2024, about $9/day for food and public transport), it's easy to not spend too much money. Most of my expenses outside of the stipend were from going out on the weekends and getting ubers when I missed the bus. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Meal-prep lunches and make sure to stay on top of the bus schedule. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We used spanish with our host families and in every academic aspect of the program. Students almost always spoke in english with each other. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 219 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring waterproof shoes or hiking boots -- there are wetlands in the area, so hikes can be muddy! Also bring a GOOD rain jacket and waterproof pants. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe 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. |
