Amazing once in a lifetime experience January 26, 2025
By Simon C (Sustainable Development, Columbia University) - abroad from 09/04/2023 to 12/18/2023 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina: People, Environment, and Climate Change in Patagonia and Antarctica
That the world is so much bigger than we make it out to be in our day to day lives. That Argentinians have an amazing warmth that can't be beat.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This was a terrific study abroad experience! The short version was my Spanish improved, I had a wonderful host family, learned about city of Ushuaia and the Antarctic ecosystem, and fell in love with the Patagonian land scape. Also I got to research penguins in the field! In longer form: Arriving in Ushuaia was intimidating, and it took a bit to mesh with my cohort, but once I found my footing, I had some of the best months of my life. I was impressed with how educational the classes were, pleased with how much my Spanish improved, and felt immensely lucky to have such a supportive and loving host family. Classes focused on the local ecology and landscape which generally kept me interested. I started with a good sense of Spanish and ended the program with really good conversational Spanish. I ended up traveling in Patagonia after and was easily able to make friends and rapports in Spanish by that time. I would highly recommend doing this if you have the chance! I think Patagonia is the most beautiful place in the world. My host family was a really good time and I’m still in touch with them over a year later. I truly can’t believe how fortunate I was to have such a social, sweet, and generally loving host family. I had two host brothers who were roughly my age, and I had great and very different relationships with each of them. Antarctica was phenomenal – there is not much to say besides it was a once in a lifetime experience. The boat was luxurious, the landscape was magnificent, and the polar plunges were loads of fun. Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my Independent Study Project. For m ISP, I studied the foraging habits of Magellanic Penguins. I got to go into the field, and take a boat to an island where three species of penguins were nesting and do field work with them multiple times. Once I even picked up and weighed the baby penguins. Interestingly the research paper I produced was able to direct some of my advisors future research and seemed to really play a role in her scientific process. I had some of the best times of my life during this study abroad program and wholeheartedly recommend it. It was wonderful. And if at all possible go on to travel throughout the region – you won’t regret it. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70 |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate II |
| 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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That it was all going to go extremely well in the end. I was nervous at first but it ended up being some of the best months of my life. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
