Program Reviews

Oh where do I start? This program is densely packed with content. You go from exploring museums, to city tours of old history, to chatting with various underground, above ground, and indigenous leaders! There is a vast amount of cultural enrichment within this program, many, many visits to differing places with the goal of teaching you about various social movements and history of human rights. You are given the opportunity to do an internship, or qualitative research project which both set you up for success following your time in the program. Additionally, the various places you'll visit in this program are beyond beautiful and the cities and towns have a lot to offer! I very much recommend this program for so many reasons. It helped me gain in-person experience in my field, enrich my Spanish speaking skills, meet amazing friends and collaborators that I wouldn't have otherwise got the chance to meet. Many of my peers in my program have also gone on to get accepted to Fulbright programs due in part to their time in this program. Don't regret it! Choose Social Movements and Human Rights!

I absolutely loved this program and would recommend it to anyone interested in studying public health in a Spanish-speaking context. I learned so much‚ both academically and personally. I developed a really close relationship with my host mom and learned so much about Argentinian history and culture through conversations with her. I loved the program's emphasis on experiential learning in addition to traditional classroom learning, and I feel like I gained a much broader perspective on health in general. I could not be more grateful for this experience!

My time in Ushuaia, Argentina was a highlight of my college experience. If you are looking to improve your Spanish, expose yourself to a new culture, and live in one of the most beautiful small cities in Patagonia along the "end of the Earth", this is the program for you. Ushuaia itself is like a big small town nestled between the end of the Andes mountain range and the ocean. So, there's plenty to do as long as you like hiking, skiing, and immersing yourself in local culture. For example, with other students from the program, I went skiing, horseback riding along the beach, and hiking (sometimes with our host families, too!) in my spare time. The people you will meet are kind, friendly, and warm. Beyond your course programming — which does a wonderful job introducing you to local history, sites of interest, and activities — taking advantage of your stay with a host family can open up lots of doors for you as well. For example, my host sister was around my age and with her, I felt included into her friend group and her family. I joined a local rugby club and experienced everything from the movie theater and mall to nightlife. Doing all of this in Spanish with my host family and friends helped me improve my language in a way that felt natural and fun. Of course, there are challenges to any experience like this, but in my opinion, SIT sets you up for success so long as you are ready to take advantage of all that Ushuaia and its people have to offer.

I had an absolutely unforgettable time during my Summer in South Africa! This was my first time ever leaving the United States, and I feel so unbelievably lucky that this was my first destination. I met such wonderful people, those within the program and locals alike. The staff at SIT Durban were incredible and provided us with an incredibly comprehensive overview of the country so that we felt at ease. There was a perfect level of structure and free time, allowing us to explore on our own and with the help of those with experience living in the Global South. I learned so much here, and I will truly never forget it. I will definitely be back one day!

This program is a great opportunity for people who want to gain on-the-ground public health experiences. I felt myself challenged by all aspects of the program and definitely improved my Spanish skills as well as my understanding of public health systems outside the United States. That being said, keep in mind that this is a very intense program that is not comparable to a classic European study abroad trip. You will either be in class or on a field visit from 9:00-5:00pm most days. While this presents great learning opportunities, it may take a little bit of time to get used to the Argentine teaching style, which includes 2-3 hour lectures with little discussion. Overall, be prepared to find yourself being pushed outside your comfort zone. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the program provides great academic and professional experience that will no doubt benefit you upon your return.

I had such a wonderful time -- the people, the academics, and the city changed my perspective completely. Go in with an open mind and I can't recommend it enough.

I cannot recommend a study abroad program in South Africa enough, especially in a location like Durban in KwaZulu Natal. Durban’s rich history and evolution of the city provide an environment that is incredibly fertile with knowledge and significance. I saw the opportunity of traveling to South Africa as both an academic and personal challenge. Starting in Johannesburg, moving to Durban (our home base), and ending our semester in Cape Town, I enjoyed getting a brief glimpse into different areas of South Africa. I quickly became acquainted and aware of the country's history of struggle and liberation movements that led to apartheid ending through conversations I had with activists as well as the many museum visits the program entails. South African people are very funny and the Bolt adventures en-route to different places were when I met some of the most entertaining people. Durban’s location on the coast allowed easy access to the beach and shops near the beach. While it did get very humid towards the end of the semester, the weather was nice for most of the program which I enjoyed.

Additionally, visits to the US Embassy in Mozambique, and organizations like SAIIA and ACCORD, helped me become informed on South-South Relations through these experiences and understand South Africa's position on the global stage from a non-Western perspective.

The homestays were extremely rewarding and enlightening, especially the rural homestay, where we became exposed to life that was separate from the connectivity and hustle, we are used to. I loved this homestay so much and wished it had been longer. Homestays were some of my favorite experiences on the program because I truly understood how different families operate based on their circumstances and differing values.

I will emphasize how good the support from program staff was through emotional, logistical, and academic challenges for me. They took care of me and our academic director and program manager made themselves available to talk to and support me about different challenges I was going through. We were informed by them of book launches, historical talks, and other events we could attend on our own time, some which I took advantage of. Our driver was also one of the funniest and most engaging South Africans I met in the office, who I thoroughly enjoyed conversing with.

The ISP portion of the semester was by far the most stressful and the most academically rewarding experience of the program. I chose to research a former female activist and combatant within the underground armed wing of the African National Congress. This project took me to different parts of KwaZulu Natal, where I was able to meet prominent activists and learn from them firsthand, what it meant to make history and hear about their relations to my subject.

I cannot recommend this program enough and all of the amazing memories that I gained because of the choice to go to South Africa. The cohort I traveled with will remain lifelong connections and friends, and I will always remember the kindness I received from the South Africans I became close with.

As I write this review, back in the United States, I am sipping Playadito yerba mate (Industria Argentina) from the gourd and bombilla I brought home. I am reminded of all of the times I drank mate in Ushuaia: at La Estación De Vigilancia Atmosférica Global, while we watched the launch of a weather balloon to measure the hole in the ozone layer; on top of Cerro Cortez, resting from the tough climb with some locals I met along the way, gazing out at the magnificent view of the city and Monte Olivia; in the back of a CADIC truck, headed out to do fieldwork at Cabo San Pablo with a couple of biologists; at the small bouldering wall at the Club Andino, listening to Rock Nacional while we climbed; in Sede, passing around the mate while all of the other students presented their awesome Independent Study Projects; with my host family reflecting on all of the good times the day before my flight back to the US... We drank a lot of mate. These memories remind me of the incredible cultural and academic experience that this program was for me. Tierra del Fuego is beautiful, Antarctica is incredible, and neither are easy to get to. The opportunity to spend time in such a unique and remote part of the planet is not an opportunity that you should pass up. Downsides: 1) being a program with other American students, we spoke a good amount of English amongst each other (though classes were all in Spanish, and the friends you make around town likely won't speak any English). 2) Ushuaia is REMOTE, and the opportunities for weekend trips to other cities/countries are not as prevalent as, for example, somewhere in Europe.

This is such an amazing program!! The directors are so dedicated to no only the academics but also the social and personal lives of the students. Every week you go on at least one visit to a non-profit or local organization to learn from locals about the social movements and human rights you are learning about, which creates an incredible hands-on experience. There are also group social events planned every few weeks to create bonds and community within the program. I have nothing bad to say about any part of SIT Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights and could not have asked for a better program!!

This program introduced me to a wonderful community of people and a set of families whom I now share a deep bond with. In fact, I still stay in contact with my homestay mother. From an environmental perspective, living in Zanzibar is just about the best place you can go given the sheer amount of pristine beaches, forests, and wildlife. Living in and learning about its natural environment has deeply impacted my collegiate studies and views towards our current world environment. Learning to persist through the highs and the lows of the program has undoubtedly led to immense personal growth.