Program Reviews

This trip was the first time I have been out of the country for so long and for so far. I was nervous at first, but the SIT Public Health in Urban Environments program team was so kind and supportive that it made me lose the nerves. I can say that this trip has been really influential in my life, not only because it exposes you to so much of the public health system but also the Argentine culture. My host family was amazing while I was abroad, I love them and hope to be back soon to visit them. The safety of being in a big city is the same with any big city, but overall, just take precautions and all will be okay. There is so much to explore in the city, you'll never get bored or not have anything to do. I really recommend this program!

The most impactful part of my time was living with the host families. I grew extremely close with my host family, and hope to remain in contact with them for many years now. They made me feel right at home and supported during my best and most challenging times. Arica is a perfect town to study abroad for the warm and loving culture, the beautiful coast, diverse community, and it was the perfect size to become familiar with everything and everyone. While the social elements were definitely the dominant part of my experience, which was a learning experience in itself, especially with developing Spanish skills, the actual classes and assignments were extremely fulfilling. While difficult because of the Spanish integration, the program avoids any kind of busy work and always leans into experiential learning. You learn from local communities who oftentimes do not receive the attention or support that is deserved. This program will change how you define healthcare. If you want to go into healthcare, this program is essential.

Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. The program allowed me to study not only the ancient rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, but also learn from aboriginal elders who went camping with us and taught us about their culture and connection to the land. I learned so much about fieldwork, forest ecosystems, species dynamics on the reef, and threats to these environments. The independent study portion taught us what it means to be independent researchers and allowed us to pursue our own interests. I chose to study bat behavior in North Queensland, where I used drone technology to track the movements of bats.

As a marine biology major, i was immediately drawn by the reef portion of the trip. To my surprise, I not only loved lizard island but I found myself missing the rainforest and camping once we left. I learned about the endemic species found only in the Wet Tropics and got to see them for myself. It was easily one of the most educational experiences I have ever had and I was just having fun the entire time! I was able to gain real hands on experience in the field that definitely gave me a better idea of what I want for my future career. Additionally, I got to see parts of Australia and its culture that many Australians never experience. One of the best parts was the independent research program. While it was sad to leave my friends, I found myself in Brisbane working in the lab helping a PhD candidate with her project. I never thought I would enjoy lab work until this experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity and that I decided to do this program!

This program is unique in that it moves around a lot as classes occur in the field, so expect to get used to keeping yourself mobile. That said, this meant that the experience was ever more immersive, providing an opportunity that I would be unable to obtain in a classroom.
The independent study project period fosters a lot of independence and provides a unique opportunity to accrue experience in a field of interest. I didn't have a day that I would rate as bad--most if not all days were fun and positive.

Overall, this program offered a unique opportunity to learn in a fun and awesome environment, from natural surroundings and peers alike. I have no regrets in taking this semester abroad.

This program was everything I hoped for and more. I got to live with host family, learn and live in the language and really immerse myself in the culture. While this program was extremely challenging in terms of adapting to new environments and learning a new language, it was the most rewarding experience of my life. The program directors are also work extremely hard to make sure you have a support system with them and within the group. Every measure is taken to insure students are learning and living in a health, safe, and comfortable environment while still being pushed and growing. The untraditional academic programing also opens doors to conversation and connection with community members you otherwise would not meet enrolled directly with an Argentine university. I left this program feeling inspired and wanted to go back to Buenos Aires as soon as posible!

This program had everything I was looking for: language immersion, rigorous academics, supportive local staff, homestay experience, time in the city, excursions, and a social justice focus. Beyond that, I was so lucky to have a great group of fellow students and an amazing homestay family, which really made the experience what it was for me.

This program is academically rigorous, as advertised, but also offers so much support for students. Experiential learning was heavily emphasized, and organizational visits, historical tours, and museum visits were an important part of our learning. Otherwise, we had lectures from experts in their fields give classes on specific topics rather than having one stable professor. As part of the program, I also did an Independent Study Project, which was the biggest research project I had ever undertaken. But with the support of my excellent Research Methods and Ethics professor, academic director Ana Laura, and my personal thematic advisor and Spanish tutor, the project was a success and I learned so much in the process.

I also had an incredible homestay experience. I got matched with a young queer couple whose interests aligned closely with mine. As a queer and nonbinary person, I felt so comfortable and safe in their home, and we had a lot of fun together. Being close to my host moms helped a lot with cultural integration, because I got to meet their friends and family and do local activities with them.

The staff are also what make this program so great. The coordinators Ana Laura Lobo, Griselda Vallejo, Eliana Ferradás, and Catalina Correa are some of the kindest, most patient, and understanding people I've ever met. I cannot imagine this program without all of the hours of care and love they put into it. Any student would be lucky to have them as program administrators. I certainly was! My advice would be to really take advantage of the staff and your advisors as resources and ask for what you need! Also remember that you'll only get out as much as you put into the experience.

From discussing the fire regimes of Eucalyptus trees on hikes through the rainforest, to listening to Uncle Rus' stories about Aboriginal tradition around the campfire, to conducting fish behavior surveys on the great barrier reef, this program takes you beyond the classroom to learn in the environment. This program is perfect for students who want to experience more than just city life (although there's some of that too) and explore ecology with their own eyes. A typical class might include a bus ride where you use those 'car window ecology goggles' to observe how the landscape changes, then stretch your legs with a proforma to classify the rainforest type before lunch. After a group picnic, you might swim in the nearby waterfall or switch locations to explore a different ecosystem. While in the marine unit, you might have a lecture after breakfast, then put that new knowledge into practice by snorkeling the nearby reefs. The program ends with the opportunity to join a research project or possibly design your own which is a great way to apply everything you've learned, explore an interest, and potential find a future career.

This program can be very challenging, as it moves quickly, exposes you to various different environments, etc, but the amount of learning (both personally and academically) that can be gained makes it well worth it. Personally, I found the ISP (independent study project) especially challenging, but I learned more than I could have possibly imagined about the topic of my research, the process of doing research, and my own personal interests and boundaries. Also, the SIT community in-country (the director, coordinator, and my classmates) formed a really incredible community that was an important support system and also a highlight of the semester.

I had am amazing time with SIT this past semester. I absolutely loved the other students in the program and made some close friends. The directors of the program were always supportive and I felt comfortable with them. And they made everything fun! Classes were not terribly hard academically as long as you stayed on top of your work. I got to know my host mom very well and shared dinners with her every night, talking about lots of stuff together. I felt like I had an insider look into Argentina culture and made friends with some argentinians my age. I loved my time here, even the hard parts, and would recommend it to anyone.