My time abroad in Ushuaia was awesome. Exciting and unique; an extremely outdoorsy and rugged experience. I mean, come on-- I got to go to Antarctica! I got comfortable being dirty and learned to love it. I grew into my capability for doing anything I put my mind to.

My host mom was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better stay. She took me in as her "daughter" and showed me around, taking me to do local activities, to her favorite restaurants, and on a road trip. Granted, some other students didn’t have as much luck, but if they were truly uncomfortable the program directors found another family to relocate the students to, each time being a large improvement.

The program directors were awesome. truly treated us like adults but showed up time and time again, proving beyond doubt that our well-being was of utmost priority. The cohort of students is small (mine was 17 students but I know recent programs have been about ~25); so it’s nice to have a group to do everything with, but if you thrive in crowds or are looking to study at a local university, maybe reconsider how you want your study abroad community to look.

The academics were great. Two words: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. We learned so much from so many different sectors; tourism, fisheries, biology, culture, economy. We learned in so many different places, too: classrooms, museums, mountains, beaches, plains. I practiced my Spanish constantly. The one critique is that I wish my Spanish language class would have been a little more intensive. I think I could’ve learned more in the time we had.

If you want a true adventure, to immerse yourself in Spanish language and Argentine culture, to be outside, and to learn with your senses with a small group, this is the program for you.

This program was so awesome! I learned so much about the environmental and social issues facing the region of Southern Patagonia while also getting great hands on experience. The landscapes and excursions are incredible, outdoor lovers this program is for you! I improved so much in my Spanish abilities and loved getting to experience the culture especially through the homestay experience. I feel so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to do this program, I highly encourage others to do it as well!

I loved my time in Ushuaia, both independently and as a part of SIT! The program staff and the host families offered a lot of support, and I was really able to connect with the community. I recommend joining a local organization of some kind, like a church, dance classes, or clubs! If you enjoy the outdoors, you will love the curriculum and how much you'll learn about the place you'll be exploring in your free time. Included trips are top tier: Chile, around southern Argentina, and of course, Antarctica!

The academic and program directors are amazing and really provide an immersive experience. You get to learn from experts across various disciplines and community members. You become very familiar with the program location and the province in general through field trips and your courses. Antarctica alone makes the whole experience worth it! The internship was very research focused and gives you the opportunity to exercise your project management skills and conduct an independent study. Public transport in the city was reliable and safe. Hiking was mind-blowing. Great bakeries and cafes. More nightlife than you would think.

This program was amazing. The city of Ushuaia is super safe and surrounded by mountains and the canal. So much hiking and natural places to explore. This program is excellent for developing your Spanish abilities and if you really want to integrate into the community. You get to do an internship or individual project of your choosing during the last month and really give back to your community. You also get to go to Antartica and Chile and explore the island of Tierra del Fuego. Also time for individual travel if you want. The host family was one of my favorite parts!

This program is an incredible opportunity. You will travel, improve your spanish, and learn about the environment of southern patagonia. If you have a strong base in ecology and biology, the classes will not be too challenging (apart from them being in spanish). Program directors are incredible and caring, you will be well supported through the entire process. I came into this program knowing minimal spanish and being a natural resources major less focused on science and I felt that I was perfectly challenged.

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.

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.