SIT Study Abroad Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights

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.

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!!

They say nothing worthwhile is easy and this is definitely true of this program. I watched my Spanish fluency go from intermediate (Spanish score of 45 on Duolingo) to an advanced level (score of 101 on Duolingo)! Living with a host family while taking classes and/or interning left an immeasurable effect on my Spanish fluency. I loved learning about human rights and social movements in the context of Argentina and Latin America as a whole. Through classroom discussions, visits to different NGOs and grassroots, and trips where we shared meals and laughs with indigenous families, I gained a deeper understanding of my host country and of the world. Plus I got to see Patagonia, yes the region (not the clothing brand)!

Prior to arriving in Argentina, I highly recommend making Duolingo, Babble, and/or Rosetta Stone your new addiction. Also challenge yourself to practice speaking, writing, and listening to things in Spanish. Additionally, you must be up front or honest about your medical needs. Get accommodations even if you think you'll be fine. For example, I got accommodations for extended time on tests and assignments. Many of my peers who needed accommodations, regretted not talking to the SIT Student Health & Wellbeing Center prior to starting the program. My host family was very wonderful and supportive of my needs as well. I loved my neighborhood and I felt completely safe in the country the whole time I was there. When I had a medical issue, the SIT program staff helped me immediately with scheduling an appointment through GeoBlue. One staff member even accompanied me to the hospital. GeoBlue is super understanding and will pay for the cost of seeing a doctor (just follow the directions of your program staff, the GeoBlue app, and call GeoBlue).

It's truly difficult to understand how impactful study abroad is until you've done it. So I urge you to apply for this program AHORA! You won't regret it.

I cannot emphasize enough how important this program has been in my personal and academic development. The classes with Argentinian professors, visits to local organizations, and trips to Patagonia and the northern provinces combined to create a holistic understanding and knowledge of Argentina. The classes challenged my beliefs about the world and international relations, and conversations with locals made me more empathetic and cognizant of the world and people around me. The final month dedicated to doing an internship or a research paper pushed me academically and culminated in a final research paper of which I am extremely proud. The host family experience was truly amazing, and I am sure I will maintain contact with them for many years to come. The on-site Argentinian staff members are lovely and incredibly supportive throughout the process. I also found time to travel around Latin America, which added so much to this experience. I cannot say enough good things about this program, and I just have to say thank you to Argentina for all that it has taught me about the world and myself.

As cliche as it sounds, studying abroad in Argentina through the Social Movements and Human Rights program was one of the most transformative of my academic career. Academically, the incredibly knowledgeable staff and once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning combine to present a unique opportunity to challenge your point of views and world understanding. From visiting indigenous communities, social movements, and participating in an internship (or research project) the experience allowed me to think in new ways and develop as a global citizen. Furthermore, living in a homestay was one of the best part of my experience. Through eating dinners, watching television shows and movies, and my homestay mom constantly correcting my grammar, the homestay component not just helped me improve my Spanish but connect with my family personally. I have no doubt that we will be in contact far past the conclusion of the program. Finally, living and truly getting to immerse yourself in a new culture pushed me to reflect on my own assumptions about the world. Together, the semester was truly was on the most incredible I have had.

I can't express how much of a life-changing experience I had while studying abroad in Argentina on the SIT Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights program. Read on for more detail, but overall highlights: the wonderfully supportive four core members of the SIT team in Buenos Aires (the "chicas"), the (included!) travel on 2 week-long learning excursions to Patagonia and northwestern/Andean Argentina, the opportunity to live in a sprawling and historic city like Buenos Aires, practicing Argentine Spanish every day in an immersive setting, and unbeatable opportunities and connections with important human rights organizations in the country.

I was really grateful for the administration within the country. From the very first day when all four of the primary program admins met us at the airport and brought us to our hotel, where we would all stay together for the next couple of days, I felt so supported. Even though we were across the world from my house, I felt at home with the “chicas” (the term they call each other and we adopted to refer to them collectively — the work they do goes way beyond their individual titles). Not only was the program layout very straightforward and planned-out, but they really made the effort to create a tight-knit community within our group. I felt very comfortable going to them with any problems or even feedback when things were not going well. The main vibe was that everything felt very taken-care-of, for the most part.

One of the more important components to SIT Argentina is the homestay aspect. This was something I was excited and nervous about going into the program, and one of my favorite parts of the experience once I left. It feels anxiety-inducing at first that they won't let you know your homestay assignment until after you get there; I still don't really get why this is. However, it seems like they want to get to know us in-person for the first few days of the program to make sure they made the right choice. For me, it was the perfect choice. I got to stay with a young queer family with a cat in a neighborhood which I grew to adore (go, Boedo!) I felt so seen by them and both integrated in their lives and able to do my own thing. We would eat dinner together every night and they were great cooks who made sure my vegetarianism was taken care of. Integrating myself into their family was really easy for me -- but if it hadn't been, I could always have reached out to Gri, the homestay and student affairs coordinator, who was always supportive and ready to lend an ear. This was so important for my cultural immersion and feeling like I had the support of a family while I was abroad (they even came with me to my doctor's appointments!)

To be honest, I felt really safe overall. Buenos Aires is just like any other major city. You want to watch what you're doing, know where you're going, and keep an eye on your surroundings. That's it! I will say, 3 people had their phones stolen from them while we were here, which is a common occurrence for foreigners. None of the encounters were violent; however, I *always* kept my phone in a small pocketbook when I was out and it never got stolen. People in the city are genuinely very kind and everyone exercises the same amount of caution as you. The one thing I will say is I didn't feel comfortable walking around alone after dark, but as a young woman that will be the same in any city.

Argentina is generally an inexpensive country for people traveling from the U.S. -- that is not the case for Argentinians themselves, so be careful how you speak about money there. But for instance, a tea and two medialunas (pastries) might cost you less than $1 USD. The program provides breakfast and dinner to you, and gives you a stipend for transportation to and from class and lunches during the week & weekend. Above this, I did find myself spending more money when we would travel places because I wanted souveniers. However, compared to U.S. prices, getting around was cheap and there were many weeks when I spent very little; check out Don Ignacio right by the main academic center for cheap and large portions that could easily be 2 lunches.

The academics are not the most challenging I've encountered, but because they are in Spanish and there is a lot of material to cover in a short time period (the final month of the program is all dedicated to your internship or independent research, so classes are only from late February to May 1st), it can be a lot of reading and writing (mostly reading). However, super interesting content and the grading is forgiving, with the focus being on trying your best and showing what you know. I also am very proud of the work I produced through this program, so don't think it's completely a free-for-all! The content is of course pretty heavy at times, as well, so prepare yourself! <3

I participated in this program between Feb - June 2024, right in the middle of political and economic instability that Argentina was facing under a new presidential administration. I really loved that our program, by virtue of focusing on social movements and human rights, was able to relate what we learned about in the classroom to what was going on right around us during our stay in Argentina. The program does a great job of bringing in guest speakers and planning trips both within and outside BA to help us engage with the topics we study in a hands-on manner. I loved being able to travel so often with the program and especially liked that the ISP period gave students the flexibility to travel independently.

In addition, the onsite staff are incredibly supportive and kind. It is very clear that they care about students and are always open to chat about anything. I chose this program because of the level of onsite support (which non SIT programs do not always guarantee) and I was very satisfied with my experience. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city and filled with so much to do/see. Although living in any foreign country has a bit of a learning curve, I did not find it a huge culture shock compared to the US, largely due to the support provided by the program and fellow students in your cohort.

This is an amazing study abroad program. I got everything I was looking for out of this experience and more! The program staff is incredibly supportive and helpful. I was very nervous before I arrived, but with their support, I always knew I would be okay. The homestay experience is the best way to improve your Spanish and build connections with the community. If you're looking to travel to as many countries as possible, this might not be the program for you, but if you want to truly immerse yourself in the host culture and get to know Argentina, you should definitely apply! I learned so much about the world and the program theme from different perspectives. It's a cliche, but it's true: study abroad (especially through this program) is life-changing!