SIT Social Work Programs: Across the Globe

I had an amazing experience with SIT. The program did an amazing job assimilating us into the culture, making us feel safe, and providing us with a wide variety of educational opportunities. The 6 week home stay allowed me to connect with a Zulu family and they made me feel like part of the community. The independent study period allowed me to intern with an environmental NGO where I gained valuable skills. I also made lifelong friends along the way!

My semester in Bolivia challenged me to grapple with important and complicated questions about identity and global crises while allowing me to explore an incredibly beautiful and unique part of the world. The academic program thoughtfully integrates many themes about Bolivia including political history, indigenous rights, social change, climate change, globalization through guest lecturers from the community and lots of hands-on learning experiences. The group excursions bring incredible diversity and adventure to the semester, including visiting and living with a community in the Amazon basin, engaging in the daily activities of Aymara families on the shores of Lago Titicaca, visiting the mines of Potosi which provided Spain with nearly half the silver they took during the conquest, and learning about sustainable living in the lowlands. I gained confidence in my ability to speak another language and navigate an unfamiliar place by myself. During all of the beautiful and challenging adventures, my host family was my grounding force, always taking care of me and teaching me. I truly became part of their family and my bond with them has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. This program provides an opportunity to dive deep into a really unique and complex country in a way that I would never have been able to do without the connections and support of SIT. The experience is a whirlwind of emotions and adventures. It is filled with beautiful places, people, and languages. There is no one way to describe it-- every week brings new and exciting experiences!

Through this program, I was able to achieve all of my study abroad goals. I not only learned about the country and culture itself, I also learned a lot about who I am as a person.

Academically it was different than what I was used to. We did spend time in the classroom discussing readings, theories, and concepts; however, we also utilized the experiential side to learning. We learned through a variety of trips, expeditions, organizational visits, and more. This is a major tenant of the SIT Study Abroad model, and definitely one of my favorite aspects. Learning from a book inside a classroom is one thing, but really engaging with the community and having hands-on experiences makes a huge difference.

The directors and program staff are also always available and very inviting. They want you to excel and get the most out of the experience.

The social scene was also very fun and exciting. From the theater, outdoor markets and many museums to the all-night "boliches," you are bound to find fun ways to fill your time. The food was also amazing! I find myself craving dishes I commonly ate while in Argentina.

The exchange rate was favorable to the US dollar, and it was not too difficult to find inexpensive food/activities/means of travel.

In this program, students stay with host families. I think this is a great way to improve your Spanish communication skills and also to immerse yourself in the culture. I really enjoyed spending time with my host family, and we have kept in contact!