SIT Study Abroad Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights

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!

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.

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.

This was an amazing experience! I had such a fantastic time in Argentina and I learned so much not only about human rights and social movements but also about myself. I was able to make such incredible friendships as well. I couldn’t be more thankful. I highly recommend this program. The staff and advisors were incredibly supportive, kind hearted, and truly desire to make your experience as wonderful as possible. For anyone considering going abroad, Argentina is the place to go. Buenos Aires is such a beautiful city with such wonderful people.

This was such an amazing experience. If you are interested in human rights, grassroots social movements, and Spanish language immersion, this is the program for you. I cannot emphasize enough how safe and secure I felt throughout my experience with SIT. I needed to be babied a bit throughout the beginning of the program, and SIT walked us through everything we needed to know and more. My host family was absolutely amazing and I will miss them so so much. Please take the time to learn about the program before deciding on it because it's not for everyone. My heart hurts to leave this amazing country, but I know I'll be back.