Transformative, perspective-shifting Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, SIT Bolivia is extremely well organized and well connected while still providing students with the freedom to explore on their own.

On-site administration of your program

Heidi, the program director, and Paty, the program administrator, are both amazing. They are there to help you with everything. Heidi met with students one-on-one to talk about anything from culture shock to independent study projects. Paty would visit students in the hospital or take them to the doctor (which, mind you, is not necessarily her job, it's out of love), get coffee with students, and let them hang out with her in her office. They, and the former director, are very well connected in Cochabamba and the country, so the guest speakers for classes and contacts that students could take advantage of for independent research were amazing.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living is with host families around Cochabamba. The housing staff will move a student if there are any problems with the family, or even if the student just doesn't feel like they "click." I had a great experience with my host family.

Most meals are provided by host families, so it varies.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved living with a host family. Also, classes with SIT teach students about Bolivia in a way that you could never learn from a book or just from being a tourist there. We had leaders of pretty important social movements, NGO workers, artists, anthropologists and even government officials speak with us, and they were all accessible to students after their lecture. The guest lectures, site visits, excursions and independent study projects aren't just travel; they're pretty crazy opportunities to learn about social change, political policy, and the new constitution in ways you just couldn't alone. Downside: because of the flexible nature of the program, it is only American students. I found it really hard to make Bolivian friends my own age.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Hospital and clinic healthcare in Cochabamba are pretty advanced, but the system isn't going to be the same as in the US. Students on my program who got sick were frustrated by doctors' lack of transparency (i.e. one student was in the hospital for a week and the nurses kept refusing to tell her exactly what they were doing or what was wrong.) Stomach bugs are a given, but if you have a very weak stomach or chronic digestive issue, then you can expect to have diarrhea the whole time. That being said, if you generally don't have digestive issues, then you'll probably be fine besides the occasional diarrhea. During independent study, if students choose to go to rural areas, healthcare will not be as accessible or as reliable. You need vaccines in order to apply for the student visa, including Yellow Fever and Typhoid. You also need an HIV test (not sure why, but the government requires it.)

Cochabamba is extremely safe, as were most places I traveled. Mostly have to watch out for petty crime. People will say all sorts of things about watching your pockets, only taking radio taxis, how people will try to scam you on the streets, etc (guidebooks say all that too. Obviously you have to be smart, but I lived in the city center and once I got used to being there, felt pretty comfortable walking around at night or would listen to music while I ran or when I walked to class.. My only incident was almost getting robbed in the really crowded marketplace but that's because I was being stupid and had a big purse on in this tiny crowded place and had pulled my camera out. Generally safe, just have to be smart.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Transportation in Bolivia is very cheap. A bus ride is less than 50 cents. A taxi at night across town will cost maximum $2-3. All meals are provided through the host family. If you're spending money, it's on extra snacks, ice cream, coffee, or drinks & taxis over the weekend. Only extra cost in the house is that students should pay their host families for laundry.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Almost all of our classes were conducted in Spanish. However, since it is a group of American students, people get lazy and speak a lot of English. Living with host families gives you practice, though.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• Field visits/ guest lectures
• Class discussions
• Ismael's documentary film workshops

• opportunities to meet Bolivian students

The Avid Adventurer