Patagonia - Beautiful landscapes, unique ecosystems, and rich, relaxed culture Past Review
By Zachary W (Environmental Science (Terrestrial Ecology), Western Washington University) for
Wildlands Studies: Patagonia Ecosystems: The Chile Project
This program was a great way to integrate all of the environmental education I have had so far in my student career in a place with both beautiful and unique ecological systems.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program was divided into three courses and the requirements for each were clearly outlined. They included an ongoing field journal, presentations, a mid-term, a final, readings, a final research project, field quizzes and other small assignments. The work was all relevant, and there was less work overall than most quarters at my university but I feel I learned just as much as a normal quarter. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was led by two instructors who were both experts in ecology, conservations, etc. and were very experienced backcountry travelers which made the field program feel very safe and well-led. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in tents. I didn't buy much to "furnish" my dwelling, but some students purchased new camping gear before the program began. Because we were in the backcountry most of the time, our classroom was wherever we hiked that day, and the nighlife was usually a campfire or deck of playing cards. |
| * Food: |
We cooked most of our own food. We did our own shopping and could make whatever we were willing to carry in our backpacks. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
While I do wish we had a bit more interaction with local people, the interactions we did have were very rich. We had an opportunity to visit penguin colonies, prepare traditional feasts, climb a volcano, and see much of the beautiful natural landscapes that Patagonia has to offer. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There were no health issues that needed to be addressed on the trip. The high level of experience of the instructors made activities that can seem dangerous (hiking, crossing streams, traveling in remote areas, etc.) feel and be very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a perfect program for a student studying the environment who loves the outdoors. My only regret is not speaking Spanish, but it was not problematic. Lots of hiking! |
