We arrive in Ushuaia!

I am participating in an American Universities International Program (AUIP) during this trip.  AUIP is an organization that offers students study abroad programs and curriculums.  The AUIP group consists of about 20 students from University of Florida, Oregon State, Virginia Tech, SUNY schools, Cornell, University of Delaware, UC Irvine and me from Dartmouth.  There is only one Brockport student, which I found really surprising!  There are two professors, one from Brockport and the other from Oregon State.  There are also three program directors and two of them brought their spouses. After almost two days of traveling, our group flight finally arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina.  The airport looked like a fancy ski lodge and parts of the small town did as well.  Immediately leaving the doors of the airport, we could see the gorgeous Andes bordering the small city of Ushuaia.  As we approached the city, we could see the huge crates of goods and giant cruise and industrial ships at the Ushuaia port.

            Shortly after we settled into our rooms at Hostel YaPush, we had a meeting where Dr. Norment, the senior faculty member involved, went through the AUIP powerpoint that was almost identical to the pre-departure presentation that we were required to watch online.  Dr. Norment asked the group what most people’s motivations were to participate in this program and most gave the impression that this was a once in a lifetime experience.  While some of my fellow students are also environmental studies majors, there are also some art, food science, psychology, and public policy majors.  Regardless, it is clear that every student on this trip is passionate about the current work.

The group then descended on this restaurant that had a buffet and meat made as you went up to the window and ordered.  I was so tired from the flights that I went to sleep very early but it seemed even earlier because it didn’t get dark until about 10 or 11pm!