The class to Ushuaia Argentina and Antarctica is my first course taken in the international business program at Texas A&M. Since I am a distance student, I have not been able to participate in person, but joining in over zoom has been a great flexible experience for me. I have never been to South America before, so my expectations are primarily based on my experiences in Europe and Central America. Upon arrival, it was quite apparent the differences in architecture, cuisine, transportation, and conversation styles. Despite these differences, all people I interacted with were quite accommodating to our adjustment to the culture. During our time in Ushuaia, we went on two hikes along Tierra del Fuego, and on a city bus tour. Both were fantastic views. It was quite beautiful to see a city surrounded by snowcapped mountains with the only break in skyline being a passage of open ocean. As someone who has never seen snow before (except for the ice sleet we get in Texas) I thought this was quite beautiful. Additionally, the catamaran trip was to see the seals and local birds was a nice introduction to the wildlife. As this trip continues, I hope to be able to see more of the local town as well as the nature in wildlife. One thing that particularly excites me about Antarctica is how it has been left to its natural state, or at least as much as possible. Accounts of nature from older literatures before massive spread of the industrial revolution talks about how nature was “teeming with life” and how “rivers are so full of fish, one swipe of a net would catch enough fish for a week of dinner.” This imagery is crazy to imagine given our current industrial society. If Antarctica maintains even a fraction of this imagery, it will truly be a window to the past.
