Living on the south coast of Devon, I often directly feel the impact that climate change and human pollution has on our planet. It might be something as small as rubbish left on the beach from picnics or barbeques, or as big as sewage being poured into the sea illegally by companies like South West Water, but it all has an impact on our lives and the health of our planet.
From August 2026, I will be working as a teaching assistant at St George’s College in Buenos Aires for a year. While my daily role will allow me to contribute to providing a quality education through my work in the classroom, I want my time outside of school to reflect a practical commitment to sustainability. To me, this means making conscious, everyday decisions about how I travel, shop, and live while adjusting to a new country.
One of my first challenges will be a buying shirts and shoes for my school role without contributing to fast fashion. Instead of buying new clothes, I plan to source my work attire from local second-hand shops. I will use platforms like https://galponderopa.com/, which is great for pre-loved clothing. My approach to food will follow a similar logic; rather than shopping at massive supermarkets full of imported goods, I plan to buy seasonal produce through local stores like Alimentos Cooperativos (https://www.alimentoscooperativos.com/), which will lower food miles and support the local economy.
During school holidays, I am really keen to explore Argentina and visit landmarks like Patagonia and Iguazu Falls. However, flying has a huge carbon footprint, especially given the massive distances in South America. To minimize my environmental impact, I have decided to completely forgo internal flights. Instead, I will travel overland using Argentina’s highly efficient long-distance bus network, booking my journeys through Plataforma 10 (https://www.plataforma10.com.ar/). While it takes longer, it drastically reduces transit emissions.
On a daily basis within the city, I intend to avoid taxis and private cars as much as possible. I will rely on the subway system and Buenos Aires’ public bike-sharing network, BA EcoBici (https://www.baecobici.com.ar/), for getting from one neighbourhood to another. If my budget allows, I may even by a second-hand bike, which I could then sell on at the end of my stay.
When visiting areas of natural beauty like Patagonia, I want to ensure my presence doesn’t negatively impact the environment. I will rely on the guidelines provided by the national parques nacionales (https://www.argentina.gob.ar/parquesnacionales) to practice low-impact, responsible ecotourism and respect local conservation efforts.
Ultimately, I don’t think a year abroad needs to be an environmental burden. By integrating these specific resources into my routine, I hope to be an example to the students at St George’s and my fellow Bristol University students, by showing them that sustainable travel and responsible consumption aren’t just abstract concepts, but manageable, realistic choices we can make every day.
