Born Again in Buenos Aires Past Review
By A student () for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Buenos Aires, Argentina
I had no idea how much my view of the United States and the World as a whole was going to change from leaving my home and learning how to think on my own. I have become so much more responsible and independent. Since this experience I am planning on doing more traveling and going to graduate school in a Spanish-speaking country!
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. |
Workload was a fair amount. The amount and difficulty of homework assigned is dependent upon the program you are enrolled in. You will likely have homework every night ranging from 15 minutes to an hour and a half. Participation is strongly encouraged and there are often several oral presentations per class. Professors are helpful and very friendly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program directors were extremely helpful and were always eager to get to know you on a more personal level. Any problems a student faced the directors were always available to help as much as they could. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Neighborhood was very safe and very beautiful. I loved my family and they helped me an immense amount with my speaking abilities. They were extremely helpful (sometimes a little too much). I really felt like, for the most part, I was part of the family. |
| * Food: |
Food was excellent! You will never see as much bread in your life as you will see in the Argentinian diet! A lot of Italian influence so be prepared to consume a lot of carbs! However it tastes amazing! Argentinians are not huge fans of dairy products so be prepared to give up your daily glass of skim milk. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I went on so many adventures with and without the program that I will never ever forget! I learned the most from speaking to native Argentinians who did not speak English. My favorite memory was when I traveled outside of the city to Northern Argentina with a friend and had a truly cultural different experience. I loved all trips planned by program and was always fortunate enough to end up rooming with friends I had made in the program while on the excursion. It was a blast! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Buenos Aires is notorious for being home to best pick-pocketers. It is extremely important to always be alert when in public and be aware of your surroundings. Do not go out at night alone and be sure to always keep personal belongings close to your body and where you can see them at all times. I managed to become really sick with a parasite while abroad and unfortunately I was treated poorly by the health system. My program directors were helpful in telling me where I should go for medical assistance and how I can be reimbursed by student insurance. The most helpful person to me when I was very ill was my host family's cleaning lady. |
| 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
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most students spoke English during program activities and program directors often began speaking in Spanish and quickly switched to English if they sensed you were struggling with speaking or understanding. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Use this program wisely. If you are looking for a vacation- go on a vacation. This experience is way too valuable to be wasted on students who just want an easy semester (a myth) and aren't truly looking to grow as an individual and learn about the World as well as themselves. This program does a good job of balancing "holding your hand" and letting you be independent. My biggest regret was not speaking more Spanish and making more native Argentine friends. Be outgoing! Having the adventure of a lifetime is something you will never forget! |
