Buenos Aires: It doesn't get much better. Past Review
By Griffin S (Media Studies, College of Charleston) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Every time I travel I learn how to appreciate some things about the states while also finding a need for change in other areas of our culture. It is ALWAYS exciting. Even the stressful or bad will change you forever when in a new environment. I would say almost all in a good way.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Belgrano |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was in an intensive spanish language class and our teacher, Mage, was amazing. She was always willing to help out and made the "awkward phase" of learning language fun. I didn't hear any bad responses from any of my peers in regards to their professors either... |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was knowledgable and helpful. More importantly - Pamela and Nahuel were there to be your local friends at the same time. I couldn't have been happier with the staff and loved spending time with them. They made BsAs a second home for me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My place was awesome - but it was a bad decision on my part. I had heard bad stories from friends who had lived with host families abroad and decided to opt out and get an apartment of my own. In the end - everyone who stayed with a host family enjoyed it and improved their language a great deal more. I ended up going back to S.America the next year for 6 months as I still felt the need to practice. If I could do it again - I would at least have lived with spanish speakers! |
| * Food: |
Amazing. Hard to be a vegetarian. But I did have a friend who remained vegan the whole time... Check out Sarkis in Palermo Soho if you are going this route. Not Argentine, but incredible none the less. However, you should really eat steak and drink wine every meal if you want to enjoy yourself! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Feel free to FB friend me if you are going down (Griffin Sandberg). I am more than happy to give advice on places to visit. Anyways - I'd love to pretend that I am going down there again while I sit in the office! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe city if you keep your guard up and don't act like a drunken sorority girl. *** Lock your bags and keep all valuables in site. No violence, but people get robbed all the time. |
| 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? |
You will have a hard time NOT practicing the language in Argentina. People LOVE to talk down there - and fast! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Do it. |
