Living and Learning with CEA Global Education in Buenos Aires, Argentina Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned so much Spanish. My confidence level with spoken Spanish has gone beyond what I ever thought would be possible. The classes that I took during the semester were quite easy and so was the grading system. The grade out of a 10 in Argentina, and at the Universidad de Belgrano, a 6 was the equivalent of a 3.0, so it was hard to be disappointed with grades. The workload was rarely anything because the majority of students stopped doing work, and the professors stopped caring; if I was at my homes university, I would have been mortified by the students, but knowing that we were all international students and in Argentina for more than just the academic experience, I felt that the program was adequate.

On-site administration of your program

CEA's Resident Staff in Buenos Aires was amazing. Each person was so friendly, memorized all our names before we even arrived in Buenos Aires, etc. They knew so much about the area, and if we had any questions or concerns, they seriously took care of us. When we were sick, they would accompany us to the doctor, and they had planned out a ton of excursions and activities around the city in the first weeks to up our knowledge of the place we were living in. My expectations were more than met with our staff, but I would suggest that as the program continues to grow larger, they add more resident staff members.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My room was quite small, but so many things made up for that, that it seems like such a petty thing to mention. CEA set me up with a family in an apartment in Recoleta. The area of the city was very, very safe and absolutely stunning. I lived only 5 blocks from the famous cemetery and feria. I was a bit far from the university (about a 20 minute ride on the colectivo), but I was close to fantastic restaurants, parks, and shopping. Because the majority of my friends lived closer to the university in Palermo and Belgrano, I was a bit annoyed at having to commute to nightlife, but there was also plenty to be found closer to where I was living, it was just left convenient for my friends. My host family situation was not what I expected. I lived with a husband, wife, 13 year old daughter, and two other American students. It essentially was the host mother's job to take care of us, and she did such an amazing job. I absolutely love her and she is one of the things I will miss the most about my time in Argentina. The father and daughter, on the other hand, never were a large part of my daily life in Argentina, and their presence made no difference to my lifestyle.

Being a large city, it is easy to find almost any kind of food in Buenos Aires. They don't really have anything too spicy, but of course they make up for it in amazing pizza, beef, and empanadas. Apparently it was hard to find soy milk or things for students who were lactose intolerant, but I know students who were vegan and made their time in Argentina work.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to travel extensively through the country of Argentina, and I loved every bit of it. CEA provided for us trips to Iguazu Falls and San Rafael, Mendoza. I loved both of the trips, and I think they were to excellent places. I also traveled to Salta and Jujuy - which was absolutely amazing and more like the "real South America" kind of a feeling. I also skiied in Bariloche in the Andes, and I loved that town. It has a feeling much like Switzerland. Finally, I went hiking in Patagonia (I'm an amateur, but I met plenty of experts who loved it as well), and it was the best trip I could have ever done. I went to El Calafate and did a glacier hike on Perito Moreno glacier, hikied to see Cerro Torre and Mt. Fitz Roy in El Chalten, and I went to Ushuaia to the end of the world, and did a short hike in Tierra del Fuego national park, and a boat ride through the Beagle Chanel. I also took tango lessons in the city at La Catedral de Tango (Sarmiento 4006 - Fridays at 8, but they have classes every day), and I absolutely loved it. The female tango instructor could be a bit pushy or rude, especially to beginners. But I continued going, and she became more friendly and the classes became more customized to what I did already know.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Safety: Watch your stuff. As a tourist/visitor, you need to be on your guard all the time. Try not to talk to loudly in English because the makes you an easier target. I had my phone pickpocketed on the subway in Buenos Aires, and then my purse was stolen from a coat check (which the business paid me for all my belongings as it was their fault). You must be aware of tricks that make it appear like people are being helpful but really they are attempting to rob you. A common one is a mustard squirt as you walk by, and someone robs you while another person cleans the stain. I had a similar experience where people were cleaning bird poop off of me, and tried to take my purse because it was dirty. You just need to be on the lookout. Health: I went to get vaccines beforehand and got Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid vaccines. I also was given malaria pills. I had a horrible reaction to the malaria pills, which ended up not being necessary to begin with (as the yellow fever vaccination wasn't necessary either). I did not have to deal with Healthcare myself, but I did go with my roommate. The system is different in that we went to the emergency room to meet with a general care doctor. It was very information, the doctor barely asked any questions before prescribing a medication, etc. My roommate was worried and went back two days later and just asked to see a specialist about her case, and was given a specialist right away who confirmed what the first doctor had said, but changed the medication.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I practiced the language mostly with my host family and in my classes. I took two classes taught in English and 3 taught in Spanish, so my language skills vastly improved. You definitely need Spanish for everyday interactions - most people could understand my English, but they couldn't speak or communicate back.

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• International Students
• Host Family