An Independent Summer of Incredible Experiences Past Review
By Elizabeth R (International Relations and Affairs., Tufts University) - abroad from 06/02/2012 to 09/01/2012 with
CUI - Centro Universitario de Idiomas: Buenos Aires - Language Programs for Foreign Students
Yes -- it was one of the most worthwhile experiences I've ever had. I learned how to adjust to a different culture; how to behave in a professional office environment; how to fix problems by myself; I learned a lot of Spanish; I learned how to be more humble; I learned that the world is a huge amazing place filled with wonderful people; I became more confident and open in dealing with others.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | CUI (Centro Universitario de Idiomas; satellite branch of Universidad de Buenos Aires) |
| 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. |
The four week intensive Spanish class that I took had about ten students, and as such I was unable to practice speaking as much as I had hoped (we focused mainly on grammar). That being said, I think the average class size is much smaller. At least the school was very close to my homestay! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Buenos Aires coordinator was very nice and helpful but sometimes it seemed like he had other stuff going on. This was never really an issue, and I certainly never felt ignored. Panrimo has optional trips to other parts of the country, but doesn't organize any meet-ups for the students in each city. As long as you're willing to make friends on your own and be independent, you'll be fine -- that's the kind of experience I was looking for, and it turned out great. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed in an apartment in the downtown area with a host family, and that was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. The family was incredibly nice and did everything they could to make me comfortable. |
| * Food: |
The food I got at my homestay (I signed up to receive breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday) was very, very good, and was a lot healthier than the average Argentine diet. When I was on my own for meals I never had a problem finding delicious food, and there were plenty of nearby grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not being fluent in Spanish was the main barrier for me in terms of cultural integration, although my language skills did improve significantly while I was there. Other than that, by the time I left I definitely felt comfortable in the city, knew my way around, was familiar with the local customs, etc. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues, and no vaccines were needed. There is a hospital in the city where they do speak English, but I never had a need to go there. |
| * Safety: |
Like any big city, you do have to be careful in Buenos Aires. Theft is the biggest problem here, but as long as you're smart and sensible you should be fine. My laptop did get stolen (through no fault of Panirmo, of course), but it was really more of a financial inconvenience than a practical one. My host family graciously gave me an old desktop computer to use in my room, my internship provided me with a laptop to use while I was at work, and Panrimo's staff did everything they could to help out with the situation. |
| 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) |
It's easy to live cheap if you want to, but also easy to spend a lot if you're always buying things, going out to expensive restaurants for meals, and signing up for extra tours. In terms of normal expenses, I probably spent 150 pesos/week for food, 15 pesos every ten days for laundry, 250 pesos overall for transportation (bus and subway fare), and 50 pesos for my cellphone. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 200, but that is a very rough estimate |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do your research. A lot of museums and other attractions are free, or have a reduced price one day a week. For instance, movie tickets are sometimes half-price on Wednesdays, and usually you can get into boliches (night clubs) for free (if you're a girl) or for a discounted price (if you're a guy) if you go early enough. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Everything I did for my internship was in Spanish, and I mainly spoke Spanish in my homestay as well. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | The equivalent of four semesters of college Spanish |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Find friends who want to practice too and speak with them. |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | I wish I had been more prepared for the differences between the Spanish spoken here (i.e. the accent, the fast speed, the use of the vos form) and the Spanish I had learned in college. |
