Argentina was an unparalleled adventure! Past Review
By Liv L (Spanish Language, Literature, Eastern Illinois University) - abroad from 05/13/2015 to 07/03/2015 with
Eastern Illinois University (EIU): Cordoba - Summer in Argentina
Too many things were gained to fit in this little box. Experience, knowledge, ideologies, interests, courage! Passion! Friendship!! Irreplaceable memories!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
With very small class sizes we were given the opportunity to have very individualized education. This certainly helped my language learning. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The workers/facilitators at our school were absolutely wonderful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Halfway through my trip I switched homes. The first home was accommodating but treated the travelers like we were a business venture. The second home was absolutely wonderful; changing my experience completely. |
| * Food: |
The food was just very different from what we were used to - but I enjoyed trying new things! (Although it significantly affected my digestion for almost two months after travel!!) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
In Argentina, a white blonde girl doesn't get integrated... it was abundantly clear that I was a foreigner. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We were definitely not in America. I personally didn't run into any issues but a friend on the trip needed medical attention -- all was taken care of with the help of the workers at our school but the medical attention was definitely different. |
| * Safety: |
Being clearly foreign it's easy to feel targeted in a large city. I recommend traveling/staying in numbers as we all did throughout the trip just to account for each other's safety. |
| 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) |
I had $600 for almost 8 weeks. So what had originally been planned for $100/week ended up stretching for almost two weeks longer. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $600 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget your money - Find inexpensive souvenirs for family and friends (I brought back rocks & painted them with their names and the mountains I took them from) |
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 |
The students around me at times didn't want to use the language, which admittedly became frustrating.. but the program itself was very helpful. |
| 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? | Literature Courses in 3000-4000 Levels |
| 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? | Duolingo is a wonderful free app/website to keep your language learning Also - listen to the people around you to hear their accent, their pronunciation and their figures of speech. Most importantly - DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!! They know you're abroad, they know you're a student, and they know you're eager to learn; more often than not, they WANT to answer your questions. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | More Spanish!! I learned so much there but I missed opportunities of getting to speak with people at the beginning that I wish I had taken. -- but ultimately I didn't end up missing out.. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
