Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Buenos Aires - A Unique and Cultural Metropolitan Past Review

By (Spanish for International Service\Religious Studies, The Catholic University of America) - abroad from 03/26/2012 to 06/22/2012 with

IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Society & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to trust myself and my skills. I learned how to relate to another culture and navigate my way around the city, being flexible with the bumps, and still making it an adventure.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were geared towards understanding the local culture which was really helpful! Some were challenging, others not too much, but all were informative and fostered conversation skills.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the administrators were very helpful and tried to have personal relationships with the students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my host-mom. She was an incredible resource that was everything I could have asked for in my housing experience!

* Food:

Eating out was great! Certain cooked meals were an interesting adjustment, and I missed peanut butter, but it the cuisine was good in its own ways.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Being an American girl definitely got the attention of the locals, so it was easy to interact with them and find the interesting local spots.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never needed to use any healthcare services, so I cannot comment on efficiency, but everything was explained clearly.

* Safety:

IES was very thorough with the safety protocol. They were very open about security issues, so I felt prepared walking through the city and never had an incident.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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 bought groceries and packed a lunch which helped for weekly expenses. I managed my weekend budget as well so I found it pretty easy.

* 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? US$50.00
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan out big trips you want and budget them separately.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Many of the advisers spoke to you in Spanish, unless it was an important issue they needed to make sure we fully understood.

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? SPAN 320
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Try not to speak any English. My hostmom did not speak English so we played charades to learn vocab. Try to use it when you're out with IES friends.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Orientation events
  • Courses
* What could be improved?
  • More students living in Palermo
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Be more open to all types of people in the program, try talking to more locals, and bring your own American favorite foods (like peanut butter).