Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Glorified Tourism Past Review

By (Anthropology., University of the Pacific) - abroad from 07/27/2013 to 11/22/2013 with

IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Society & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I enjoyed my Latin American Politics class and my Cultural Studies class, but I found the overall program lacking when it came to cultural immersion. I felt like I was on a very long tourist vacation for much of my experience. This is largely due to the fact that all of the students are from the United States and are very young and inexperienced when it comes to travel and living abroad, so it makes sense that the program would go to such lengths to assist them, but it did not contribute to a deeper understanding of the culture.

Personal Information

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100-200

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 11B
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? Participate in the language exchange program.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • Staff and faculty were wonderful.
  • Medical assistance was very efficient and prompt.
* What could be improved?
  • More opportunity for cultural immersion.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Argentines primarily eat meat and carbohydrates, and it's very difficult to find any sort of culinary diversity in the city unless you really know where to look.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'