The Best Decision I Ever Made Past Review
By A student (Accounting, Santa Clara University) - abroad from 07/25/2015 to 11/21/2015 with
IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Society & Culture
When I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I went out of my comfort zone and got the most out of the experience. I learned about the culture in Argentina and how people there are so passionate by talking as much as I could with locals and people who have lived in Argentina for a long time. I learned so much about how Argentina operates on a daily basis and how you need to plan for unexpected events like a huge power outage that happened when I was there. My homestay was without power for 5 days and we had to wait and hope to get power soon, but people in Argentina are not in a hurry so it was not handled with sever concern as it would be handled in the U.S. I was able to see this difference in lifestyle and norms in society that made me appreciate what I have in the U.S. I developed so much more as a person where I could express myself in a different setting through the Spanish language and understand life in Argentina. I learned the most from my host parents who taught me how to get around the city and to travel to places in and out of Argentina that would be worth seeing. It was completely worth it to study abroad where I learned about Argentina and grew tremendously as a person.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Don't walk down the street with an IPhone in sight. Only have it out for taking pictures and don't ask others to take a picture of you because they will most likely steal it. There are a lot of homeless people and people will beg for money. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose the IES Abroad Buenos Aires program because you are able to learn a lot in the classes, but you also can partake in planned IES trips and excursions so that you can learn more about the culture and experience Argentina. In addition, I had plenty of time to go on short weekend trips to nearby places like Uruguay and Tigre (north of Buenos Aires), and I also stayed in Buenos Aires where I explored one of the many different neighborhoods that the city has to offer. |
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) |
U.S. dollars can buy you a lot in Argentina with a current exchange rate now of about $1 USD to 13 ARD (Argentine pesos). Meals don't cost a lot compared to a typical meal in the U.S. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $40-50 per week on food and other expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy clothes in Argentina. It is a "rip-off" as one of my Argentine professors told us. One t-shirt would cost about three or four decent sized meals. |
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 |
I used Spanish all the time except when I would talk with other students on my program. At my homestay, I talked in Spanish the whole time and in some of my classes that were taught in Spanish I would use it all the time and think in Spanish. |
| 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? | Spanish 22 (Intermediate Spanish II) |
| 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? | Talk as much as you can in Spanish with your host parents or professors who are fluent in the language so that they can help you and greatly improve your Spanish language skills. |
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?
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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? | I wish I knew to plan for unexpected events and that Argentines are very relaxed and casual when it comes to planning events. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
