Argentina--More than what's at surface level Past Review
By Grant K (Spanish Language and Literature., Trinity University) for
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
YES!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | La Universidad del Salvador, La Universidad de Buenos Aires: La Facultad de Filosofia y Letras |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
La Universidad de Buenos Aires was the most fascinating educational institution I have ever seen. It is extremely different from any university that you could find in the United States. The grading system was quite fair, and I think that the grade-translation system is a good reflection of the difficulty of the courses. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The local staff in Buenos Aires was incredible. Mario Cantarini was an incredible administrator. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I LOVED my host family. Relaxed, informal, very amicable. |
| * Food: |
ARGENTINA: Land of Beef & Great Pasta |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Going to Uruguay was quite nice! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Buenos Aires does have many dangerous parts. But simple measures that even Argentine's take are highly useful. The worst that happened to other students was, to my knowledge, simply robbery. I personally was never robbed, though I was constantly outside, even very late into the night. Just be smart. |
| 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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buenos Aires is a city in which, if you want to waste lot's of money, you can. Realize that quality isn't always readily apparent--be willing to spend as a local would, and not think in terms of "this would only be $...". If you continue to think in terms of dollars, you will spend excessively. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The program itself did not have a very important role in improving my Spanish, but it has the advantage of, if you want, being very hands-off (they don't try to baby you). 99% of the friends I made during my year were local, and they never spoke to me in English-therefore my acquisition of Argentine slang was very facilitated by this interaction. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | EAT ARGENTINE MEET AND DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME HANGING OUT WITH FELLOW CITIZENS. EMBRACE THE UNCOMFORTABLE AND QUESTION EVERYTHING YOU KNEW! |
