I Would Rather be Back in Argentina Past Review
By Sally F (Spanish, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University) for
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
Absolutely! I feel like I've matured so much and am now a Spanish major too. I would like to practice medicine in a spanish speaking country at some point.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad del Salvador, Fundación Universidad del Cine |
| 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 argentine university system takes some getting used to (see above question). However, I definitely adjusted eventually and found all of my professors to be very helpful. It was also a great way to meet argentine locals. The local students are a great resource academically and socially once you are confident enough to begin interacting with them. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I would recommend this program to anyone specifically because the staff was so helpful and friendly. My expectations were exceeded in all aspects of the program. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
Students should be prepared for a shocking change in their diet. There is less access to healthy foods. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I traveled all over Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. I would recommend traveling as much as you can while also making sure to see as much of the city as possible. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Petty theft is a HUGE problem in Argentina. I don't know a single person who wasn't robbed at some point during the semester. |
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75.00 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It's an expensive semester. You will be visiting ATMs frequently. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPAN3040 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The host family living situation definitely helped me get used to thinking in spanish every day. You really just have to gain the confidence to start speaking to people you encounter in your daily life. I found small talk with people on the busses and in lines to be really helpful in learning not only to think in spanish but also to respond quickly in a non-formal way (as opposed to the overly formal spanish that is learned in classes). |
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? |
|
