A Fun and Challenging Learning Experience Past Review
By A student (Fordham University) - abroad from 07/23/2012 to 12/20/2012 with
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
I learned a TON about Argentina in general. I also learned how to be alone and be content alone (coming from dorm life in the US, it can be surprisingly uncomfortable). It was 150% worthwhile - no one can take this experience away from me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
IFSA's Buenos Aires staff is amazing - but I give the overall experience a 4/5 due to the nature of academics in Buenos Aires. Everyone (students and professors) is very passionate, however as a student coming from the United States, there were times at which the disorganization in general was extremely frustrating. In addition, sometimes professors at the universities were bitter towards study abroad students (sometimes with good reason, other times without), and that made asking for help intimidating as well. |
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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: |
The restaurants were phenomenal. Breakfast is not really a "thing" in Buenos Aires, so I found the lack of a "hearty way to start the day" a bummer. Also, dinner truly depends on your host family, so it could go either way. Great and cheap lunch spots if you really search for them! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's all up to the individual how integrated they want to be - if you go out with gigantic groups of program kids, you won't meet locals!! Take initiative, do things on your own, start conversations with strangers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
If you're street savvy in general, Buenos Aires is not a problem. I had no issues during my semester, but many of my friends were pick-pocketed (usually because they didn't dress the part or because they were speaking in English). |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
You will probably always wish you had more money to spend, because Buenos Aires is an expensive city, but if you're used to living on a budget (and if you're used to living in a city) it's no problem. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I had $3,000 (US dollars) for the whole semester - lunch, travel, going out, gifts, etc. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be very aware of what you personally want to spend your money on, and look up free stuff to do on the internet! Ask your host family for suggestions. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Various university-level literature courses |
| 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? | Make friends with locals! |
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? | 10+ |
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 had taken more advantage of the free time I had in the first few months; I spent a lot of time feeling unsure about being alone and unwilling to do stuff by myself. Therefore, there were things I didn't end up getting to when I ended my semester, which was a bummer. I should have been more OK with calling people I didn't know very well to do stuff with me. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
