Getting to know Buenos Aires through its amazing people August 06, 2024
By Jacob G (International and Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/26/2024 to 07/19/2024 with
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
The opportunity to explore, see the world through a different language, see so many different sides of the city, look at the US from an outsider's point of view, valuable economic insights and a look at how people manage through economic crises.
Review Photos
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. |
The quality of education varied widely between different professors, different classes, and different universities. I found my classes at Universidad Torcuato di Tella much better than classes with IFSA or what I heard about USAL or UBA. The classes with IFSA did not have much oversight, and generally felt not very well thought out. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Good on the fundamentals of placing people in housing and communicating with registrars of various universities. Not very good on communication, especially communication in English, as well as being less helpful than they said they would be in some cases. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my house placement and host family. |
| * Food: |
Host family food is decent, but you get what you get and I found it generally lacked seasoning, |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don't think IFSA offered very many good strategies for really getting to know locals -- they provided more tourist type tours and visits -- you have to take the initiative and have fairly good spanish skills in order to get to know argentines, but it's very much worth the effort. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had a health issue, and one of the program staff did advise me on where to get good care. That being said, he didn't give very accurate information, and it was much more efficient to do it myself. It also took a very long time to get the claims processed with CISI. |
| * Safety: |
I generally felt very safe, even at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved Argentina, the ability to travel around explore, use public transit and get to know people from all over South America. IFSA isn't perfect or even that amazing of an organization, but they get you there and do what's necessary to fix the issues you have even if they aren't necessarily very organized about it. |
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) |
Buenos Aires is generally very cheap for Americans, especially utilizing grocery stores. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use the grocery stores, don't eat out for dinner too often. |
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? | 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? | HISP 106B at Brandeis |
| 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? | Music!!! Join interest groups of locals like bands or sports teams, make the effort to talk to your host mom and try to practice starting conversations. Make the effort to focus on pronunciation as well. |
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 |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You don't need to be friends with the other study abroad students, don't take more than one class with IFSA if possible, don't wait on other people or on the program to travel, explore the city and join groups of locals who can help you see the city through their eyes. |
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.' |
