Buenos Aires: A Whirlwind of Opinions, Pesos, and Nightlife Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I felt that the classes were far too easy for my level of Spanish, especially the Argentine Language and Culture course. Every day I felt bored with the material, even if the professors were very kind people outside of class. There wasn't much interaction, but instead the professors lectured us the entire time or had us read aloud from booklets, all of which was very good for listening comprehension but completely useless for improving our speaking skills, which was what I was hoping to focus on during this study abroad experience. Again, classes weren't difficult, but they did take up a lot of time. I left my house before 8:00AM and wouldn't get home until around 4:00PM, giving me little time to explore the city in daylight, another part of the experience I was hoping to partake in.

On-site administration of your program

Everything was great in terms of how the program was run in Argentina. The directors were very knowledgable about the cultural differences and prepared us for life in the city.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The program placed us with host families, and I was situated on a very busy street in the heart of the city's nightlife and art scene. It was easy to access, and I always felt safe in my neighborhood, even coming home late at night/early in the morning. For the most part, I felt that I was treated very well, like a daughter, by my host mother, but near the end of the program, it felt slightly that I was a client from the way she acted around me. There were a few ocassions in which she said some offensive things in regards to my faith or my personal appearance, but for the most part, we got along great, and I had an enjoyable stay.

Being a vegetarian is rather difficult in Buenos Aires, especially if you're accustomed to a varied diet filled with vegetables and beans. My host mom prepared amazing and healthy food for me, but I had a hard time when eating out. The vegetarian food selections usually boiled down to pasta, empanadas, or pizza, which a person can only eat so much of. Overall, the food did not impress me.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Great trips to Uruguay and El Tigre, along with cultural events planned by the program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Speak Spanish and always be aware of your belongings as well as your surroundings. That is the best advice I can give you. Blend in, you don't want to stick out. Pay attention to the forewarned "dangerous areas" and take precaution. If you have asthma, bring your inhaler, because there is a lot of smoke, even indoors.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

My host mother, my professors, Argentine students that I met at the UBA, vendors, etc. Most of the people from the U.S. enrolled in the IFSA program spoke English, which was very disheartening for me, as I had hoped to speak entirely in Spanish at all times.

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• Host Family
• Apartment

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• Host Family

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• Americans