I fell in love with Argentina! Past Review
By Elizabeth M (Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky) for
ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
YES! It gave me a better view of the world and of the United States and how we are perceived. It also made me more conscientious of others' points of view. I learned to speak conversationally in Spanish (I knew none when I arrived). My experience has made me want to live abroad when I graduate.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Belgrano |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was very fair, if not too little. The grading was done on a scale of 1-10, with a 5 being passing. A 7 was considered good. The class seemed a little random but very informative and I feel like it was more challenging than my spanish class at my university here. I learned a lot of Spanish and was happy with my progress. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was great. My only complaint is that it was hard to meet locals, especially due to the size of the program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
LOVED my housing assignment. She was interested in my progress and spoke english, which was helpful when I first got there. She was super welcoming and accommodating. |
| * Food: |
My food was good, though I wish I got more vegetables. I could have easily gone and purchased my own and prepared them with my dinner though. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had excursions arranged to Tigre, Rosario, and Iguazu Falls. I didn't think Rosario was anything special except there was a man-made beach and the National Flag Monuments. the other two excursions were great. ISA does a fantastic job of arranging opportunities to experience cultural traditions and the local way of life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe. Many people warn of pick-pocketers, but I think this can be easily avoided if you are aware of your surroundings and smart about where you keep your money. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Use Spanish as much as possible, even when talking to your english-speaking friends. Try to go out and meet locals (it's easier to do this if you're in a small group). I've kept in touch with locals I met while there, and now I have the opportunity to practice with them. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | The extra money is definitely worth the support and resources that ISA offers. They have free tutoring so that you can work ahead on your spanish if you want, or seek help if needed. They do a fantastic job planning excursions and also of providing support in the instance of a health issue or when you're trying to get your visa. |
