Dreams of Buenos Aires: Short but sweet Past Review
By Alisa T (International Business, Loyola University New Orleans) for
ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
I did this program because I just wanted to improve my language level. I did it in preparation for another program. What I didn't anticipate was that I would really like everything about Buenos Aires. In 4 weeks I got a new "I can do anything" attitude. Just navigating the city and challenging myself to try to learn this language is what motivated me to keep studying abroad.
Personal Information
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone in the office was always available and friendly even though there were multiple programs and alot of students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a senora and 3 other american girls. They all spoke more spanish than me and it was a little intimidating especially at meals which can be the best time to talk about simple things like how your day was. I was treated more as a guest just because it was a business for this woman and she had been doing this for years. I got 2 meals a day plus laundry once a week. It was only a 4 weeks program and didn't expect to become that close. The food was generally pretty good and I liked having other people in the house. |
| * Food: |
There were 2 vegetarians in my house and my senora tried her best to accommodate them. Food was plentiful (sometime too much). The hardest thing to get used to is the amount of mayonnaise...I didn't eat out that much. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
For a short program ISA provided guided tours around the city and to other interesting point s of interest. The trip to Iguazu Falls was included and amazing. There was also small exchange dinners and tango events. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Buenos Aires is a major city. There is crime. With common sense and awareness of your surroundings everything should be fine. Kids got robbed but were not hurt and it was between the hours of 2-5 am when they were walking home from bars by themselves. Pick pocketing is also common but again common sense. Don't take your camera out on the subway or any other tightly packed mode of transportation. I didn't get robbed/pick pocketed. |
| 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 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was a little timid and didn't realize how much I had learned until afterwards. I used basic things to order food and by things as well as talk to my senora. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This was a really short program and I would say that the student who goes abroad anywhere should be prepared to work hard at acquiring the language. 4 weeks is not long at all and you should take advantage of everything there is to offer. Speak spanish, read a newspaper, talk to your hosts...don't get caught up in the cheap night life. Make memories. |
