Buenos frickin Aires Past Review
By Kyle W (Environmental Science, University of North Carolina - Wilmington) for
ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
I have a much higher appreciation for american school systems and work ethic in general but also a great respect for cultures that make meals and fun time essential parts of the day that are taken seriously.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
For most of my classes, the entire grade was based on one final evaluation. There wasn't really a way to track my progress or make sure I was keeping up so when the final came, everything was a surprise such as test format, length, etc. I much prefer the education system here in the US but I'm glad I experienced something different. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were awesome...super supportive, nice, knew everybody's name. I have only good things to say about them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Host family was great, no curfew. I was treated like somebody in between a family member and a client. I felt welcomed but understood that hosting students was a regular affair for them. |
| * Food: |
Food was great. I was fed well-balanced meals, never left the table feeling hungry. In Argentina they don't eat big breakfasts so if you want something more than toast and coffee, be prepared to buy it yourself. Peanut butter is hard to find but they have it in china town over near Belgrano! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Iguazu was awesome! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I found the host city to be pretty safe although the argentines were constantly worried that I'd be robbed. I never had a problem, even in bad neighborhoods at night. I went to the doctor once when I had a fever that lasted 3-4 days. It was cheap and the lady spoke english. One of the program leaders escorted me there. Also, the yellow fever vaccine is free once you're in argentina so I got it there. There was a Dengue outbreak over semana santa and la gripe porcina hit the city hard but nothing to really worry about. |
| 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 could practice the language with my host family, some friends I met, and classmates. I used host country language everyday. A lot of people do speak english and like to practice with you but are very understanding that you want to practice spanish. I recommend being at least at the 300 level of spanish before you go. |
| 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?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I recommend this program to students who have decent spanish speaking skills and to students who love nightlife. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Historia de America Latina |
| Course Department: | don't remember |
| Instructor: | don't remember |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This course covered the history of colonial latin america from columbus onwards. Very interesting and my favorite class at USAL. Also, the professor's spanish is easier to understand than some of the others. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I had no credit transfer issues. |
