I wish I could have stayed a year Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I thought the workload was very manageable. The grading system was on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the equivalent of an A and anything below a 6 would be failing. The education system strongly deviates from the "just get the grade" mentality that many of us suffer in the US. Professors really want the students to take what they have learned and apply it to real life, they do not focus whatsoever on getting good grades. I feel that in the US many students try to learn so much so that they get good grades, but then they don't apply it to anything and thus loose that knowledge.

On-site administration of your program

Studying in Cordoba with PECLA was a much more independent experience than it would have been if I had chosen one of the larger programs. There didn't seem to be a real coordinator for the program, and there seemed to be a lot of confusion between the PECLA program in Cordoba and study abroad administrators at UT. I expected a little more guidance and support from PECLA, but did not receive much.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

PECLA arranged my housing situation. I lived with a single host mother and another student from the US. I lived in the best neighborhood in Cordoba for students, it was only a ten minute walk to class and surrounded by great nightlife. Unfortuneately, the location was really the only good thing about my living situation. My host mother told me all the time that she just housed students for the money. She had absolutely no interest in conversing with us, not really allowing us to practice speaking. I felt really uncomfortable there and wish I had moved, but I kept thinking that it would improve. It is really easy to move, so I recommend definitely doing so if you are uncomfortable with your host family. She really dampered my experience.

The meat ofcourse is delicious in Argentina. Definitely try to go to as many asados as possible! If you are vegetarian it may be difficult to find many options in restaurants to eat, but there is everything you need at the supermarket!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The semester long program does not arrange any social or cultural events.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Overall safety was good. Someone tried to steal a friend's purse once, but that can really happen in any city. Basic safety precautions should be recognized though, such as not walking around late at night alone. I never had a health problem, so I did not experience the health system.

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

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

• Everyone was very really helpful.

• Organization