A wonderful, world-view-expanding experience! January 06, 2025
By Alexandra F (Global Health, Northwestern University) - abroad from 08/28/2024 to 12/09/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Public Health in Urban Environments
It provided me the perfect balance of academic rigor and space for individual growth and exploration.
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. |
SIT Public Health in Urban Environments was an incredible program that facilitated growth and learning for me and all my fellow participants. Through immersive excursions and the homestay living arrangements, I was able to get to know Buenos Aires and Argentina through diverse and qualified perspectives. It had a profound impact on my worldview and understanding of healthcare-- both as a global and necessarily local phenomenon. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Super helpful and willing to accommodate students' needs. Very easy to talk to and kind. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was hosted by kind and lovely people who enhanced my experience in Argentina. |
| * Food: |
Very heavy meat and dairy, just be prepared! Otherwise very flexible and willing to adjust meals based upon dietary needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt incredibly integrated, particularly as my host family allowed me to understand more traditional aspects of the city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Very comprehensive and accessible healthcare system. Relatively easy (for me, personally) to receive treatment when necessary and get coverage after the fact. |
| * Safety: |
Super safe, super comfortable! |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Avoid touristy restaurants/events |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Classes, homestays, and excursions all in take place in Spanish. This proved incredibly fruitful for the language learning process. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Watch TV from Argentina!! Practice listening. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | There is a learning curve with language, and it will likely become more difficult before seeing a lot of improvement. |
