My Experience in Argentina: Spanish, Dulce de Leche, and Lifetime Friends Past Review
By Jordan H (American Studies, Smith College) - abroad from 02/24/2015 to 06/08/2015 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Social Movements and Human Rights
YES. I would consider this one of the most rewarding experiences i've had/will have in my lifetime--this program changed my life forever (in a great way). The friends that I made along with the experiences we shared really helped me grow as an individual in ways that I couldn't have imagined. What I really love about this program is that it has a very specific focus, social movements and human rights, so not only was I improving my Spanish, but I was also able to participate in/assist some amazing organizations that are working for social justice and equality. I also got to view my home country from an outsider's perspective for the very first time, which was a very enlightening experience. I hope to carry the values and lessons that I learned during my time in Argentina with me while I continue to live in the United States.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Perfect balance of in-class work and experiential learning. Classes were not overwhelming, but I really feel like I learned so much during my short time in Argentina. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Really glad I did a program with a "home-stay" option - I feel like it really added to my experience as a whole. Everyone in my program had the perfect fit with each of their home-stay families, SIT does a great job at matching up their students with families they have similarities with. |
| * Food: |
OMG, if you like empanadas, red meat, dulce de leche, and amazing pastries then this program is for you. Still trying to work off the weight I gained from this experience... |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was surprised at how welcoming the locals were! They were truly interested in talking to us and teaching us the ways of their culture, it really helped us practice our Spanish as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't personally have an experience with health care, but one of my friends did and it was addressed immediately with the help of our program directors and the situation was taken care of in no time. Our directors are always only a phone call away, and they are willing to drop what they are doing if necessary. |
| * Safety: |
Like any city, it's necessary to have caution when out in public in Buenos Aires, but not more than any other city in the United States. |
| 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? | Around $15-$20 U.S. dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't keep all of your cash with you in your wallet...store some at home so you won't be tempted to spend it all in one sitting. Also www.xoom.com is a great way to opt for using the blue rate of exchange when doing money transfers! |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 235 |
| 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? | It can be difficult to speak Spanish when you are surrounded by your English speaking peers on the program--it's very tempting to speak English. At the beginning of the program, we set Spanish-speaking goals together as a group for the whole group, and signed a paper to hold ourselves accountable; this really helped us. |
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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* 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 will always be different levels of Spanish in the group, however, no matter what your level is, completing this experience is absolutely possible with the resources the program offers. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
