Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Challenge your horizons and have fun! Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Colgate University) - abroad from 08/26/2016 to 12/10/2016 with

SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Transnationalism and Comparative Development in South America

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This was a very worthwhile experience. I have learned much about myself, improved my language skills significantly. I learned how to operate in a city. I learned how to see Latin American beyond its facts and figures presented in textbooks and journal articles.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

What was really interesting about the courses was that we had different professors for our courses every few days. This way we got a variety of perspectives, as development is a highly politicized topic for which there are many understandings. Courses were overall engaging and interesting.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

On-site administration was very solid. They were generally pretty clear in their instructions, and were always available for questions. All on-site administrators were very approachable.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a fantastic host family. SIT really seems to put care into who they select for housing situations. This does not mean that every host family works out, but there is a concerted effort to ensure that the host families care for the program's students

* Food:

Food in Argentina is pretty good. It is generally pretty basic and affordable .

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt quite integrated. I felt comfortable walking through the streets and felt like I knew the city and its people pretty well.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

You have to know how to walk through Buenos Aires. You cannot look like you don't know where you are going. Incidents happen, but these are some ways to prevent it. Overall, it is a pretty safe city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program helped shape my vision of Latin America. The field experience was very rewarding. We were able to talk to people in the grassroots organization field and hear their stories, which is pretty incredible. Courses required some work, but were not overwhelming. This program is perfect for people who don't want their study aboard to be perfectly easy.

Finances

* 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)

When I was in Argentina, food was pretty cheap and cab fare was fairly low, especially if you split a cab. The program provided money for our lunch food and transportation to and from class, which definitely reduced costs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20 a week approximately
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I recommend buying snacks and things at a local grocery store, and have those make up a good chunk of your lunch.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300 College level
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? The app Duolingo is very helpful. Listen to music and movies. Watch videos on youtube, specifically ones with an Argentine accent.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Speaking with people working for change
  • The Independent Study Project
  • Host Family
* What could be improved?
  • Our classes were pretty far from each other which took up a lot of time.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had done prior research into where I wanted to go while abroad.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!