Argentina: Fun but very different than the US Past Review
By Brandon S (Spanish Language and Literature., Austin College) for
SSA Education Abroad: Córdoba - Semester, Year or Summer in Argentina
I learned to really open my eyes and be open to other cultures and people. The study abroad made me realize I really want to focus my studies around Latin America and made me realize I need to go to a grad school that will allow me to do that.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad Nacional de Cordoba |
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Alfredo, the on-site administrator, was absolutely wonderful. Willing to help with whatever you needed and he definitely went above and beyond the call of duty. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a safe neighborhood about 30 minutes from the university and about 20 minutes from downtown. The host family treated me as a family member from the moment I arrived. They were one of the reasons I decided to stay for a second semester. |
| * Food: |
The food was good but bland sometimes. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We traveled to a few cities in Argentina with our Argentine speaking partners which was nice. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
A few of my classmates got robbed but I never had any problems. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Once you get to Argentina you will want to enjoy as much as you can, which means traveling a lot, going out a lot, etc. So bring more than you think you will need. If you don't spend it, fine. But at least you have that option and you won't feel like you're missing out on anything. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Span 350 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my host family and Argentine classmates. Using the language was a necessity because my host family spoke no English. |
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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