I left my heart in Argentina Past Review
By April L (International/Global Studies., University of the Pacific) for
SSA Education Abroad: Córdoba - Semester, Year or Summer in Argentina
Living in Argentina was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I learned a lot about myself and came back a more open and confident person. I know I will always have a family and a home in Cordoba.
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. |
The workload was manageable. It took some time getting used to the classroom setting. Our professors really encouraged us to participate more which was difficult at first with the language barrier, but after a while it became much easier. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was very supportive and accessible. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our location was walking distance from the university and a cheap taxi ride away from the downtown area. My host mom already had everything I needed for my room so I didn't need to buy anything. I always felt at home and was always treated as a member of the family. |
| * Food: |
I had no dietary restrictions but my host mom was accommodating for the students who were vegetarian or had allergies. The quality and quantity of the food was always good. If I ever wanted something that my host mom didn't usually buy, like yogurt or a certain kind of fruit, I could go buy it myself at the neighborhood grocery store nearby. The best places to dine are in el centro. My favorite restaurant was La Alemada, an empanaderia near Plaza San Martin. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program arranged a long weekend in Buenos Aires. We were able to tour important cultural and historical sites during the days. At night we had a very nice 3 course dinner and watched a Tango show. They gave us a free night and some of us were able to see Chicago in Spanish. Overall the trip was really fun and everyone had a good time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never had any issues with safety in Cordoba. At night, and especially if you're a woman, it's better to go out in groups. But I never felt threatened or in danger. I had to visit the hospital twice and on both occasions it was very easy to make an appointment and see a doctor. The wait was never really that bad. I did not need any vaccinations for this program. If you're planning on travelling within the region they might be required. |
| 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? | $20 for lunches at the university/dinning our during weekends $30 for transportation |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wasn't expecting to pay for lunches. I had the option to go home for lunch but my class schedule did not allow me to. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 5 Semesters, Conversational Spanish |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I used Spanish in my everyday interactions. Not a lot of people spoke English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The workload for the classes in this program is very manageable and should leave you plenty of free time. Take advantage of this! Get to know the members of your host family and don't be afraid to talk to the locals. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Literatura Latinoamericana |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | David Voloj |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Our instructor was always well prepared and very enthusiastic about the subject. We were able to go on a field trip to a local author's home which had been turned into a museum. The workload was manageable and the instructor was easy to get a hold of with any questions. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I didn't have any credit transfer issues |
