I caught the travel bug! Past Review
By Grace W (International Relations And Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/25/2013 to 06/21/2013 with
Study Abroad Programs in Argentina
My time in Argentina with Sol Education was a life changing experience. Between the people I met, the SOL directors, my host family, the daily activities within the city, and the weekend excursions I couldn't have imagined a better way to study abroad. Living within the culture by staying with a host family and taking university classes produced in us, the students, a sense of normalcy rather than feeling like a tourist. Being abroad opened my mind to the world outside of the United States that will forever change my perspective of other countries. I gained perspective. I am grateful for every experience in Argentina and the people who have changed my life for the better.
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 academic portion of SOL provided a rigorous few weeks of Spanish courses. The professor's of the Universidad del Belgrano were exceptional due to their concentration on the need of individual students and realistic educational information. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The directors, Raul de la Mano and Melisa Rao, were exceptional. Not only did these directors reveal their city to us, immerse us in the local culture and travel with us, they also cared who each of the students were and how their experience was. This group of directors absolutely loved their job and it reflected in their time with us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
One of the greatest benefits of SOL Education Abroad is the opportunity to stay with host families. To be fully immersed in the local culture, one must live locals and embrace their daily lives. I am truly grateful for the experience of living with a family and being able to learn and speak the language more accurately. |
| * Food: |
The food of Buenos Aires is not exceptional. The food is very European based with little variety. However, it is still good! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Between taking classes at a local university, staying with a host family, and going on cultural activities with SOL, I felt integrated within the city. After a week, I was familiar with the subway system, the bus routes, the local parks, the popular local spots, and had even made a few Argentine friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
SOL Education Abroad provides medical care if needed. However, I failed to become sick. |
| * Safety: |
Just like any large city, Buenos Aires has normal safety precautions to take into consideration such as never walking alone, holding your purse/backpack close to you on the subway, and simply being aware of your surroundings. SOL directed us to carry a photocopy of our passport everywhere we go rather than the actual passport itself. |
| 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) |
Argentina's current economy is not very strong and therefore the currency exchange rate for United States' dollars is in favor of the student traveling abroad. Also, with SOL breakfast and dinner each week is provided through your host family. |
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? | High school three years |
| 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? | SOL Education Abroad provided the option of Mate Club which is a cultural language exchange twice a week. We would sit down and share food and drink with local Argentines who were trying to learn English. Therefore, we spoke in English for fifteen minutes and then Spanish in fifteen minutes for over an hour. This was one of my favorite aspects of the program because I had the opportunity to exchange cultures with the people from Argentina. |
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? | I wish I would have known how much the experience would change my life! |
