Cordoaba, Argentina: educational, fun, and life-changing. UT, Language and Culture Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This is how I explain the classes to all of my friends and family. If these classes would have been taught in English, they would have been very easy (because of the pace, workload, expected quality of work, etc), but because it was a foreign language, it was perfect. We were still expected to work at a college level, but the amount or difficulty of work never seemed hopeless. It was always very manageable, and I feel that I learned a lot. The grading system is different. You will just have to get used to that, or not. The truth is, you shouldn't be worried about the grading system. This is true of all of college, but especially of Study Abroad: the most important learning will take place outside of the classroom. You should still work hard in your courses abroad, because there is so much to be learned, and seeing things from another point of you can be fascinating, but don't worry about the grades. Also, if your professor comes in a few minutes late, or he/she starts class a few minutes late, don't fret. It is just part of the culture. It doesn't mean the professor doesn't take her/his job seriously.

On-site administration of your program

The program staff has worked with many University of Texas students in the past, so they "know the drill" so to speak. Also, all the staff knows English. Although I mainly spoke with them in spanish (which they strongly encourage in order to force you to practice), I could clarify something with them in English if it was necessary. They also know a huge amount about Argentina (because they are all from Argentina), but have also learned a lot about the UT system and bureaucracy. The staff was very accessible. I could stop by the office, email, or call the staff members. The semester program is very small. This has it's good and bad aspects. There is as many resources available as with a large organization, but I think it makes up for it by the one-on-one contact that is available.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I arranged housing through the UT study abroad program at La Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. My neighborhood was an upper middle class neighborhood right next to the University. It was very safe and conveniently located. It was also relatively close to the downtown area (either a long walk or a short taxi ride). My host family provided everything I needed and treated me like a member of the family, except that I wasn't expected to do chores. So, I tried to help set or clean off the table whenever possible.

My host family cooked very tasty food. The only thing that kept me from rating it a 5 is that it was a bit repetitive. We basically ate different combinations of pasta, burgers, milenesa (a bit like chicken-fried steak) and side salad. I also went out to eat with friends quite frequently. There are some great choripan stands near parque sarmiental and some fantastic upper-end (although quite expensive) steak places along La Cañada. P.S. I am not, and have never been a vegetarian. However, if you are a vegetarian (and are determined to stay one during your study abroad trip), you should have some very serious discussions with a study abroad advisor before going to Argentina. I'm not sure it would even be possible, because they eat A LOT of meat. On the other hand, if you like meat, have fun!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Cordoba is a fantastic place for young people. There are tons of bars, boliches (clubs), and places to dance. There is a huge park, and many great places to visit just outside of Cordoba. Argentina also has a fantastic inter-city bus system (far better than the U.S.), so you can easily travel for cheap. Also, I went on a two great trips with the program. One to the jesuit missions, and another to Salta and then to a gaucho ranch.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The main threat is pick-pocketing! Be very wary of pick-pockets. They especially seemed to focus on young foreign women with purses. Other than that, there is not much to worry about. Just like any big city, Cordoba has it's rough neighborhoods. Avoid these late at night and you should be fine.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I spoke spanish with my host family, my professors, everyday people in restaurants/shops/bars etc, and my speaking partners. All of my classmates spoke English, including students from the U.S. as well as from Holland, Germany, and Japan, but we all spoke with each other in Spanish at least about half of the time (and all of the time while we were in class). There are some Argentineans that speak English, but most people do not speak it, or do not speak it well. Several of my host siblings, as well as my speaking partners spoke English, so we would sometimes speak in English and sometimes in Spanish so that we could both practice.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family
• International Students
• Americans

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• Americans