¡Che, mira! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

In regard to how much I enjoyed studying at the University of Belgrano, I can only give five stars. Being able to take classes in both English and Spanish was amazing, and the classes and professors were instrumental in expanding my knowledge of the subjects they taught (which were predominately focused on Latin America and Argentina). However, I do feel that the classes were easy compared to the United States and that I could have been pushed a little further. Also, the classes I took had subject matter that overlapped almost every day, which left me feeling as though I took the same class twice. Other than these things, studying in Argentina was a great decision.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a host mother and, at first, I thought I was not going to enjoy my experience as she seemed overly stern. However, as time progressed we developed a very close relation and she helped my improve my Spanish exponentially. My only complaint is that her Spanish was difficult for me to understand as the Argentine accent is very different from other accents of Latin America.

Argentina is heralded as a meat capital. To this statement I am in agreement, but it is also because of this that I felt like I was eating the same thing over and over. Food in Buenos Aires is heavily focused on bread and meat (with scattered vegan options), with very to no focus on seafood. Honestly, I miss empanadas, but the variety of food in Buenos Aires only merits 4 stars.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This aspect of my Argentine experience is the one I have the biggest problem with. Buenos Aires is very European and, besides the fact that people speak Spanish, I barely felt out of place or like I was in a place different from home. There were many chances for me to integrate myself into local culture by taking classes or going on cultural activities with my program and the people of Buenos Aires are extremely friendly. Participating in the spring semester also allowed me to participate in several important national holidays and celebrations, which included a demonstration/ march in Plaza de Mayo.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

When I came here I had a medical issue with my heart which was quickly and easily resolved. My program director took me to the doctor and my program provided $50,000 worth of medical insurance. I cannot comment thoroughly on the local healthcare system, as I only visited the clinic at my university, but the university clinic was very similar to a private clinic in the United States. The only prevalent health issue I had in Argentina were my allergies, which almost always bothered me. Going to Argentina did not require any specific vaccines, but I did get a hepatitis shot as a precaution.

I would say that Buenos Aires, or at least the part of the city I lived in, is safer when compared against many large cities in the US. Buenos Aires does not have a major gun violence problem that seems to be prevalent in most large cities in the US, but does have a human trafficking problem. It also has a problem with theft, but that is no different than a city like New York City. Some advice for future students would be to not travel alone at night, do not keep your personal things in your back pockets (always keep them in your front pockets), do not leave your things in the open in your house, and do not flash any expensive things while out and about. To blend-in in the city, I would suggest wearing black or dark socks and clothing that does not have large brand markings (like on American Eagle shirts).

I would choose the same program, but I personally would go to Oaxaca, Mexico instead of Buenos Aires. The city is beyond amazing, but to me feels very European and, me being a farm-boy, would have preferred to have lived in a smaller city if given a second chance.

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

I spent roughly $100 a week, with about fifty of this being allotted to food. Towards the latter stages of my trip Argentina began to experience an increase in the price of goods, which caused it to become more expensive to live in.

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

The program itself encouraged every student to use Spanish frequently, but oftentimes when I was with other students in my program we used English. Most host families speak little or no English, so there are definitely chances to practice Spanish in a more laid-back and colloquial environment.

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• Host Family

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• International Students

• Courses/ University
• City
• People

• Organization of activities
• Ability for beginners to learn Spanish
• More opportunities to live with an actual host family and not just one person.

The Avid Adventurer