I Will Cry for you Argentina Past Review
By A student (San Diego State University) - abroad from 02/22/2019 to 06/14/2019 with
Study Abroad Programs in Argentina
I learned a lot about myself, but also learned how to properly adapt to a different culture and I also excelled in my Spanish. It was definitely vale la pena!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was first of all expecting to have classes with local students, since it did not specifically say, I was disappointed to find out that my classes (especially in Spanish language) were with other American students which felt a little cheesy. I also had a couple of professors who did not put a lot of effort in the courses being taught which was frustrating. But other than that, for the most part, most of these classes were really interesting and for the most part, had passionate professors. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
10/10! The sweetest and most nice people I have ever met. The two program directors were approachable and really supportive. They also had great activities for us!! Out of all of the other programs that were doing exchange at our university, it seemed that this program lucked out. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
10/10 for me and my roommate!! We lived with this amazing, fun, and caring host mom and we were lucky enough to have four host siblings and two French bulldogs living with us!! it was really great to live with a host family that actually was a family because we were able to soak up as much culture as we could. Other people in my program weren't so lucky and many just lived with a single, elderly lady which seemed nice maybe to some, but to others who are expecting an actual family, may seem disappointing. |
| * Food: |
The food in general in argentina is very bland, and you have to look really hard for spicy food so to some people, it can be really difficult, it was for me. The food my host family would make was fine but it wasn't something to rave about, just good home cooked food and the company made it better too. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It sounds corny, but this course I took on "Argentine pop culture" really helped me integrate and learn more about their culture. Other than that I volunteered weekly at this local organic garden that had many argentine university students at and really helped me become one with their culture. Also having my host siblings that were around my age, to hang out with was amazing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
South America has this really awful rap for being dangerous and unsafe, but honestly it was like just any other big city in the US. The one thing that we were told to be careful of is iPhone theft. Since Apple doesn't really have a base down south, iPhones are really valuable and robbers will take it and run and you really can't do a lot about it so keep it close to you always. But other than that, yes I had heard of friends being robbed and everything, but if you are worried, travel in groups of people and try to stay near busy streets. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
SOL is so helpful, welcoming and freindly. Also the people that choose SOL were the best and now I consider some to be my best friends. I wish I was back everyday. |
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) |
Very easily, Buenos Aires is one of the cheapest cities to live in the world. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-100 USD depending on what activities I had planned |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | try to eat at home as often as possible and eat street food!!! |
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 |
If we had some background in the Spanish language, our program directors would talk to us in Spanish to try to help us practice. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Upper Division Spanish Course in College |
| 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? | Make local friends, talk to your friends (even if they are Americans as well) in the language you are learning, at restaurants talk in the language, and talk a lot with your host family |
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? | That it was going to be fun and not to be nervous. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
