Una experiencia re linda :) Past Review

By Kalina Jurkowski (Cottey College) - abroad from 03/02/2017 to 07/14/2017 with

Universidad de San Andrés: Buenos Aires - Latin American Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned what it's like to live in another country! I learned the struggles of trying to learn and adapt to a new way of living. I think it was more than worthwhile, especially in today's world. I had a taste of what it might be like to be an immigrant, and I now feel a sense of empathy for those who move to the U.S.

Review Photos

Universidad de San Andrés: Buenos Aires - Latin American Studies Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The overall educational experience was honestly pretty frustrating. I had to commute an hour and a half to get to campus every day, and it was exhausting having to listen to such long (3 hour) lectures completely in Spanish. I wasn't used to the way that classes run there (instead of having regular assignments, your whole grade can be determined from 2 exams! Also a 4/10 is passing because they grade so harshly), and the lack of other students from the U.S. was kind of lonely at times. However, I give it 5 stars because through all of these struggles I learned SO MUCH. I was forced to meet people from other places and immerse myself in a different educational system.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The office of international programs was super nice. Not only did they coordinate with our home universities and help us out in-country, but they also planned different trips and activities for us to do. I believe the costs of those activities were all included in the cost of the Program in Latin American Studies. We went to a delta, a milonga, an estancia, and a city tour with a historian.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived off-campus in a spare room that I rented in a family's apartment in the city.
* Food:	The food at the universtiy was super expensive. I think I ate there twice.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I think we only had around 30 international students total, so it wasn't easy to hide in my comfort zone. I felt kind of forced to spend time with local people.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Most of us purchased a local health insurance plan for the time that we were there. Thankfully I never had to use mine, and from what I heard healthcare was pretty easy to access.
* Safety:	Any big city can be dangerous. You just have to be careful, especially at night.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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?	Contemporary Latin American/Spanish Women Writers
How many hours per day did you use the language?	10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	While you're there, do as much as possible in Spanish. Take notes in Spanish, talk to as many people as possible in Spanish, write your grocery/to-do list in Spanish, do all of your thinking in Spanish, etc. I think this was the key to learning so much more of the language.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	The office staff The classes/professors The local students I met
* What could be improved?	The cafeteria food could be more affordable
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Tranquila! There's no need to stress out over every little thing. When studying abroad, things usually won't go exactly according to plan. Take it easy and roll with it.

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 Academic or Linguist You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Español Avanzado
Course Department:
Instructor:	Cecilia Wolman/Delfina Gomez
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Even if you're already confident with your Spanish, I would recommend taking this course because you get to learn the porteño dialect, which is what they use in Buenos Aires. Also, the professors were amazing. Delfina actually helped me with a paper I had to write for another class.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Política e Instituciones en Latinoamérica
Course Department:
Instructor:	Diego Reynoso
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Before this class, I really didn't know anything about politics or political institutions in Latin America. Now, I can understand the significance of the elections and other political events that are taking place in Latin America that I read about in the news.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Arte en America Latina
Course Department:
Instructor:	María Lía Munilla Lacasa
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	I learned so much, not only about art, but also about Latin America in general. We also visited several museums to see in person the art we studied in class. An especially good class for international students.
Credit Transfer Issues: