Buenos Aires is such a great and fun city! Past Review

By (Sociology., Tufts University) for

Universidad del Museo Social Argentino (UMSA): Buenos Aires - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My study abroad experience was the best year of my life. It was a very fun year and really pushed me in lots of ways. I think expanding from what you are familiar with, really pushes you as an individual. I would suggest everyone to study abroad if they have the opportunity and Buenos Aires is such a great and fun city! It's big, so there is plenty to do, and the people are so nice and patient and so few speak English, that it is a great place to learn Spanish!

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Full-Year 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very helpful but very disorganized.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

A host family was a fabulous way to be learn more about the culture and to also improve your language skills. I would defintely recommend a host family over dorms if you are going for language acquisition. <br /><br />

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Buenos Aires is such an alive city. There are ALWAYS things to do 24/7. It's a city that lives at night and from clubs to concerts everyone can find their interests. IES provided us with a few travel opportunites as well. In general Argentina is a cheap country and the dollar goes far. The opportunities to travel and live large are very accessible.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Always helpful with finding health care for you. [In english if wanted or needed]. Also our program always updated us on safety issues.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 125 usd
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? laundry, phone cards, lunch, going out, taxis/public transportation, copies [no books used], groceries, toiletries etc.

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

IES gives you the opportunity to study, live, and work in Spanish. After being fully submerged in the language for a year, I consider myself fluent. Studying a language is defintely what you make out of it though, so a lot of it involves making a personal choice to practice as much as possible.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Buenos Aires is GREAT! IES has a caliber of students which isnt quite what we are used to at