Mendoza: An Argentine Desert Oasis Past Review
By Abby Y (Spanish Linguistics and Portuguese, Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo: Mendoza - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes. I have no doubts. It is hard to put into words everything that I learned and how I changed the first ten months I went abroad... maybe after this second trip, these fourteen months of travel and school, I will be able to communicate the change. It is a peace of mind, a confidence in myself and my Spanish language and a happiness that wasn't there before. Studying abroad literally changed the way I think. It was the correct choice for me.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad Nacional de CUyo |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I thought the program was very well balanced and that the IFSA- Butler staff was great. Jose Mostafa is an amazing resident director. I have returned to Mendoza to live for fourteen months because of my experience with the IFSA program. The work load varies depending on the classes you take and how seriously you take your classes. The finals in Argentina are oral. That was a very interesting surprise. The Argentina system is very different and much more memorization based. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite staff was great. The program director, Jose Mostafa was outrageously helpful and I felt I could go to him with any question or problem. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was really nice. The bed was very uncomfortable but my family was so nice that I had no desire to leave. We still talk and my host cousin is my best friend here; however, it would have been nice to have the option to live in an apartment or with international students the second semester. Sometimes I felt like a guest in the house. |
| * Food: |
My host mother was a great cook. She made the best pizza on earth. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I honestly can't think of any outstanding events arranged by the program. We took a trip to San Rafael which was very relaxing, learned to cook at the base of the Andes and took a tango class in a winery; however, the events that felt like real cultural experiences came from spending time with locals. Things like mother's day "pollo al disco" with an entire Argentine family or rugby team asados where we all go to the river in a truck and go camp. The program took us to very interesting locations and events but the most memoral cultural events were not program based. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I didn't have any health issues so I cannot really rate this very well. I felt safe and they made sure to tell us what was not safe and what was. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had taken one 300 level class prior to going abroad. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I could practice with my host family or with students in the University of Cuyo. None of the program staff spoke English with students; however, the students spoke English in the office and outside of the office. |
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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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? | Find a way to enjoy every minute and every word of your time in Mendoza, you have to find the activity that you love or the people you enjoy being around otherwise you will get bored and want to go home. Find your nook in Mendoza and you won't leave because it is a wonderful place. |
