Mendoza: Chocolate, some Andes, and lots of Comfort Past Review
By Peter S (HISTORY., Carleton College) for
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo: Mendoza - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
YES! Although I did speak English with the program people, I spent the vast majority of my time speaking Spanish with Argentines. My Spanish improved immensely and I learned to live like an Argentine. All very worth it for me!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | UNCuyo, |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Although the classes themselves were relatively easy in terms of workload and expectations for exchange students, I still found the overall experience wonderfully educational. The class lectures were interesting and the readings were great. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved the San Rafael trip as well as the dinners and meals provided by the program. However, I think it would have been a good idea to divide us a little more in Buenos Aires and even in San Rafael because a group of 50 gringos can get obnoxious and rude very quickly. I was embarrassed to be with us when we were all together. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Tops $20 a week, besides when I traveled. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Traveling is still expensive! Buses are not cheap but doing overnight ones are a great way to economize. |
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? | A 200 level literature class. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most Argentines do not speak English, and all of my interactions with my host family were in Spanish. However, the 50 or so Americans on the program did not really ever learn not to speak English with each other. At first program directors and professors pushed us to speak Spanish with fellow IFSA-ees, but after several weeks they stopped saying anything. So the group of students spoke almost entirely English when it was together. I made a few no-inglés pacts with several other frustrated people in order to keep Spanish my major language. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Mendoza is a wonderful city for people looking for a comfortable and manageable time abroad. The public transportation system is easy to learn and reliable. The city itself is laid out in a grid pattern with views of the Andes at every (beautifully tree-lined) street corner. I'd say it is one of the most comfortable city's I've visited. There is a stress-free and laid back atmosphere in all the Mendocinos. Anyone who's outdoorsy and likes hiking would do well here too, as the Andes are very close and easily accessable by public bus. |
