IFSA Butler Mendoza Universities Program Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Workload was too low for college level work. Teaching method is lecture only. Very unorganized (ex. lack of syllabuses, office hours not posted, etc)

On-site administration of your program

Strength: Making us feel comfortable, negotiating with host families, and helping with the student visas. Also, planning fun excursions. Weakness: REGISTRATION ADVISING. We were poorly informed about the opportunities available in the university (clubs, dance classes, workshops, discussion, etc.). Also class advising was terrible. We would take classes in the university with Argentines, but with the advising we would have incorrect times/professors/even classes, and there would be 10 IFSA students in one class, kind of ruining the whole point.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My first host mom was manipulative and very unpleasant to live with (definitely doing it for the money). Second semester I switched families and it got better. Neighborhood (city) is very safe. Close to the university, but still takes 30m to get there because the buses are so unreliable. Nightlife is awesome! I didn't need to buy anything for the house, but I had to buy food a lot because my host mom wouldn't be home.

My first host mom cooked very well. The second one didn't. Argentine food (for Americans) is delicious, but gets old and repetitive very fast. There is a lack of diversity (no Thai, no Indian, etc) and a lack of SPICE. But host families are very accommodating for vegetarians and there is never a lack of quantity (in my experience). Mendoza has nice restaurants to eat out at (although they are all generally the same, minus the Sushi place)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Winery visit and tango lesson, Traditional Argentine cooking lesson, weekend trip to the South of the province, 2 day sightseeing trip in Buenos Aires, Vendimia, etc. They did very well on the excursions!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Mendoza is very safe. You just have to be smart about your belongings like in any other city. For my heath care issues (the flu, a tooth problem) I went to the medical center on the university campus. It is included and was very efficient. We have stronger medicine in the states. Here you need a prescription for everything. No over the counter meds. Here health care is universal and free. Who is to say who has a better system... I got yellow fever and oral typhoid for this program, but didn't really need them (no diseases in Mendoza)

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The program encouraged us to make Argentine friends, to take classes in the Univeristy (required) and to speak Spanish with our host families. Improvement is inevitable, although it is hard to become fluent when you are constantly surrounded by English speakers. I practice with my boyfriend, with my host mom, with Argentine peers and teachers. Nevertheless, there is a lot of English spoken within the program (not by the employees).

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• Host Family

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• Host Family