A Life-Changing Summer in Buenos Aires Past Review
By Paul M (Carleton College) - abroad from 06/29/2013 to 07/26/2014 with
University of California - Davis: Buenos Aires - Music, Film and Culture in the Global City
ABSOLUTELY. I made friends who I will keep for life, I was exposed to a new culture, and I gained invaluable language skills. I would do it again in a heartbeat -- and in a way, I have, seeing as I currently live and work in Buenos Aires.
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Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The course was called Music, Film and Culture in the Global City, and was taught by a UC-Davis professor at the Universidad CAECE (Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Exactas) in Buenos Aires. We met for three hours Monday-Friday -- the instruction, institution, and material were all excellent. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Upon arrival, they set us up with cell phones and subway cards, and gave us valuable information about the city. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We were housed in a residential hotel which was comfortable, well-supplied, and safe. There was a doorman on duty 24/7 who could help us if we forgot our keys or had some issue in the middle of the night. |
| * Food: |
The food in Argentina is amazing. If you like steak, pizza, dulce de leche (a delicious caramel spread), milanesa (breaded meat), pastries, and coffee - you're in luck. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program was with other United States university students, so it was easy to stay with your bubble. However, our program advisors gave us relative independence, which really encouraged us to branch out and meet locals. I stayed an additional month in Buenos Aires after the program ended, which I highly recommend. I made great local friends who I communicate with every day, even now. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I have a unique experience here: I actually realized I had Lyme disease the day after arriving. Lyme disease doesn't exist in South America. However, I was extremely impressed with the medical attention I received; very quickly, I got antibiotics, and I was feeling better in no time. |
| * Safety: |
You have to be careful walking around Buenos Aires, especially as a foreigner. Be cautious, avoid putting yourself in precarious situations, and always be aware of your surroundings -- it's not hard to stay out of trouble if you take the necessary steps to do so. |
| 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) |
I spent around $50 - $75 a week on food, going out, buying souvenirs for my friends, etc. If you really pinch pennies, you could reduce the cost to around $40/week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 - 75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | YES -- bring US dollars. The Argentine peso is very unstable, but the US dollar is always reliable. By transferring your dollars into pesos, you can save a ton of money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Aside from speaking Spanish in class, the program exposed us to plenty of cultural activities that were based in the Spanish language. In addition, by giving us relative independence, there was plenty of time to mingle with Spanish-speaking locals. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Spanish |
| 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? | Make friends with locals! There's no better way than to practice with native speakers. Also, use the internet. There are plenty of free resources to help you practice, such as games, level tests, listening tests, etc. Here's a free listening test that will help you assess your Latin American Spanish skills - https://www.languagetrainers.co.uk/listening-tests/spanish/intermediate |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | Prepare for speaking a new language! Your study abroad experience will be enriched if you come in with a good knowledge of the language. From there, you can perfect your grammar and master your fluency once you're in the company of native speakers. |
