Past Review

By (Community Health & Psychology, Tufts University) for

CIEE: Buenos Aires - Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
SO WORTH IT. I gained independence, better understanding of the world, better understanding of myself. DO IT!

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: University of Buenos Aires (UBA) & Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO)
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Everything was in Spanish, so regardless of the difficulty of the subject material, I learned a TON simply by speaking the language every day all day

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrative staff of CIEE at FLACSO in Argentina was not very good, but all of the people involved in student relations were really great. Basically those who were high up in FLACSO were not great, those who were more in touch with the students were amazing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was awesome even though the apt was tiny: two 75 year old host parents <br /><br />

* Food:

I don't really like steak, which is a HUGE part of the Argentine diet, so it was a bit challenging! Also, they don't really eat vegetables, so that was an adjustment as well

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Buenos Aires has a lot of muggings/robbings, but that is the extent of the crime

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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? $50/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? They don't really have chapstick in argentina!

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
Language acquisition improvement?

If you go to a Spanish speaking country, your language skills will drastically improve

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? CIEE is a well established well run program

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Cuestiones Culturales en la Historia Argentina

Course Department: FLACSO
Instructor: Professor Corigliani
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Best course I took through CIEE (at FLACSO); great professor & you learn a lot about the interesting aspects of Argentine history
Credit Transfer Issues: I had distribution credit issues - make SURE you put on your transfer of credit request if you want distribution credit (i.e., humanities credit, world civ credit, etc.)!