Buenos Aires: For those that like adventure, good food and good wine Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses all had a very nice systematic approach to learning Spanish. At the beginning we all took placement exams to test the knowledge previously acquired at our home universities and as we progressed through each class it was as if each concept built off of one another; very similar to math. The grading system is different than that of the States, but not difficult to understand; a 1-10 scale; 4 is passing. The professors are AMAZING at Universidad de Belgrano. Not only are they knowledgeable of English and Spanish, they all take an interest in student progress and make themselves available to help whenever needed. They are also VERY personable and will sneak a fun anecdote into class time or allow student to share their own experiences thus far in the country. They enjoy hearing about all of the students' lives at home and in Argentina...so long as you tell them in Spanish :)

On-site administration of your program

The staff at UB were very helpful, even if their offices can be hard to locate at times. The advisers were more than willing to answer any questions about grading and even set up visa appointments for the student via internet.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was living with my boyfriend and his family. All of which are natives to Argentina. While my boyfriend speaks English fluently, it was nice knowing that I could only speak Spanish with his family.

The food in Argentina is out of control! Everything there is all natural; has none of the preservatives seen in American food. The steak has more flavors than an individual can count, and the culture is very Italian in that a family may sit around the dinner table for hours just talking.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The best event by far in Argentina was the Bicentenario; the Bicentennial celebration of it's founding. I was fortunate enough to be there for that. It culminated in the grand re-opening of the famous Teatro Colon; one of the greatest theaters with some of the best acoustics in the world.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had a much different experience than some of the other students in the program. I was living with a family that had two doctors, so I was given more than adequate care. The health care system is cheap in Argentina, but it may take a while to get an appointment. You will often hear locals just recommend for you to take a "paracetamol" or Advil/Tylenol.

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

I lived with my boyfriend and his family during my student abroad. All of which are natives to Argentina so it was nice to have a family to practice with at the end of the day. Other students in the program lived either with a host family (much like mine) or in student dormitories. I definitely used the language everyday; from taking the bus and asking directions to making new friends and conversing with the family. The students tried to speak Spanish with one another, but sometime you just wanted to speak your own language. There were some that only spoke spanish the ENTIRE 4-5 months (and I admire them), but I wasn't one.

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