Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I WANT TO GO BACK NOW! Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/16/2018 to 06/01/2018 with

IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot from my time abroad. I learned how to find my way around a new city and use the subway system! I also learned that I can move to a new city and feel comfortable in it in a few months. I also learned that the best way to learn a language is to be fully immersed in it and speak to your host family a lot. This experience was most definitely worth-while and I recommend it to everyone.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I felt like everyone on-site was very helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

This was my favorite part of my time abroad! I was put with such lovely host families and I felt like IES really took into account what I wanted and my preferences from the survey I filled out. They also almost always have you with families that have had students in their homes before, so those families know what to expect!

* Food:

I loved all of the food in these countries I explored.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to deal with getting an emergency dental procedure in Chile and it was very easy to get done. The IES staff were very helpful and got me scheduled for an appointment as soon as I notified them I was having problems. I also did not have to get any specific vaccines for this trip.

* Safety:

I felt like Buenos Aires wasn't the safest city, BUT the program did prepare us well for how to be safe while we were there and therefore I felt like I knew how to act in order to be safe. Don't let this discourage you about Buenos Aires, however, because it is one of the most exciting cities! However, for the Emerging Economies program, I also lived in Santiago, Chile, and I felt quite safe there (a lot safer than in Buenos Aires).

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

I absolutely LOVED my time with IES. I felt very taken care of during my whole experience with IES. First of all, I was put with the loveliest host families who had had a lot of experience with exchange students in the past. I also know that my requests were fully taken into account when they placed me with my host family family. For example, I said I really wanted to have siblings and feel like a part of the family, and for my second homestay I was put with the most loving family who had three children! I absolutely loved it and the homestays were my favorite part of the whole program. I also felt like the staff of IES really cared for their students and I liked how this program was very small and only had 15 students. We all became very close by the end and it very cohesive and fun. There were many field trips planned by IES and I felt like all of them were very well planned and VERY fun. Lastly, the week trip to Peru in between Argentina and Chile was phenomenal. It was so nicely planned and just a wonderful experience overall. I recommend this program whole-heartedly!

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? about $55
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Only take out a certain amount of cash when you go out for the night drinking. Don't take a credit card!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were not forced to take a spanish class, nor were we forced to speak spanish with each other.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
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? Spanish 3
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Hang out with your host family a lot and SPEAK SPANISH!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The homestays
  • The fieldtrips
  • The other students
* What could be improved?
  • The amount of time in class
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Do NOT worry. It will be amazing if you let it.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.