I'd live there in a heartbeat, and I just might Past Review
By Joseph Esguerra (Western Washington University) - abroad from 02/25/2018 to 06/23/2018 with
IES Abroad: Buenos Aires - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned how to survive in an area where I was not fluent in the language. I also learned how to manage money, which is harder to do when it is a foreign currency that you're not familiar with. I also got better at making friends with people from other parts of the United States and of course, the world (having made friends with local Argentines and other international students). This experience was absolutely and completely worth it. I loved every experience and learned more than I can put into words. I learned a lot about myself as a person as well.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I think that Buenos Aires had all the factors I wanted and needed in a study abroad program. I already spoke a little Spanish, so studying in a Spanish speaking country helped me to improve to a conversational level. As well, Buenos Aires is a very European inspired city, with diverse people and a lot of global influence all while still maintaining it's original, traditional culture and traditions outside the city in Argentina's provinces. |
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'd say that you could make $100/week work well if you plan meals and make some food for yourself. Soley relying on food out, however, is much more expensive and I don't think could've been done on $100/week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $110-$150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make lunch at home some days of the week, bring healthy snacks and fruit to class to eat, take the bus more often than taxis (because those REALLY add up), do some research about restaurants that are well reviewed but still affordable, and most importantly, make a budget! |
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 |
My host mom was adamant that we only speak Spanish during dinner and this helped me a lot to learn as well as my roommate, who arrived in the country speaking no Spanish at all. |
| 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 (high school) |
| 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? | Speak to your taxi drivers, to your waiters and servers, to cashiers, and to everyone you can. If you don't know the right word to use, describe what you're trying to say and they'll most likely understand and then tell you the right word. When you learn a new word or phrase, write it down and then try to use it at least 3 times that day to memorize it. Finally, if you mess up, don't worry about it, you have to make mistakes to learn. If you only speak within your comfort level, you won't learn anything new. |
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? | 0 |
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? | I wish I better understood what people wore there and what the weather was like so I could pack properly. In the summer it is hot. It is very hot. In the winter it actually gets surprisingly chilly, so I would've packed more layers. I think the most important thing I would've done differently is that I would have gotten out of my room more to see as much as possible. I thought four months would be a long time, and in a way it is, but also, once you're in the last few weeks, you feel like time has passed you by and you regret staying inside doing nothing. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
