Incredible travel experiences Past Review
By Alexa Farrah (Villanova University) - abroad from 02/18/2018 to 06/01/2018 with
IES Abroad: Multi-Location - Emerging Economies, Buenos Aires & Santiago
I gained a lot of independence and got a lot better at living and doing things on my own. I gained a lot of confidence and leadership skills being one of the strongest Spanish speakers in the program and having to coordinate for the group often. I formed incredible relationships with my host families and with the other students that were studying on this program with me. I ended up adding international business as one of my majors upon getting back because of how much I enjoyed learning about global economics during the semester. Academically, I learned so much and felt really inspired.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This is a very academic experience where you’ll spend more time in the classroom than you would with most other study abroad programs. However, it was totally worth it for me and I learned so much! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone working at IES in both the Buenos Aires and Santiago offices are amazing and helpful people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved the locations of my homestays and the host families I got assigned to. My close relationship with my host mother in Santiago helped to make this experience so meaningful. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Taking public transportation to and from class everyday helped make it feel like we were integrated members of society in each place we lived |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There are lots of pickpockets here - do not leave your cell phone out or walk with it visible in the street. IES does a great job of giving safety tips during orientation in the beginning. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was the best thing I could have done in my life for this semester. |
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) |
food and personal expenses were not what I spent a lot on, it was side travel on weekends that added up a lot |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Explore city to find cheap and good hole-in-the-wall lunch spots. |
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 |
Spanish was optional but not required. We spoke very little Spanish at IES - only during Spanish class. The only time it was very necessary was with host families. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 3000 level Spanish literature course |
| 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? | Spend quality time talking to host family. Go out and try to meet locals. |
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? |
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 that I had known that the chances for side travel are small, and that we would only get a one or two long weekends. I should have booked my flight for later on in June after the program ended and spent time traveling afterwards. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
