I LOVED South America and can't wait to go back! Past Review
By A student (English, Spanish Civiliation, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/20/2012 to 07/07/2012 with
IFSA: Buenos Aires - Argentine Universities Program
I learned how to plan and travel around South America without any outside help, I learned how to successfully navigate the public transportation system, I learned how to successfully communicate with people in another language, and most importantly I learned how to take advantage of living in and learning about another culture. It was DEFINITELY worthwhile.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Universidad del Salvador |
| 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. |
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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: |
My host mother (Vicky Zorraquin) was an excellent chef! Even though Argentine food is not great, I definitely ate better than everyone else in my program. |
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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: |
IFSA kept telling us not to take taxis or hail taxis off the street. Taxis were much safer, however, than wandering around at night lost. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~1000 Argentine pesos |
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 |
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| 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? | SPN 327W Advanced Grammar and Composition II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 feel like I was pretty prepared. I got a little more homesick than I expected about 6 weeks in but other than that I didn't have any major problems. |
