Life Abroad Past Review
By Samantha W (Liberal Studies & Spanish, California Lutheran University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Yes my experience was more than worthwhile. What I learned about myself and another culture impacted me greatly.
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. |
Great! I was taking academic classes with other study abroad students that were taught in Spanish. I would have liked for a Spanish language class to also have been offered. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very friendly and helpful group of people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Location was great and there was public transportation when needed. I did not need to buy items to settle in and was treated as a friend who was renting a room by my host family, which worked wonderfully. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I would have liked to had been informed of more cultural events and attractions within the city, however events organized by the program were wonderful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I injured my foot while in Buenos Aires and found the health care very accessible and the program greatly helpful. One of the girls working at the ISA office took all around town to have my foot X-rayed and taken care of, I was very grateful to have her and the program during this. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I generally practiced language in class, while doing my classwork, and in the home of my host family. It was necessary to know the basics of the language for everyday interactions, however one could get by day to day without knowing much. Also, there were plenty of opportunities to speak English with the other study abroad students. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you truly want to enjoy the program and travel around, be sure to bring enough $. I could get by on 50-100 a week, but it was hard to budget and I would have preferred to had been able to spend much more a week to take full advantage of the many opportunities for travel and different experiences. |
