Buenos Aires is the best city in the world. Past Review

By (Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) for

ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
YES. I learned spanish!!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I wish we had learned mored/ it had been more serious/ harder. It was too easy..I never studied becauase there was no accountability so it didn't matter.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

LOVED the Buenos Aires staff. They were SO awesome!!! Supportive, fun, nice, really acted as if they knew who we all were. They were helpful in terms of Spanish and traveling information, too.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My house mother was amazing. I also lived with another exhange student and I think that was wonderful, too. It was great to have eachother, especially since we lived kind of far from everyone else. The apartment was great, our street/neighborhood was beautiful. We were far from class and nightlife, though, so I think it is imperative to always have two students (at least) in that area, together. It makes cabs/walking/ public transportation a lot more bearable. I think we had the best host mom in the world! I loved her. She was like a real mother

* Food:

My host family food was fine. It was nice that my mother bought us fruit and vegetables considering its impossible to eat a lot of that in Argentina!! TOO MUCH MEAT! but the meat was good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Iguazu falls trip , arranged by ISA, was awesome. They did a great job with that. There is SO much to do/ see in Buenos Aires, get a guide book and DO EVERYTHING. The Lonely Planet Buenos Aires pocket guide was a great help. ALso, Peru, CHile, Uruguay and other places within Argentina were spectacular, and fairly earsy to access.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Petty theft in Argentina (Buenos Aires in particular) is RAMPANT. Never put anything important in a place you cannot hold/ see. Public transportation is really dangerous in terms of theft, too. Healthcare was fine- my friend used a public hospital and it was ok and I used the German hospital recommended by my program...it was fine, although no one spoke a word of English so it was good that I could describe my problem in Spanish. Otherwise, that would have posed a problem.

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

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

Host family, teachers, Argentine friends, anywhere and everywhere on the streets. Within the group of Americans, though, we ONLY spoke English.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If you don't like city-life and the hustle and bustle and business of a HUGE CITY..don't go to Buenos Aires (soo many people on our program were not prepared for this ). But, its so fun, full of culture, wonderful vibes and people.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Spanish

Course Department: Spanish
Instructor: A few
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: FUN! easy
Credit Transfer Issues: NOo, but my school only accpeted half...