Unique and Worthwhile Study Abroad Experience Past Review
By Erica Harp (George Mason University) - abroad from 08/26/2019 to 12/09/2019 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Public Health in Urban Environments
I learned so much Spanish, a great amount about Argentina's health system, and lots about Argentine and Latin American culture. It was extremely worthwhile.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were rigorous, but that was only because we had to fit 16 credits into a few short months. The program has so many connections in the public health world in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina, thanks to their affiliation with ISalud, which is very impressive. I loved being able to complete an independent research project during the last month of the program. I really learned a lot and enjoyed the independence of it while knowing I had the support of the program when I needed it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program staff are AMAZING! They all truly care about the students and were always there to help us or give advice when needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a fantastic host family experience. I was so lucky to be placed in a family with two younger host siblings. They helped me practice Spanish, showed me around the city, and were so much fun to hang out with. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although the program does not provide for much interaction with local students, if you take the initiative to go out and meet new people, you can easily make connections with Argentines and other people living in the city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety in Buenos Aires truly depends on how careful you are with yourself and your personal belongings. There were a few students on my program who were pick-pocketed, which is very common in Buenos Aires. The program will tell you there are certain areas you should avoid at night, such as La Boca, which is true, but for the most part I felt extremely safe at night in Palermo or Recoleta. Make sure to always be careful of your back and never keep valuables in your back pocket or anywhere they can be easily snatched. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an incredible experience this semester. This program offers endless opportunities to develop your Spanish and learn about Argentina's public health system. From the classes to all of the hospital and clinic visits, I ended the program with a clear picture of how the Argentine health system works, and it has left me wanting to go back and learn even more. I really enjoyed the amount of traveling we got to do around Argentina during the program to different provinces, and we were offered many unique perspectives of the health system. |
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) |
Living in Buenos Aires is very affordable if you're paying in dollars due to the current exchange rate. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-50 |
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 |
All of our classes were in Spanish and the program always encouraged us to practice amongst ourselves as much as we could. Living with a host family was the most important part of language development as you're forced to speak in Spanish, which really helped me learn and develop my speaking skills. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | a 300 level course at my university |
| 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? | Meet new people and talk to your host family as much as you can! |
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 I knew that the program was going to be as rigorous as it was- for the first two months that you have classes, we were in the classroom from around 10am - 5/6pm, which made it difficult to do much in the city on the weekdays. I still really enjoyed it though. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
