AMAZING program for students interested in healthcare related/spanish language January 12, 2025
By Emma H (Pre-medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison) - abroad from 08/28/2024 to 12/10/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Public Health in Urban Environments
I am really happy that I got to learn about a completely different culture/language and explore a new city/country! I got to know Buenos Aires quite well and made connections with people in the US and Argentina that I will continue to stay in contact with! I loved everything about this program and Argentina!
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. |
I put 2 stars because the courses themselves were not very rigorous BUT they were very informational and interesting and the instructors were SUPER supportive and accommodating! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program staff and directors were incredible- so supportive and always willing to help with absolutely ANYTHING! The smaller group size of the program allowed for everyone to make good connections with the program directors!! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Everyone is placed with a host family and mine was GREAT! They are lovely people and I am still in contact with them after leaving:) |
| * Food: |
Lots of food to explore! Host families provided breakfast and dinner (and sometimes lunch) for us. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt VERY integrated, like I really got to know the culture of Buenos Aires. I went in with the goal of language immersion but I really got insight on the culture as a whole, it was great. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The program staff was super helpful with anything you needed healthcare wise. Lot's of people needed to utilize the healthcare system and were able to get the care they needed. I had to get medication prescribed to me (I lost mine during the trip) and the program got everything set up for me to get this done it was super easy. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Buenos Aires! |
| 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) |
It really depends on when you are going as the economy is very unstable there but it was usually much cheaper for me to eat out and stuff than in the US. Your host family should provide breakfast and dinner for you (at least) and the program gives you a per-diem card to use for lunches! You can really decide how much you want to eat out/go out and spend money. |
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? | I completed AP spanish in high school and 4 semesters of college-level spanish before leaving |
| 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? | Practice speaking out loud and the dialect is different in Argentina so just be aware of that. |
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? | Practice your spanish before going, living with a host family is not as scary as it may seem and the best thing you can do for yourself is just put yourself out there with every new person you meet! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
