Argentina: The Land of Mate, and why not to use ISA Past Review
By Ashley A (English Creative Writing / History / Gender and Women's Studies, Knox College) for
ISA Study Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Absolutely. It changed my life.
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. |
I would not pick ISA again if I had the choice. The trips they organized were "here's a market place, go shop all day and we'll call it a cultural excursion." Meanwhile, the other programs went to Patagonia, Iguazu, etc. It was way too much money for unenthuastic and socially unskilled administators, the bad trips, the fact that we didn't even get a food allowance, and the general non-support (I got robbed and when I told them, they just said "oh it happens."). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The university was pretty much a joke. No one took their studies seriously and even left as the instructor was lecturing (although I must say this was mostly the Europeans that did this). There were not any events we could go to, there was no sense of community, and it left me yearning my extremely rigorous home college. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My first host mom would make fun of my language skills and yelled at me for not going out more. I switched to another host mom and she made my stay much more enjoyable. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My argentine friends made the trip all worth it. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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
| 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? | Go with another program that offers more cultural activities and support. |
