CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina

I really enjoyed the four months I spent in Buenos Aires through the CEA CAPA program. I loved getting to know my host mom and I met so many people within my program and at my Argentine institution. The international program at Universidad de Belgrano was a bit separate from the Argentine students, so there weren't any Argentine students in my class, but I still met a couple of them and got lunch every now and then. I loved the friends I made though and we explored the city together and even travelled to different popular destinations in Argentina. We went to Patagonia where we went to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, trekked on the famous Perito Moreno glacier in El Calafate, and hiked the famous Fitz Roy trail in El Chalten. We went to Iguazú Falls--a natural wonder of the world--and saw views of beautiful waterfalls amongst a jungle landscape. We went to Salta and Jujuy and saw beautiful mountain views, colonial towns, and folkloric dancing. We went to Mendoza and rode on horseback in the Andes. Buenos Aires is an incredible city with café culture, a rich history of tango, a lively nightlife, lots of mate drinking, a strong passion for soccer, great food such as empanadas and steak, and friendly people. The city is also a great place to live if you have dietary restrictions because there are lots of gluten free bakeries and vegan cafes and restaurants. I improved my Spanish a lot by speaking with my host mom and some of her good friends, interacting with locals at markets and in shops, and taking four Spanish classes at an Argentine institution. Living in Argentina was also very cost efficient because things were very inexpensive (besides imported good such as clothing). For example, a coffee would typically cost just over 2 dollars. However, inflation is a constant in Argentina that people there are very used to. Their money situation can be complex and they have three exchange rates, which can make it difficult for tourists. They are also a very cash-based society. I recommend looking into your credit card rate for Argentina specifically and trying to use the Blue Dollar rate by exchanging at exchange houses with cash instead of using ATMs. Phone stealing is also common and something to be wary of. Another thing to be aware of is that the schedule there is very different--things start much later such as lunch around 2, merienda or snack around 5-7 and dinner around 9 pm. I would recommend Buenos Aires to anyone looking to learn Spanish, travel to beautiful places, and experience a unique, fun culture.

Traveling to Buenos Aires was an incredible experience! I was nervous initially since it was my first study-abroad experience. I was unfamiliar with the culture, environment, and language and did not know what to expect. The warm hospitality and generosity I received from on-site program staff and locals guided me through all the ups and downs of the experience. The program challenged me to come out of my comfort zone both academically and socially. We attended physics classes at a local university and a sports and contemporary culture class right after. We learned about the history of the country and experienced the Argentinians' passion for futbol firsthand by attending games.

My friends and I explored the city after classes, trying out some of the many cafes and restaurants on every corner. Buenos Aires had a very reliable transportation system as well, so it was easy for us to travel from our apartment in Palermo to other neighborhoods in the city like Belgrano, La Boca, and Recoleta. Each neighborhood had something different and wonderful to offer. We often ran into cultural fairs, art festivals, fresh farmer markets, and live performances. There was something fun to discover every day. On the weekends, we traveled outside of the city to see the numerous natural landscapes in Argentina. We saw the falls at Iguazu, went horseback riding in Mendoza, went hiking at the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chalten, and even visited a cute portside town in Uruguay. Although my time in Argentina was short, the incredible people, food, and music are a memory I will never forget.

Going into my study abroad program I was fairly nervous for a variety of reasons. I had never been to South America, my Spanish skills needed work, and my program was fairly small. However, I quickly fell in love with Argentina and my worries were no more. For starters, the nature within Argentina was nothing like I had ever seen. The diversity in nature was incredible. From Iguazú Falls, to the Patagonia region, to the vineyards of Mendoza, there was endless amounts of gorgeous outdoors. Within Buenos Aires the people were incredibly kind and often eager to chat about the weather, fútbol, or their opinions on the government. Exploring the extremely accessible city, due to the wonderful public transportation system, was a blast as I hopped around Belgrano, Recoleta, Palermo, La Boca, and more. I was able to practice my Spanish at weekly events called Mundolingo. These events are language exchange pop ups at restaurants where people from all over the world practice there language skills and make new friends! Every day since being home I miss the food more and more. The endless steak, pasta, pizza, empanadas, are all staples of the argentine way. My host mother is the kindest woman and provided such a comfortable environment that helped me adjust to the culture immediately. Overall I had the four best months of my life abroad meeting new friends, playing soccer with locals, exploring the country, and I cannot wait until I am able to go back.

The CEA Medical Spanish Immersion Program is the perfect program for premed students looking to improve their Spanish. As a premed student, I was able to complete 60 hours of shadowing in a high ranked hospital and laboratory. I was also able to gain fluency in Medical Spanish through both a classroom and a clinical setting. Some specialties and fields that I observed were internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery (I saw a double bypass surgery and some awake brain surgeries), radiology, physical therapy, nursing, and molecular biology. Although the program was rigorous and intensive in terms of the schedule, there were numerous opportunities to sight-see and experience Argentinian culture! Having 3-day weekends allowed me to relax and explore Buenos Aires freely.

I really appreciated how helpful the onsite CEA staff was (Maggie and Flor) in helping us get accustomed to living abroad. They were always available to help us out every step of the way and were super friendly! I was also fortunate to have had an amazing host mom and to have stayed in a homestay with other students. Even though I was miles from home, I felt like I had a family in Buenos Aires. CEA was the best program for me because I was not only able to gain a memorable experience, but I also felt that I gained lifelong friends and connections!

Studying abroad in Buenos Aries with CEA was the most transformative experience of my college career. There is always something to do in the hustling and bustling city, and there are so many museums and sites to see in the city. The local porteño culture is such a unique blend of many different cultures. The onsite advisors, Julieta and José, are so helpful and fun to be around. The CEA trips, especially the trip to Iguazú Falls, are a wonderful way to get to know your fellow students and see incredible places. The classes offered at the Universidad de Belgrano pose a fantastic opportunity to learn about Latin America from a local perspective and are challenging in the best way. I lived with a host family and it was the perfect opportunity to truly live like a porteña. I could not believe how much my language skills improved during my time in Buenos Aries. I would love to eventually move back to the city. Best experience ever!

Studying abroad is not a mere vacation, but an experience filled with ups and downs. This experience allowed me to immerse myself into a different language and culture, which increased my acceptance for change in general. In order for me to grow as an independent, more open-minded, and flexible person, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and familiarize myself with different parts of the world.
This program allowed me to not only participate in classes abroad, but in the working environment of Buenos Aires through the internship. I was able to meet people through a different outlet than just the international school we took classes in. My boss was very nice and my professors were all understanding and fun to learn from. I sometimes wish the homestays were more welcoming. I personally did not have much of a problem, but I know some others I knew did not like their homestays as much.

CEA Buenos Aires was the best experience of my life! I could not have asked for a better semester abroad. From the city to the food to the academics everything was absolutely perfect and I would not change a thing. Most of all, the advisors, Jose and Julieta were phenomenal. From lost phones, to activities, our advisors were always there for us. They are two of the best people I met in Buenos Aires, and we still keep in touch regularly. The classes were very unique and informative. I would never take classes like those back in the states. We were extremely culturally immersed and each class had a field trip through the city at least twice a month which was great to see parts of the city through an academic lens. I would recommend this trip to anyone seeking adventure and an out of the box study abroad experience!

Working at Brincar, a local nonprofit, not only gave me language proficiency, but also the valuable opportunity to do something meaningful to effect change while abroad. I learned what my limits and capabilities are, and was stretched and challenged to lead programming all in my second language. My internship also allowed me to meet and work with so many incredible locals who are making huge differences in the lives of people with Autism in Argentina. Beyond the internship, the friendships I made, both with locals and international students, and experiences I had will stay with me forever. It was totally, without a shadow of a doubt, worthwhile.
Never once did I feel unsafe when staying in Buenos Aires. Just like any city, it's good to be cautious, and I took my tips from the Argentines around me: for example, on public transportation, everyone wears their back packs on their fronts with an arm slung over it. This prevents theft. Things like that, and just being generally aware of your surroundings, will keep you safe.
Our knowledgable on-site staff made me feel safe and cared for. They were wonderful about providing information on opportunities for engagement in the city, as well as other helpful cultural and linguistic tips. They responded to emails and texts rapidly, even when they weren't in the office. They made sure we knew we could come to them with anything, from homesickness to actually being sick, to just needing to complain about how much we missed a certain type of food. They were incredible.I definitely encourage study abroad students to search out their own opportunities for language growth outside of the classroom. For me, that looked like my internship, volunteering each week, attending a local church, and seeking out relationships with Argentines.