CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Exploring Buenos Aires, Argentina with CEA CAPA was an incredible experience. From the dedicated on-site staff, Maggie and Flor, to my wonderful host-mom, Alejandra, brilliant teacher Mercedes, and everyone in between, the people of Argentina are some of the friendliest and genuine people I have ever met. It is such a vibrant, safe, and well connected city. The public transit is easy to navigate and the CEA CAPA staff make sure you are comfortable getting to where you need to go day one. Studying abroad was important to me because, as a computer science major, I often see students say that it is too hard to study abroad within the rigorous schedule of their major, but it is 100% possible! I took zero CS related courses while abroad and focused completely on learning Spanish. Buenos Aires, is a great place to learn Spanish! Once you get comfortable with the accent (which I found to be a lot less daunting then everyone said), people are eager to converse with you and often have lots of patience when they come to realize you are not a native speaker. I recommend to any future travelers to get out and explore the many parks throughout the city. They are a source of so much beauty and allow you to connect with so many locals (there are often pop-up markets, tango dancing in the plazas, food vendors, and more).

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.

Studying abroad with CEA in Buenos Aires was the experience of a lifetime. I learned so much about the culture, the language, and myself. The CEA staff in Argentina are absolutely wonderful. They are so helpful and personable, which made the experience so much smoother. I took the intensive Spanish course at the advanced level and learned so much. I also gained so much confidence in my Spanish-speaking ability just through my every day use of it in the city and with my host mom. I absolutely loved my host mom and roommates, they helped me to have the best time. There were really great events and excursions put on by CEA that helped me get to know the country and my peers in the program. I would recommend CEA and Buenos Aires to anyone who wants to study abroad, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aries with CEA was the most transformative experience of my college career. The city is unlike any other- it is always hustling and bustling with people from many different backgrounds and cultures. There is always something to do and something to learn. The onsite CEA advisors, Julieta and José, were incredible. They were so helpful and fun to be around, from helping us navigate the city to planning amazing trips such as Iguazú Falls! The classes offered at the Universidad de Belgrano provided a unique opportunity to learn about Latin America from a local perspective. I took my classes in Spanish and I can't believe how much my language skills have improved since living in Buenos Aries. My host family was so friendly and helpful as well. I would absolutely recommend studying abroad in Buenos Aires with CEA to everyone who is looking for an immersive and transformative experience!

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 in Buenos Aires was the happiest time of my life. The unique travel experiences, from climbing glaciers in Patagonia to riding horses in vineyards, absolutely made the trip. However, the people are unlike anyone you will ever meet. Argentinians are so friendly and warm. We made friends with everyone on our street, so much so that we cried saying goodbye to the people at the grocery store! I talk to people from my program every day and I cannot imagine my life without them. This experience opened my eyes to how incredible South America is and I want to do it all over again.

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!

Buenos Aires, Argentina; a community built with passion, love, and energy. While studying abroad in the Spring of 2018, I began to fall in love with the "Paris of South America". From dancing the tango, to eating empanadas, to traveling to Iguazu Falls; I always felt that there was something new to try, and somewhere new to go. Living with a home-stay was also beneficial, mostly helping me improve my spanish as well as learning how to greet people, manners, etc. Overall, my study abroad adventure was something that improved me as an individual, student, friend, and brother. I highly recommend it, honestly I think it should be required.

I loved my time in Buenos Aires. Truly, this is a city that never sleeps! The locals are always out and they are always willing to talk to an American. I enjoyed my time in Buenos Aires, but I enjoyed it because I actively sought out new opportunities. In addition to taking courses at the CEA center, I did volunteer work and found two part-time internships. Unfortunately, I had to find these volunteer and intern opportunities because I did not think the coursework at the CEA Center in Buenos Aires was too rigorous. For the spring of 2018, CEA only offered 2 courses in Spanish. I took those 2 courses and the rest of my classes were in English. Since these professors are all native Spanish speakers, the courses taught in Spanish had interesting lectures and homework assignments; however, the courses taught in English were rather dull. It seemed as if these professors would have been more comfortable teaching in their native tongue. Even if the academic component for each course was simple, students can truly make this study abroad experience their own if they find ways to take advantage of their free time. I volunteered and had an internship. Other students tried to do the same too. One of my friends that studies biology volunteered in a science lab. Another friend that studies business interned for a consulting firm. The students that seemed to have the most positive experiences were the ones that made new opportunities from their time in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, we had to find these opportunities on our own. The CEA Staff did not have any type of recommendations for volunteer or intern opportunities. Still, I loved the CEA Staff. I enjoyed socializing with them and it did feel like they honestly cared about what was going on in my life abroad. I loved my time in Buenos Aires and I loved the CEA Staff here. But, I think if I were in a different city or I did not take advantage of my free time, I would not have had as enjoyable of an experience.

Buenos Aires is a city that has something for everyone. There're tons of museums and parks that are cheap if not free; there are numerous sporting events to attend like fútbol and polo matches; there seems to be some sort of speciality market or food festival every single weekend, plus there is something going on every night of the week until all hours of the morning. The classes through the CEA Buenos Aires program capitalize on the amazingness of the city they're located in. My classes had immersion components where we would get go out into the city and experience the things we were learning about in class. In my History of Argentine Tango class, we went to a Milonga (a tango club) and learned how to dance tango. In my International Marketing class we observed how international brands adapted to the Argentine market and in my Culture & Civilization class we would frequently visit museums related to the class's topics. The classes heightened my appreciation for the city I was living in.

I came to Buenos Aires excited but emotionally unprepared, as the city is huge, dense, and busy at all times. I struggled in the beginning with adjusting to this constant commotion, and with the language barrier. CEA staff were very helpful and enthusiastic about their supporting us, which I am very grateful for. My host mother has been so kind, and her place is comforting to come back to after classes during the week, with her beautiful terrace full of plants and her friendly pets to cuddle with. I improved a lot in my Spanish through daily conversation with my host mom, and living in Buenos Aires got easier. I found my places to go for comfort, and I focused more on the positive aspects than my homesickness. CEA took us on an amazing array of excursions, gave us informative tours, and immersed us in this rich culture through class field trips. I have learned much about Argentina and the Porteños (people of Buenos Aires), as well as myself.

Known for its cafés and strolls down cobblestone roads, Buenos Aires left that impression on me as well, and so much more. My favorite experiences in BA was waking up early one cold morning and walking a couple miles to meet with my classmates for an excursion. Being that no one in BA gets up earlier than 9am, the streets we completely silent and all I could hear were the birds and my shoes as they hit the distressed pavement on every step. As per usual, I stepped into a random café and got myself a medialuna (croissant-like pastry) and a cortado (a shot of espresso and milk) and continued on to my destination. Aside from giving us the chance to experience the everyday life in Buenos Aires, CAPA gave us the unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in the professional lives of Argentinians in the Healthcare field. The curriculum of the Comparative Healthcare Systems Seminar not only exposed us to their healthcare systems and how they work, but we were also given brief history of Argentina and history of healthcare. This interdisciplinary form of teaching allows us to have a deeper understanding of who makes up the population, where they all reside, and their views on health which then allows us to better absorb our experiences when visiting clinics and hospitals. This is an example of CAPA does its best to give us a unique form of immersion; informed immersion. The one thing I liked about the program coordination was that this was very well structured but the faculty and staff were flexible as well. CAPA does its best to make sure you obtain the goals you would like to achieve while abroad. For example, I was determined to shadow a physician at some point during my trip. Even though it wasn’t originally on the schedule, our faculty were able to ensure that my goals were met and had a fulfilling experience. My best advice would be to take hold of the reigns and be proactive in reaching the goals you would like to achieve. It may seem that some aspect of the curriculum or schedule is lacking to your interests or missing something you would like to experience, there is no harm in trying to be instrumental in the programs’ service to you. CAPA is always willing to hear your voice and to implement change.

I am so glad that I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the spring semester of 2012. I met students from all over the USA, so that in itself provided me with an enriching cultural experience. I lived with about 20 other students in a residencia. This was a women's home, and there we were provided with traditional Argentine meals, and cultural emersion experiences (e.g., mate and Argentine pastries), as well as an opportunity to converse with this woman, Elda. Elda did not know any English, so speaking to her gave us an opportunity to practice our Spanish with a native. We would set aside nights to only speak in Spanish at dinner to ensure that Elda felt a part of the conversation. She really showed that she cared for each of us as if we were her own children. The classes in this program were taught well, and gave me an opportunity to learn about areas of study which I had never learned about. For example, I was fortunate enough to take a food and wine class during which we learned all about the food and wine of Argentina. We were actually able to try this food and wine, which made the experience so much more meaningful. Through other classes, I learned about the history of Argentina, which I had never knew. The program also provided an opportunity for the students to go on trips (i.e., a tour around Buenos Aires, a trip to Tigre, Uruguay, and a trip to Iguazu). These trips were a lot of fun, but also educational, since we were with natives of Argentina. I also had the opportunity to travel to other parts of Argentina and Chile with other students on our own which was a lot of fun as well. I would recommend this study abroad program to anyone who is looking for a meaningful, enriching, and fun experience.

Before I even really considered study abroad, I frequently heard that once you go abroad, you will never come back the same. I can definitely say that this statement holds true for me. I never expected for my thought process to change so much over the course of for and a half months. However, I can say that it was all for the good. Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina definitely brings out the inner social butterfly. I never found myself bored as my Argentine friends made sure that I was never without anything to do. Argentines are great because once you make friends with them, you can always count of them to be on your side. I made friends that I still speak with daily even having returned for 4 months. My academic classes gave a great context in which I was able to learn certain things about the culture and then relate what I learned to my experiences out on the street. For example, learning about the past political and social history of Argentina helped understand a lot of the current words and slang that people use daily. I also enjoyed my time I spend traveling. Going to Mendoza was one of the highlights of my trip. It is the wine region of Argentina and host impecable views with vineyards and the Andes Mountains are their backdrops. Biking for miles and enjoying the crisp and clean air is something I wish I could return and do!

Buenos Aires was an beautiful city and the CEA staff located in Buenos Aires were incredible. Pamela (one of the CEA staff) picked me up from he airport even after my flight was delayed a few hours, and she brought me to my home stay to make sure I met my host family and I was comfortable. They were always planning excursions throughout the city and we went on a few trips throughout Argentina. They wanted to make sure you were comfortable in the city and were always there to help and teach the students about Argentina's history and culture.

CEA-Buenos Aires was an amazing experience. I loved the culture and the city so much. There were so many rich cultural traditions to be immersed in, and the people were very welcoming. If I could go back to Buenos Aires right now I totally would. CEA was great, and the onsite staff were also amazing. I am still in contact with some of them today, and I am still in contact with my host mom. Buenos Aires will forever be in my heart, and I highly recommend CEA!

CAPA Buenos Aires is a fantastic program, it's set up extremely well through an established company and gives you a lot of different opportunities. All of your bases are covered before you leave with things like health insurance, living arrangements and other basic information like what to expect when you arrive. The academics are challenging just like they would be in your home institution but again CAPA is there to support you with checkups throughout the semester and an on site director who is available if there is any type of problem. CAPA also provides you with a MyEducation calender which is a list of activities that are taking place during your the months you will be in the city. This is nice because you might not always have time to find or even know where to look for free or cheap cultural event happenings and to have all of this information provided so you can make the most of your time abroad is great. CAPA works really hard in other ways to make your time abroad goes smoothly, for housing they have you fill out a detailed survey in order to place you in a living situation with people you'll be best matched with. While you are abroad you'll be in contact with several people including the director of your CAPA program and your CAPA advisor from back before you left who will all make sure you're doing alright and staying on track, all without being too overbearing! They're like a really solid support system that you can lean on-if you need to. If anything major comes up like you end up in the hospital or a criminal incident of some sort (robbery, etc.) they are right there on top of things with you. As for the other things related to studying abroad like traveling the CAPA Buenos Aires center housed within the host university is located extremely close to downtown and the major transportation systems there so getting around is easy. I was able to leave class and head to various locations throughout the city by taxi, bus or bicycle many times without having an issue. Throughout the Fall semster at least there were several week long breaks and many days when there were no classes on Fridays so exploring the country is definitely possible even while taking several classes. Many of the services on campus are available to international students as well like printing (although you currently have to pay out of pocket for that but it is significantly cheaper than say the U.S.), the cafeteria (the food there is ok, there's a homemade section where eachday hot meals are prepared and there's also a section to buy snacks and subs or empanadas in. Many students do end up eating there or at one of the restaurants close by like Burger King) and library which is small but functional. There are not a lot of activities that allow for the international students taking classes in English to interact with the regular university students though. Most often you won't have opportunities to meet people and will end up sticking with the people in your classes because there aren't many coordinated activities. The CAPA Buenos Aires program as a whole is really fantastic,it allows for a lot of freedom and opportunites but is also structured in a way that you feel prepared and well taken care of. Buenos Aires is an amazing place to visit and the program CAPA has in place to help you explore it is probably one of the best out there! Program Administration: Sometimes dealings within CAPA like trying to getting answers or important information that you need for your program can be a little difficult but don't be afraid to actively pursue the people who are there to help you to do just that-help you out in a manner that works for you.