As my time in the United States comes to a close, I feel as if time is at a stand still. The fact that I am leaving in a few days hasn’t sunk in yet, even though I have spent the last few months preparing for this experience.
I am studying abroad with ISA and the Universidad de Belgrano from June 21-November 9. Based on my experiences during the applications and forms process, I would definitely recommend ISA to study abroad with! All the information was clearly displayed and my questions were answered promptly- all within 1-2 days.
I chose this program because it was important to me to study at a university. I felt that being connected to a university abroad rather than a separate program alone would make it easier for me to befriend locals and feel apart of my new home. I also liked that I was able to choose a home stay where I can immediately be plugged into the community.
Last week I received an email regarding my home stay. I was excited to read about where I will be living, and even more excited to find out that I am a 5 minute walk from the university! I had extensive correspondence with ISA regarding my home stay, but the most important thing for me was being placed somewhere that my dietary needs would be met. Even though Argentina is famous for meat, I was assured that living in Buenos Aires as a vegetarian would not prove too difficult as it is a global city with many options.
Preparing to live in Argentina includes studying Rioplatense, the dialect of Spanish spoken. I found it helpful to watch YouTube videos and blogs that use Rioplatense. Here are some that I found most helpful:
Learning Rioplatense:
Voseo:
Lunfardo:
Argentine Vlogs:
I didn’t expect to be nervous, but I will admit that I am. At the same time, I am beyond excited to experience new things and to share these experiences!