The best thing about exchange? The standard response is: the people you meet, the places you visit... and certainly this is no different in my case. I had uni three times a week, and this allowed me to travel for long weekends to different parts of the country, or to nearby countries such as Uruguay and Chile. The other international students were super people and a lot of fun was had on trips together, in class and at various parties at our apartments. But the BEST thing experienced on exchange has got to be the steak - wow, unbelievable!
The hardest thing initially was probably the language. The thick Argentinean accent made life difficult because it was hard to understand and be understood in Spanish. Nevertheless, the six months away soon put an end to that.
Being a private university the standard of work at my host university was high, and the quality of teaching similarly so. Studying in Spanish and living in Buenos Aires was invaluable to my Spanish speaking and writing skills. I also gained a heap of incredibly crazy and mind-blowingly amazing friends.
Cultural difference #1: Dinner begins between 10pm and 12am.
Cultural difference #2: Going out doesn’t start until the next day as nothing will be open until then, and getting home is around 5am (at the very earliest).
Cultural difference #3: Take immense pride in your appearance (relevant largely to Buenos Aires).
Cultural difference #4: Tipping is a must, at least 10%.
Based on my experience in Argentina I would definitely rate the exchange program. It provides the perfect opportunity to live in another country with a support network to help you whenever you need. The university in Argentina also offered some region-specific subjects that I would not have had the chance to undertake at La Trobe. Studying the culture, history and politics of Argentina and Latin America added to my experience of living in Buenos Aires. |
