A Summer in Argentina

My program, in Argentina, was 6 weeks long with an optional addition of about 1.5 weeks for traveling on your own. It was the summer program for IPENG and our hosting university was Universidad del Salvidor. The first four weeks of the program we attended an intensive language course. We were given a written test beforehand and an oral test upon arrival to determine what level of class we would take. We had about one graded assignment each week based on an excursion in Buenos Aires, such as a movie or theater show. We also attended an improvisation workshop once a week. The second two weeks of the course, each of us job shadowed someone or a group.

$1000:

• $400: everyday expenses, food, drinks, transportation, internet.
  • Food and drink are very cheap; I used around $150.
  • Transportation: bus, subway, taxi; I used around $150 here as well.
  • I spent around $50 on internet/computer use my whole time there. I used the internet quite a bit and was one of the few people in the program who’s host family did not have a computer.
  • I spent around $50 on other miscellaneous everyday items.
• $150-$400: extra travel, I spent on the lower end, but would have been on the higher end if I had gone to Iguazu.

• La Boca – La Boca is a very colorful neighborhood with a street that is well known for its art vendors. It is highly recommended that you do not go alone or at night, since it is also a poorer neighborhood and not meant for tourists just looking around.

• One of my favorite activities was telling and showing my family what I was up to through my weblog and my online photo gallery.
  - I used WordPress for the weblog
  - I used Gallery for the photo gallery

• Sometimes your taxi driver might tip themselves (not give you all you change).
• During my stay there were no laws to force dog walkers to pick up after their dogs and one can easily tell by taking any walk more than a block.
• Giving prices is slightly different. Whereas we often say x dollars and z cents, it is more common to hear something such as cuatro y cincuenta, meaning $4.50.
• Pickpockets abound in crowded places such as markets and buses, keep your valuables that you have to carry where you can feel them at all times or in your sight.

You can view pictures from my trip here. You must log in to view and comment:
ID: Argentina
Password: IPENG