Why Buenos Aires?
Not being a native Argentinean, this would be your most pressing concern. Here is a list of things that might give you some perspective on why this city is exactly where you need to be as an international student:
Language: Spanish is the native language – which is considered one of the most useful languages to learn, right after Mandarin. It is the official language in 21 countries. And what better way to learn a new language than immersion into the very culture that is home to this language.
History, Culture and Tradition: The city is historically rich and is dotted with numerous important archaeological sites. The el Fuerte de Buenos Aires or the Zanjon de Granados is considered one of the most revered historical sites in the city. Tradition is also a very vital part of this city’s lifestyle with guachos (cattle ranchers on horseback) being a common sight, symbolizing the city’s history. A common tradition here is the famous dance, Tango. Dance and performing arts are a major part of the city’s life and are appreciated by the majority of people. Theater and film are common forms of entertainment.
The Vibrant Life: Like New York, Buenos Aires is a city that never sleeps. It is a vibrant and friendly place that embraces people of all kinds and preferences. The Argentinean capital will be hosting the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. The city itself has a lot of bright colored architecture and a very diverse population, including homosexuals. Buenos Aires is often referred to as one of the most colorful place in the world, with walls covered in vibrant hues and graffiti and street art a common sight. In addition to that, the local folks are extremely friendly to outsiders. They tend to be very engaging and helpful and are known to be some of the most passionate and resilient people in the world.
Living in Buenos Aires
Before crossing continents and moving to a vastly different city than yours, you need to have done some research. Here are a few things you need to be aware of about Buenos Aires:
Housing: This is one of the first things you will need to take care of when you land into the city. Here are your options:
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Home-stay: This would be a room or a partial-boarding with a host family. It can include services such as laundry, dinner, breakfast, internet, etc
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Apartment/Dorm sharing: You can choose to share an apartment of a private hostel space with a group of friends
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Studio Apartment: This would be a relatively costly option
Transportation: You can get yourself a SUBE Card and save yourself from the trouble of having to carry loose cash for daily bus fare. The fares without a SUBE Card have increased for buses and trains in recent times, so you are advised to try and get this as early as possible. Besides that, you can also buy a Guia T to learn how to use the Buenos Aires bus system. Taxis should be your last resort, since they are expensive. As for air fare, you will fall in the lower price bracket if you have a student visa, so be sure to ask about this whenever you are booking tickets.
Food in Buenos Aires: Food budget management can be simple if you do it intelligently. For instance, you are advised to buy food weekly, or at least buy a few meals at a time from the grocery store, to save yourself both time and money. You should stock up on essential food items such as dried beans, olives, fruit, frozen meats, bread, cheese etc. Bear in mind that some food items such as ramen noodles or canned tuna, which might be cheap in the US, could be quite expensive in Buenos Aires. Stay away from the expensive food items and try to find their cheaper, local alternatives.
Universities in Buenos Aires
The Argentinean capital is home to some of the finest educational institutes in the country. You might have to do a bit of research, depending on the type of program you are looking for, but here are a few options to start you off:
Universidad De Belgrano: UB is accredited by the National Commission of University Evaluation and Accreditation and has more than 14,000 students enrolled in its 9 departments. The popular programs are architecture and urban planning, law and political science, economics and language and foreign studies.
Universidad Argentina De La Empresa (UADE): The UADE is a private university founded in 1957, recognized by the Argentine Ministry of Education and the National Commission of University Evaluation and Accreditation. Popular areas of study here include business management, engineering, designing, accounting and hotel management. The campus of UADE consists of 4 remarkable buildings with 127 classrooms and numerous sports facilities.
Custom Program in Buenos Aires: You can opt to go for a custom program, where the academics may comprise of one or more of the following:
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A US university taught course
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Guest lectures by local professionals
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Visits to local companies and organizations
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Enrolling in a course at the host university in Buenos Aires
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Service-learning and/or internships
With a large number of students coming to this city for academics, affordable living costs, a high quality life, the vibrant culture and a chance to learn proficient Spanish, Buenos Aires is truly a wonderful study abroad destination. If you are looking for an enriching experience that spreads over to a lot more than just pure academics, it is time you head on over to Argentina.