CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires was so incredible and I wish I could go back everyday! I lived with a host family and they were so amazing. The CEA onsite staff were so helpful and kind as well as my professors. All my classes were very interesting and helped me gain a stronger understanding of the new culture. Most of our classes were used for field studies which was so much more beneficial than sitting and listening to a lecture. I went on tons of weekend travel trips and made the best friends. Overall amazing trip and program!!

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires for the fall 2023 semester was an experience unlike any other. From the vibrant culture to trying new cuisine, Argentina's capital city offered a kaleidoscope of experiences that left me in love with the city.

One of the highlights of my time in Buenos Aires was immersing myself in the local art, markets, and dance! During the weekdays, I spent my time in classes at a local University with other international students. I spent weekends exploring the city's rich history and architecture, visiting museums and every possible artisan market I could! The locals couldn't been friendlier and patient with my Spanish. At night, friends and I would grab a bite to eat and go to a local milonga where people would dance tango to live bands.

Overall, my semester in Buenos Aires was an incredible adventure filled with new experiences, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories. It's a journey that has left me with a deeper appreciation for the richness of global culture and a longing to return to the city where every street corner feels like a dance waiting to happen.

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).

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires through the CEA CAPA program has been nothing short of transformative. From the vibrant energy of the city to the warmth of its people, every moment has been an adventure. The program seamlessly blends academic excellence with cultural immersion, offering a unique and enriching experience.
The support from CEA CAPA was outstanding. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our well-being and academic success, creating a supportive environment that allowed me to make the most of my time abroad. I've not only gained academic knowledge but also developed lifelong friendships with both local and international students.

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.

Traveling to Buenos Aires was an incredible experience! I was nervous initially since it was my first study-abroad experience. I was unfamiliar with the culture, environment, and language and did not know what to expect. The warm hospitality and generosity I received from on-site program staff and locals guided me through all the ups and downs of the experience. The program challenged me to come out of my comfort zone both academically and socially. We attended physics classes at a local university and a sports and contemporary culture class right after. We learned about the history of the country and experienced the Argentinians' passion for futbol firsthand by attending games.

My friends and I explored the city after classes, trying out some of the many cafes and restaurants on every corner. Buenos Aires had a very reliable transportation system as well, so it was easy for us to travel from our apartment in Palermo to other neighborhoods in the city like Belgrano, La Boca, and Recoleta. Each neighborhood had something different and wonderful to offer. We often ran into cultural fairs, art festivals, fresh farmer markets, and live performances. There was something fun to discover every day. On the weekends, we traveled outside of the city to see the numerous natural landscapes in Argentina. We saw the falls at Iguazu, went horseback riding in Mendoza, went hiking at the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chalten, and even visited a cute portside town in Uruguay. Although my time in Argentina was short, the incredible people, food, and music are a memory I will never forget.

Going into my study abroad program I was fairly nervous for a variety of reasons. I had never been to South America, my Spanish skills needed work, and my program was fairly small. However, I quickly fell in love with Argentina and my worries were no more. For starters, the nature within Argentina was nothing like I had ever seen. The diversity in nature was incredible. From Iguazú Falls, to the Patagonia region, to the vineyards of Mendoza, there was endless amounts of gorgeous outdoors. Within Buenos Aires the people were incredibly kind and often eager to chat about the weather, fútbol, or their opinions on the government. Exploring the extremely accessible city, due to the wonderful public transportation system, was a blast as I hopped around Belgrano, Recoleta, Palermo, La Boca, and more. I was able to practice my Spanish at weekly events called Mundolingo. These events are language exchange pop ups at restaurants where people from all over the world practice there language skills and make new friends! Every day since being home I miss the food more and more. The endless steak, pasta, pizza, empanadas, are all staples of the argentine way. My host mother is the kindest woman and provided such a comfortable environment that helped me adjust to the culture immediately. Overall I had the four best months of my life abroad meeting new friends, playing soccer with locals, exploring the country, and I cannot wait until I am able to go back.

The CEA Medical Spanish Immersion Program is the perfect program for premed students looking to improve their Spanish. As a premed student, I was able to complete 60 hours of shadowing in a high ranked hospital and laboratory. I was also able to gain fluency in Medical Spanish through both a classroom and a clinical setting. Some specialties and fields that I observed were internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery (I saw a double bypass surgery and some awake brain surgeries), radiology, physical therapy, nursing, and molecular biology. Although the program was rigorous and intensive in terms of the schedule, there were numerous opportunities to sight-see and experience Argentinian culture! Having 3-day weekends allowed me to relax and explore Buenos Aires freely.

I really appreciated how helpful the onsite CEA staff was (Maggie and Flor) in helping us get accustomed to living abroad. They were always available to help us out every step of the way and were super friendly! I was also fortunate to have had an amazing host mom and to have stayed in a homestay with other students. Even though I was miles from home, I felt like I had a family in Buenos Aires. CEA was the best program for me because I was not only able to gain a memorable experience, but I also felt that I gained lifelong friends and connections!