AIFS Abroad: Study in Argentina

I studied abroad with AIFS during the spring 2020 semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was able to spend six weeks there in person before my semester was moved online and I was sent back to the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.This was a difficult experience, but AIFS on-site and U.S. staff were incredibly helpful and understanding during this time. My resident director in Buenos Aires was there every step of the way to ensure I was able to get a flight out of the country, and while my semester was online she would send weekly check-ins to see how I was doing. I was incredibly thankful for her kindness and helpfulness

Aside from the pandemic I chose AIFS for its all-inclusive programs, the in-flight package helped relieve a lot of my stress around traveling. My home stay, extra activities, and most of my meals were included in the base program fee. The home stay I stayed in was conveniently located near my university and some really cool neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. I would highly recommend AIFS for their helpful staff, well-thought out programs, and the amount of choices you have for studying abroad!

I spent my spring semester of 2018 in Buenos Aires and absolutely loved it. There is truly something for everyone in this city. I attended the University of Belgrano and met many wonderful people, from both the USA and other countries around the world. This city is filled with art, culture, and an abundance of history. Each neighborhood has something completely different to offer, whether it be food, music, or architecture.

I was not great at Spanish when I arrived in BA but when I left I improved drastically. I lived in a shared apartment with 12 other people from 5 different countries and it was a great way to improve on my Spanish. I also met a lot of people to travel with. While in South America it was easy for me to travel to Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Patagonia, and Salta. The excursions included in this program are also an amazing experience you can’t miss out on.

I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina with AIFS during my Spring 2018 semester. As a Global Health major and Spanish minor, I knew I had to practice my language skills abroad. I wanted to gain practical experience living in a non-English speaking country and decided to live with a host family in order to push myself out of my comfort zone. While abroad, I studied at the Universidad de Belgrano where I took all of my courses in Spanish. Learning was really apparent in and out of the classroom.

Argentina is a beautiful blend of European and Latin American culture and serves as the perfect location for a true cultural immersion experience. Buenos Aires is a diverse city filled with numerous cultural outlets and opportunities to learn. Choosing to study abroad with AIFS gave me the confidence I needed to travel to such a foreign location. The excursions offered by AIFS gave us the opportunity to see different parts of the country and truly understand what makes Argentina so unique.

I did an intensive 4 week Spanish course with AIFS at Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I did this program before taking a semester of classes and it really helped me prepare for the rest of my time in Argentina. Monday through Friday we would have class for 5 hours a day, with breaks in between for lunch. Once classes were over in the afternoon the AIFS director would take us on excursions around the city. Our director, Barbara always made sure we had an activity to do if we wanted to participate in. She gave restaurant recommendations, help with transportation and encouraged us to speak as much Spanish as possible to improve our speaking level. I stayed with a hostmom and had a roommate that was also with AIFS, our hostmom provided breakfast and dinner everyday. The apartment I stayed in was only 3 blocks away from the University which made it extremely convenient t to walk back and forth and also feel safe at the same time. On the weekends, our director always made sure we used our time wisely to explore as much as the city as possible. AIFS was the best fit for me, they made me feel comfortable and safe in a new city with a language I was not fluent in, they gave me tons of opportunities to optimize my time in Argentina to the fullest.

Looking back at the time I spent with AIFS in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I realize that it was without a doubt the best thing I have ever done with my life. I learned a knew language and culture, made friends from all over the world, and experienced a different style of life, all with the help of AIFS. I could have gone through another program, but AIFS made it their mission that I was well taken care of and enjoying myself in the country. From the beginning, it was made very easy for us to assimilate into our new Argentine homes, especially when such care was taken in selecting homestays, families, and guides. After my experiences, I always urge people to go study abroad, and if you can, do it with AIFS.