I loved being part of the city, interacting daily with locals and truly getting a feel for what life is like in Buenos Aires. I also had free time to travel and explore other parts of Argentina. I appreciated that this was a more independent program.

San Andrés is a small university with amazing classes, but my favorite part of the experience was actually due to the host family I was placed with. They supported me and helped me navigate around the city. Very quickly, it felt like they became family to me. Living with a host family also gave me a lot more time to practice Spanish and learn about cultural events in the city.

I improved my language skills substantially, through living with a host family but also through taking classes that were completely in Spanish.

When I look back on how I was when I first arrived in Buenos Aires to how I was when I left, I realize that I changed not only because I drastically improved my Spanish, but also because I gained confidence in my ability to navigate difficult situations on my own.

The classes are challenging. You enroll in classes alongside native speakers and are expected to put in the same amount of work or more. The first week or so, I didn't understand any of the lecture. But professors are very supportive and they are willing to spend a lot of time working with you. By the end of this program, your Spanish will improve dramatically. Seeing my Spanish grow was the most rewarding thing. By the end of my semester, I was understanding the entire lecture and could participate in class in a way I couldn't even have imagined at the beginning of the semester. You get to see your own growth.

I learned that being adaptable and having patience is crucial to thriving on a study abroad program. My first week in the city was extremely difficult, but eventually learned how to navigate life in Argentina.

Get involved in clubs. It really helps you make friends with local students. I joined TECHO, a volunteer organization that works to build houses over a weekend for families that do not even have a roof over their heads. We packed up a weekend back and slept on the floor of a church as we built a house across the days we were there. It was an incredible experience and one that helped me make some lasting friendships with local students from San Andrés.