Attention foreign students studying abroad in Argentina: The reciprocity fee, or entrance fee, for United States citizens has been raised to $140 US dollars. This raise in fee, which went into effect on June 4, 2010, is a direct result of the US government’s recent raise on the visa fee it charges Argentine citizens to enter the United States. This fee is equal to what an Argentine would pay to acquire a visa to visit the US.

While a nuisance, this fee will last 10 years, or the life of the passport. Argentina announced last year that it would begin charging visitors a fee if their countries of citizenship charge Argentine citizens to enter their countries. Hey, it’s only fair! This statement currently applies to students studying abroad in Buenos Aires from the US, Canada and Australia. For now, Canadian and Australian fees have remained the same, at $70USD and $100USD, respectively. Unlike the US fee, the Australian and Canadian fees must be paid each time those citizens enter the country of Argentina. This fee is collected upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport, and can be paid in US dollars, Argentina pesos, with credit cards, or travelers checks.

This fee should not come as a huge shock to US travelers or US students studying abroad in South America, as Argentina is not the first country in the region to charge US citizens a fee upon entry.  Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil currently place a fee on visas and/or entry by air. To learn more about this fee and others, visit the US State Department’s website for country specific information.

Learn more about studying abroad in Argentina with Expanish!

The cost of studying abroad in Buenos Aires is more affordable than most other study abroad destinations around the globe, and the reasonable cost of living is something most travelers come to Argentina seeking. While most study abroad students in Buenos Aires enjoy the comforts of living abroad without constantly monitoring their bank accounts, the cost of most brand name goods is no bargain!

A common option for bargain hunters is scour sale racks at their favorite stores, or to head to the outlets, usually a cluster of brand name stores selling last season’s or slightly imperfect products at discounted prices. While you’d be hard pressed to find a sale section in any of the stores in the large shopping malls around city, those studying abroad in Buenos Aires do have the option of outlet shopping!

You’ll find most almost two dozen outlets in Buenos Aires in the area between Palermo and Villa Crespo, known as Palermo Queens. Here you will find many popular Argentine brands, such as Prune, La Martina, and Cacharel, along with other imported favorites, like Puma, Lacoste, and Timberland, If you’re looking for a particular brand, check out the Oh Buenos Aires outlet guide, filled with outlet locations around the city.

Many students study abroad in Argentina in order to experience a new culture, lifestyle, and language, but there is no denying the pull of a good bargain, home or abroad!

Learn more about a semester abroad in South America at Expanish in Buenos Aires!

With the fall upon us in Buenos Aires, and summer vacation approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a great time for students planning, or interested in planning, a semester or summer abroad in Argentina to hear a travel health update for Argentina. While students choosing to study abroad in Buenos Aires will spend a great deal of time at universities located in the city, many will opt to take advantage of the travel opportunities provided through Expanish study abroad, or will plan adventures on their own. It is important to remain mindful of your health and safety while traveling throughout Argentina.

It is recommended that study abroad students traveling to Argentina contact a health care provider 4-8 weeks prior to a semester abroad in Buenos Aires, to discuss various immunizations suggested for students studying abroad in South America, and travel health in general.

Below, you can find up to date travel health information for individuals traveling to Argentina, recommended by organizations, such as the CDC and the Pan-American Health Organization.

Malaria- Protection recommended for those planning travel through rural areas in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy (along the Bolivian border), and in the Misiones and Corrientes provinces (along the Paraguayan border).

Hepatitis A- Vaccination recommended for ALL travelers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella- Two doses recommended for travelers born after 1956, if not previously administered

Yellow Fever- Vaccination recommended for all travelers traveling to the forested areas of northern and northeaster Argentina, specifically to the area of Iguazu Falls

Typhoid- Vaccination recommended for all travelers planning on eating and drinking outside of major eating and dining establishments and hotels

Tetanus-Diphtheria- Vaccination recommended for those who have no received it within the past 10 years

Other suggestions:

- The tap water within the Buenos Aires province is generally safe to drink. When traveling to more rural or less developed areas, consider purchasing bottled water or boiling water before it is consumed.

- Ask your healthcare provider if he/she can prescribe and antibiotic and and anti-diarrheal prior to your travels, so you can be prepared if anything comes up.

- Expanish requires all study abroad students have travel medical insurance during their semester abroad. Learn more about health and safety through Expanish.

Learn more about semester and summer abroad programs available through Expanish Study Abroad!

Students spending a study abroad semester in Buenos Aires have the opportunity to travel throughout the city, taking classes in Belgrano, spending a night out in Palermo, and antiquing in San Telmo on Sundays. Through these study abroad experiences, students are able to learn and take on local customs. While there is an overwhelmingly amount of good that comes from immersing yourself into the Porteño culture and lifestyle, there is one aspect of life in Buenos Aires that can become a bit annoying over time- the coin, or moneda, shortage!

While there seems to be no good explanation for the moneda shortage throughout Buenos Aires, many place a bit of suspicion on the colectivos, that accept only monedas. The bus system in Buenos Aires is widely used, inexpensive, and generally reliable. With a large percentage of the population collecting monedas for personal bus use, and the bus systems acquiring a large majority of the monedas in circulation, there is simply not enough to go around!

As a study abroad student in Buenos Aires, you will find that store clerks across the city will request you pay for a good or service with proper change, will refuse a sale altogether, or may even give you extra change with your purchase, simply so they will not have to part with their own monedas!  While strange, it is is something most Porteños  and study abroad students learn to live with. You will probably find that your moneda collection builds up over time, and before you know it, you will always have a few extra for your colectivo rides to and from study abroad classes! While there is no quick fix for your personal moneda shortage, here are a few tips for acquiring a few more monedas:

- Visit a local bank to change in a few peso bills for monedas. While banks will definitely limit the amount you can exchange, you should be able to trade in five pesos or so for your school week!

- Try taking the subte when you can, as the payment system is a bit more practical. And remember, one trip will cost you $1.10 pesos…if you pay with a $2 peso bill, you will instantly have $.90 cents worth of monedas you didn’t have before!

- Politely (!) refrain from giving up your monedas at kiosks, supermarkets, bakeries, and other shops. Unless you have an excess of monedas, simply let store clerks know that you do not have the monedas to make change by saying, “Perdón, yo no tengo.”

If you are interested in learning more about the life of a study abroad student in South America, check out the Expanish Study Abroad website!

A semester abroad in Buenos Aires will bring you new experiences with food, music, language, and culture. Add another unique experience to your study abroad portfolio by stopping through the annual Buenos Aires Book Fair, or Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires, located at La Rural, an enormous event space right off Plaza Italia.

The Feria del Libro is one of the largest and most significant cultural events to take place in Buenos Aires each year, showcasing around 1,000 exhibitors representing publishing companies from within Argentina and around the globe. Books are available for purchase, often at a discounted rate, in Spanish and other languages!

In addition to the thousands of books for sale, the Feria features round table discussions, books signings, and other events. Detailed information, including daily schedules of author meet and greets and discussion panels, can be found on the Feria’s website. The Feria runs through May 10. Try to stop by in between study abroad classes during the week, as the crowds are a bit smaller, and admission is less expensive! The Feria is an event unique to Buenos Aires, and definitely something worth checking out if you are spending a semester abroad in Argentina.

By now, you’ve probably realized that Buenos Aires is a city with truly never ending activities, both cultural and social! Check out Expanish Study Abroad, and see how our students take advantage of Buenos Aires during an action packed semester abroad!

While studying abroad in Buenos Aires, you have probably been observing many holidays specific to Argentina, however, today is a day that is acknowledged worldwide- Earth Day 2010! Created to encourage awareness and support for our environment, Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 after being founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson.  The original Earth Day was celebrated in the US, and brought over 20 million people outdoors to peacefully demonstrate for environmental reform. The Earth Day Network recognizes Earth Day as the most celebrated secular holiday in the world! 

Buenos Aires hosts quite a few events in honor of Earth Day, so head outside before or after your study abroad classes and celebrate and support the sustainability of our environment!

For a second year, Buenos Aires will officially host an Earth Day Festival, taking place at United Nation’s Park (Plaza Naciones Unidas). Starting on April 23rd, this multi-day event will attract over 40,000 people. Over the course of a few days, attendees can attend a green technology fair, take in over 10 musical performances on a solar stage,  participate in yoga classes, and peruse an organic farmer’s market.

For complete information, visit: http://eldiadelatierra.net/

Aside from festivals and other organized events, there are plenty of ways students spending a semester abroad in Argentina can carry that ‘Earth Day mentality’ along throughout the year. After all, April 22nd isn’t the only day we should be aware of our surroundings and how our actions can negatively affect the environment in which we live! Utilize the many fruit and vegetable stands around the city, rather than the large chain supermarkets, to support the sustainability of local agriculture, as well as the livelihood of local farmers! Also, if you have extra time, start walking to or from your study abroad classes. Buenos Aires is a walker friendly city, as there are very few hills…just watch out for those uneven sidewalks!

Learn more about the life of a student studying abroad in Buenos Aires through Expanish!

It is easy for students studying abroad in Buenos Aires to become caught up in the excitement of the city. With daily activities that cater to just about any interest and an endless nightlife, who wouldn’t? While a study abroad experience is a time for growth and exploration, it is essential for study abroad students to keep their own health and safety a priority throughout their time away from home. During your semester abroad in Argentina, remain as aware of your surroundings as you would in any other large city!

While both males and females should consider their safety abroad a priority, female students will inevitably receive more attention and notice in a foreign country than their male counterparts. Females studying abroad in South America need not be paranoid, simply more aware! Take note of the following suggestions for women studying abroad in Buenos Aires and beyond!

- Once you arrive in Buenos Aires, visit your country’s embassy to register your stay. The embassies offer a good deal of resources, including crime alerts, information on the current political climate and how it may affect your visit, and assistance to those in emergency situations.

- Look into the social and cultural norms for women in Argentina. There may be customs, clothing, or actions that you are familiar with from home that could be considered inappropriate or overly suggestive here.

- Find a purse or wallet that you are able to seal and keep close to your body when out in public. Pick-pocketing is inevitable in large cities, so be sure to prohibit access to your money and personal belongings.

- Leave your flashy jewelry at home! There is no need to call attention to an expensive or significant personal belonging. While you may want to travel with certain items, leave them at home while you’re out and about enjoying Buenos Aires—save them for a special occasion!

- Ignore catcalls and other forms of unwanted attention.

- Always know that the staff at Expanish is available to offer advice about life as a study abroad student in South America, or to help you through an uncomfortable situation. Do not hesitate to contact a staff member if, at any time, you feel as though your health and/or safety being compromised.

All in all, the precautions women studying abroad in Argentina should take are similar to those they would anywhere else in the world, and the majority are common sense! Do not act in a manner that you would not in your home country and you will unlikely become a target. A study abroad semester is an unforgettable stage in your life—do not jeopardize your experience by becoming lax about your health and safety!

Coming home from a semester abroad in Argentina will evoke many emotions in a student. While a study abroad student looks forward to reuniting with family and friends, and sharing a now endless list of life experiences, they will likely yearn for the lifestyle they became accustomed to while abroad.

Help to put your parents at ease throughout your semester abroad in Buenos Aires with these suggestions and tips! Today’s blog post will discuss suggestions for a student and their family for after a study abroad semester in Argentina.

After a Student’s Trip Abroad:

- Understand that your child may need a little time to re-adjust to life in their home country. They are returning from a very different, and probably more independent, lifestyle than they are used to at home, It is not uncommon for a student to feel some sort of “reverse culture shock” after returning home.

- Encourage your child to keep in touch with those contacts and friends made while abroad. These connections and friendships could be helpful in future personal and professional endeavors!

- Allow your child to share their experiences with you and others! It is likely the time spent studying abroad in Argentina is something that has changed them, for the better, for life, and they will be eager to share stories and photos.

- It is common to first feel as though life at home is not nearly as remarkable as life abroad in Buenos Aires was. You’re no longer surrounded by new things and meeting new people each and every day! Take these past experiences and apply them to the success and path of your future. A study abroad student grows and learns a great deal while living away from home, and these accomplishments should be motivation to continue to push the limit, both personally and professionally.

Expanish understands a parent’s concern over a semester abroad! Check out our guide for parent’s and families of Expanish students.

Be sure to check out our other blog entries with tips for parents for before and during a semester abroad!

While you’re off enjoying your study abroad experience in Buenos Aires, there is a good chance your parent’s are back home thinking about you constantly! Be sure to keep them up to date with all of the new experiences you are taking advantage of in Argentina.

Help to put your parents at ease throughout your semester abroad in Buenos Aires with these suggestions and tips! Today’s blog post will discuss a few recommendations for study abroad students and their parents to keep in mind during a trip abroad. Be sure to check back with the Expanish Study Abroad Blog for tips on how to survive after a student’s semester abroad in Argentina!

During a Student’s Trip Abroad:

- Establish the best way method of communication, as it can become quite expensive over the course of a semester. Skype is a common, popular, and (usually) free method of communication, so learn how to use it before your child leaves! Buenos Aires has many affordable calling cards that allow student’s to make inexpensive phone calls from landlines. Remember that there may be a difference in time! Try to catch your child at a time when they are not in class or sleeping!

- Have a backup plan ready in case your child loses a credit or debit card or needs some cash quick! There is nothing more stressful than being in a foreign country without access to money.

- Keep up to date on the news and happenings of Buenos Aires and Argentina! It will help with communication to know a bit about the culture and lifestyle your child is adapting to.

- Send your child a care package from home! Photos, cards, and food are usually easy to send and a great pick me up for a student living far from home! While the affordable and delicious food in Buenos Aires is a main attraction, most supermarkets do not carry much of the food or brands your child is used to or likes back home. Treat them to a staple at home they can’t find in Argentina!

Expanish understands a parent’s concern over a semester abroad! Check out our guide for parent’s and families of Expanish students.

Check out Part One- Before the Trip: A Parent’s Guide to Study Abroad blog entry!

Making the choice to study abroad in South America is one that will probably bring about a  range of emotions in both students and their parents! While making the decision is undoubtedly exciting, the reality of living and studying abroad in a foreign country is a bit daunting for most student’s and their families.

Help to put your parents at ease throughout your semester abroad in Buenos Aires with these suggestions and tips! Today’s blog post will discuss the preparations a student and their family should make prior to a trip abroad. Be sure to check back with the Expanish Study Abroad Blog for tips on how to survive during and after a student’s semester abroad in Argentina!

Before a Student’s Trip Abroad:

- Be sure your child has a passport valid for the duration of their time abroad. If you do not have a passport, you may want to apply for one. Some of you may be lucky enough to visit them in Argentina! Also, it is better to be safe than sorry in the event of an emergency abroad.

- Health and safety during a study abroad semester is extremely important. Be sure your child checks in with a doctor before departing.While health care and overall health in Buenos Aires is similar to most major cities around the world, your child may be planning on visiting a remote or less developed area of the country. It may be recommended that they receive vaccinations or bring certain prescriptions with them. A student should bring enough prescriptions to last them the entire trip. Expanish recommends all students obtain some sort of travel and health insurance while studying abroad.

- Make sure your child brings copies of all important documents with them and leaves another copy with you. This should include copies of their passports, prescription information, identification cards, credit cards, etc.

- Learn a bit about the customs and culture of Argentina. Pre-view all information provided by Expanish and familiarize yourself with our program options.

-Help your child to create a reasonable budget while abroad. It is important to notify their bank of international travel. While money is usually accessible for foreigners in Argentina, many ATMs and banks charge international fees, so devise a plan to reduce or avoid these charges.

- Take down all known contact information, including your child’s e-mail address, the address of their accommodations abroad, and the contact information for their study abroad program. Expanish Study Abroad staff members are extremely accessible, making it easy for parents to be in touch!

Expanish understands a parent’s concern over a semester abroad! Check out our guide for parent’s and families of Expanish students.