This year was the second year BHP offered the short-term study abroad program in Buenos Aires. This five-week summer program allows BHP students take two management courses while studying at one of the top business schools in Argentina, the Universidad de San Andres. The program is so popular, it took less than a week to fill all of the spots this year.
Once again, the group stayed in the beautiful neighborhood of Recoleta in central Buenos Aires. Students were able to experience class both at the downtown campus as well as the main campus of Universidad de San Andres. They earned six hours of credit towards their degree, taking Organizational Behavior (MAN336H) taught by McCombs professors Ethan Burris and Doug Dierking and Non-Market Strategies in Emerging Markets, taught by an English-speaking professor at the host university. “The two classes were definitely manageable for the five week program,” said BHP junior Zach Weissgarber. “Each night we would have some reading to prepare for the next class discussion, and we occasionally had write-ups and essays due for each course along with exams. It’s remarkable that we were able to accomplish so much coursework in such a short period of time.”
The program wasn’t all work and no play though. Students participated in planned cultural activities such as a visit to an Argentinean Estancia (a ranch), where they tasted typical Argentinean food and learned about the Gaucho culture. They also attended a Tango show, followed by private Tango lessons where they got to try it out themselves. They also organized their own trips to Igazú Falls, Mendoza, Uruguay and even Brazil. Weissgarber said the visit to the falls was his favorite part of the trip. “The last weekend in Argentina we visited Igazú Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. We spent an entire day hiking the park trails to different viewpoints and overlooks to see all of the waterfalls, and we also had the chance to take a boat ride to the base of the waterfalls.”
Sophomore Bryson Hearne captured the trip to the Falls and the entire five weeks in a series of videos. “For the past few years, my older brother used a Go Pro to video our family vacations. I loved being able to actually look back on the places we visited. I did not want my experiences in Argentina to fade with time. The videos have also helped me share what happened in Argentina with friends and family back home. Rather than trying to explain what all had happened, I can point people to my videos,” he said.
This year was special with the FIFA World Cup going on next door in Brazil. Argentina being one of the best soccer teams in the world was in full “soccer fever” mode, so watching the games with the locals and supporting both the USA and Argentina teams became a big part of this year’s experience. In fact, the group even organized their own inter-program soccer matches where BHP played against the BHP/MPA group.
“I would definitely recommend the trip and the course to other students. My five weeks in Argentina were unmatched by any other trip I’ve taken before,” said Weissgarber. “If I had the opportunity to go back, you can bet that I would be on the next 11 hour plane ride to Buenos Aires to do it all over again.” Hearne agrees, “My trip to Argentina was one of the coolest things I have ever done. I wish every BHP student has the opportunity to do something similar.”
BHP students interested in the 2015 Buenos Aires program, should check with the BBA International Programs office for registration dates and procedures. Registration for the program will occur in the fall.
Check out these videos from the trip done by Bryson Hearne.
