Shivani Pandya | CAPA The Global Education Network

Shivani PandyaParticipated in 2019Study Abroad | Argentina

Shivani majored in Bioinformatics and minored in both Chemistry and Spanish. She had traveled to numerous countries before venturing to Argentina, including studying abroad in Spain through a three week program in high school, but Argentina was the first time she traveled abroad for such an extended amount of time. Shivani recently graduated from university, but due to the circumstances of the pandemic, she had to cancel all her travel plans for the time being.

What inspired you to travel abroad?

My inspiration to go abroad came in all sorts of ways. There was never a moment where I decided “Yes. I am going to go abroad because of X, Y, and Z.” This decision came more fluidly; I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, try new things, learn more Spanish, learn about other cultures, etc. All these little things led me toward the thought process of studying abroad. Eventually, I decided upon participating in a program linked to my university that allowed me to study and intern in Buenos Aires.

Why did you choose CAPA The Global Education Network’s program in Argentina?

Once I knew I did want to go abroad, I thought about it more and decided a semester program was better than a month long or summer term. Although a summer program would also be a good experience, I imagined that if i was able to fit in a whole semester, I would be able to have more time to adjust, learn, and grow in another place instead of having a short few weeks in a different country. I chose Argentina specifically because I did not know much about the country’s people, culture, and history.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

I spent my days in Buenos Aires in a homestay in Recoleta, one of the more central neighborhoods. I had a host mother and two roommates that were also international students. We all ate dinner together every night and chatted. I liked living in a homestay, since I felt more connected to the city and people that way. I was able to ask my host mother questions about Argentina and other things and learn about the culture and people that way as well as in class and on the streets.

Describe what a typical day in Buenos Aires looked like for you.

A typical day while abroad looked like this: I got up without setting an alarm usually, since my classes did not start until the afternoon. I ate breakfast, which consisted of having a glass of milk and usually toast with jam or dulce de leche (not very healthy, I know). I would go to class, which lasted three hours usually. Afterwards, I would usually explore a little or meet with someone at a cafe or park. Before dinner, I would exercise and do at home workouts in my room. Then I’d have dinner with my roommates and host mother. Afterwards, I sometimes met with my friends or video chatted with my family or friends from back home.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time in Buenos Aires?

My free time abroad was spent journaling about my experiences and reflections, chatting with friends in my program at cafes, walking around the green spaces in the city, video chatting with family and friends from home, spending time with my roommates, watching movies and TV shows, and planning trips outside the city. There are a variety of cafes on every street corner to try, with different shakes, pastries, and atmospheres. It was also fun visiting other neighborhoods and walking around or shopping.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

I wish I was able to be more deliberate in meeting new people and not letting myself overthink when talking to new people. Of course, if you do not know the language and are in a new place, you will have awkward moments when having conversations with others. I wish I kept trying to speak more Spanish when I could have and talked to the people I saw in class, in the grocery store, and on the streets more. This could have been a way to adapt to the city and people around me more, and practice my Spanish.

How did the local CAPA program staff support you throughout your program?

A specific example of how the local staff helped me is about the allergy I developed abroad. Multiple times during the trip, I would wake up with my eyes swollen and red, and I was not sure why. I had to take multiple trips to the hospital and found out it was an allergy that I most likely had because of a specific tree in the city (who would have thought!). Throughout all of this, the local CAPA staff and my homestay were there to guide me on what to say or do to talk to a doctor and where the pharmacy was. It was really helpful.

What was your favorite part about Argentina?

The favorite part about Argentina was how different each neighborhood was in the city of Buenos Aires. Each neighborhood was known for its own culture and history, which was interesting to see and compare/contrast. Also, the traveling we were able to do in Argentina was incredible. The country had amazing views and experiences, from its rainforests to its glaciers and everything in between. If you can, I would definitely travel around outside the city of Buenos Aires as well.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

My study abroad experience was extraordinary because I was in a place I never imagined I would be for an extended amount of time. I never thought I would spend a whole semester in a different country during my college career, much less a country with citizens who usually did not speak English. I was able to practice and learn more Spanish, as well as the normal lifestyle of an individual living in Buenos Aires. Even going to the grocery store was an adventure or feat sometimes, because the American traditions and behaviors I was used to did not exist there.

Would you recommend CAPA’s program in Buenos Airs to others? Why?

I would recommend my program. It was in its more novel years, so there were definitely some bumps in the road and some things I wish I were different or the program could have changed. Overall, however, I thought it was well organized for the most part and I had a good experience while abroad. Also, the staff abroad were very nice and genuinely seemed to care if we were learning and having a good time in Argentina, which I appreciated and thought was very important to why it was overall a good time.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

Every person entering this program, and in general every person who is thinking about or going to participate in a study abroad program, should know that it will not be merely a vacation. Studying abroad is all about being able to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, learn new things, meet new people and recognize new places, and overall step outside of what you know to be normal. Sometimes, your situation will not be exactly what you expected and your experience is not exactly what you wanted. However, your time abroad will only be as good as you perceive it to be, because attitude is everything. Keep a positive outlook on life!

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

My time abroad has made me realize how doable it is to go to a new country and learn new traditions, meet new people, and live through moments you never thought you would. Even four or five months abroad felt like less than a month out of the country in the end. From this experience, I found a new interest in traveling to not only have a vacation or relax, but to open my eyes to different parts of the world and communicate with people who have different backgrounds as me and therefore different mindsets and opinions about the world.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

It is very difficult to choose one benefit to label as the “biggest benefit” of traveling abroad. However, something I am happy was a consequence of studying abroad was the slight change in my mindset about schoolwork, fun, and overall the idea of balance in my lifestyle. I realized instead of caring so much about my grades and such, I should try hard in classes for my interest and for the passion more for learning, not just to get better grades to go further in the future.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is like what I mentioned about when I wrote about what I learned from my time abroad: not a mere vacation, but an experience. People travel for many reasons, including visiting family, learning about new places, relaxing, etc. I feel as if a trip is meaningful if it adds to your journey of realizing more about yourself or others. This also means that a meaningful trip is not just a vacation, but a chance to open your eyes, learn more, and overall grow.

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