Benefits of a Living in an Apartment While Studying Abroad
During my study abroad semester in Buenos Aires, I’ve been living in an apartment I was placed in by CEA CAPA, and it has been a wonderful experience so far. The apartment itself is in northern Palermo, near the beautiful building of the Argentine Army’s Mounted Grenadiers Regiment, an especially great view from our balcony. I live with three other CEA CAPA students, and inside the apartment, there is a shared living room and kitchen space, and we each have our own room. (Luckily for us, who are here during the hot end of the Buenos Aires summer, the apartment has a strong air conditioning unit.)
To briefly touch on my room, from the very start, I wanted to make it a cozy, safe space. Especially during the first few weeks of studying abroad, each day abounds with unfamiliarity, so I think it’s important to be able to come back to a room that provides some consistency and comfort resembling that of home. I bought a small plant to add a personal touch, and I got into the habit of leaving my things organized and clean before I left my apartment for the day so that I could always come back to a calming space after being out and about in the city.
The view from our balcony of an amazing sunset over the city.
It’s also worth mentioning that CEA CAPA did a great job finding this apartment for us students; our landlord is always available for any questions or issues we have, and the building doorman is genuinely one of my favorite people I have met in Buenos Aires, always giving recommendations for places to check out. Further, the neighborhood placement is amazing. During my first week, I was delighted to find that I had everything I was ever going to need within blocks. The streets are mostly residential (so they are very safe, even at night) but still have tons of mini grocery stores, fruit and vegetable shops, coffee shops, corner kiosks, and other stores for all kinds of needs. This convenience has been really helpful for independent living, where I typically need to go out myself to look for anything that I need.
My plant and my room view!
An important aspect of living in a CEA CAPA apartment, as opposed to a homestay, is the extra independence that one gets. In my case, this was the first time I had ever really lived with this degree of full autonomy—so going through that new experience in a whole new country meant taking seriously the balance between my inclinations/desires and my responsibilities. Firstly, as I mentioned, it was important to make sure that the apartment and my room represented a haven from the bustle outside, and I was glad to be able to shape the space to my liking in that regard.
The location of the apartment was also perfect for the other side of the coin: exploring. I often found myself taking walks in random directions in Palermo, and the activity and variety of stores made it easy to feel like I was getting to know my area, even little by little. This independence also meant I was the one to encourage myself in different ways. Sometimes, it would have perhaps been more comfortable to just stay in my room to relax or do homework, but I quickly realized that even those moments were opportunities to get out and really be in Buenos Aires. Not to mention, when I was feeling homesick or overwhelmed, nothing helped me more than walking around and seeing the life and excitement of the city.
Just a block away from the apartment is a gorgeous plant shop.
When it comes to the responsibilities of living in an apartment abroad, one of the biggest is meals/eating. Since I oversaw my meals but didn’t want to spend too much money eating out all the time, I made myself a small menu of recipes that I could make for myself (and store leftovers). Budgeting in general is also a huge help; being abroad, it is easy to overspend on things at every corner, so outlining a set amount of money you’re able or willing to allocate to different categories can at least decrease the possibility of not even realizing how much you are spending. I’m no money-management expert, but I think it’s also important to allow yourself to fail—overspending in one month is just an opportunity to adjust your budget for the next one.
The final thing I wanted to touch on about the apartment experience through CEA CAPA is getting around. Buenos Aires is a city with incredible public transportation, so this was smooth sailing for the most part once I learned everything I needed to know. The CEA CAPA team provided me with a Sube card right away (upon arrival at the airport), so I was able to start using it immediately. The buses (called colectivos here) have a wide range of lines and stops, so I have found myself using them the most; the Subte is the Buenos Aires subway system and also has useful lines for us students living in Palermo or Belgrano; finally, the train system helps reach spots a little further outside of the main Buenos Aires area.
One of many fruit kiosks (fruterías) in the neighborhood.
The nice thing is that with technology, you have all your routing needs at your fingertips—Google Maps especially has an accurate knowledge of the bus stops and lines and will map out which bus line you should take to get to your destination. In terms of technicalities, it’s worth pointing out that recharging the Sube card is usually a weekly errand (done easily at any Subte station or Lotería de la Ciudad), especially if you are using it two or more times per day.
From my apartment, getting to the CEA CAPA Study Center takes about 45 minutes, including the short walks to and from the bus stops. This might be a personal preference, but I love the long bus rides, either to the Study Center or to anywhere else in the city—I can just put on my earphones and watch the neighborhoods and streets go by. On colectivo rides, I’ve also been able to glimpse areas of the city that I would never get to otherwise, since Buenos Aires is impossibly big.
Palermo is full of tall apartment buildings; also seen here are two colectivos heading to a nearby stop.
Overall, I highly recommend living in an apartment if independent living is your style; CEA CAPA did a wonderful job of placing my flatmates and me in a safe, comfortable, and exciting environment that allowed me to feel my best as I launched into each day of discovery. In general, apartment living certainly lends itself to a great deal of freedom, as well as opportunities for growth by taking on the responsibilities of living in a new country on your own!
