Communication and Immersion
For many, linguistic improvement is one of the main goals for studying abroad. The investment of spending time with Argentinians and Uruguayans is directly linked to the progress you will notice in your level of Spanish. It is very common that the first weeks will be a bit more difficult and you may miss out on a bit of the content of the ideas you are hearing expressed. However, this is normal and you should not feel frustrated. Patience is extremely important. You will learn every day and you will see progress to the degree to which you seek out opportunities for meaningful interaction (both formal and informal) each week.
Students who seek to maximize their immersion should note that regular communication with home can significantly hinder language progress and adjustment to the new culture. If your goal is maximum immersion, you should prepare family and friends for the reality that you may be difficult to contact and that, even when possible, regular calling or emailing may interfere with your linguistic and cultural acquisition. If there is an emergency, your family will learn about it immediately. Otherwise, you can remind them that no news is good news.
Blogging can also be a great way of updating all of your friends and relatives at the same time while keeping a record of your experiences.
