Which is the more friendly, welcoming, and exciting country to stay in for a student exchange, Colombia or Argentina?

Having been an exchange student in Rosario, Argentina and having traveled to Colombia a few times I think I can give you some advice.  Although they are both in South America and both speak Spanish, in my opinion, that is where the similarities end.  I was an exchange student in Rosario in 2007 and then have traveled to Colombia a few times in the past year. Having never been to South America prior to my stay as an exchange student I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Buenos Aires is like a New York with a latin flair.  Although I didn't live in Buenos Aires I have spent time there and I absolutely love that city.  The city is awake at all hours and there is always something to do.  If you are into architecture than it is definitely worth checking out.  The Spanish in Argentina is different than any where else except for Uruguay.  Buenos Aires can be some what expensive especially when compared to some cities in Colombia.  I wouldn't trade my time in Argentina for anything in the world.  They are nice kind people although at times can become quite animated.  If you are looking for a more European style of living compared to the rest of South America, without a doubt, Argentina is your place.  Everything from the buildings to the way people dress (very stylish in my opinion) has a European element to it. As I mentioned, prior to 2007, I had never been to South America but I have to admit that Colombia is more of what I expected.  I don't quite know how to explain it but Colombia seems more like the 'real'  South America, whether it be the fresh fruit stands all over the place or the pace of life.  You will notice that many of the people in Colombia will have darker skin than those in Argentina.  In Argentina, I could blend in without a problem (Brown/blonde hair, blue eyes) but in Colombia I stuck out and my blue eyes often were the destination for a lot of stares (stares of curiosity, nothing ever rude or alarming) You will often find yourself in places where you may be the only person that speaks English.  Colombia , to me, seemed more hectic than Argentina but I loved every second of it.  The people are some of the kindest, warmest people you could imagine.  The Spanish, as many people have mentioned, for the most part is very clear and easy to understand compared to some other South American countries and sounds very different than the Spanish in Argentina.  I can't say one is more friendly or welcoming than the other.  It really depends on what you are looking for and where you are coming from.  I would say that although they are very different I don't think you could go wrong with either, just know that you will come out with quite a different experience between the 2 countries.

It depends what you are looking for. I lived in Buenos Aires in 2013 for a 5-month exchange, where I took classes at a local university and I also traveled in Colombia extensively afterward, often "couchsurfing" with Colombian families. Both countries have a fascinating culture, language, and some of the most compassionate people you will ever meet. But the countries cultures are total opposites. People will tell you Argentina has a more "European culture," which is true, but only in the three largest cities Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Rosario, where there are street-side cafes, stray dogs in the street, and a robust night life (or should I say morning life because Argentines don't go out until around 12 a.m.)  Elsewhere, rural Argentina is more "Latin American."But I absolutely loved every part of Argentina because the people are super passionate and opinionated about everything. There are also endless opportunities to travel by bus which is rather expensive, but comfortable and convenient for the most part. The biggest challenge for students is that the university system is very disorganized and if you don't speak Castellano (Argentine spanish) well you will find it impossible to learn unless you are taking all your classes in English. Education is free in Argentina, so if you attend a public university expect it to be extremely demanding and time consuming. If you are studying abroad through a program, I recommend asking them for more information about the options. I studied at a private university and while my major classes were pretty easy, I struggled with the general education classes because I had no prior knowledge in them. Its difficult to learn concepts and listen in a language at the same time. When I traveled in Colombia, I was blown away by the kindness of strangers who offered their homes, time, and food to me as a solo traveler. Bogota and Medellin have a great night life scene (lots of salsa which I am a huge fan of), but I am not sure about the quality of the universities. I made many friends who were exchange students from Colombia studying in Argentina - and they told me there were some good universities in Bogota. But by Latin American standards, Argentina is the more popular country to attend university at because it is free. Hope this helps! For more on the cultural differences between Buenos Aires and the U.S., see my travel blog http://bit.ly/1g1wX7I.

It is a very subjective question and depends on who you are and where exactly you're staying. In general however, Colombia is more Hispanic in the sense of being free with your emotions and welcoming to new people. Argentina is more of a European culture in that the people are more conservative with their emotions. Depending on whether you enjoy being around one or the other type of people would answer the question for you. Within Colombia though there is a large difference in the openness of people in the mountain cities like Bogota versus the coastal cities like Cartagena or Baranquilla. Even a native person from bogota will tell you about how friendly the people are on the coast. My pick would be the beautiful country of Colombia, and for a semester of study I couldn't imagine a more wonderful experience. \U0001f600

Colombia my country❤️, and I'm not just saying this because I'm from there but there's something truly special about our people .