Language Immersion in Buenos Aires

What was a class activity that stood out to you during your program? 

I took a course called the “Making of Patagonia,” in which I learned about the history of relations between the Argentinian government and the Mapuche tribes and had the opportunity to conduct a group research project related to Mapuche culture.

As a part of the course, we were able to travel to Bariloche, a town in Patagonia, and speak to both active members of the Mapuche community there and historians/professors with widespread knowledge of the Mapuche people. Our conversations were self-directed, meaning that we asked questions to the people we spoke with about our specific research topic. My group researched how mental health is viewed among the Mapuche people, and, as a final product, we created our own magazine with 6 different articles exploring the topic from different points of view.

Both the trip to Bariloche and the final class project stood out to me because they allowed me to immerse myself in the course content in a way that was extremely impactful and memorable. 

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Where were your favorite places to go in your host city?

Cafe culture is strong in Buenos Aires, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that I spent multiple hours in a cafe around five days a week. I loved going to cafes because you could relax, order things slowly, chat with friends, and work for hours on end without anyone getting upset.

One of the most unique coffee shops my friends and I discovered was called Baco, which is the name of the god of wine in Greek mythology. However, the name in this case referred to a bulldog that frequented the cafe. When he wasn’t present, you could find photos and drawings of him all over the walls, to the point that it almost seemed like a shrine to Baco.

I loved to study at Baco not only because of the quirky atmosphere but also because of how it was a relatively small, undiscovered place and had some of the best coffee and alfajores in the city! 

Why did you decide to do this program?

I chose IES Abroad Buenos Aires because I wanted to expose myself to a new culture and improve my Spanish skills without going to Europe. The program had an array of course offerings that fit well with my majors and provided the opportunity for me to explore niche topics. Additionally, the program has great resources for helping students adjust to life abroad. Our orientation week taught me everything I needed to know about safety, health, transportation, and cultural differences. Furthermore, all of the program staff was available and happy to help if anything went wrong.

I knew it would be hard for me to adjust to moving abroad and wanted to make sure the program I chose had resources to help students transition seamlessly! 

How did your skills or knowledge change from doing this program? 

One of the biggest changes I noticed was how much my Spanish improved over the four months I was studying in Buenos Aires. From speaking in Spanish every night at dinner with my host mom to taking classes in Spanish at the partner university, living in Argentina provided the immersion experience I was looking for.

By around two months in, I was speaking smoothly at dinner conversations and never hesitated to speak Spanish in class, with a cab driver, or to ask a question at a local kiosk. I became so much more confident in my Spanish skills in class as well, as I went from writing out entire scripts for my presentations to coming up with the words and phrases I needed to use on the spot. 

How did this program affect your career interests or next steps after graduation? 

I have recently been interested in getting involved in the field of mental health policy after graduation. For someone interested in mental health, Buenos Aires was truly the perfect choice for a study abroad home base.

Known as the city of psychoanalysis, Buenos Aires has a huge number of psychologists. A large percentage of the population is in therapy, and, from my experience, meeting with a therapist is not only normalized but encouraged. My experience having conversations about mental health with people I met in Argentina was so different than it is in the United States, and it has inspired me to look more into ways that US mental health policy can learn from Argentine methods.