GRIP, Internships Abroad 5 Things that I Learned about Myself in BA

Social Impact in Buenos Aires, Argentina

As I considered what exactly I wanted to do during my Summer 2022, I filled myself with expectations about my GRIP experience. Above all, I was excited about everything that was upcoming: the new people I would meet, the Argentine culture, and the opportunity to practice Spanish.

Well, it ends up that – of course – not everything turned out as expected. There were more downsides than I thought I would face: I was more introverted than I thought, and it took me more time to make friends. I caught covid during a big trip I made, and as a consequence, I could not hang out with my mom when she visited me from Brazil. I ended up not being able to afford many big trips in Argentina, which sometimes gave me fewer chances to hang out with other Puentes Abroad interns.

But after all, I am glad to say the outcomes from my experience were even better than I had imagined! It was a great time to reflect on my identity and my personal, professional, and academic goals, besides making great Argentine friends who I expect to be life-long. Now finishing my internship at Wingu in Buenos Aires, I would like to summarize here my experience in Argentina and everything I learned about myself throughout this international opportunity.

1 – Being introverted should not stop me from being adventurous:

I have always been slightly scared of meeting new people. Thoughts and doubts of whether people will like me fill my mind when first talking to them, and calling attention when walking by myself makes me equally uncomfortable. However, I made the best choice when I decided to stay with a host family, and I was very lucky to have an Argentine friend back at Penn’s campus. I was able to meet new people through them, and now I expect to keep in touch with them through social media and group chats!

2 – The learning curve of a new language:

Although as an international student, I had already had the culture shock of going to the United States and learning English, this was one of the most difficult parts for me coming to Buenos Aires. Having learned Spanish for one year in high school and speaking Portuguese fluently, I was able to practice with my Spanish-speaking friends at Penn before coming to Buenos Aires. However, as soon as I started learning more, I realized that I did not know as much as I thought I did. Fortunately, given the many opportunities I had to practice with my new friends and family, I realized that all I need to do is to not give up!

3 – Being a foodie:

Eating different foods from what we are used to can be scary, but I learned that after all, it is important to meet a culture from its food! In Argentine asados, I was able to be adventurous and try gizzard, kidneys, blood sausage, and tongue. I would never have done that if I was not in a different country, and I am very happy that I left my comfort zone and was able to try all foods I could.

4 – Keeping in touch with family and friends:

I realized that calling friends and family and keeping in touch through group chats was essential for my journey. Every night, I would take some time to call my mom and some close friends, and on Friday nights when most were in boliches (Argentine nightclubs), I took some time to call my friends and hold game nights via Discord. Besides those, I always kept them posted about my adventures through daily posts on BeReal! These were great ways to feel connected to my home, and they definitely helped me overcome the challenges I faced in a foreign country.

5 – Travelling to places vs. Exploring your neighborhood and city:

As a highly aided student, I received the GRIP award to cover all expenses shown in the Money Matters tab in Passport. That meant I was given a great opportunity as an FGLI student – an opportunity that perhaps I would not have if it wasn’t for Penn and its financial aid. It also meant that there was almost no spare for big trips every week, and that was okay! There were many things to be explored in Buenos Aires, for free and for cheap: museums, cultural centers, parks, theaters, and restaurants. I even made friends who I could visit and spend the day with. All in all, I would say that since I was living in Buenos Aires for 2 months, I was able to explore the city as a local and enjoy my time with my local friends.