GRIP, Internships Abroad In Conclusion - Five Tips

Hecho por Nosotros - Buenos Aires, Argentina

In Buenos Aires, a city laden with exquisite color and inimitable character, I quickly learned to expect the unexpected and throw all of my suppositions of an abroad experience out the window. Nothing can truly prepare you for both the trials and joy that come with an abroad experience, however, I will try to sum up some of my greatest takeaways from this summer in a foolhardy attempt to help. Yes, jeans, an umbrella, and sensible shoes are all great packing additions, however, it's what you won't find on the classic "what to bring to Buenos Aires" trip lists that I've found to be the most worthwhile:

Be Prepared For Anything
When I say "be prepared for anything", I REALLY mean anything. When attending the mandatory pre-abroad sessions on campus and half-heartedly listening to the discussion about international insurance and medicine, never did I think that I'd be the one to end up in a South American hospital. Take the pre-abroad preparation seriously and never think "it won't happen to me" because I was a victim of that and paid the price with an out of pocket hospital visit. Listen, learn, and apply any and all tips prior to your abroad departure. Penn has finetuned their programs from years of experience, and they DO know better than you!

Make a Plan
Sometimes there can be so many amazing things to do in a new city that it can seem a bit overwhelming, and so I recommend planning out specific activities and sites that you'd like to see prior to departing abroad. This will make your weekends much more fulfilling and leave you without idle time that can easily turn into thinking about and missing home.

Adaptability
When things don't go right, go left! Like a lot of foreign cities, Buenos Aires does not quite operate in the same business-as-usual manner that America does. Strikes and protests regularly bring the city to a grinding halt, a rainy day indicates an assumed 'off-day' for city cleaners, and an Argentinian soccer game merits a national holiday. Things happen, and your schedule WILL change, and so a sense of adaptability and capacity to take things as they come are essential for a successful abroad experience.

Remember your Loved Ones
I've always been an independent person, and so going abroad and being away from my friends and loved ones seemed to be no big deal; boy was I wrong. I spent a good portion of the first week in Buenos Aires longing for the comfort of home instead of exploring the wonderful new city and people that I was going to call home for the next two months. To avoid this, I would advise bringing pictures, letters, and mementos reminding you of loved ones, and if possible planning a visit half way in your abroad experience to see a parent, friend, or significant other. Small things such as these provided the much-needed motivation to get up and out into Buenos Aires, and planned visits acted as milestones to break up time apart.

Say 'Yes'
Above all, say "YES!" to adventure. When a friend asks you to go out on a Thursday night to an Argentinian Bailoche based on a coworkers recommendation, do it. When your host brother asks if you'd like to go out to coffee with him and his friends, go for it. Going abroad is a once in a lifetime experience, and so enjoy it to its fullest by stepping out of your comfort zone and engaging with your new city in all ways possible.