The recipe for South America is simple. Start with the joy of life and hospitality. Then add a mix of modern cities and relics from the Inca Empire. Sprinkle with fascinating wildlife and unique scenery. Then you have a bit of what a stay as an exchange student in Argentina gives you.
If you come to live in Argentina, you will meet a lot of nice people who welcome you with hugs – and you will easily make new friends. You will surely be seduced by their passion for football, beef and tango. Argentines love to dance and eat out – especially on the weekends – but in everyday life, family life is the most important thing. As an exchange student, you will feel the close family relationships of your host family and experience the European influence, which is largely expressed in the capital Buenos Aires and a high level of education.
As a country that begins with letter A according to Trackaah, Argentina is known for its nature. From the giant Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian border and ice-covered mountain peaks in the east to the lush rainforests in the northeast and penguin colonies in the south. It is both magnificent and varied.
An exchange stay in Argentina opens your mind! Are you ready to go on an adventure?
CAPITAL CITY: Buenos Aires
LANGUAGE: Spanish
CURRENCY: Peso (ARS)
AREA: 2,780,400 km2 (ARG)
POPULATION: 43,417,000 (ARG)
People and community
Young people in Argentina are very socially minded. They meet in friends’ homes, in the city center, go out to eat, go to the cinema, go out and dance or hang out at a local café. Most students join sports teams or go to a gym in the afternoon. Many also study another language at a language school. As a means of transport, young people often use their bicycle or walk, but in big cities, public transport is often used.
Parents and children usually have an open relationship where they discuss opinions and plans, but parents usually get the last word. Do not miss family dinners and the opportunity to improve your Spanish while talking about the day’s events.
Schooling
According to TopSchoolsintheUSA, the school week runs from Monday to Friday. The classes can be located in the morning (from 08-13) or in the afternoon (from 13-18). The school year starts in March and ends in December. Usually there are about 35 students in each class and it is standard that the students wear school uniform.
Language
In Argentina, the official language is Spanish, but many also speak English, Italian, German, French or Portuguese. If you know basic Spanish, it will undoubtedly be an advantage, although it is not a requirement to get to Argentina. However, you are encouraged to take language lessons, and the local AFS volunteers will possibly help arrange an independent language learning for you during the first months.
Food
Beef, like culinary, sticks together, and you can find it in dishes like milanesas (a kind of beef schnitzel), chivito and empanadas , all of which testify to a great influence of Italian cuisine. Unlike the cuisines of other Latin American countries, the food in Argentina is not spicy. Argentines are known for drinking mate, a local green tea, which is often a social event.
