During the Fall 2023, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Córdoba, Argentina. I was in Argentina for 5 months, from mid-July to the end of November. With regards to housing, I lived with a host family during that time in order to be fully immersed in the language. Clemson University’s partnership with the Universidad Blas Pascal allowed me to study a variety of different subjects taught by Argentinian professors. The first month of the program was spent becoming acclimated with the language along with learning more about the culture and vernacular of Córdoba. This was a very important aspect of the trip as we learned the differences between Spanish spoken in Argentina versus Spanish spoken in other countries. The most important example of this was the use of “vos” instead of “tú”. After the intensive month, I began my internship as well as regular classes. My course load in Argentina ranged from business related classes to literature. My internship was a Human Resources and Internal Communications internship with Bitsion, a software developing company located in Córdoba. Another student on the trip and I went to our internship three times a week in person for a total of 140 hours. We were given a list of tasks to complete for this internship all centered around improving internal communication within the company. This includes but is not limited to conducting an internal analysis of all means of internal communication, designing an internal communication strategy with respect to the analysis, creating a recognition system for employees, and the completion of a series of internal communication campaigns. 

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        Despite spending a large portion of my time either working or studying, I was able to spend the weekends traveling and exploring the city as well. My host mom graciously invited me to her family events in the mountains of Córdoba on a regular basis where I was able to eat traditional Argentinian asado and engage in conversation with her family members. Her family lives on a large farm in the mountains; therefore, I was able to learn more about Argentinian rural life as well as a variety of different perspectives regarding the political situation in Argentina. Throughout the trip, we were able to go on several trips organized by the program including to places such as Jujuy and Buenos Aires. These locations allowed us to better understand Argentina’s history and culture as well as the ways in which ways of life differ within Argentina. I was able to try new foods, learn new vocabulary and phrases, and enjoy the nature Argentina has to offer.

      On my own accord, my friends and I were able to explore the restaurants and attractions available to us in Córdoba. One of our favorite activities in Córdoba was the artisan fair, Paseo de los Artes. Paseo de los Artes is located in the center of the city and consists of local artists gathering in the square to sell their homemade goods. Conclusively, this trip allowed me to better understand the social, professional, and artistic culture of Argentina through a variety of different means. Going into my trip to Argentina, my primary goal was to improve my proficiency in the Spanish language especially as it pertained to formal work experience through my internship. I want to use my Spanish in my career after Clemson which was a major driving factor in my decision to study abroad in Argentina. This goal was most certainly met as my proficiency improved significantly over the course of my time abroad. That being said, it became quickly apparent to me that proficiency in the language was a small piece of the puzzle in developing my understanding of international business. My goals effectively shifted from simply understanding the language to also developing a profound appreciation and understanding of the culture.

       The primary cultural difference I took note of upon arriving in Argentina and starting my internship was the difference in attitude towards work. There is a large emphasis placed on maintaining professional relationships that do not venture into the realm of personal friendships in the United States. In contrast, work was viewed much more casually and the emphasis was placed on getting to know employees on a personal basis. It was very normal for employees to visit their bosses’ homes, go out to dinner with them, and give each other wine as a gift. For example, I was invited to my boss’s mountain home where she treated us to a wine tasting and dinner. Being invited to a weekend trip with my boss was a very formative experience for me during my time in Argentina. I was able to meet her family, see a new town, and get to know her on a more personal level. This experience allowed me to grasp the importance of personable, friendly relationships within the professional realm in Argentina. This contrast was uncomfortable for me at first, but I quickly adjusted and was able to develop meaningful relationships that aided in my ability to complete my internship. Additionally, Argentinians are much more openly friendly than the average American in general. For example, Argentinians will greet you with a hug and kiss on the cheek whereas Americans are more inclined to shake your hand. This casual approach to work coincides with the lack of importance assigned to punctuality. It is very common in Argentina for plans to be made around a rough time frame but not a binding one. Arriving an hour late for a social gathering in Argentina was very standard and not looked at with disapproval at all. This is not the case in the United States. We often regard being early as on time and being late as simply unacceptable. As someone who is punctual, this was a difficult adjustment for me as I have always been taught punctuality is a form of respecting other people’s time.            With respect to time, everything in Argentina occurs much later in the day compared to America. Dinner takes place after 8PM, there is an afternoon snack to account for the aforementioned, and people usually go to after midnight. Late dinner was an extremely hard adjustment for me but eventually became one of the most important parts of my day and the trip as a whole. Dinner served as a time to converse with my host family, discuss our day, and practice talking about more complex topics in Spanish. I am immensely thankful for these dinners and what they contributed to my abroad experience. While there were certainly vast differences between Argentina's culture and that of the United States, there were also some cultural similarities. A cultural similarity I noticed that heavily pertains to the time frame in which we were there was a similar divisiveness over politics. Similar political debates as those occurring in the United States frequented conversations, and there was an overwhelming sentiment of a desire to see long-term economic success. While this is not necessarily unique, there is a much larger emphasis placed on economic growth and success in the United States, so I found it interesting that this sentiment was also being expressed in another country. This is especially interesting, because Argentina has notoriously disregarded economic growth in favor of larger social welfare programs. This is not to say either is better or worse but more so a similarity that I noticed that I feel was a newer sentiment in Argentina.

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        My experience in Argentina was an immensely beneficial experience that made me a better student and global citizen. My passion for the Spanish language was strengthened by learning the nuances of the language and the regional differences that exist within it. After Córdoba, I feel very accomplished and proud of the progress I have made with my written and spoken proficiency. I also returned to the United States with a more complete understanding of a different culture and an appreciation for the differences that make us culturally unique. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned that the discomfort associated with differences between practices and customs are not to be met with resistance but rather embraced.