As my first time going abroad by myself, Puentes Abroad really provided a lot of support when it came to getting used to the city. They took care of all the small details and I just had to worry about taking care of myself. In terms of internship matching, I was really pleased in where I was located and got to do a lot of interesting work that you wouldn't find back in the United States. I would definitely do this again if I had the chance to.

Puentes made my six-week Buenos Aires abroad experience seamless. As soon as my plane landed in Ezeiza airport, Puentes was there to pick me up and drive me to my apartment in Palermo Soho. Puentes did an incredible job of assimilating me into the surrounding culture and bringing me up-to-speed with Argentinian customs. Ann (founder) did a fantastic job of advising me, without being overbearing. I did everything I wanted to do in my six weeks, and felt safe the entire time knowing that Ann was always a phone call away. I came to the country knowing some Italian, but little Spanish, so I sometimes had to call Ann when I was lost in translation with a cab driver or supermarket employee. This was never a problem.

I would recommend Puentes to anyone who's interested in getting a safe, holistic, and rewarding abroad experience.

For my internship, Puentes did a fantastic job pairing me with Matriarca, a social enterprise partnering with the aboriginal communities of Argentina to combine antique traditions of crafting with modern products and design. The women I worked with are incredibly driven and inspiring, which brought so much life to the culture in the office. The ladies of Matriarca were so devoted to incorporating me into the business that they even brought me along to a 3 day trip to Formosa- a northern province of Argentina to visit an aboriginal community. Their inclusiveness made me feel as if I had my own family away from home. My internship roles were mainly related to email marketing, website analytics, and assisting with ongoing projects and expositions. The Puentes staff offered resume building workshops on how to include your Puentes Intern and overall improvements, which I actually found immensely helpful.

For housing, I was placed in a shared apartment with random individuals for the first 2 weeks, and then as other Puentes interns arrived, they soon moved into the apartment as well. Although I had a few issues with the apartment conditions, the location was PERFECT. Palermo Soho, which is where a lot of restaurants and boutiques are located, is bustling with activities and things to do. My apartment was a 20 minute walk to my internship site, and I never felt unsafe or endangered in any way.

Overall, My Puentes experience was fantastic. I grew so much as a person and learned about the stark differences in business culture compared to the US. With that being said, the type of person who I think will get the most out of Puentes Abroad are those who are independent, can cope with being in uncomfortable situations, and are just eager to explore the unknown. The puentes staff is on call at any time if anything happens, but they are certainly not holding your hand and planning your week for you-- you are really l i v i n g in Buenos Aires. So, as long as you come with an open mind, aware of your surroundings, and excited to speak Spanish and meet new people-- you'll have a blast.

***General Tips:
-Buenos Aires has a very strong cash culture, so I recommend bringing at least 2 credit cards with you (in case you forget to take yours out of the ATM, which happened to me twice).
-Pack more sweaters-- Buenos Aires gets a bit colder than you may think and the lack of central heating systems in many buildings makes it feel colder.

Before going to Buenos Aires, I had high hopes of improving my Spanish. I had recently graduated from college with a dual degree in Spanish and Adolescent Education. Thanks to Puentes Abroad, I was able to connect with a great organization in Buenos Aires called Mensajeros de la Paz. I volunteered with MdlP during my 8 week stay. Through that organization, I made many incredible friends from all over the world. My best friend during my stay is from Austria, but I also made great friends from Spain, Colombia, Switzerland, and the Canary Islands. These are friendships that I still maintain on a daily basis, even now that I am back in New York, my home state. I learned so much from all of these great people and they continue to help me practice my Spanish through WhatsApp and other social media sites. Mensajeros gave me the opportunity to practice my teaching, but in another way. Mensajeros de la Paz has many day centers for senior citizens to attend. At these centers, they are able to play games, take classes, socialize with people their age, eat delicious food, and spend some time outside of their homes. Mensajeros allowed me to construct an English course for the senior citizens. Every Wednesday, my fellow volunteers and I would go to our favorite day center in the barrio of Flores and teach English to eager adult students. Our oldest student was 97 years old! By participating in these classes, I came to the conclusion that when I returned to the USA, I would continue my education by enrolling in a Master's program to teach English as a Second Language. Had it not been for my adventure in Buenos Aires and all of the great people I met there, I do not think I would've pursued higher education, but teaching English to those wonderful adults at the day center helped me realize that language education is something that everyone can enjoy! Puentes gave me the chance to discover what I want my next step in life to be, and I had the most amazing time traveling to and around the incredible city of Buenos Aires!

The Puentes program was the most fun summer I've had in my life, and it was made so much more fun when I knew I had an amazing staff at my side to make sure I was safe. This program was the perfect amount of cultural immersion, safety without sacrificing independence, and meaningful work opportunities. The other participants were also super fun and willing to put themselves out there in a whole new world. 10 out of 10 would do again!