Mente Argentina

Mente was absolutely incredible as a host during my stay in Buenos Aires. They were incredibly warm, friendly, and kind, always going out of their way to ensure I had the best experience possible. I never felt lost or out of touch with what was happening in the city, thanks to their continuous updates and recommendations. They also organized some truly exciting tours and activities for me, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to my time in Buenos Aires. Moreover, the Spanish classes they arranged for me were incredibly engaging and effective, leading to significant improvement in my language skills. Thank you Mente, I had the best time with you.

My experience with Mente was wonderful, especially as someone who is mid-career--they helped to arrange my trip to accommodate this fact so that not only did it run smoothly but I had plenty of opportunities to meet others in the program during the weekly cultural events, which were a highlight for me. It was also nice to be able to adapt my Spanish lessons, and the availability of the program coordinators helped me to feel truly taken care of. Thank you, Mente, for making my experience in Buenos Aires!

I spent two weeks in Buenos Aires doing the intensive Tango course and added Spanish course and had a wonderful time. The program was perfectly organized by Mente, with members of staff always available to answer questions or help out. The accommodation they had put me in was very centrally located, within walking distance from the Tango studio and just a short subway ride from the language school. Mente also organized weekly events with other Mente students, which was a lot of fun and a great way to make friends. The Tango classes were a lot of fun, yet challenging at the same time. The teacher was friendly and supportive, and I got lots of practice. The Spanish lessons were also very good, I felt like after a week, I was able to say quite a lot (the groups change quite a lot though, and the teachers too, so it can get a bit repetitive).
In short, this Mente program was very interesting and great value for money.

I joined Mente Argentina for a two month volunteer program combined with Spanish lessons, and I can confidently say it was truly an amazing opportunity.

For starters, Mili and Sam, both of whom got me set up when I first got to Buenos Aires, were kind, welcoming, responsive, and made sure that I had everything I needed throughout the duration of the program. They both put in so much work every day to make these programs fun, interesting, and eye-opening for everyone involved. Mente additionally puts on weekly activities for all of its participants, where individuals can get to know one another and create community. I would strongly recommend that everyone go to as many of these as possible, as it is a great way to meet new people and explore areas of the city that you aren’t as knowledgeable about. Through these events, I was able to visit a theatre, museums, restaurants, the Japanese Garden, and many more.

The volunteer work that I did focused around a home for children, and I was able to play with and develop connections with kids ages 0-12. Every day, I would travel to this home for a few hours, bring games and art for the kids, and sometimes help them with a meal as well. It was both a great way to practice Spanish, as well as an amazing opportunity to learn more about what life is like for a young student in the city. I felt like my time here was very well-spent, and I came out of this position with a much better understanding of the schooling and healthcare systems in Argentina as well.

For my housing, I was able to stay in a residence for students attending university in Buenos Aires. I had three roommates for the majority of my stay, two of which were from Ecuador and one who was from Northern Argentina. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know them, and they made me feel welcomed from the moment I arrived.

All in all, I would strongly recommend Mente Argentina for anyone looking for an immersive, independent experience in an urban city. The volunteer program and Spanish lessons work with your schedule, so you develop a sustainable routine while still having plenty of time to explore the city on your own. There are many fun day trips as well from the city center, such as taking the ferry to Colonia in Uruguay or going up to the delta Tigre in a nearby province. I am so appreciative for everyone that I met during my time with Mente and I hope to return to Buenos Aires someday soon! Below are a few photos from my stay-

This year I had the pleasure of experiencing Argentinian culture for six weeks. Thanks to the amazing Mente Argentina staff and other fellow participants, this has been an absolutely unforgettable adventure which I will cherish forever.
Through Mente, I took the intensive language course which was fun, interactive and perfectly challenging for my beginner proficiency level. In addition, they provided me with a wonderful accomodation in Palermo, the most exciting part of Buenos Aires! The comfortable and fully furnished apartment was also close to all things I needed, such as the convinience stores right next door and the lavadero and metro station down the street. Sharing the apartment with four other Mente participants allowed me to build the best friendships and feel right at home there!
The combination of the hospitality and professional assistance was remarkable. For example, the initial services included in the personal welcoming booklet, like a SIM card and public transport card, proved extremely useful and stress-relieving. Similarly, any questions and requests were always promptly answered by the extraordinary staff. Moreover, I always made sure to attend the weekly activites that Mente organized. They were the perfect way exploring the city’s culture and food like a local in a very fun and social way with my fellow Mente participants, accompanied by the best Mente coordinator! This way, I met the other diverse and international students and was able to build lasting friendships.
All in all, I had the most amazing stay in Buenos Aires thanks to the exceptional staff from Mente Argentina (and the language school) and I highly recommend their services to everyone who considers visiting Argentina as well!