Update from Argentina by Monya Lemery, IE3 Regional Director

Rosario, Argentina

My first stop on a two-week tour of (part of) South America was Rosario, Argentina.  AHA International offers a study abroad program in Rosario and there are a few IE3internship opportunities in this charming, European-style city of 1.2 million inhabitants. Rosario is about 300 km (200 miles) or about 3 hours driving time from the capital city of Buenos Aires and it lies on the edge of the beautiful Paraná River with a wonderful waterfront park.  Argentina is a “night culture” and likewise Rosario is full of cafes, clubs, bars and discotheques.  There are modern, upscale shopping centers, as well as artisan booths at the waterfront park. The espresso, fresh fish and steak are excellent!  Rosario has an international airport, so you can fly directly into Rosario.  The airport is small (perhaps the size of the Eugene airport) but sufficient.  And it sports free-Wi-Fi, something you can’t find at PDX or LAX!

For housing in Rosario, the AHA site director, can find you a great host family where you will have your own room and one or two meals per day.  It is easy to get around by bus or taxi. 

I visited two internships sites: Colegio Español and Hospital del Dia and the AHA Study Center.

  

Colegio Español de Rosario is a private school of about 500 students which focuses on the important cultural heritage from Spain of many of its students.  Interns will assist teaching English in the elementary school (up through grade 7) and will spend approximately one week with each class.  IE3Global Internships has sent several interns to Colegio Español who have had positive experiences. The kids are very curious to learn about life in the U.S.  Remember that Argentina is in the southern hemisphere.  Their school year runs from March through mid-December. Great opportunity for elementary education majors with two years of college-level Spanish (to facilitate daily living). 

 

Hospital del Dia is a day hospital that is part of Hospital Centenaurio, a public hospital in Rosario.  IE3 sent an intern there several years ago who ended up going to medical school at Stanford University in part because they were so impressed with her international medical internship.  I have arranged for another intern to go there during winter and spring term 2008, so I wanted to check it out.  I hope that we can set up an on-going site with them.  Because of a large personal donation to the Hospital del Dia, the facilities are very nice in comparison with the rather run-down atmosphere of the main part of the Hospital. Patients come here for day surgeries and procedures. They have three areas: surgery, clinic, and special needs (people that need to be in isolation either because of contagious diseases or for security reasons). They receive about 280 patients per month and they have 2 main doctors and 5 main medical staff in their unit. Interns may start out at the reception desk working with patients (interns need a high level of Spanish language proficiency) in order to get acquainted with the unit before moving onto other tasks.

The AHA Study Center is in a beautiful, old, renovated building with an office, snack area, terrace, a media room, and several small classrooms.  The fall there are 40 students on the program!  The director of the program is Maria Nelida de Juano, many know her as “Beba.”  She is a wonderful resource for interns, as well, coming to Rosario!

Future plans…  we are hoping to develop a new site in Rosario related to politics. Stay tuned!