Argentina Mendoza
AboutMendoza
City Population: 1,741,610
Language: SPANISH (CASTILIAN)
Currency: ARGENTINE PESO
Attractions: WINE, TANGO, ANDES
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Argentina is a country of fascinating extremes. Its climate ranges from the subtropics to the semi-polar, and its landscape ranges from the Andes’ heights to the Pampas lowlands. The Argentinean people are similarly diverse. Many live a European-style life, evident in their dress, lifestyles and colonial architecture, while those in the more rural areas live a life more obviously indigenous.
Though Argentina is the wealthiest of our destination countries, nearly half its people still lack adequate primary healthcare. For students prepared to invest in the language, Mendoza provides an opportunity to enjoy South American culture, while learning about the inequalities and struggles of healthcare delivery in a still-developing country.
Our program in Argentina
Introduction to our Work the World program in Argentina
Our staff
Our full-time Argentinian staff have created a welcoming, extended family atmosphere at our Mendoza house. Their ongoing support begins at the moment of your arrival. They’ll pick you up at the airport, show you around the city, and accompany you on your first day of placement, introducing you to your new colleagues.
Our cheerful Program Manager Natalia (Nat) has a background in international relations, and is fluent in English, German and Portuguese. She is assisted by our Assistant Program Manager Martin, who helps with airport pick-ups, local tours and Spanish class activities.
Previously employed at 5-star hotels in Mendoza, our caterer Alejandra cooks everyone a delicious, nutritious breakfast and dinner every weekday, and keeps the pantry fully stocked with snacks, leftovers and fresh drinking water. Housekeeper Cristian, who previously spent seven years in Florida, keeps the house secure, clean and well-ordered.
Our staff are available at any time to help you deal with any problems or to answer questions. Their aim is to help you have a positive, rewarding experience in Argentina.
Read more about Our StaffAccommodation & Free time
The spacious three-story Mendoza house is in a safe, secure, comfortable setting near central Mendoza, within walking distance of all placements. The house accommodates up to 24 students in shared bedrooms, with spacious living areas, a large garden (with a pool) and a roof terrace perfect for relaxing or enjoying our weekly asados (barbeques). It’s also where we hold the classroom activities during the Intensive Spanish Course, as well as the free weekly Spanish lessons.
Mendoza is a city of large parks and plazas, tree-lined boulevards and charming cafés. The region is dotted with famous vineyards, open for tours and wine-tasting. In their free time, many students enjoy visiting the milongas—local tango dance halls, as well as exploring crafts fairs, biking around nearby vineyards or savoring a steak at a local restaurant. With the Andes at your doorstep, seasonal hiking, skiing and white-water rafting are also available.
Weekends can be spent traveling into Chile to visit the artistic city of Valparaiso, seeing the astounding Iguazu Falls, exploring the wilderness of Patagonia or the Northern desert, or enjoying Buenos Aires nightlife.
what else is included?Intensive Spanish Course
Because placements in Argentina require at least a basic level of Spanish, we’ve developed a week-long Intensive Spanish Course, taken at the start of your internship. The course begins with the basics, then specializes in Spanish medical terms to prepare you for your placement.
The class is tailored to your individual level of Spanish and designed to complement your healthcare elective. In classes of four students or less, you’ll spend an intensive but enjoyable week improving your Spanish and learning how to communicate with the local population, before progressing to the words and phrases you’ll use in your particular placement.
The course is taught by a specialist Spanish teacher at the Work the World house. It combines classroom teaching and practice with fun afternoon activities such as tango dancing, wine tasting, empanada baking, and exploring local cultural and historic sites.
By the time your elective begins, you’ll have the confidence to be positively involved in every aspect of your placement.
Read more about the courseMary from Elon University describes her time in Mendoza
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I chose Mendoza for a part of my eight-week medical elective, and boy am I glad I did; it has got to be one of the highlights of my life thus far.
Nigel Rozario, King's College London 2013
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I accompanied my co-worker Maxi to his other part-time job at a clinic on the north side of town. He ended up being my closest friend in MDZ, and on top of that visit, we also spent some nights out together downtown and he wrote me a letter of recommendation (in Spanish, of course) upon leaving.
Eric Harbour, University of Michigan 2012
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I would hands down recommend Mendoza as an elective placement choice. It is such an incredible city, and the elective opportunities there were incredible. I never would have had the opportunity to work with patients the way I did if I had done my internship at home.
Mary Jackson, Elon University 2012
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