By Jillian Medina
Unfortunately, my direction North is somewhat distorted; as my coordinators have stressed the flexibility and fluidity of Córdoba, Argentina’s politics, I haven’t received a specialized program description or focus. Even so, I am assured to have an Argentinian mentor, who is also the Director of International Relations in the Córdoba Municipality. With her guidance, I am to observe and learn about the inner workings of Argentina’s international relationships. However, my community-based interest reaches wider than just global affairs; it also tackles high-context cultures. As I’ve gained more information from my Argentinian coordinators, I’ve learned more about Argentine culture and their slower-paced environment that relies heavily on personal relationships. Additionally, through three sessions a week of private Spanish lessons, I’ve also learned more about common phrases, expressions, and reactions, which reflect Argentina’s compassionate and poetic ways of communicating. At the beginning of the summer, I felt that if I were 100% prepared for every scenario, then I would achieve a perfect international experience. Now, I understand this is a futile effort to focus all my energy on. I believe Argentina’s prioritization of engaging and cultivating personal relationships over deadline-driven production will improve my self-development and capability to release my death-grip on ‘being in control/prepared’ 24/7 to feel safe and confident.
Similarly, my South Point has also fluctuated and transformed since January to now. I’ve lazily tried involving myself in the Spanish language since I was a kid. But I had to leave my embarrassment and fear of being looked at as ‘dumb’ behind to truly improve in the language by the beginning of July. This is not the easiest feat, and I often still fall back into my quickness to frustration or insecurity. During these setbacks, I try to remember why I am putting in all this effort in the first place. I am learning Spanish to greater connect with my culture, and the country I am planning on observing and living in for six weeks: Argentina. I would encourage everyone to learn new languages, and so I should assume people will applaud me too, rather than interacting, presuming the worst. To not self-sabotage or deprive myself of seemingly uncomfortable situations because of the language barrier, I need to be self-aware, push past non-beneficial worries, and take advantage of every new opportunity I encounter for a chance to improve my proficiency and create connections. I saw this quote on social media this morning that greatly reflects my resolution: “Sometimes fear does not subside and you must do it afraid.”
Although my environment hasn’t changed too much, as I’ve been in Miami preparing and enjoying the heat before I leave to Córdoba’s chilling average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, I have reached out to possible connections in Argentina. Actually, this morning, I was able to meet with a family friend’s coworker who lives in Buenos Aires and has many family members who live in Córdoba. This conversation put me at ease a lot. I came to her with questions concerning my safety, locals’ outlooks and interactions with tourists, and the taboo topics in politics. She calmed me by describing an environment that is very understanding, friendly, and open to all conversations. She described Argentinians as personal and compassionate; compliments come often, and physical gestures are very common amongst strangers. Since the April 17th tragedy at FSU, my mind has been very clouded, and I have almost forgotten what I was most excited to experience: the Latinos’ welcoming and passionate attitudes. My environmental, or East, guidance will add to my Capstone project’s depth and reach, so I will not only interact with people in my immediate area but also resources across the country. Finally, where I go from here is my West direction. To experience the full extent of my internship, I will need to keep an open mind, remember to have fun, and trust in the preparation I gave myself to be safe. Through consistent use of critical thinking and communication, I can attempt to interact with my surroundings to appreciate and learn about Argentine culture, environment, and politics.
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