Argentina

Programs Available: Overseas English Tutor

Overview | Culture & History | Places of Interest | Health
Currency & Monthly Expenses | Support | Map

Overview:

Argentina covers over 1,000,000 square miles, an area larger and as diversified in climate, vegetation, and topography as the west coast of the United States. The country has over 37,000,000 people - largely descended from Spaniards, Italians, Germans and other Europeans - with Roman Catholicism as the main religion. The borders are defined by the Andes Mountains and Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean by the east, and the borders of Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil to the north. The climate ranges from cold and low temperatures in the south and the Andes Mountains to dry and hot in parts of the north with moderate temperatures near central part of Argentina by the Atlantic Ocean. Vegetation varies from dry and arid to forests of giant cedar and laurel trees up in the Andes Mountains from the 1500 to 7000 foot elevation. The country's topography is very diversified. The Andes Mountains that stretch along the border of Chile have mountain peaks with elevations of over 20,000 feet that are covered with ice fields and glaciers. The Pampas and parts of Patagonia are flat with numerous rivers flowing from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.

Living in Argentina presents a wonderful opportunity to get close to an authentic representative of the Latin American culture and to broaden your horizons by discovering the fantastic diversity of this country. As an Overseas English tutor, you will be given the option to tailor your program will include Spanish language courses, extra activities and trips around Argentina to make this experience unforgettable. Placements are available across the country, including such locations as the capital city of Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Ushuaia, and Jujuy.

The country boasts an immense range of natural wonders. Whether it's skiing in the Andes, exploring the Iguazu Rain Forest, savoring the many cuisines, dancing Tango in Buenos Aires, or experiencing the sharp contrast of the indigenous roots and the European imprint, Argentina has always something exciting and entertaining to offer.

Culture and History:

Little is known of the earliest inhabitants of the region. Only in NW Argentina was there a native population with a material culture. It is believed that the first "Argentineans" lived in what is known as the Piedra Museo settlement (NW Argentina) as far back as 13,000 years ago. Its inhabitants were hunters and nomadic gatherers. They hunted mylodons, hyppidions (South American horses that disappeared 10,000 years ago), guanacoes, and llamas.

Europeans probably first arrived in the region in 1502 in the voyage of Americo Vespucci. The southern inhabitants at that time primarily hunted and fished, while the northwestern Incas were agricultural and quite advanced, having built a highway before the arrival of the Spanish. The search for a Southwest Passage to Asia and the East Indies brought Juan Diaz de Solis to the Rio de la Plata in 1516. Ferdinand Magellan entered (1520) the estuary, and Sebastian Cabot ascended (1536) the Parana and Paraguay rivers.

Argentina's pre-Columbian Indian population put up a good fight against the Spanish, fiercely resisting the first foundation of Buenos Aires in 1536, but the colonists eventually became permanent fixtures, founding important settlements in the mid-16th century. They acquired a good deal of the country's best land, established estancias (ranches) and made their livelihoods through agriculture and livestock. Independence from Spain was declared in 1816 under the guidance of General San Martin. British money flowed in, as did European immigrants. By the start of World War I, Argentina was one of the world's leading agricultural exporters.

Although those with land were doing well, the working class was suffering. Populist leader Juan Peron, along with his wife Evita, found great support from these Argentines. He led the country from 1946 to 1955, and again from 1973 to 1974, bringing political and economic reform.

The latter part of the 20th century saw a cycle of elections, coups, countercoups and a steady erosion of the nation's wealth. The country hit bottom in the 1970s, when a series of military governments instigated the Dirty War, an anticommunist witch-hunt that caused the "disappearance" of as many as 30,000 men, women and children. In hopes of deflecting attention from their failed policies, the armed forces fought a war with Great Britain in 1982 over the Falkland Islands (known as Las Malvinas in Argentina). Argentina lost. As a result, the ruling junta of generals and admirals was ousted, and Argentina returned to constitutional government. The election in 1989 of President Carlos Menem marked the century's first orderly transfer of power from one civilian government to another. Although the 1980s were a time of economic chaos, the '90s saw relative calm. That is, until the inflated peso that had propped up the economy began to implode under the government of Fernando de la Rua and the cycle of boom and bust hit a new low of riots, looting and pitched battles between protesters and police. The interim government of Eduardo Duhalde went some way to restoring calm, however, and the election of Nestor Kirchner in 2003, along with subsequent judicial and foreign-policy reforms, has been welcomed - albeit with a certain degree of skepticism - as offering a new beginning.

Places of Interest:

BUENOS AIRES

With a population of nearly 11 million, Buenos Aires is surprisingly safe and clean. Possessing wide boulevards, an active nightlife, many restaurants and plenty of shopping centers, this cosmopolitan city has a strong European flavor and an endless variety of things to do.

To many Argentines, their capital city is synonymous with the country itself, and indeed 40% of the population lives in the city's massive, sprawling suburbs. A city transported from its European parent, its compact and regular center is reminiscent of Paris, but its tree-lined avenues and frequent plazas have a beguiling, faded elegance. Downtown, the Plaza de Mayo is the traditional focus of activity, while nearby Avenida 9 de Julio is popularly known as the world's widest thoroughfare.

The national dance, the tango, is perhaps the best expression of the spirit of Buenos Aires, practiced in dance halls, parks, open plazas, and ballrooms. It is a dance of intimate separation and common rhythm, combining both an elegant reserve and an exuberant passion.

Climate

The climate in Buenos Aires is mild and very humid. Summers in Buenos Aires can be very hot and humid. The average temperature is 85 degrees with an average humidity of 70%. Winters are not very cold in Buenos Aires and the average temperatures vary from 37-46 degrees.

Subway (Subte)

The subway system is very reliable and it covers the center and the outskirts of the city with a combined route of 46 kilometers and 80 stations. There are five lines identified with letters (A, B, C, D and E) and it's, undoubtedly the fastest way to move around the city. The subway system runs Monday to Friday from 6am to 10pm. and Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 6am to 8pm. The price is $0.70.

Culture and Entertainment

Buenos Aires has always been famous for its incredible cultural offer. Museums, cinemas, theaters, and shows provide a unlimited variety of options for entertainment. Those who love classic music can choose from a wide variety of concerts performed in different theaters. At present, there are more than 100 museums, both public and private. Among the national museums are the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts), ranked at an international level and offering free admission.

Buenos Aires has the spirit of keeping late hours - the activity by night is permanent and streets look animate, even in working days. There is a varied offer: concerts, music shows, dinners, theater, cinema, outdoor activities, parties in discos, social meetings in cafes, pubs, etc.

For the locals, called porteqos, cafes and bars are their second home, and there are a lot of songs and poems dedicated to the favorite cafe. People attend alone or in groups, and the bar is just the place to study, read, chat with friends, watch TV or otherwise spend the time looking through the window. In recent years, many alternative bars came up with different proposals. They offer from Internet navigation to fashion shows, exhibitions, live music, performances, cinema cycles, etc.

Discos close between 6 and 7 in the morning, and, in some places, the party continues in "after-hour gatherings" and extends until midday. It is frequent for young people to go to more than one place in the same night and to have breakfast before going to bed.

Habitual hours and customs

The identity of Buenos Aires, an open door city, is marked by the influence of the different waves of immigration that populated the city, providing it with a cosmopolitan profile. The disposition of the citizen is warm and hospitable, and it is not uncommon that a chat with a porteqo should end with an invitation to visit his home. Politeness and respect are closely linked to an informal treatment. The normal greeting of men and women is a kiss in the cheek. Smiles, hugs, closeness when speaking and gestures are the most common and friendly way of communication.

Tourist attractions and sightseeing

Buenos Aires is home to the fervor of cross-town rivals Boca Juniors (where Maradona played) and River Plate. Even non-football types should try and get to a live match for the drama, theatrics and hysteria - and that's all before the whistle has even blown.

Up until the epic restoration of Puerto Madero in 1994, the brick docks lining the old port of Buenos Aires remained abandoned. The area now thrives with modern residential and business lofts and offices, bars, restaurants, an eight-theatre cinema complex, and a university while retaining the original English redbrick facades. Two historic ships from the Argentine Armada, the Corbeta Uruguay and the Fragata Sarmiento, are moored quayside as floating naval museums.

The historic plaza of Plaza Dorrego was the sight of the swearing of National Independence in 1816 before Don Juan Martin de Pueyrredon. During the colony, it was a resting post for wagons traveling from the port to what is now Plaza de Mayo along the first roadway, known today as Calle Defensa. Today it is the site of the San Pedro Telmo Antique Fair, where street performances by tango dancers, musicians, mimes and colorful characters mingle with the painters, antiquarians and street vendors in a bohemian rhapsody of song, dance and nostalgia. Ramble the colonial cobblestone streets of the Barrio de San Telmo to Avenida Independencia and Balcarce, to see El Viejo Almacen from the early colonial days, now a traditional tango bar/restaurant.

PATAGONIA

Beginning in central Argentina and stretching from the Rio Colorado to the Straits of Magellan, the vast, desolate region of Patagonia is a haven for naturalists. Almost 30% of the nation's territory, it's filled with flora and unique animals (including guanacos, penguins and elephant seals); windswept and barren land; lakes; and unspoiled nature. It's also a popular destination for those who like to fish, especially November-May, when trout, salmon and native species such as trahira can be hooked in the rivers and streams flowing through the Andean foothills.

The region is one of the most important tourist attractions of the country due to its pleasant climate and impressive landscape made up of valleys, lakes and little rivers. Some of the most important locations we can name are:

Valle de Punilla: It has long been a preferred holiday spot in Argentina, and there are many resorts situated around the villages of Carlos Paz, Cosquin, La Falda, La Cumbre, and others. The pleasures of the valley revolve largely around nature, although there's no shortage of cultural attractions such as Hotel Eden (1700) and the Chapel of Our Lady of Mercedes.

Glaciers National Park

This park has some of the most spectacular sights in the country. One of the planet's few advancing glaciers, Perito Moreno Glacier, periodically dams the Brazo Rico of Lago Argentino, causing the water to rise. Eventually the melting ice below can no longer support the weight of the water behind it and the dam collapses in an explosion of ice and water. This spectacular event had been occurring, on average, every four years until a 16-year lull struck in the 1980s and '90s.

Health:

Argentina has good health and sanitary services. No shots are required to enter the country but it's a good idea to check with your local doctor. If you plan to visit the low-lying tropical areas, we recommend that you take precautions against malaria. In the south, use plenty of sunscreen to prevent burning, due to the thinning of the ozone layer. In Buenos Aires, extreme humidity and unusual pollen conditions can affect asthma sufferers, especially if they stay longer than a month. Certain shellfish from the Atlantic coast get affected by red algae (Marea roja) once or twice a year.

Chagas disease is found in NW Argentina. Also in that area, the altitude is very high which makes you breathless the first few days. Cholera is not a threat in the cities and only a minor one in the north lowland areas.

Currency and Monthly Expenses:

The Argentinean currency is the peso (ARS). Some automatic teller machines are available for cash withdrawals, which generally accept major credit cards. Currency can also be exchanged in banks or exchange shops. Personal checks cannot be cashed. It is possible to obtain Pesos with credit cards in most banks. All major credit cards are widely accepted in the main towns.

Here are some approximate prices:

• Buses: $0.75 to $1.00 minimum (often coin-only)
• Taxis: $1.60 (base) plus about $0.20 per mile thereafter
• Budget meals: $4 - $10
• Can of soda: $0.50

Support During Your Placement:

We will be available to give you any support, advice, or guidance you may need with any issues. There will always be an emergency number for you to contact. Our aim is to ensure that you have a happy and successful experience during your stay in Argentina.