During my time in Argentina, my first week was structured with a two-hour Spanish class in the morning and a one-hour class in the afternoon. In my last three weeks, the mornings were during my time in Argentina; my first week was scheduled with a two-hour Spanish class in the morning and a one-hour class in the afternoon. In my last three weeks, the mornings were dedicated to shadowing at my assigned hospital, with an additional two-hour Spanish class in the afternoon. Friday and the weekend were free for our leisure time. Once a week, the CHFI team organized events for everyone to come together and learn more about Argentine culture. The mornings were dedicated to shadowing in my assigned hospital, with an additional two-hour Spanish class in the afternoon. Friday and the weekend were off for our free time. One day out of the week, the CHFI team arranged events for everyone to gather and learn more about Argentine culture.
During this trip, I experienced significant personal growth. I gained the confidence to challenge myself and embrace new experiences. At first, I was apprehensive about being far from my family and facing language and cultural barriers. However, I soon realized the importance of community and learning. I adapted by building connections and making the most of my environment, which led to strong relationships with fellow students, teachers, the CHFI team, and my host family.
During my first weekend, students and I organized an overnight trip to another part of Argentina. We mainly did sightseeing, explored the local food, went horseback riding, and spent time together. It was the first time we got to know each other, and it marked the beginning of our friendship. This trip was beneficial because it reminded me that I wasn’t the only one going through this experience and dealing with the overwhelming feelings of being abroad. This realization helped me cope with my emotions and made connecting with them easier. After that, we started going out regularly, and these friendships provided a safe and enjoyable environment for me to experience everything Argentina has to offer. Another source of comfort was my homestay experience; another student in the program who was fluent in Spanish provided invaluable support to me. Her fluency allowed for better communication with my host family and helped me find comfort in the home. My homestay family was also amazing; they gave me the support and confidence to speak the language and engage in the culture without fear of making mistakes. The CHFI team’s engagement and patience with us made it easier to participate in their events and build relationships with them. Most students in the program had morning hospital rotations; there, I would have regularly interacted with doctors, medical students, and patients. These interactions showed me how kind and patient the locals were, and that allowed me to have confidence in practicing my Spanish outside of class and at home. Those interactions also gave me a very homely feeling in Argentina.
These changes are essential to me because I’ve discovered that I can rely on my ability to adapt and find support in challenging situations. Professionally, effective communication, stress management, and relationship building will be pivotal, so having trust in myself and now knowing the importance of community will help relieve some of my concerns in the future. Also, I am becoming more open with others and seeking more relationships in my personal life, which has improved my self-care. Understanding the importance of nurturing relationships and networking with professors, professionals, and anybody will contribute to my development as a college student and open professional opportunities for me. Most notably, I now possess a deeper understanding of my emotions, recognizing when I’m overwhelmed or stressed and taking proactive measures to address them, which will help me in the long run.
