Category Archives: Latin America

The Difficulties of Returning

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When I first landed in the U.S. after my semester abroad, I remember a distinct creeping sense of disgust. Granted, a 5:00am layover with no phone and a poor night’s sleep is not anyone’s sense of a triumphant homecoming. Still, something else was wrong; I felt uneasy, somehow guilty.

It took a few minutes to realize that it was the English, overheard from every angle, which was bothering me. In Buenos Aires, hearing an onslaught of English normally meant one of two things: one, that I wasn’t doing right by the language commitment encouraged by my program, or two, that I had landed in some touristy locale where I was likely to pay triple what I should for a drink or some food. Either way, in Buenos Aires, hearing a lot of English meant that I had to switch up what I was doing. But there was no escape in the airport, and I wasn’t quite ready for my semester of Spanish to be over.

It is in this way—unforeseen, often subconscious, difficult to control—that re-entry or “reverse” culture shock can creep into your heart and mind. It is distinct in every case, but most generally it will take the form of difficult-to-express frustration, restlessness, uncertainty, nostalgia for the foreign country, or a strange dissatisfaction with the home you had left behind. Moreover, you can often be unprepared for re-entry shock, whereas the initial culture shock is highly anticipated. So how to fight it off?

First and foremost, be aware of its possibility. It may not happen instantly—in many cases, the thrill of seeing old friends and old locales will dull the shock—and it may develop unexpectedly. A few deep breaths and an understanding of what’s happening can do wonders to calm the uncomfortable feelings.

Second, try to bring more back with you than photos and souvenirs: bring back a routine. Did you sip mate in the mornings, herbal tea at night? Did you listen to certain music or get into a TV show? Did you cook certain foods, rely on certain habits? I’ve found that sticking to a few select routines you developed abroad, and sharing them with your family and friends from home, can bridge the gap.

Third, don’t forget to keep in touch with the close friends you made abroad. Don’t let these relationships fall to the wayside; nothing will make you feel better than a self-confirming conversation with a friend. It will make study abroad feel less like a dream.

Last—and this is important—keep a sense of humor. Things may frustrate you; let them make you laugh. You may reminisce, but do so happily, with a sense of accomplishment. After all, you survived study abroad, and pride is well-deserved.

By Matt Getz, Peer Advisor, [email protected]

A Lesson in Controlled Chaos

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During my orientation in Buenos Aires, I was faced with a choice between enrolling in classes at the public University of Buenos Aires (UBA) or the private Pontificia Catholic University of Argentina (UCA). UCA seemed familiar; it featured a more distinct campus, technology in its classrooms, library facilities, and club sports teams. UBA, on the other hand, represented an unknown, with its buildings spread throughout the city and a certain notoriety for strikes and activism. I figured that I had come to Argentina to move beyond the familiar, so I enrolled in la UBA.

Its reputation did not disappoint. The buildings, in general disrepair, were plastered on all surfaces with flyers of student political militancy. Students and professors of all ages roamed the long hallways with a cafecito in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Classes frequently started late due to professor tardiness or technological difficulties (in a cavernous lecture hall, a chronically faulty microphone can delay or postpone a class). Almost all of Buenos Aires commutes by public transportation, meaning that delays in the B subway or a strike on the 160 bus wreak havoc on attendance and schedules. Nor did the anarchy cease when the classes finally got started. Speaking neatly in turn does not exist in the Buenos Aires vocabulary, so students would often interrupt the lecture with questions or challenging counterexamples. Coupled with frequent interruptions by student groups plugging an upcoming protest or lecture and the occasional person asking for small bills and change, classes can be faltering at best.

Simply put, UBA will test the limits of your patience. For months, my name failed to appear on the class list for seminar, and neither the professor, nor my program coordinators, nor the UBA administrators seemed the least bit surprised or concerned. The first few weeks of class can be tricky, with frequent classroom, building and schedule changes. A syllabus may describe where to purchase course packets or books, but in reality these stores are often out of stock for indefinite periods of time.

Still, my experience with UBA was terrific, and among the most rewarding of my study abroad. The key is to adopt the Argentine mentality toward the university: a delicate mixture of cynicism, humor, patience and mutual commiseration that embraces, rather than pushes against, the challenges that UBA poses. After all, your time abroad represents a rare opportunity to experience an academic climate that is unlike what you have grown accustomed to at Columbia. (And being honest, Columbia’s bureaucracy may make UBA feel not so foreign after all.)

Most importantly, this effort to ‘roll with the UBA punches’ is doubly rewarding. First, UBA is a tremendous institution; for all of its peccadilloes, its foremost academic reputation attract the best professors and teaching assistants, whose lectures are engaging, fascinating, smooth, and comprehensive. No amount of technological difficulties or mid-class interruptions can derail these professors from their captivating lectures. And second, the UBA experience is a truly Argentine one; from the chaos it engenders comes a variety of opportunities to meet new people and enrich your social experience as well.

Take my advice: meet the challenge head-on. UBA just may make a relaxed, flexible student of you yet.

By Matt Getz, Peer Advisor, [email protected]

Working with an NGO

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For the Butler IFSA program in Peru it is mandatory to work with an NGO. The program normally sets students up with a hand-on activity working with women who do domestic work. You can also find other more internship-style opportunities on your own. I wanted to learn about indigenous rights and culture so I found an NGO myself that focused on these issue. I got really valuable experience working in their office and speaking/writing in Spanish. I also got to travel with them to one of their film festival conferences in another city, which was one of the highlights of my experience.

Being a woman in Peru

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In Peru it was very common for me as a girl to hear “piropos” or cat calls on the street. Normally these are harmless but they can feel quite unsettling at first, and I liked to dress a little more conservatively than in the US to avoid uncomfortable stares. The tradition of “machismo” continues to exist, in the home and outside. The women usually are expected to cook and clean up and the men to be aggressive. As a girl  I had the problem that when I tried to meet new students it was only boys who were interested to be my ‘friend’ because it is considered very cool to date or be friends with Americans. Though homophobia is a problem, I encountered an active gay scene in Lima and some of the LGBT clubs are the most popular. There is an effort to change perceptions about LGBTs in Peru.

Money matters

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Everything is extremely cheap in Bolivia. Your dollar will take you further than in most other countries in South America, especially with food and transportation. You can find three course meals for around 2 dollars and take a 7 hour bus ride across the country for around 6 dollars. But if you want certain items like electronics, imported items (food/name brand personal items/etc.) from the US, it often is as expensive or even more so than at home. If you plan on going to Bolivia before the program or staying after, be sure to plan for the costs of visa extensions, new visas for different countries, and the cost of traveling and sightseeing. These things are expensive no matter where you go, so don’t forget to include that in your budget or learn the hard way like I did.