Brooks from the U.S. joined us in 2018 for our Intenstive Coding Program. Here is her story…
As an International Business Management Major, my time spent during the Mente Argentina intensive coding program will be useful for a number of reasons. The first, and most obvious reason, is the experience with coding/computer science and the exposure to coding language. This is a skill that has been in incredibly high demand in the modern workforce, especially among young businessmen/women. The second reason, is that I have been taking Spanish classes for a number of years now, and would like to be fluent one day. During my time in Argentina, I hope to immerse myself in the culture, and practice my Spanish both inside and outside of the classroom. I think that it’s extremely important, especially in international business, to show commitment to other cultures by learning at least one foreign language.
In the summer of 2016, I spent a month in Spain hiking El Camino de Santiago with my dad. Here, I was able to practice my Spanish, learn about a new culture, and experience my own personal journey. I stayed in family-owned hostels, in small towns where hardly anyone spoke fluent English, and was still able to thrive in this environment. I’ve travelled internationally before, but have usually been with my family or a group of peers, and so, travelling to Argentina is the first time that I have stayed alone in a foreign country.
I hope to bring home with me new understanding of Argentinian culture. One thing I specifically loved doing in Argentina was visiting the National Public Library to read works by Jorge Luis Borges, whose work I became extremely fond of while studying his short stories in Spanish class last semester. I also got to try new foods, understand Argentina’s current politics, learn about the country’s history, build new relationships, and take all of these memories home with me to share with my family, peers, and professors.