Jason joined us in 2019 for our Intensive Spanish Program. He also participated in our Volunteer Program where he worked with kids at a local NGO. Here is his story…
I’ve wanted to become fluent in Spanish for a long time. I can’t pinpoint exactly when I made that decision, but there are several events that led me to apply for Mente Argentina’s Intensive Spanish and Volunteer programs.
First and foremost, when I was sixteen, I was fortunate enough to travel to Spain for one month on a Spanish University program based in Sevilla. That was my first experience traveling abroad without family, and I knew right then that I wanted more. But I didn’t learn as much Spanish as I would have liked. I was a naive high school student with an undeveloped worldview, and because it wasn’t a homestay program, I spent the majority of my time speaking English with the rest of the group rather than immersing myself in the culture.
If I’d had the chance in college, I’d certainly have done a semester abroad in a Spanish speaking country. I unfortunately wasn’t afforded that opportunity because of the way my curriculum was structured, but I was able to do a month-long study abroad program in China instead. Ever since graduating, I’ve also made a point of expanding my horizons by traveling to countries across Asia and Europe. But my desire to learn Spanish has always remained.
After college, I went to work as a marketer at a large corporation for three years. It was a great place to start a career, but I always considered it a jumping off point rather than a permanent solve. My long-term plan is to join our small family business writing newsletters about the beer industry. However, before I join, I still have this itch to scratch.
I wanted to immerse myself in another culture entirely. I didn’t want to feel as if I’m a tourist. While I’ve been fortunate to travel to many countries, it’s always been quick hits – two or three nights in each city, see the sights, wake up and do it all over again the next day. I wanted to live in a Spanish speaking country and embrace all that it has to offer.
I love to travel and meet new people, but having seen a fair amount of Spain and Europe, I knew I wanted to explore South America. After lots of research, Mente Argentina quickly rose to the top of the list of international Spanish immersion programs. I was also very excited to learn that I could combine my Spanish classes with a volunteer position, since I am passionate about helping others.
I knew that I would excell in this program because I did it entirely by choice. I was excited to learn, to help the community and have a snese of fulfillment while living in Buenos Aires. But above all, I believe that learning Spanish is an invaluable skill that will bring me joy for the rest of my life.