Mente Argentina: Ultra Intensive Spanish Program

I traveled to Argentina through Mente’s study abroad program and had the best time ever! During my 3 months staying in Buenos Aires, I met a ton of new friends, gained valuable cultural experiences, and had the opportunity to immerse myself in a different part of the world. My program package consisted of housing, group activities, and VOS Buenos Aires, a Spanish language learning school. While I did arrive in Argentina after taking Spanish classes all throughout school, my Spanish speaking skills improved exponentially after taking classes at VOS. I can confidently say that VOS was my favorite part of the Mente program! I would spend each weekday learning and growing with some of my closest friends, as well as spending evenings and weekends getting together for an asado or ice cream. I do recommend having at least some Spanish speaking capabilities before arriving, and I believe that I was able to do much more during my time there because of that. With regards to my housing, I was initially living with an Argentinian host mom in a homestay, yet I ended up moving to a shared apartment after the first month or so. There were multiple reasons why I decided to move, and while the Mente coordinators were totally supportive of my decision, some communication issues did eventually contribute to the difficult situation. However, after moving into the shared apartment with other Mente students, I immediately felt that I had more freedom and control over how I spent my time. That isn’t to say that all Mente homestay’s are unsuitable for everyone, but just in my case there were some complications. After I moved in to the apartment, me and my roommates outfitted it with various items such as cooking equipment, toiletries, and some furniture. In addition to that, Mente had the apartment cleaned weekly and were also very gracious whenever we needed any help with anything. The group activities were definitely the main thing that Mente provided. We would eat lunch at historic restaurants, go on museum tours, and walk around in beautiful open air markets. There was also so much more that just those examples, and I’d say that there was normally at least 1 or 2 activities each week. Something that was a little difficult was that the activities were usually announced the day before they were scheduled, so it was sometimes hard to plan things ahead of time. I would also say that the majority of the things that I filled my time with were things not associated with Mente, such as traveling to Córdoba and Montevideo, playing on a club ultimate frisbee team, or going to a River Plate game, all of which were a ton of fun as well. If you have any questions about what to do, what to see, or where to go, I’m more than happy to give some suggestions! I think my main takeaway for anyone reading this review is that if you’re on the fence about whether or not to take this trip, do it! While traveling abroad isn’t always the easiest thing to do, that’s what makes the experience so special and unique. While I do think that Mente has some areas that could use improvement, such as setting you up with a stable phone plan or being more proactive about planning, I can’t picture myself not taking this trip. While challenging situations did show up, the Mente coordinators were always there to help and support me. The city may seem daunting when you first show up, but after some time you’ll become accustomed and ready to take advantage of the amazing opportunity. I definitely would not be the person I am right now without my time in Buenos Aires!

I spent 3 months in Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina and had a wonderful time! It was my first time travelling alone and they really helped by giving me a structure and support whenever I needed it. I signed up for their Spanish and volunteering programs, both of which were excellent. Mente is good at helping you settle in and feel at home. Their weekly socials are also a great way to meet new people. Would definitely recommend!

Mente was absolutely incredible as a host during my stay in Buenos Aires. They were incredibly warm, friendly, and kind, always going out of their way to ensure I had the best experience possible. I never felt lost or out of touch with what was happening in the city, thanks to their continuous updates and recommendations. They also organized some truly exciting tours and activities for me, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to my time in Buenos Aires. Moreover, the Spanish classes they arranged for me were incredibly engaging and effective, leading to significant improvement in my language skills. Thank you Mente, I had the best time with you.