The AMAUTA Volunteer Work Program provides the unique opportunity to live and work in Peru and Argentina. Students will experience first-hand its rich cultural diversity while cultivating a superior level of Spanish proficiency. Through the Volunteer Program, AMAUTA and the volunteers are able to make contributions to local society and to help bridge the gap between foreign visitors and native people.

Participants may choose both, the field and preferred location, of their volunteer placement. Possible fields of interest include social work, education, tourism, cultural work and catering. A 4 week Spanish course is included for all volunteers as well as accommodation with a local host family or at our student residences, where you you will share daily life with many other students.

Participation in AMAUTA Student Activities (e.g. lectures, tango classes) is totally for free for all volunteers during the course of their volunteer work.
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One big joke… on you. But definitely an experience not to be missed!

If you are new to the traveling world, things can seem a little but crazy at first. I know that when I began traveling there were a lot of things I had to get accustomed to. From the irregularity of the bus system to the lack of streets signs, South America at times feels like one big joke…on you. To make a long story short, the fundamental character of traveling (especially in South America) is that of unpredictability. For those of you who are a little stressed or anxious about what lies ahead, here are some things to keep in mind on your first journey into the unknown.

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The extensive parks in Palermo, also known as the Bosques de Palermo, are a perfect place to sleep off the exploits of the night before but they also offer much more to the visitor during the weekends. Porteños flock to the gardens with their family and friends to stroll around the lakes, people watch, drink mate or to get involved in the myriad other activities taking place there.

The wealthy northern barrios of Buenos Aires incorporating Belgrano – where AMAUTA Spanish School is located - , Palermo and Recoleta are well endowed with green spaces, large plazas and recreational areas. Delving into the history of the city provides clues as to why the barrios in the north host these large parks, which today cover some 62 acres. The city has been marked by a clear geographical divide in terms of distribution of wealth (and as a consequence, quality of environment) from the mid-1800s, between the barrios in the north and those in the south (namely La Boca, San Telmo and Constitución). (más…)

SPANISH FOR EXPATS

If you are planning to relocate to Argentina – either temporarily or for good - , learning Spanish is a must in order to get the most out of your experience. The real world – full of Porteños -  is right outside your door and by speaking just a bit more of Spanish you will quickly find life is so much more exciting! If you are buying something in a shop, ordering in a restaurant, or if you need to get something done, or if you are moving to a new home, or when setting up a business… speaking Spanish to local trades people, builders, utility companies, bar tenders, means you will get superior, faster service and you will be in a better position to negotiate if things go wrong.

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Be sure to use your siesta time wisely when studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, because there is no partying before midnight in this town! If you are invited to a party at someone’s house, do not plan to go before 1:00am and plan to stay until around sunrise (unless the cops are called first). Generally, people will get together with close friends in their own homes before heading to a party or a bar. If you’re lucky, they’ll grill some meat for you on a parilla for dinner.

It’s very typical to have a DJ and dance floor, but drinks are generally BYOF (bring your own Fernet). Fernet is technically an Italian liquor, but the Argentines LOVE IT. They drink it with Coke and a popular nickname for the drink is “Fernando.” The taste is similar to that of black licorice, so watch out!

In the summer of 2009, I was studying Spanish and  lived in a great house near the Abasto shopping mall. There were 6 huge bedrooms, a huge open terrace, kitchen and a great living room. Above all though, was the asado (grill) that occupied a corner of the terrace. Within two weeks of living in Buenos Aires, my roommates and I decided to have a party and take advantage of the parilla. Off we went to buy meat, drinks and other assorted party things.
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Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires was one of the best decisions I made in my entire life. Here is my list of The 10 best things about BsAs. And just to be sure to be objective, I also made my list of “10 worst things” about “the city of the cities”:

1. Food – The beef here is amazing! Never pay more than 30 pesos for a bife de lomo, which is the best cut of meat they serve. Chicken is never disappointing either. Anything that’s cooked on the parrilla is always a good idea. Try the ice cream too. Freddo and Persico are the two most popular ice cream shops. My personal favorite: frutos del bosque.
2. Public transportation – Buy a Guia-T from a street vendor, and you’re worry free. The tiny little book contains a map of the entire city on 30 little pages and gives you the routs of every bus and train. Prices are very cheap, and even a taxi won’t burn a hole in your pocket.


3. Cost of living – Anything made in Argentina is guaranteed to be cheap. Expect everything to be about a third of the US price. Fruits and veggies are practically free!.
4. Ferias – Every weekend, every neighborhood has a big open air market. The ones in Recoleta and San Telmo are the largest and most popular. There are always tons of street performers and good live music. The food is good and cheap too. Try the fresh-squeezed juices. (más…)

The game of Truco is truly an Argentine experience. While studying at the AMAUTA Language School in Buenos Aires I had the opportunity to participate and learn the fun and interesting card game, complete with an extremely enthusiastic porteña- one of the AMAUTA teachers.
To set the table, we heated up the water, prepared the maté, found the bombilla (metal straw), and dealt the special truco cards. Nothing would be complete here in Argentina without maté, it’s just one of those things. We all sat down and learned about all the different suits or “palos” (basto, oro, espada and copa) and the order of power. There are also many subtle nuances to the game that can only be picked up over time, such as sneaky moves based on lies and facial gestures to inform your partner of your hand.  The word ‘truco’ means ‘trick’ in Spanish, and the game is very tricky indeed!  We learned the basics of team play and did a couple of practice games, with each one bringing us closer to understanding the full game. (más…)