Argentina International Internship Country Spotlight

Photo attribution to TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³

What do you get when you combine the elegance of European culture with the allure of South American lifestyle? None other than the sexy Argentina. Ranked as number 40 in The Economists Quality of Life index for 2009, Argentina is a top destination for anyone interested in improving their Spanish, dancing and love for the outdoors.

Famous for
Beef, Diego Maradona (soccer player), Evita Perón, tango, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Che Guevara, the largest dinosaur ever discovered

Language
The main language spoken is Spanish. Head to the northwest Andean mountain region and experience the native tongue of Quechua.

Idioms native to Argentina
Even though there are over a dozen countries around the world that share Spanish as their native language, each country personalizes their language with distinctive expressions. These are a few examples of Argentinean expressions to help you in your everyday speech.

• Pibe/Piba: (Boy/Girl) “El Pibe” (The Boy) “La Piba” (The Girl).
• Che (This is pure Buenos Aires is similar to the Australian “Mate”)
• “Que haces Che ?” (how are you Mate?)
• La Vieja: (Old Lady) Very loving way to calling one’s mom.
• El Viejo: (Old Man)     Very loving way to calling one’s dad.

Climate

Photo Attribution to Stuck in Customs

Neighboring land locked Bolivia and stretching to the tip of South America, Argentina encompasses a wide variety of climates. From beaches like Mar de Plata, to deserts like Monte Desert, to glacier carved landscapes in Patagonia, to a metropolitan soccer mecca in Buenos Aires, Argentina offers its natives and travelers a host of activities within a several hour drive.

Multinational Companies
Here is a list of multinational companies that have satellite offices in Argentina. To find a more comprehensive list to scope out potential employers, use the AMCham website (US Chamber of Commerce in Argentina). The website is written in Spanish however just type “translate web page” along with the url into Google and voila!

• 3M
• Nielson
• Accenture
• AMD

Major Cities

• Buenos Aires: Capital of Argentina
• Córdoba: Second largest city in Argentina
• La Plata: Referred to Eva Perón City (“Ciudad Eva Perón”) between 1952 and 1955

Cost of living

Photo Attribution to Tiago Luiz "Cata"

Argentina’s economy has been on the upturn since the economic collapse and subsequent peso devaluation of 2001/2002. While travel and living is still fairly inexpensive, use your financial judgment as you budget for your trip. According to Lonely Planet, budget travelers can get by on AR$60 to AR$75 per day (outside Patagonia). Recommended ways to keep costs down include sleeping in hostels and eating at nontouristy restaurants. Outside the capital and Patagonia, midrange travelers can get by comfortably on AR$160 to AR$200 per person per day, staying in a comfy hotel and eating at decent restaurants.

Money
The currency is called the Argentine Peso (AR$) (convert). Paper money comes in denominations of two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. According to Lonely Planet, “US dollars are currently accepted by many tourist-oriented businesses, but you should always carry some pesos.”

The best way to manage your money in Argentina is by carrying cash and an ATM card. Cajeros automáticos (ATMs) are found in almost every city and towns in Argentina. Instructions are typically found in English as well. An alternative to cash and ATM’s are the widely accepted Visa and/or Mastercard. REMEMBER to do this before you leave: warn your credit-card company that you’ll be using your card internationally or you may be surprised when it is suspended for no apparent reason.

Mode of transportation
Because Argentina is so large, many parts are accessible only by private vehicle, despite the country’s extensive public transport system. In the major cities, there is an extensive public transportation network including buses, trains, cabs and trams.

Cultural advice

Photo Attribution to Armando Maynez

Here are some cultural pointers that will help you to appreciate the way business and relationships are developed in Argentina:

• Argentines are close communicators physically so they will often touch each other when speaking and maintain little physical distance between speakers.
• When leaving, remember say good-bye to each person individually.

Good websites for apartments, activities

• www.hostels.com (great place to find hostels around the country)
• www.buenosairesstay.com (resource for finding apartments in Buenos Aires and other cities)
• www.sonico.com (social networking site in Argentina)

Reading Resources

• Lonely Planet Argentina
• globalEDGE Argentina
• Just Landed Argentina
• Goinglobal Argentina Country Guide

Job searching websites

• Execuzone: http://www.execuzone.com/
• Portal RH: http://www.portalrh.com.ar/
• Bumeran: http://www.bumeran.com.ar/

Visitors visa

Photo Attribution to talia64

Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most Western European countries, do not need visas to visit Argentina. This visa is valid for 90 days and can be renewed for an additional 90 days. *Note: As of December 20, 2009, US citizens flying into Ezeiza International Airport must pay an entry fee of US $131. This fee is valid for ten years and allows for multiple visits to the country.

Common work visas
Article 29 (e) visas – This is a short-term visa and is issued for short term work in Argentina. The initial validity is of 15 days and can be extended for another 15 days once in Argentina.

Article 15 (E) visa (Labor Contract – Temporary Residence Visa) – This visa is issued for employees and people on internships contracted by companies in Argentina. The minimum duration is 6–12 months. You will be treated as a local employee that means a CUIL has to be applied for as well. A formal labor contract between the company in Argentina and the employee is required in order to obtain the visa.

Article 15 (E) visa (Secondment – Temporary Residence Visa) under provision 18/94 – This visa is issued to employees send abroad by their company for at least 6–12 months. A labor contract is not required *(Information taken from Just Landed Work Permits in Argentina)