Hey! My name is Allison Duran, and I’m a Psychology, Education, and Latin American and Latino Studies triple major. I chose to study abroad in Argentina through the summer LALS internship program. Studying abroad was always something on my bucket list, but as a low-income, first-generation, student of color, it seemed unattainable the more I looked into the logistics. There was so much to consider financially and emotionally, especially in terms of leaving my family behind. I had never traveled outside of the U.S., and I knew the only way I could do so was with the help of financial aid and scholarships. I knew I would regret not studying abroad in the future, so I took a leap of faith and applied to the program, expecting to figure out the funding soon after. Even though I knew I would receive financial aid, it wasn’t until after committing to the program that I would hear back from scholarships that I applied for. I received the Gilman Scholarship, which covered almost all of my expenses. The Gilman is open to U.S. citizens who are Pell Grant recipients and undergraduate students at a college or university. The purpose of the scholarship is to help make studying abroad more accessible to students who have financial need. On top of being a need-based scholarship, they also use merit to award scholarships, which is determined by a personal essay as part of the application. This scholarship allowed me to study abroad, and the follow-up service project also allowed me to extend some of the things I learned to other people who are seeking to study abroad and might share similar identities to mine.
To be completely honest, I had romanticized traveling my whole life because it was something I had been unable to do, coming from an immigrant household. I always saw home as something to escape from, so when I landed in Argentina and immediately felt the urge to go back home, I felt so ungrateful. I remember arriving at the airport, hearing everyone speak Spanish, and immediately thinking, “Oh my god, I didn’t think this through.” I’m fluent in Spanish, but I learned it in a Salvadoran household, so the Argentine accent was difficult to understand at first. I had finally achieved my dream of traveling, and not only was it essentially free, but it was also in a country that spoke my native language. Yet, all I wanted to do was go back home. Buenos Aires was beautiful, but all I could think about was how out of place I felt. The people there looked nothing like me, and I hadn’t expected such a lack of diversity. I constantly felt as if they knew I wasn’t from there, and my suspicions were confirmed when cashiers making small talk would ask me where I was from. I had come in with a certain image of Latin America, and Buenos Aires was the complete opposite of what I had expected.
This feeling lasted for about two weeks until I finally changed my mindset. I realized I was almost a quarter into my trip, so rather than guilt-tripping myself for missing home, I started thinking about how I’d miss Argentina once I was back. I began going out more with my roommates and exploring the city alone. Although I had expected a traditional Latin American experience, I quickly understood why Buenos Aires is often called the Italy of Latin America. Their culture is so unique compared to the countries that surround them, and there is a certain beauty in that. I discovered so many hidden treasures just by wandering aimlessly. I saw fascinating animals I had never known existed and even found my new favorite animal, the coati. I learned so much about Argentina’s history by visiting museums just a few blocks from my apartment. I immersed myself in the culture, from their gelato to their laid-back way of walking around with a mate in hand. It was eye-opening to live in a country that prioritized family over work. In the U.S., it often feels like people always have somewhere to be, but in Argentina, it was common to see people leisurely strolling through parks with their friends and family. Most places, like the zoo and botanical gardens, were completely free and accessible to the public. I met so many people from around the world, and it put into perspective how small the world can be, I even encountered some people from Santa Cruz.
My internship allowed me to work at a private school in the city center. I worked with children from all over the world, many of whom also came from immigrant families like mine. The kids I worked with never failed to make me laugh and made waking up at seven o’clock in the morning worth it. It was also interesting to see how vital English is in a primarily Spanish-speaking country. Children as young as four were learning English in their classrooms, which reinforced everything I had learned about colonialism in my LALS classes. Having lived in a bubble in California my whole life, going to a country like Argentina, part of the Southern Cone and colonized in such a unique way compared to other Latin American countries, really put into perspective just how diverse Latin American culture truly is.
Traveling is such a privilege, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s okay not to enjoy every aspect of it. As a person of color, you may feel out of place sometimes, but in the end, the experience is so worth it. Ultimately, my study abroad experience allowed me to see and experience a culture different from my own. It’s an experience I wish everyone could have because it truly changed the way I see the world. I learned to appreciate the differences between Argentina and the U.S. and to navigate unfamiliar situations on my own. I also gained valuable insights into the Argentine education system, which will undoubtedly be useful in my future career.
Something I didn’t expect to gain was a newfound appreciation for my home. Coming back was bittersweet. I had grown to consider Argentina like home, but I also realized how lucky I am to call California home. Our diversity, cuisine, nature, and weather are things I now cherish more than ever. I definitely want to continue traveling, but home is no longer a place I want to escape from; it’s a place I look forward to exploring, just as I hope to continue exploring the world.