Last Word on AFS Argentina 2009

Dear Readers,
It has been a while:
Here are my final comments on my foreign exchange trip.
This is a letter I submitted to AFS after a few months of reflection. I submitted it about a week ago.
Travis Knoll


To my fellow Foreign Exchange Students,
Members of the Scholarship Committee,
I am Travis Knoll a Foreign Exchange student to Argentina, who completed his 5 month foreign exchange trip in July of 2009.
I write to all of you today, advisers, fellow students, and mentors, to all of the many people that made this trip possible, to thank you for your support, both financial, and actual, to make this trip possible for me. When I first decided on Argentina, many found it strange. Many questioned why I did not choose Spain or Costa Rica instead. The answer that I gave and will continue to give, is that all roads in foreign exchange lead to Europe, and thus the path is far too traveled, so much so that in fact, the Argentine Consulate question consisted of "Where is Argentina on a map of South America." This is usually the extent of the common knowledge of the real Argentina (contrasted with the mythical Argentina of Evita and everyone dancing the Tango). This ignorance compelled me to go the road less traveled, so that perhaps I could dig into a culture that is European, and at the same time suffers the shame of oppression and corruption left in the wake of relentless US backed dictatorships. Argentina was the trip that I, thoughtful but still ignorant in many respects, was obliged to take.

It is with this mentality that I left for Argentina. I left with all of the fears of a foreign exchange student not knowing where I would end up, but determined to succeed in the situation that I was placed in. I would try to change the opinions of the people and family around me (in Argentina) of the "typical American" that they had come to see. Looking back perhaps this was both naive and tinged with a certain sense of hubris, but in some respects I succeeded (though I failed in much as well).

I will not spend time recounting my experiences day by day (as these can be found in my blog), because they are far too numerous to give due justice to each one. However, there are some overarching themes that I would like to touch on about my experience.

My first is a warning: Argentina is a very difficult place for Americans who have illusions about the inherent goodness of our country. This is not to say that America is not a great country, but to say that each country has its flaws, and the point of exchange is to understand the strengths and viewpoints of ANOTHER culture on its own grounds AND in relation to your culture. Americans who are even the slightest political will have to face the consequences of the animosity to the "imperialist culture" of the United States with regard to its policy abroad. Basic research into Argentine history in Relationship to Europe and the US is advised for those who wish to understand the assumptions about Americans in this country. You do not have to agree with the assessment provided by those who would politically challenge you, but you should be aware of their arguments as to not be caught off guard. The Argentines are a very prideful people, not unlike the US. They take great pride in saying that one of their major cities (La Plata) was the first perfectly planned city in Latin America (some claim the world), that René Favaloro invented the bi-pass heart surgery (he did), and that they are the most European of the South American countries. Argentina, while still a young country, has inherited a rich cultural history that should be respected. I found it counterproductive (though I tried many times) to challenge some of the claims that I was not sure about, because certain people took it as an offense that I would question these assumptions. As I went along, I learned to take what I heard as a symbol of cultural pride WITHOUT trying to challenge its historical veracity. We too have our founding stories of our country that would be silly for a foreigner to challenge, because it serves no purpose and gains few friends.

My second piece of advice contradicts the first: Be emotional and opinionated. Argentina is not like here where words stick forever in people’s minds (although sometimes grudges are held). A lack of emotion is seen as a lack of investment of yourself. Argentine culture is loud and boisterous; if you are not expressive you could be seen as indifferent. A thick-skinned nature is needed to live here. Criticism is a pass time especially criticizing the one’s you care for or hate. The greatest criticism in Argentina that I received was that I thought too much. Act more than you think, if you think through too much, you will be seen indecisive. Be willing to share your things (I was good at this), and yourself (for a while I was bad at this).
Three: Be sure to become a part of the family quickly, quick emotional attachment is critical in this culture that is dominated by love and (sometimes superficial) warmness. The Argentines love their kids (why else would one be allowed to stay at home during college), so get on the good side of your siblings. If not, it can seriously set back your foreign exchange experience, for those of us who have trouble relating to our peers (I did), and rely more on identifying with the parents (very few of us, I being one), fight that instinct. The siblings are the key to the household!

Four: Love the parties, the Mate, and the girls (they are some of the best looking!). If any students are going to La Plata, it is really hard to get a dance with the girls in La Plata. I do not think it was just me (but mostly me), because my entire group that I went with each time failed to get more than 2 or 3 girls to dance with them. Do not be discouraged! It is the party atmosphere that counts. I know that Argentina taught me a lot about how to drink responsibly, and gave me the opportunity to observe the consequences of not doing so.

Five: Talk to people! People are always ready to talk and give their opinions!
With that I leave you with a few observations from some of my school mates in Argentina.

Micaela wrote to me that:
“When you were first in my class, I did think that it would be interesting, but did not think that we would be able to understand each other, but as the year went on, I shared my view on things and you taught me new ways to see how things worked. I had fun from the German lessons (and the thousands of other languages that we tried to speak), and I realized that you fought for what you believed in, most of the time with good arguments. I noted how different cultures can be only a few thousand kilometers apart. You made me miss the foreign exchange student that I had in my house a few years ago.”

Pablo wrote: “At first it was a little rare the difference in adaption between the Hungarian and you, but I believe that you chose your friends well, although I noticed you adapted best with a smaller group of people.”
It would have been to your interest to talk more about national politics and exchange opinions…like we did about Christina Kirchner and Obama…politics is deep, but you were right that not everything is seriousness. It was good that you learned to be less serious. You are right that certain students showed a different view of life than us…and you were right to try in the end to balance it.”

Francisco, another friend of Pablo’s agreed adding one thing: “Perhaps you should have done a little less comparing of Argentine and American politics and lifestyle”.

Julieta says: “I never thought the US was bad, I think that as a whole they are very hospitable. I loved Miami when I went there on vacation. I think you did a reasonable job of changing the perceptions of the US in our school. People just generalize without knowing anything about your country or the people there. You helped change that.”

Professor Aicega (an English teacher at the National High School says:
“I invite many foreign exchange students to speak about their experiences in Argentina, many of them focus on the cute girls, the parties, and the mate. You did that too, but had another more meaningful message which was: Tolerance goes both ways, that tolerance is at a fundamental human to human level not just country to country. Tolerance is looking at another view of history and knowing our own. The dictatorship was brought in by popular support even before it was helped by the US. We cannot JUST blame the US for all of the problems of Latin America. Thank you for sharing your time at the end of your trip. Having a native speaker of English come and speak to the class is very helpful.”

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