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Ing Sára Doubravská, UCT Prague, ročník 2

Faculty Faculty of Environmental Technology
Field of study Water Technology
Field of internship Chemistry, Material Science, and Chemical Engineering
Specialization of InternshipAnalytical Chemistry
Internship period (from - to) August 29th-December 3rd
Internship duration (weeks) 16
Transport (means, price) Airplane to Buenos Aires (33.000Kč); Bus to Bahía Blanca (9.000 ARS)
Insurance/Insurance company ČSOB premium account
Visa/Work permit (yes/no) Yes
Price of Visa 4.000 ARS
City of Internship Zobrazit místo na mapě  Argentina, Bahía Blanca
Internship reference number AR/2022-04-UNS

About the country

Location of the place

I didn't know before but Argentina is huge country. I tried to travel as much as I could. You can visit so many nice places there and you don't need to leave the country. South of country (Patagonia) is all about nature and interesting animals which is hard to see in Europe. North of the country is various.
Bahía Blanca (BB) is "small" city in the south of provence Buenos Aires. The city is industrial but you can find nice nature too there.

City

BB is city in the provence Buenos Aires. People from Buenos Aires (BA) told me that BB is small cty. It's not. You can find all important things (shops, centre, restaurants, cafe, ..) close to student dormitory. BB is industry city which is located only 8 hours from BA by bus.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

Close to the BB is Sierra de la Ventana, for hiking. Or beaches where you need to take car (bus is complicated but possible)
Most of the time I travelled to the most famous places you can find in Argentina (I guess) which are far away.
There are my tips and best of you can see/do there: Puerto Madryn (animals), Patagonia-Barriloche, El Calafate, El Chaltén, Ushuaia (all landscape and nature); Iguazú waterfalls, Salta and Jujuy (landscape and food), Mendoza (wine area)

Employer

Employer

I worked in the chemistry lab (analytical chemistry) in the university (Universidad Nacional del Sur). Most of the time I worked with 2 girls which are doing their PhD thesis. My boss was really nice, I was lucky. My boss helped with every problem I had. I felt good in their company, in the lab.
Their department, working group was bigger. I meet all these people which are nice and friendly. They tried to speak with me English even if it was dificult for them. So sometimes I tried speak Spanish and they taught more English.

Work description

I worked with UV meter, extraction and I synthetized our particals (little bit more than in the IAESTE offer which is good). Some day when UV meter was occupied I read articals about our experiments. If I had time I tried to help or at least to know something more about other experiments they do there.
I did all these things before, in my lab in my uni. But I was by my own there. Nobody was behind me and I worked alone. I tried to helped them with searching articals for their artical and proved my bad spanish.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

I traveled every month. The salary is not enough to travel and I don't know if it would be enough for normal life. People from BB told me it's not a lot. So it's hard to say for me.

Language requirements

In the aplication document they required English (B2) or Spanish (B2). I knew only English.
Lab/Work: No problem. They (bosses) were happy, they could practise their English. English of my boss was perfect and the other people in the lab taught a lot and fast.
Students: Most of the people go there to practise their Spanish. You just need to find someone who can speak good English. Not that hard, they are just lazy and it's easier to speak in Spanish for them
Real life: You should know some basic spanish (shops, restaurants). It was hard for me first month. I did it. Other people helped me a lot. I used papers and read everything if I needed

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

University in BB provided us a dormitory. Our dormitories were houses for 8 or 4 people. Half of the people were exchange-students and the other half worked there (as me). Houses were small, clean (depends on your roommates). Everythig important was there.
I didn't pay anything, only deposit which I got back. I guess school or organization paid for me.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

I had buddy who helped me in the first weeks, everything I needed. Then we tried to be friends, hang out little bit. We got a calendar of events so we knew about them in time.
I spent so much time with other internationals people so we had our own events and trips. Also we had whatsapp groups where we could ask for anything (friend, trip, help, event, ..)

Meeting other foreign students

I lived in the houses from the uni (called casitas). Most of the events/parties were in casitas, it was easy to meet other internationals. Also casitas are big enough so other students visited us or students studied together there.
In the begining of the semestr they orginazied some events to meet others but i wasn't there in that time (so I don't know, for me it was more friends of my roommates). There is not many internationals, it is big chance that everybody knows everybody but it takes time (my time was 1,5 months, maybe that long because of no spanish).

Sport and culture

Sport-I didn't do any sport. I know about options of sport department of the uni.
http://www.deportes.uns.edu.ar/2022/

Culture-You will know culture if you will spend time with Argentinians. It's the best. And you have to try maté (which will be the first thing). Also they do few events to know the culture. I like it. It's friendly with food and lots of fun and parties/events.

Food, local specialties

Argetina is full of imigrants from Europe. You can taste similar cuisine as in Europe. You have to ask Argentinian people about their food. I don't remember everything. If you like sweets you will be in heaven. Sometimes it felt like everything is sweet

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

Wifi is everywhere, you can use any app. Only thing, you have think about 4-5 hours different (In Argentina its 4-5 hours less)

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Try to go to the different places everytime. You can see, taste different meals/drinks. People in international organization are nice, be their friend and will become your family.

What not to forget with you

If you want to cook, bring spicies. The rest you can buy. Good mood and enjoy every moment.

Benefits of the internship

For sure it's new experiences in the lab, language, meeting new people and culture. I have good memories and I hope I can use something in my life which I learned there

Cooperation with IAESTE in the foreign country

If I remember in Argentina is only 1 person who works for IAESTE. Everything takes time there. But no problem, I had one question, I waited 7-10 days (as usually) and they replied with helpful answer

Overall experience with IAESTE

I didn't have any problems. Steps for applying were clear. People were nice and helpful about anything

Student's website

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Employer's webiste

UNS Bahía Blanca: https://www.uns.edu.ar/
https://www.uns.edu.ar/deptos/quimica

Other useful links

plataforma 10-buses (train) in Argentina
jetsmart, flybondi-flights in Argentina

Other comments

I'm sorry for my grammar. I practised my English but not my grammar. I didn't meet anybody who could tell me my mistakes

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