Meet Bobbie Rose (She/Her)

Program and Location:

Summer, Summer Start at Universidad de San Andres – Intro to Food Science; Buenos Aires, Argentina

Major/Minor:

Plant Biology Major

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I saw this program when I was looking through my email and thought of how cool it would be to begin college abroad! Although I was nervous to start college–as everyone is–I thought jumping right into an exciting experience in a new place would be a great way to meet new people that love to travel as I do! I was a little apprehensive at first because this would be the first time I travel abroad without family or friends, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and practice independence.

How did you pick your program?

I chose the program in Argentina mostly because I LOVE FOOD, and I knew that Argentine cuisine would be unique, and of course delicious. I knew I wanted to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country later in my undergraduate career, and this program would provide me with a snapshot of what it would be like living in a Spanish-speaking country. With that, I also wanted to practice my Spanish-speaking.

What is something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?

The culture in Argentina seemed more familial and connected than what I have experienced in the US. Everywhere you went in Argentina, the people treated you like family, even though you were complete strangers. This caused me to reflect on my own culture and see that, in my experience, people in the US are generally closed-off to strangers. After this experience, I now feel more inclined to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. I want to experience classes and/or a job through the lens of the culture I am immersed in. I am the same in terms of my curiosity and passion for knowledge: I was inspired by the professors at Universidad de San Andres because they would talk to our group in English about complex scientific concepts, and English is not even their first language.

What advice would you give to another student?

If you have the opportunity and have the necessary resources to study abroad, do it! If you’re a little apprehensive, this is a good thing. It means you are pushing yourself to learn about something you might have never previously considered. You will meet such cool people, both in your study abroad group and out and locals.

How did you connect with locals and/or meet local friends?

Our guide, who was from Buenos Aires, showed us spots around Buenos Aires and took us to places where locals celebrated and gathered, such as Plaza de Mayo (the government district) and San Telmo (oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires). We were free to explore the city in our free time and a lot of us in the group revisited these areas to check out the street markets and converse with local vendors. One lady at the San Telmo market was selling jewelry that she made from antiques, and I really enjoyed learning about her background and how she made her jewelry. She was very kind and patient with me because I was also practicing my Spanish. For the last two days, we were able to visit and stay at a family-owned farm in the northern part of the region. Everyone on the farm was so welcoming and gracious to our group. The ladies who cooked our meals while at the farm were very generous, and for our last lunch at the farm, they welcomed us into the kitchen to help make empanadas! I really enjoyed conversing with and getting to know our tour guide (who was with us everyday of the trip) and all of the people we met on the tours of the food-production facilities and the farm.

In what ways did your identity have an impact on your experience abroad?

I have type 1 diabetes, so I really had to make sure I was keeping up with how much I ate and how much insulin I was giving myself. There were a few times where my technology (insulin pump and blood glucose sensor) were not working and this caused me to feel very anxious if I did not have anything with me to fix the issue. Although I made sure to bring plenty of extra supplies for the trip, I was still scared that I was somehow going to lose my supplies while being in an different country where I couldn’t easily get more supplies.

How safe did you feel there? And/or, where did you find support to navigate any challenges you faced abroad?

Our study abroad coordinator and professor were always checking in on me and making sure I was doing good with my blood sugar. They were very supportive and helpful throughout the whole trip. My friends also made sure I was okay and were very understanding and helpful whenever I needed something.

Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?

Whenever you travel somewhere, always make sure to take extra supplies so you can enjoy exploring without having anxiety about your technology not working to regulate your blood sugar levels. If you need something like food or to rest, don’t feel like you are burdening people because they are looking out for you and they want you to feel your best so that you can enjoy the experiences too!

Would you do it again?

I would absolutely do it again! I was so sad to be leaving Argentina, but I made great friends and got to know the professors and other people involved in the program!