Evelien during her internship in Buenos Aires

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

I’m Evelien, a (Motion) Graphic Designer from Arnhem. I study at the University of Twente. Currently, I’m staying in Buenos Aires for a short 6-week internship.

What was the first thing you thought when you stepped off the plane?

“What time is it?!?!?!?!” The flight was quite long, longer than any other flight I’ve taken before. So I was pretty disoriented. My second thought was: “Where is the Tienda Leon?!” The host family advised me to take the Tienda Leon shuttle bus from the airport to the city, which is a good and cheap service.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and Argentina?

Things are more chaotic and definitely less organized in Argentina than in the Netherlands. For example, grocery shopping takes forever because of the long and slow-moving lines at the checkout.

What does your typical workday look like?

I walk to the office every day. It’s a nice 25-minute walk and a great way to soak up the city atmosphere. The company has already outlined what I need to do, so I make a list every morning of tasks I want to complete by the end of the day. I work on motion graphics and video editing during the day.

How is the work atmosphere at your internship?

The atmosphere is relaxed and very creative — just what suits me perfectly. Since day one, my colleagues have been very kind and helpful.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?

I have never felt homesick, so I didn’t have to deal with it. I do miss my bike though, which reminds me how incredibly Dutch I really am. I also miss typical Dutch things like bitterballen every now and then.

Do you feel at home in Argentina? Why (not)?

Yes, especially for the duration of my stay. The people are super friendly and helpful. I found a room through homestay.com and the host family is great! Sometimes I do miss my own apartment in the Netherlands.

Who should you become friends with abroad? Russians? Irish? Chileans?

I became friends with some locals (which was a must!) and Americans. A few Americans are staying with the same host family. Everyone is very nice! I enjoy spending time with Americans, partly because there’s hardly any language barrier.

Describe the people of Argentina in three words.

Very friendly, loud, and proud. And oh man, they love football! That actually helped me feel at home.

What did you learn from your experience abroad? What did you like most? The community? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was it less than expected? We want details!

I learned that Buenos Aires has an amazing, very rich culture and history (just as I expected!). I love the Argentine cuisine, the people, and the city overall. I also realized there’s no difference between a (Motion) Graphic Designer in Buenos Aires or the Netherlands — which makes sense. Finally, I learned to be grateful for how well everything is arranged back home in the Netherlands.