volunteer argentina

Spanish in Argentina

2009-12-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

An official certification is granted by Argentina. Therefore, a Consorcio Universitario (Consortium of Universities) responsible for managing and granting governmental accreditation has been set up to that effect.

Teaching Spanish in Argentina

Learning Spanish, or expanding your language knowledge in Argentina is highly recommendable. This country is regarded as having a long-standing teaching tradition during the decades in which the Argentine state was created, and once the civil wars had come to an end and the territory currently identifying our country had been consolidated. (1880-1900)

The endeavours intended to foster the learning of the Spanish language are contemporary to the widespread literacy process inspired by the Common Education Act N°1420, which was enacted in July 1884. Such act set forth that the primary school was compulsory, and required students to acquire a minimum knowledge and develop basic skills.

The above mentioned endeavors were not only targeted at school-aged children, but also at adults, some of whom had been involved in growing urbanization processes and were part of the immigration groups that began to arrive in our country in the 1880-1890 decade.

Such a process together with free-of-charge teaching programs and a widely-known hospitality tradition characterizing our people turned our country into an open society, which rapidly regarded the second generation of Asian and European (not having a Spanish descent) immigrants as hispanic speakers and it allowed the third generation to enter university.

Admission at Higher Education Institutions was followed by migratory movements led by neighboring countries students who therefore managed to have access to a qualified teaching system and to come back to their home country to be professionally engaged, in most of the cases, on an outstanding basis. Such a distinctive mark has been preserved until today and the Argentine state aims at extolling the trust placed upon its higher education institutions.

Read more on Ministerio de Educacion Argentina.

Tango is a feeling

2009-12-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

The origin of the word «tango». Tango music is a feeling and historic testimony of Buenos Aires' citizen's culture. Tango, that often heard and yet mysterious word. Tango's voice can be found in African, Hispanic, and colonial cultures.

Much has been studied about its origin, and although historians and investigators have researched and have entered in heated discussions, the mystery of its origin remains unrevealed.

The word TANGO 's etymological definition has contradictions, some say it comes from African dialects, for example, "Tang" would mean "touch, get close to..", among the Bantus, there are two dialects, one "Tanga" and the other "Tangui". In Spanish, the word Tango is similar to the African "Tang" in its definition of the old Spanish word "Tangir" ot "Tañir", and in Latin "Tangere", meaning "Touch".

The slaves brought it to the River Plate from the "black" continent called their percussion instruments "Tangó", accenting the last syllable.

The word Tango appears in the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) in the mid XVIIIth century, and was the name given to a House and Place of Tango, located on a lot belonging to the Concepción (neighborhood) Parish.

Embassies List in BA

2009-12-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

ALEMANIA

Consulado: Villanueva 1055
Horario de atención: Lunes a viernes de 8.30 a 11 hs
4778-2500
Fax: 4778-2550

AUSTRALIA

Cancillería: Villanueva 1400
(1426) Cap. Fed.
4777-6580 al 85
Fax: 4772-3349

SUECIA

Cancillería: Tacuarí 147 Piso 6
(1071) Cap. Fed.
4342-1422
Fax: 4342-1697

SUIZA

Cancillería: Santa Fe 846 Piso 10
(1059) Cap. Fed.
4311-6491 al 95
Fax: 4313-2998

UNION EUROPEA

Cancillería: Ayacucho 1537
(1112) Cap. Fed.
4805-3759
Fax: 4801-1594

URUGUAY

Cancillería: Av. Las Heras 1097
(1127) Cap. Fed.
4807-3041/40/60/61
Fax: 4807-3050

VENEZUELA

Cancillería: Virrey Loreto 2035
(1428) Cap. Fed.
4785-2226
Fax: 4784-4311

ESTADOS UNIDOS

Cancillería: Av. Colombia 4300
(1425) Cap. Fed.
4777-4533/34/46/40/05

FRANCIA

Cancillería: Cerrito 1399 (1010) Cap. Fed.
4819-2930
Fax: 4393-1235

Find out where your embassy is on Buenos Aires Times.

Keeping Fit in Buenos Aires!

2009-12-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

How to eat right, fit exercise into your day and avoid the foreigner 15

Arriving in Buenos Aires can be like arriving as a freshman to college. Promises of big parties, all night affairs and schmorgasborg-style eating that seem too good to be true eventually become reality. It’s all fun and games until somebody puts on 25 pounds. Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy Buenos Aires without needing to buy overpriced new jeans because you popped the zipper on your old ones.

How to eat cow and not look like one!
Buenos Aires cuisine is delicious, but really fattening. From steak with all the juicy fat attached to plump empanadas to salads made of mayonnaise and potatoes, it’s hard to stay trim while enjoying the local delicacies.

Here are 10 tips on how to eat and enjoy in Buenos Aires:

1. Order lean cuts of meat, such as bife de lomo, and avoid too much choripan (chorizo sandwiches). Yes, those are chunks of fat if you were trying to convince yourself otherwise.
2. When invited to an asado, bring vegetables that are tasty when grilled, such as pumpkin, corn, sweet potato and bell peppers.
3. When invited to an asado, bring a big salad with a homemade dressing.
4. Shop at organic markets to support small organic businesses and eat healthy! My favorite is the Galpon Organico located by the Subte B Federico Lacroze at 4171 Federico Lacroze Ave. (and Corrientes Ave.) Be sure to plan ahead, though, they’re open Wed. 9am-1pm and Sat. 9am-3pm
5. Don’t order pizza or empanadas to your house – just don’t make it an option. Don’t keep the magnets on your fridge, no matter how cute the delivery boy is. If you’re craving empanadas go to Cumaná, El Sanjuanino or 1810 Cocina Regional and make it worth it!
6. Share entrees when eating out. Buenos Aires restaurants are (in)famous for their big serving sizes.
7. When you need monedas (coins) to catch the bus, go to a fruit stand and buy a few apples or bananas instead of buying an alfajor cookie at a kiosko.
8. Drink mate! Enjoy this traditional tea drink that’s also a great digestivo!
9. Remember what dulce de leche is made of.
10. Order a café or cortado instead of café con leche (most cafes don’t have reduced fat milk)

Exercising porteño Style!

Porteños love to look good and stay fit. This is proven by a phenomenon I call “that hot chick turned around and she had the face of a 70-year-old.” You’ll be walking down the street and spot a trendy looking young girl from behind. She’s trim and has all the right accessories. She looks like she was born on a Stairmaster and has beautiful shiny hair. All of a sudden, girlfriend turns around. The combination of wrinkles and botox is shocking, but damn! She takes good care of her body. She fills me with hope for the future and a desire to work out.

The men and women of Buenos Aires are very concerned with their appearance, take pride in their bodies and thanks to them, Buenos Aires is full of gyms.

From mega-fashion Megatlon to the rinky-dink Average Joe’s style gym, everyone can find one that fits their style. My style was the overpriced Sport Club (190 pesos per month) until I decided I’d never achieve the buns of the girl with the steal tush implants, so now I’m heading to the dive gym on the corner (65 pesos a month). Most gyms that have a pool are slightly more expensive. Just splurge during summer months. Don’t pay for the pool access during winter, you won’t use it. Those looking JUST to use the pool can also sign up for exclusive pool use at many gyms.

Tip: Many big gyms have “promotional plans” where if you pay with a debit or credit card you have a reduced price. Any special like this has a catch, so always read your contract carefully. I learned this lesson when I signed up at Sport Club a few months ago. Instead of the regular 350 peso a month membership I signed up for the 190 peso a month deal. Soon I realized it wasn’t for me and when I went to quit, the manager said that my contact was for 12 months and to quit I’d have to pay 2-months worth of membership. Turns out, if you drag it out enough, use the word abogado (lawyer) and one other reasonable excuse they’ll waive the fee. This isn’t a country where taking someone to court is a solution, so don’t give up all your money at first. Quitting the gym shouldn’t be an express kidnapping.

Finish reading this usefull article on LandingPad BA.

Courtney: Conviven makes Buenos Aires feel like home

2009-12-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

When I walked into Conviven, my life felt like it was finally starting to come together again, confesses our volunteer Courtney, 19 year old girl from Canada who started volunteering at Conviven in March and will stay with us until May.

"At the time I had been living in Buenos Aires for about one and a half months, and was finding my self feeling completely lost, lonely and disconnected from the world around me.

Getting involved in a project such as this made me feel like I was part of something greater than myself, evidently helping me to better immerse myself in the culture and appreciate the different sides Argentina has to offer.

With the incredible people and amazing children being the essences of the community center, it would be an understatement to say that it’s beautiful. Conviven is the place, that for me, made Buenos Aires feel like home, and for that, I can honestly say that it’s been, and will continue to be one of the best experiences of my life."

Read more volunteer's experiences on centroconviven.blogspot.com

Environmental Crisis, Community Opportunity

2009-12-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

There’s an algae-bloom crisis in Lago Atitlan – one that has affected over 40 countries besides Guatemala – and because people in this community bathe and wash clothing in the lake, it’s a crisis that intimately affects everyone.

The community is responding according to its understanding: huge groups are going into the lake to bail out the algae onto the shoreline; other groups (especially of women) meet to sing, pray and walk in the lake with a statue of the Virgin Mary. (I am surprised at how many people respond with a comment such as “God will take care of us” when I ask them what they think or what they are doing about the crisis.)

As phosphates are a major culprit, fortunately many people are also demanding an end to heavy fertilizer use in fields along the lake shore, and that a community pila, or washing place, be built in the center of town as well as along the lake shore. However, this doesn’t take care of the bathers, unless they put showers in, but I’ve never seen that in any community. It also doesn’t take care of people who depend on fishing. And, of course, the folks in this community who serve the tourists are worried; they have already been hurting due to the long rainy season. The community is also demanding a revitalization of the sewage treatment plant across the lake – destroyed by Hurricane Stan – and that new ones be built in all the communities.

As volunteers, we extranjeros walk a fine line. We are trying to be respectful of all these efforts, for each has its value; trying to impart what information we have, and offering to help in ways they are requesting (like money for buses to take community members to the capital to demand government response). Some extranjeros feel none of these efforts will be sufficient, insisting that the bloom is imminently dangerous and that even boiling or Clorox won’t kill the toxicity. But this is a difficult stance to take. We might have the choice to bathe in agua pura or construct a well, but the average Guatemalan family does not. As usual, delicacy and sensitivity, along with honest responses to close friends, is the rule.

Check out how to help on La Vida Idealist.

J'apprends l'espagnol !

2009-12-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Ça suffit les folies. Je me mets sérieusement à l’étude de l’espagnol. Depuis le temps que je reporte ce projet aux calendes grecques !

Il faut dire que je m’obstinais à vouloir d’abord maîtriser le chinois (OK, « maîtriser » est peut-être un peu ambitieux… lol). Mais même après un an et demi d’immersion et environ trois mois de leçons intensives, je n’arrive toujours pas à soutenir une conversation dans la langue de Mao (par contre, si vous voyagez un jour avec moi en Chine, je pourrai vous éviter l'humiliation de devoir mimer une poule ou un poisson au resto pour vous nourrir !).

Comme j’ai besoin d’un coup de pied au bon endroit pour entreprendre un projet personnel de cette envergure, je m’en suis auto-infligé un en m’organisant un voyage éclair (cinq grosses journées !) à Buenos Aires. Je pars samedi. J’ai trouvé ce qui me semble être la meilleure manière de me faire entrer quelques notions de base dans le crâne : Bueno, entonces…

Ces 30 leçons d’espagnol peuvent être visionnées à l’aide d’un ordinateur, d’un Blackberry, d’un iPod ou d’un iPod Touch (c’est ce dernier que j’utilise – j’ai acheté les premiers épisodes sur iTunes à 2,99$ chacun plutôt que d’acheter le cours en entier). Des DVD sont également en vente.

La publicité présente Bueno, entonces... comme « the Grand Theft Auto of Spanish Classes ». Plus proche de la série pour ados que du cours magistral, on me promet même quelques gros mots ! Le ton des extraits visionnés me rappelle vaguement celui de L'Auberge espagnole (probablement à cause du personnage masculin, un Anglais qui a une certaine parenté avec William, incarné par Kevin Bishop). Les cours se déroulent toutefois dans la capitale de l'Argentine.

Je n'aurai probablement pas beaucoup de temps pour « étudier » avant mon départ, mais tant pis : les 17 h passées dans l'avion et à l'aéroport de Toronto seront bien rentabilisées ! Pas le choix : les travaux pratiques débuteront dès mon arrivée. Je vous en reparle…

P.S. : Au cas où mon cerveau afficherait les mêmes messages que mon ordinateur en ce moment (« mémoire pleine » !), j’ai aussi téléchargé deux applications de traduction… ;-)

Read more reviews about Bueno, entonces... on En Transit.

HOUSING IN ARGENTINA

2009-12-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

General

Finding reasonably priced accommodation to rent will be relatively easy in Argentina depending on the area you are looking in. This section gives you information about the Argentinean housing market, as well as a wide range of tips and tricks for your housing search.

Latin America has a high percentage of its inhabitants living in big cities. Argentina is no exception to that. The downtown areas are mainly characterised by apartment buildings. When moving away from the centre a wider variety of housing is found. Argentina is an immigrant country which is clearly noted by the architecture of its housing. For example, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires you are likely to come across English style houses, whereas the downtown area resembles Italy and Spain. Near Cordoba and in Bariloche you will often have the feeling of being in Southern Germany or Switzerland.

Things to bear in mind on your search
Accommodation prices in Argentina are determined by the size and location. This holds for both renting and buying. Accommodation is measured in square meters. Furthermore, and this may come as shock to some, buying a house or apartment in Argentina means most of time that payment in cash is required. With the economy improving this is slowly changing again.

Another factor to bear in mind is that in Argentina apartment and houses are described by the number of rooms or ambientes. This includes the living room and the bedrooms. Take into account that there can be several living or sitting rooms in a house or apartment. Kitchen, bathrooms and toilets are not included in the room count.

Housing in Argentina is either let furnished or unfurnished. The availability of one or the other ranges from where you want to live. In a mayor city like Buenos Aires or Cordoba both furnished and unfurnished are readily available. In a smaller city like Comodoro Rividavia finding a furnished place will be very hard.

The Rental Market

For many foreigners coming to Argentina finding a place will not turn out to be that difficult since prices are still relatively low. Renting a place also means paperwork.

For Argentineans finding a place to rent is becoming increasingly difficult. Since many Argentineans are not in the position to buy property (anymore) the demand for places to rent is high. To get an idea of rental prices, in the most solicited neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires a two room apartment will have an average monthly rent of AR$ 900 in Recoleta whereas in Belgrano it will range from AR$ 550 to AR$ 2000 a month. In the popular neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires a small place to live will hardly be found below AR$400/month. (Source: ReporteInmobiliario.com).

A development that is taking place in the mayor tourist and business areas in Argentina is the increase in short term rentals aiming at foreigners. Places offered in neighbourhoods like Recoleta in Buenos Aires as well as apartments in places that receive many tourists like Bariloche and Villa Langustura, are offered fully furnished at prices lower than the better hotels. Many of these places can be booked online.

Supply and demand can also vary considerably in the course of the year, particularly in cities with a large student population such as Cordoba and Buenos Aires. At the beginning of the academic semesters, which is around February/March and August/September demand tends to be high.

Read mlore on this on Allo' Expat Argentina.

What could you do at Conviven? Volunteering Programs

2009-12-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

What can you do at Conviven?

Centro Conviven is a place in constant development. There are different options and activities one can do while working with us.

Teach English

If you wish to teach English, we have a steady Teach English Programme, taking place every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But not only – there’s also a constant lack of private teachers who would have private language classes during other week-days. If you want to be a language teacher, but are not particularly interested in English, we could set up a class for some other language. For example in the past we have had people teaching French and German. But we are open to try out something completely different.

Teach math or help children with their homework

Children who come to Conviven have difficulties with learning and understanding. Therefore you could also help them understand math. We urgently need a new teacher since the volunteer who did that left recently. We are also planning to set up a time for children who need help with homework. It is very important to encourage them to study more.

Learn more about these programs on centroconviven.blogspot

Volunteering Programs on Help Argentina

2009-12-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Our Program

InsightArgentina is the volunteer program of HelpArgentina. InsightArgentina facilitates the link between international volunteers and a diverse group of Argentine non-profit organizations. Through this program, we promote the development and growth of a community that is committed to the Argentine social sector.

By customizing every volunteer placement, we provide impactful and enlightening experiences to those who seek to explore Argentina life, integrate themselves in Argentine society, and to become acquainted with some of Argentina's most pressing social issues.

Volunteering in Argentina!

"Before coming to Argentina, I quit my job in advertising to explore other worlds and discover different types of jobs where I could put my energy and feel more fulfilled. For a few years, I have thought about being a teacher, but after six weeks of being a fly on the wall at the school, and observing how the Fundación works, I have decided that when I return to my country, I would like to get my teaching degree", says Alice, who volunteered in Patagonia, in a School for rural and indigenous communities.

Volunteer placements are for those who want to work with a non-profit organization. InsightArgentina's expansive network of non-profit organizations enables volunteers to indicate their preferences regarding their experience.

Previous volunteer tasks have ranged from teaching English and organizing recreational activities at local community centers to youth outreach, fundraising, or working on marketing and communication strategies for the host organization.

Volunteers must be over eighteen years of age, stay for a minimum of one month, and have a basic knowledge of Spanish.

Interested applicants are required to fill out an application form and submit a resume prior to acceptance into the program. We will take your language ability, length of desired placement, career goals, work experience, and coursework into account when considering your placement. This allows us to find the best fit for you based on your interests and the needs of the host-organization.

For more info, go to Help Argentina.

Bueno, entonces... Spanish Class 10

2009-12-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

More videos of Bueno, entonces... on Youtube.

Argentina national football team

2009-12-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Argentina national football team is the national football team of Argentina and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Argentina has won most international titles by any national team - 19, a record shared with Uruguay.

Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, and is currently eighth in the FIFA world rankings. The team has twice won the FIFA World Cup, in 1978 and 1986. Argentina has won the Copa América 14 times, a record shared with Uruguay, won the Confederations Cup in 1992 and the Olympic Football Tournament in 2004 and 2008.

Argentina and France are the only national teams which have won the three most important men's titles recognized by FIFA: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament. They have both also won their respective continental championship (Copa América for Argentina, and UEFA European Football Championship for France).

Keep reading about Argentina's football league on Wikipedia.

Volunteer at Daycare Project - Volunteer with disadvantaged children

2009-12-09T14:10:00.000-08:00

In the aftermath of Argentina's economic meltdown of the late 90s, a large number of non profits were created to feed and take care of children in very poor neighborhoods whose parents cannot otherwise provide for their basic needs such as food, education, clothing and health. At present, these nonprofits provide meals and after school programs to support to many children and adolescents from 4 to 16 yeas old, usually more than 40-50 per location. Role of the volunteer ... • Recreation: organization of recreational and educational activities such as crafts, sports, music or others. • School support: tutoring children in their assignments and understanding the educational content learned in elementary or high school. • Teaching English: Language teaching to children between 6 and 16 years old, with no knowledge of it. Volunteers should have previous training such as TEFL or similar.

Fundacion AFOS - Argentina

Fundación AFOS (Assistance for the Fortification of Social Organizations) provides free management and structural assistance to support small and mid-sized non-profits (NGOs) in Argentina. In addition to lacking operational expertise, these local NGOs are also generally in desperate need of capable and committed volunteers an interns not only to work directly in their programs but also to help them become stronger, more sustainable and better able to serve their communi...ties. To help these local NGO’s fill this gap we recruit international volunteers and interns and matches them to a program that interests them and where their knowledge and skills can provide the maximum positive impact.

Keep reading on Worldwide Helpers.

Volunteer in a Human Rights organization H.I.J.O.S.

2009-12-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

H.I.J.O.S. (Hijos e Hijas por la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio), is an organization that for more than 13 years has focused on revising Argentina’s history, restoring the identity of missing persons born during the last military dictatorship and advocating for the life imprisonment of those responsible for the genocide. HIJOS is made up of the sons and daughters of missing persons who claim the struggle of their parents and peers for a country ...with justice and solidarity, beyond their diversity. Their claim seek people’s understanding of the processes that took place during the sixties and seventies in Argentina, and learning from that bad experience so that it becomes valuable to build our and other countries future.

Role of the volunteer • Survey information from different sources, newspapers, books, documents, manuscripts, etc., and systematization of such information in the framework of research related to Human Rights in Argentina and particularly in Cordoba.
• Collaborate in spreading activities related to Argentinean Human Rights issues in European countries.
• Collaborate in fundraising activities.

Read more on Worldwide Helpers.

Learn Spanish in Argentina at ECELA Buenos Aires

2009-12-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

Find more Spanish Schools and watch how they look like on Youtube.

Bueno, entonces review on Facebook

2009-12-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

Bueno, entonces... is the best Spanish language class I've ever taken. It's engaging, lighthearted and cleverly witty style captured my attention and didn't let go.

By Martin76

Check out more reviews on facebook.com/buenoentonces

From the North of Argentina to the World!

2009-12-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Check out more pics on Flickr.

The Bueno, entonces Formula: Engaging + Interesting + Funny = Retention

2009-12-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

1. Make The Classes Interesting & Engaging
Engaging students is crucial to learning and remembering material. Using wit and charm, Bueno, entonces… not only engages; it keeps you thinking about the last lesson and looking forward to the next one. Like your favorite teachers, David & Jimena know learning doesn’t have to be dry and boring.

2. See The Words As You Hear Them
Some people are audio learners, others learn visually – most people need both, absorbing different concepts in different ways. With Bueno, entonces... every word is on-screen so you see the spelling while hearing it pronounced.

3. Color-Coding.
Words on-screen are color-coded in Spanish and English to help you understand word usage and sentence structure. You’ll quickly see, hear, and understand how words in Spanish correspond with English ones, and how they are used in sentences.

4. Symbols & Illustrations.
Verb tenses and grammatical concepts are represented by clear symbols so you quickly learn and understand their usage. Iconic illustrations easily associate images and words, burning vocabulary into your brain.

5. REPETITION - The Key To Languages.

Any teacher will tell you this, and here’s the problem with old audio books and language software – they’re mind-numbingly boring, making them painful to repeat. Bueno, entonces… is engaging, fast-paced, and fun. You’ll repeat all 30 classes over and over, learning more each time – as your Spanish progresses, you pick up more of the humor, making it easier to repeat.

To get more info, go to General Linguistics.

Book Review: ‘Che Boludo: A Gringo’s Guide to Understanding the Argentines’

2009-12-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

By James Bracken, Ediciones Continente, 30 pesos, 61 pages Reviewed by Stephen Page

On a recent sunny spring day, while wandering the streets of Buenos Aires, searching for a café where I could sit outside at a table and sip an espresso while looking at the passers-by (a popular Argentine custom), I detoured into a bookstore.

On the very first shelf I came to, I found a pocket-sized book titled Che Boludo, with the subtitle: A Gringo’s Guide to Understanding the Argentines.

I opened the book and discovered it was a dictionary of sorts, filled with words I had never read before. The words were contemporary Argentine slang, and the definitions were in English. “What a great find,” I thought.

After a decade of living in Argentina, I have been missing some of the slang while talking with friends, or at Sunday family get-togethers (they don’t teach Argentine slang at US universities, or in most of the Castellano classes offered in Buenos Aires). I was growing tired of repeatedly asking, “What? What does that mean?”

The title of the book translates to, “Hey Idiot!” or “Hey Buddy!” or “Hey Friend!”—depending on to whom you’re talking and your tone of voice. “Boludo” literally means “one with big testicles,’which does not mean “ballsy” or “brave,” but instead denotes a lack of cerebral functions. In Argentina, the young as well as the old use slang. You might hear an elderly man with a cane standing on the street corner waiting for the green crossing light mutter “¡miercoles!”—which translates to “shit” or “Goddamnit” or “hell”; you might hear a sophisticated woman in a fur coat call her husband’s new secretary a “puta” (whore) or a “babosa” (horny woman) even if she knows bystanders are listening to her; you might hear a teenager say to his brother, “No me hinchés las pelotas,” which means, connotatively, “don’t be a pain”—but denotatively means, well . . . you’ll have to read the book to know that one.

The book also contains drawings of the more popular hand gestures Porteños use—gestures that have risqué yet non-offensive meanings.

To read more go to The Argentine Post

Music to help you Learn Spanish - Pasos de Gigante (Bacilos)

2009-12-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

This is the General Linguistics method to teach foreign languages in action! You'll see the lyrics of the song Pasos de Gigante by Bacilos in the "Pizarra Mágica" or Magic Whiteboard and will be able to sing along.

Check out more videos to learn Spanish on Youtube.

Learn spanish with Bueno, entonces on Facebook

2009-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Check out the Bueno, entonces... fan page on Facebook and learn new words, insults, piropos... and anything you need to speak Spanish conversationally!!!

Become a fan and enter to win cool prizes every week (see contest rules in notes section)!

A new way to learn Spanish - developed specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch and now available on DVD or by instant download (visit www.buenoentonces.com to purchase). This new technique combines hard-core grammar and vocabulary lessons with a witty and engaging conversational style.

Become a fan on Facebook.com/buenoentonces

ON A BREAK FROM WORK, YOU SHOULD SEE THIS!

2009-11-30T12:58:00.000-08:00

Watch more of these videos on Youtube.

Andes Air - Cheap Flights

2009-11-29T08:36:00.000-08:00

I flew Andes Air during the July vacation period when I had family in town. We flew from Buenos Aires to Salta during the high-season and paid around 800 pesos round trip which was a significant savings from other airlines. (FYI: Taking the 22 hour bus was about 650 pesos round trip.)

Andes serves the Northwest Region, Iguazú and Puerto Madryn. I was initially pretty nervous to fly an airline that I had never heard of before, but after talking to a travel agent friend they assured me that it is a legit company.

Although their website is pretty terrible and they sometimes don´t answer their phone (oh Argentina!) I am satisfied with the service. The plane was much bigger than expected -- 3 seats on each side of plane!

Even better is that they did not charge a different price for foreigners, it was all the same fare! If you travel in low season they had some excellent promotions as well.

Here´s the link: http://www.andesonline.com/

I would recommend going to the agency in person to book the tickets. It is located on Córdoba 755.

To read more go to budgetba.blogspot

Day 3 in Buenos Aires

2009-11-28T09:27:00.000-08:00

I’ve had an AHA moment today. My teacher is very cute. His name is Martin and he’s 're-argentino'. That means REALLY Argentino in Argentino. He spent a year in Ireland teaching Spanish last year and he missed Buenos Aires a lot.. We talk a lot about Argentina and about the culture, about the crazy chaos of it all, the subversive attitude of the Argentines towards politics, finance, all that jazz. The Bulgarian likes to talk a lot about the Argentine girls, I don’t blame him. They mainly have very very long hair and are very pretty.

Martin says Bien, Entonces.. a lot. Or Muy Bien, entonces... I ask him why doesn’t he say Bueno, entonces (like the name of the course of course) and he explains that “Bueno,” often is something you say when you’ve had a enough of talking, or have had enough of talking about a particular subject. He explains that when somebody starts going, bueno bueno bueno on the phone, basically they are telling you that the conversation is over and they’ve had enough.

Now I get it! That's why Jimena always says "Bueno, entonces..." Because she often has enough of David!

Get to know more Vibe's experience on beadventuresinba.blogspot

Volunteer in Argentina with Gateway Argentina

2009-11-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

Gateway Argentina is continuously searching for the best programs available in Buenos Aires for our participants. While there are many volunteer placement agencies in Buenos Aires we have searched extensively to find the agency with the best programs and opportunities for you. We understand the needs of our volunteer participants. We understand that volunteering is a commitment both personally and financially. We want to give you an enriching international experience while providing a program that is well established and deeply rooted in important Argentine social causes. We have chosen a partnership with HelpArgentina because of their powerful commitment to enriching the social sector of Argentina.

About HelpArgentina:
HelpArgentina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen Argentine civil society through the mobilization of donors and volunteers and the promotion of the best practices. HelpArgentina´s vision is of a competitive, trustworthy and globally financed Argentine social sector. It offers the international community a secure channel to support a network of organizations selected according to social impact, accountability and best practices. HelpArgentina is able to accomplish this mission of promoting social development in Argentina with the generosity and hard work of capable volunteers. Volunteers are placed among one of the 52 organizations represented by HelpArgentina.

How it Works:
Upon receiving confirmation of your interest in volunteering in Buenos Aires you will be sent a volunteer questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is returned to Gateway Argentina we will forward it to our representative at HelpArgentina. By providing us with this questionnaire HelpArgentina is able to outline possible placements for you prior to your arrival and orientation with the social sector experts at HelpArgentina. Once you arrive you will receive a placement orientation with HelpArgentina's volunteer coordinators. Upon completion of your orientation, you will be accompanied to your placement where you will meet fellow volunteers and staff. HelpArgentina volunteer coordinators will be available throughout the duration to assist you with any problems or concerns that way arise.

Read more about these programs on Gateway Argentina.

Mate-Argentina's National Drink video

2009-11-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

How to prepare an Argentine mate!

Check put more videos on Youtube.

This is the Northwest of Argentina.

2009-11-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

This video shows the very best places you can visit in Salta, Jujuy, Tucuman and Catamarca provinces.

Go to Youtube to find more videos about Argentina.

Medicine in Argentina with Projects Abroad

2009-11-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

Projects Abroad offers volunteer Medicine & Healthcare work-experience placements in Argentina, in Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing & Midwifery, Occupational Therapy and Electives. Placements are for anyone volunteering abroad on a gap year or career break, or a training or qualified doctor, physiotherapist, nurse or midwife.

Volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare project in Argentina can be done as part of a gap year, a career-break, or during a short break in your studies. As a Medicine & Healthcare volunteer you will gain a great deal of valuable work-experience alongside some of the most skilled doctors in the country. While the shell of some hospital buildings may look slightly neglected, the facilities within and the healthcare provided are generally of a decent standard, on a par with many hospitals in the west.

Our Medicine & Healthcare volunteers work in rotation at different hospitals in and around Villa Allende, enabling them to have a broad and varied experience of different medicine and healthcare departments. You will have the opportunity to experience medical procedures in both the over-burdened multi-disciplinary government hospitals, and the smaller Dispensarios that operate on certain days each in more rural communities. Within the hospitals you will be given the chance to shadow doctors and nurses, help to take patient histories, observe surgery, attend medical lectures with medical students, and perhaps even perform basic medicine and healthcare procedures. In the community you could find yourself giving a child a general health check, assisting in the provision of vaccinations, and giving advice on nutrition or pregnancy prevention for example.

An intermediate level of Spanish is required for this placement to ensure that you can interact fully with both the local staff and the patients. Volunteers should also be of smart appearance.

Volunteer Dentistry in Argentina

Volunteers who wish to work in the field of dentistry can gain superb work experience in Villa Allende Hospital, located in the beautiful Sierras Chicas not far from where our office is based. As one of the largest government run hospitals in this area, you will be learning from staff who are very experienced at providing all aspects of dental healthcare to people who travel here from the surrounding regions. If you wish to have a broader Medicine & Healthcare experience, both hospitals have many other areas, besides dentistry, for you to work in.

Volunteer Occupational Therapy in Argentina

As a training or qualified Occupational Therapy volunteer in Argentina, you'll be placed in one of a number of institutions for people who are mentally and physically disabled. While residents receive the necessary physiotherapy care, staff are limited in number and don't have enough time to spend one-to-one with these individuals. By coming into the home and using your skills to assess and treat the wide variety of physical and psychiatric conditions you come across, you can help these people to find purposeful activities they can participate in, and help to promote independent function in aspects of their life for what may be the first time since they moved there.

Finish the article on Volunteer Abroad.

Pics of Misiones Argentina

2009-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

More pictures of the country on Flickr.

Volunteer Building Brigade Reel

2009-11-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

Watch this video from Habitat for Humanity volunteer building brigade. Santa Fe, Argentina.

Look for more videos on Youtube.

BA Basics: Conversions: Weight, Temperature, and Seasonal Climate Changes

2009-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

One of the joys of adjusting from life in the US to life here in Buenos Aires is learning how to convert our screwy imperial units of measure (pounds, degrees Fahrenheit, feet and miles) into those handy metric units (grams, kilograms, degrees Celsius, meters and kilometers). Since at first this task can be just a bit perplexing, here are a few quick hints to making these adjustments yourself:

Weight (1 pound = 450 grams)
You will most frequently need to be familiar with the conversion between pounds and grams while visiting your local fiambrería (deli meat seller), carnicería (butcher) or verdulería (vegetable seller). Ordering meats and vegetables are the easiest, as you can just request “dos pechugas” (two chicken breasts), or “tres zanahorias” (three carrots), and be on your merry way. Ordering deli meat is a little trickier, however, as the density of the meats varies by type. As a rule of thumb, I typically buy 100 grams of dense salted meats, such as salami, but opt for 200 grams when ordering the more common sandwich companions, including cheese, ham or turkey. These portions are just right, as they are enough to sustain me through several lunches, but won’t last too long and go feo.

Weight (1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds)
When I moved into my first apartment here in Buenos Aires, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a scale in the bathroom. Only problem? It weighed me in kilograms. If you are watching your weight while you’re here, this simple conversion is handy to keep in the back of your mind.

Temperature (°C = (°F -32) x 5/9)
The conversion between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit is not only the measure that you will most frequently encounter, but also the one that can be the most perplexing. As you can see, the formula for making this conversion is a doozy!

Thanks to a dear Argentine friend that I met while still in the US, I now know a simpler way to get a ballpark figure for the conversion: just take the temperature in Celsius, double it, and add 30. This figure will always be slightly off from the exact temperature reading, but it works in a pinch.

Weather, Seasons and Average Temperatures
If you don’t already know, the seasons south of the equator are the opposite of those to the north. That means, that when it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the south, and vice versa.

Read the rest of the article on LandingPad BA.

Bueno, entonces... Spanish Class 1 video

2009-11-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

Easy way of Learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces...

Watch more and learn Spanish at the same time on Youtube.

Maradona by Kusturica (movie)

2009-11-19T13:17:00.000-08:00

This is Maradona as the two-time Palme Dor winner Emir Kusturica sees him: the revolutionary, the footballer, the man, the God, the family man, the drug-addict, the legend. Acclaimed filmmaker Emir Kusturica traces the remarkable story of soccer legend Diego Maradona in this documentary featuring music by composer Manu Chao and Sex Pistols. Maradona has a reputation as the people's champion, an athlete who rose from humble beginnings to achieve worldwide fame, and who has overcome incredible adversity to become a living legend. As the director and his subject grow increasingly intimate, Maradona reveals details about his life that have never come to light in the public eye. A tour of the places that mean the most to Maradona offer a unique look at the way the soccer star was shaped by his surroundings, and conversations with the people closest to him offer a unique glimpse into his colorful personality. A conversation with Cuban leader Fidel Castro highlights how even the most powerful personalities become awestruck while speaking with Maradona. This is Kusturica's most expressive in form and the most radical in content since at least Black Cat, White Cat where Kusturica values Maradona not only as a virtuoso player but as man with a political view.

Read more on IMDb.

University of Virginia Springbreakers build in Argentina

2009-11-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

During the first week of March 2008, 11 Springbreakers from the University of Virginia, USA, descended on Buenos Aires and HelpArgentina to work with a member organization, Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family), to build "two new additions" to the small homes of two distinct families' in the greater Buenos Aires region.

Arriving in Argentina on a Friday, these eager college students participated in an orientation with HelpArgentina before heading the following Monday to begin work in a small, rural, and very low income neighborhood in Tigre, a community that attracts many tourists for its proximity to a delta of the river Parana.

The project was slow at the start, but as the week progressed, the students and a routine developed they got to know the community and the families whose homes they were renovating. I visited the group on their last day. To say the least it was a very inspiring day.

Arriving after about an hour and a half of commute, I reached the volunteers who were working laboriously on the two different projects. One of the projects was to build the basic structure of a separate "one room" home on the property of a big family of at least 8. By the end of the day, the skeleton of the home was completed, the floor boards were laid, and the roof and walls were constructed. (The final product was to be completed by Horacio Fish, the on-site leader and carpenter from Sagrada Familia).

The other project was an addition to the home of a single mom and her two young children. The group finished the general structure and laid the the floor boards as well as the sun went down that Friday afternoon. This addition would be a new kitchen for the family, a well-needed expansion to her humble home.

To finish reading, go to Volunteer Life in Argentina.

2nd Semester of Spanish, Spanish Love Song starring Erik Estrada

2009-11-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

This is hilarious!! Check it out one more time on Youtube.

U2 to Play Buenos Aires in November, 2010?

2009-11-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

U2 fans across South America have been eagerly waiting to find out if and when the Irish rock band would return to the continent for its 360° tour.

While there has been no official confirmation from the band about any South American tour plans, the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reported last week that U2 will play Brazil in November, 2010.

According to the report, U2 will do three shows three show in Sao Paolo and one in Rio. If that’s true, it means U2 would almost certainly play Buenos Aires very close to that date.

In other U2 news, in case you haven’t caught U2 ’s spectacular 3D concert movie, you can see it in Buenos Aires at any of the Showcase movie complexes in Belgrano, Marínez, Haedo, as well as in the interior cities of Córdoba and Rosario.

Check out more news on The Argentine Post.

Animal Rehabilitation Work in Posadas, Argentina

2009-11-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

Argentina may not be the first country that springs to mind when you think of South American wildlife havens, but it actually boasts larger natural contrasts than any of its neighbours; the frozen landscapes of Patagonia to the south and tropical northern heat create a perfect recipe for a diverse natural world. El Puma Ecological Park in Argentina's laid back provincial capital brings you face to face with the results as it nurses sick and injured animals back to health before releasing them back in to the wild. The project also runs a breeding programme to increase animal numbers so there's a lot to keep you busy, before you head off to discover the rest of the continent's hottest destination.

*Project details:
El Puma Ecological Park is an animal breeding and rehabilitation center near Posadas that aims to promote the welfare of wild animals that are native to Argentina. Their objectives are to help sick or injured animals that have been captured by forest rangers by nursing them back to health and to raise the numbers of native species by breeding them while in captivity. The animals are rehabilitated at the center and then once ready released back to their natural habitat, if possible. Animals include monkeys, birds, wild swine, jaguars, toucans, and other native animals. El Puma works with the Ministry of Ecology of that province and depends on them for funding.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
Due to the lack of financial resources, the expertise and funding provided by private groups and international conservation agencies is essential to supplement what the Ministry of Ecology provides. This centre needs assistance in taking care of the animals, and volunteers will make up a substantial proportion of the labour force. It is also important to help highlight the importance of protecting Argentina's wildlife, which has long been victim to trafficking.

Highlights:
* Helping to look after some of Argentina's indigenous wildlife
* Soaking up the culture and lifestyle of this laid back small city
* Sampling Mate - one of Argentina's most popular drinks

El Puma is located in the small town of Candelaria, located on the Rio Parana. Candelaria is known for its mystical Jesuit ruins, eucalyptus and pine plantations, and is the location of a lovely park that has a waterfall, canyon, and campsites.

You will be staying in a homestays located in nearby Posadas, a lively city of 250,000 and travel to your placement each day. Posadas boasts interesting markets, friendly cafes, cinemas and museums, and there will be plenty to do on the weekends.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
The biggest requirement for this project is a strong love of all animals, as well as the readiness to be involved with the more basic duties that will be required. Volunteers should be committed and willing to help out wherever needed as the work is hard and can involve long hours. A love of the outdoors is also essential. As the staff at the project do not speak any English and so volunteers should ideally have a basic conversational level of Spanish or take lessons before arriving into the country and be willing to work on this while at the project. It is suggested that you take the add-on lessons offered when arriving into Posadas, ask your desk officer for more details.

Your role as a volunteer:
Current duties may include feeding the animals, cleaning and repairing all animal enclosures, building new enclosures, giving guided tours of the centre to any English speaking visitors, observation and data collection of the animals for research. You may also travel around the province with the staff who look for injured animals. It is strongly recommended that volunteers speak at least basic Spanish for this project.

Media in ARGENTINA

2009-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

Argentina is one of South America's leading media markets. The country has well over 150 daily newspapers, many hundreds of commercial radio stations, dozens of TV stations and one of the world's highest take-up rates for cable TV.

Large media conglomerates have emerged. Public broadcasting plays a minor role. Television is the dominant medium. The main national free-to-air networks - Telefe, America, Canal 9 and Canal 13 - are privately-owned.

Argentine readers are among Latin America's most voracious newspaper consumers. Clarin and La Nacion are the best-selling national dailies.

Media freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. However, Reporters Without Borders maintained in 2008 that "direct attacks on the media and obstacles to press freedom... remained high". It said former President Nestor Kirchner had shown "great hostility" to the media - and particularly the conservative La Nacion daily - while in office.

By December 2008, Argentina had 16 million internet users, comprising nearly 40% of the population (Internetworldstats.com) and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.

The press

· Clarín - popular daily

· La Nación - respected conservative daily

· Crónica - tabloid daily

· El Cronista - business

· La Prensa - Argentina's oldest newspaper

· Pagina 12 - left-wing daily

· Buenos Aires Herald - English-language daily

Television

· Telefe (Canal 11) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Telefe

· Canal 13 (El Trece) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Clarin

· Canal 9 - popular national network

· America (Canal 2) - popular network

· Todo Noticias - cable/satellite news channel owned by Grupo Clarin

· Canal 7 - state-run cultural, educational network

Radio

· Radio Mitre - private, speech-based, operated by Grupo Clarin

· Radio Nacional - state-run, cultural

· Radio America - private, news

· Radio Continental - private AM (mediumwave) speech-based network

· Los 40 Principales - private FM music network

News agencies

· Diarios y Noticias (DYN) - partly owned by Grupo Clarin

· TELAM - state-run

· Noticias Argentinas - set up by privately-owned newspapers

Check out more info on BBC News Argentina.

Volunteer Expedition to Misiones and famous Iguazu Falls National Park

2009-11-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

Join us on a humanitarian assistance journey to an indigenous village in the province of Misiones with a side visit to the famous Iguazu Falls National Park. These volunteer expeditions are a great way to help those in need in a more impoverished part of Argentina, and at the same time see some of the country's most amazing natural attractions.

The volunteer expeditions take place practically every month. The volunteer expeditions are made available to program participants already in Argentina who are registered in a GIC Argentina program. Upon arrival please let us know that you would be interested in going on the volunteer expedition. Typically three weeks before departure, you will receive the complete details of the trip.

The volunteer expedition to the Iguazu falls is organized toghether with our partner volunteer organization.

Sample Volunteer Expedition Itinerary

The description below is a sample itinerary from previous trips. Dates and activities are subject to change.

Tuesday:
Departure from the Buenos Aires bus terminal. We take an overnight bus.

Wednesday:
Arrival in Monte Carlo. Lodging check-in. Departure to the indigenous village. We do sanitary control and HIV prevention workshop. We prepare snack for all and then return for dinner and get ready for the next day.

Thursday:
We return to the village. Workshops on HIV prevention, responsible family planning and correct use of water. We return to our lodgings for dinner.

Friday:
Breakfast and visit to the village. Distribution of clothes, soap, toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes. Dinner at our lodgings.

Saturday:
Departure for Puerto Iguazu. Visit the famous waterfalls of Iguazu.

Sunday:
Visit to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and/or Foz de Iguacu on the Brazil side.

Monday:
Departure for Buenos Aires.

TEFL Students in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Watch this video!!

2009-11-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

To see more, go to Youtube.

Meet-Up for Volunteers in Buenos Aires on November 11

2009-11-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Every year, more and more expats are settling down in Buenos Aires, Argentina, whether for a few months or an indefinite period of time. Most come to hone their Spanish skills, some to perfect their tango moves, others to study at a university or simply embark on a new adventure. Whatever their reason, many of them have one thing in common: they want to give back to their adopted community. But where to start?

Join us for the More than Mate II: Volunteering in Argentina meet-up on November 11th to find out!

With over 2,000 nonprofits in Buenos Aires alone, we know it can be hard to navigate the nonprofit landscape in Argentina and find free opportunities. So we’re teaming up with Voluntarios Sin Fronteras and South American Explorer’s Club to host an event dedicated to you, the international volunteer. There will be group discussions centered around the topics of your choosing, a chance to chat with volunteer coordinators from nonprofits in the city, and a trivia game about Argentina’s social sector.

For more info, visit BA Insider Mag.

Argentina: Getting there & away

2009-11-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

Tickets

From almost everywhere, South America is a relatively costly destination, but discount fares can reduce the bite considerably. Contacting a travel agency that specializes in Latin American destinations often turns up the cheapest fares.

Sea

Arriving in Argentina by sea is uncommon indeed, although Chilean company Navimag (www.navimag.com) operates the famous ferry from Puerto Montt, Chile (near Bariloche), down the length of Chilean Patagonia to Puerto Natales, Chile, near Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (due west of Río Gallegos).

Water

River

There are several river crossings between Uruguay and Buenos Aires that involve ferry or hydrofoil, and often require combinations with buses.

Buenos Aires to Montevideo High-speed ferries carry passengers from downtown Buenos Aires to the Uruguayan capital in only 2¾ hours.

Buenos Aires to Colonia Daily ferries (50 minutes to three hours) head to Colonia, with bus connections to Montevideo (additional three hours).

Tigre to Carmelo Regular passenger launches speed from the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre to Carmelo (services also go to Montevideo from Tigre).

Land

Border crossings

There are numerous border crossings from neighboring Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay; the following lists are only the principal crossings. Generally, border formalities are straightforward as long as all your documents are in order. For info on necessary visas and documents.

Current weather conditions, hours of service and other useful information for Argentina’s border crossings are provided online by the Gendarmería Nacional de Argentina (www.gendarmeria.gov. ar/pasos/pasos1.htm).

Bolivia

La Quiaca to Villazón Many buses go from Jujuy and Salta to La Quiaca, where you must walk or take a taxi across the Bolivian border.

Aguas Blancas to Bermejo From Orán, reached by bus from Salta or Jujuy, take a bus to Aguas Blancas and then Bermejo, where you can catch a bus to Tarija.

Pocitos to Yacuiba Buses from Jujuy or Salta go to Tartagal and then on to the Bolivian border at Pocitos/Yacuiba, where there are buses to Santa Cruz.

Brazil

The most common crossing is from Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu. Check both cities for more information on the peculiarities of this border crossing, especially if you’re crossing the border into Brazil only to see the other side of Iguazú Falls. There are also border crossings from Paso de los Libres (Argentina) to Uruguaiana (Brazil) to São Borja (Brazil).

Chile

There are numerous crossings between Argentina and Chile. Except in far southern Patagonia, every land crossing involves crossing the Andes. Due to weather, some high-altitude passes close in winter; even the busy Mendoza–Santiago route over RN 7 can close for several days (sometimes longer) during a severe storm. Always check road conditions, especially if you have a flight scheduled on the other side of the mountains. The following are the most commonly used crossings.

Salta to San Pedro de Atacama (via Purmamarca) Twelve-hour bus ride through the altiplano with stunningly beautiful scenery.

Mendoza to Santiago The most popular crossing between the two countries, passing 6962m Aconcagua en route.

Bariloche to Puerto Montt The famous, scenic 12-hour bus-boat combination runs over the Andes to Chile. Takes two days in winter.

Los Antiguos to Chile Chico Those entering from Chile can access the rugged RN 40 from here and head down to El Chaltén and El Calafate. Best in summer, when there’s actually public transport available.

El Calafate to Puerto Natales & Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Probably the most beaten route down here, heading from the Glaciar Perito Moreno (near El Calafate) to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (near Puerto Natales). Several buses per day in summer; one to two daily in the off-season.

Ushuaia to Punta Arenas Daily buses in summer, fewer in winter, on this 12- to 18-hour trip (depending on weather conditions), which includes a ferry crossing at either Porvenir or Punta Delgada/Primera Angostura.

Uruguay & Paraguay

There are two direct border crossings between Argentina and Paraguay: Clorinda to Asunción, and Posadas to Encarnación. From Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, you can also cross through Brazil into Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.

Border crossings from Argentine cities to Uruguayan cities include Gualeguaychú to Fray Bentos; Colón to Paysandú; and Concordia to Salto. All involve crossing bridges. Buses from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and other waterfront cities, however, are slower and less convenient than the ferries (or ferry–bus combinations) across the Río de la Plata. The crossings at Gualeguaychú and Paysandú may be closed due to conflict surrounding the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side of the river.

Bus

Travelers can bus to Argentina from most bordering countries. Buses are usually comfortable, modern and fairly clean. Crossing over does not involve too many hassles; just make sure that you have any proper visas beforehand

Entering the destination

Entering the country

Entering Argentina is straightforward; immigration officials at airports are generally quick to the point and waste few words, while those at border crossings may take a little more time scrutinizing your passport before stamping it. Anyone entering the country is required to have a valid passport. Once you’re in the country, police can still demand identification at any moment. It’s a good idea to carry at least a photocopy of your passport around town at all times.

When entering by air, you officially must have a return ticket, though this is rarely asked for once you’re in Argentina. However, it is commonly asked for by the airline in the country of origin. Most airlines prohibit from boarding any passengers without proof of onward travel, regardless of whether the person was sold a one-way ticket or not. They do this because the airline would be responsible for flying you back home should you be denied entrance (which is highly unlikely) once you’re in Argentina. For those planning to travel indefinitely, the only way out of this predicament is to buy a cheap, fully refundable onward flight (say, Mendoza to Santiago, Chile) and either use it or get the refund once you’re in Argentina. The refund, however, can take months to process.

Air

Argentina has direct flights between countries including North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain and South Africa, and from all South American countries except the Guianas. Alternatively, you can fly to a neighboring country, such as Chile or Brazil, and continue overland to Argentina.

To read more go to Lonely Planet.

Radio operator - Community Radio Operator

2009-11-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

One of the Education and Culture projects promoted by MAPU Association is the organization of an FM community radio in the city of Esquel, where MAPU is based in Patagonia. Currently we are looking for the financial resources to establish the radio. The radio is expected to start functioning around February 2010. Volunteering Placement Description: As a volunteer in the Community Radio Operator placement, you will be responsible for controlling the broadcast equipment, ...carrying out broadcasting activities, mixing sounds, and other tasks related to the community radio functioning. Also, according to your experience, you will be able to help with setting up the studio, organizing the production equipment, controlling the acoustic balance of the studio, etc. Objectives: The aim of this volunteering placement is that you help achieve professional performance of the local community radio, and that you contribute your knowledge and experience in the field.

Asociación MAPU

MAPU Association is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, whose aim is to promote, organize, coordinate and sponsor projects related to social development, education and culture, human rights, environment care, and native peoples’ rights in Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia....

Learn more about the program on Worldwide Helpers.

VISA TO ARGENTINA

2009-11-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Passports

Passport valid for 6 months required by all except nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond Argentina and these five countries, may use their national ID cards.

Visa

Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and US for stays of up to 90 days;

(b) nationals of Andorra, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and Serbia for stays of up to 90 days;

(c) nationals of Hong Kong (British Nationals Overseas), Jamaica and Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days;

(d) transit passengers holding confirmed onward or return tickets for travel provided continuing their journey within 6 hours and not leaving the airport.

Note: Visa exemptions mentioned above are for tourist and business purposes only. However, business travellers are advised to contact the Argentinian Consulate before departure.

Required documents for visa

Tourist visa:
(a) Passport.
(b) Application form.
(c) 1 passport photo.
(d) Fee; payable by cheque or postal order.
(e) Return ticket.
(f) Letter from employer.

To finish reading the text, go to Allo' Expat.

CELS Center for Legal and Social Studies

2009-11-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

The Center for Legal and Social Studies (Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, CELS) is leading organization in the field of human rights. Since its creation in 1979, during the military dictatorship, CELS has fought against systematic violations of human rights in Argentina, investigating, documenting, denouncing, and litigating in favor of the recognition of fundamental rights and transparency. With the return of democracy in 1983, CELS began to work towards the consolidation of the role of the State in protecting human rights, influencing the design and implementation of public policy. With thirty years of experience in Argentina, CELS is making itself into a leading reference in the issue of human rights on a regional and international level. This year, for its 30th anniversary, CELS is taking a great step forward. It will seek to make itself into an even stronger and more influential organization in the region in the fields of human rights, democracy, and good-governance in the global South.

Goals:

To fight for the relevance of human rights

Objectives:

To denounce human rights violations; to influence the process of forming public policies to include a respect for fundamental rights; to foster legal and institutional reforms in order to improve the quality of democratic institutions; and to promote the greatest exercise of these rights, especially for the most under-protected sectors of society.

Programs:

Programa Memoria y Lucha contra la Impunidad del Terrorismo de Estado
Programa Violencia Institucional y Seguridad Ciudadana
Programa Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales
Programa Justicia Democrática
Área Litigio y Defensa Legal
Área Investigación
Área de Comunicación

Incorporation number:

556

Inspecting institution:

Inspeccion General de Justicia

Year founded:

1979

Staff:

Volunteers:

To get involved or to know more, visit Help Argentina.

Volunteer in a Daycare Center in Córdoba, Argentina

2009-11-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

The goal of this project is to provide community development assistance to a Daycare Center in Villa Allende. Volunteers will assist the staff and act as role models for these children. Each volunteer will be involved in helping the children with their homework, leading recreational activities, and assisting the staff in meal preparation and cleaning. The daycare has capacity of up to 300 children who are all disabled, disadvantaged, or orphaned. Unfortunately, the project has a lack of financial support from the government and is in need of volunteers.

Where will I be volunteering?

You will be volunteering in Villa Allende, located in the beautiful backdrop of the Sierras Chicas Mountains. The peaceful, natural landscape allows rest and tranquility within the Village. People from all parts of Argentina, escape to Villa Allende to improve their quality of life. Villa Allende is very close to Córdoba, the second largest city in the country. The rich Spanish colonial heritage is still alive, with many old churches and traditional buildings still intact. Córdoba has a vibrant cultural scene, and you will enjoy the famous kindness and hospitality of the "Cordobeses". It is a major cosmopolitan city with all the conveniences that volunteers expect.

What am I going to be doing?

You will assist the staff at the Daycare Center and become directly involved with the lives of many children both academically and emotionally. You will contribute your creativity and talents, and become a role model, a mentor, and a friend.

What is required to volunteer on this project?

Language Requirement: Intermediate Spanish
However, you can still join this project if your Spanish does not meet the requirements by taking our Spanish language course.
Must be 18 or older.

Get more info about this program on uVolunteer.

Reviews of Bueno, entonces... from iTunes

2009-11-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

by Caroline1

I’ve tried a whole slew of resources to maintain and improve my intermediate-level Spanish - magazines, private tutors, group classes, self-learning CDs, Spanish podcasts - but this is the first method I’ve tried that actually keeps me engaged and motivated. The characters Jimena and David are so charming, you are practically transported right to Buenos Aires with them. The visual component makes it about five times easier to learn and remember new words and grammar (versus most rich media language applications which are audio only). I’d strongly recommend this app to anyone looking to boost his/her beginning to intermediate level Spanish.

Read more on buenoentonces.com/blog

Argentina To Offer To Settle Paris Club Debt By Issuing Bond

2009-11-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

BUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--The Argentine government will try to settle its roughly $6.5 billion debt with members of the Paris Club by offering to issue a new bond, the Economy Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

Economy Minister Amado Boudou will pitch the idea to club members at a G20 meeting in Scotland later this week.

Before leaving for the trip, Boudou shared the idea with officials from the French Embassy in Buenos Aires. He said the plan entails issuing a new bond whose value would be equivalent to the debt owed to club members.

While in Scotland, Boudou will try to convince other Paris Club members that they ought to accept the proposal instead of a typical repayment plan, the statement said.

The bond would reportedly have the same payment structure as the loans owed to the Paris Club.

Argentine officials had previously given few details of how they planned to reschedule the debts owed to the Paris Club, which have been in default since Argentina's financial meltdown in 2001-02.

Around 14 months ago, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced a plan to settle the debt by making a lump sum payment.

But that bold plan fell apart within weeks as the global financial crisis clobbered world markets and crimped credit.

News of the new proposal comes a day after Argentina's House of Representatives passed a bill reopening a debt swap for the holders of about $20 billion in defaulted bonds.

The Senate has yet to debate the bill authorizing the offer, which requires congressional approval because a 2005 law expressly blocked a new swap.

The country is preparing a proposal to end the conflict with the holdouts who refused to accept terms of the 2005 swap. That swap involved a 65% discount, and any new offer will be on terms "more advantageous to Argentina," Boudou has said repeatedly.

To read more go to Google News.

WORK PERMIT IN ARGENTINA

2009-11-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

In general, a foreign applicant (the "employee") assigned to work in another country must evidence a degree of proprietary knowledge, specialized skills, or managerial/ executive-level skills that are not readily available in the destination country's domestic labour market.

The following is a general summary of the types of employment visa categories that are common to corporate, international transfers into Argentina.

"Regularization" of immigration status from Visitor status to Work Status

A foreign national employee from a bordering country can convert his or her immigration status from a Visitor status to Work status while remaining in Argentina; however, this process may take upwards of six months to conclude.

During the "regularization" period, nationals from a bordering country can apply for a special certificate, called a "Certificate of Precarious Residence" which will allow these nationals to reside, work, study, and re-enter Argentina while the long-term work and residence permits are awaiting approval. These are specialized applications that will require the review of this firm's Argentine immigration advisor.

For those nationals coming from non-bordering countries, these nationals CANNOT regularize status in Argentina from a Visitor to a Work status. While the application to obtain work status can be made directly with the DNM, non-bordering foreign nationals are not allowed to work in Argentina. Non-border nationals can physically remain in Argentina as a visitor while the work permit application is pending approval; however, once the work permit application is approved, the employee and family members must return to their country of legal residence to apply for the work and residence visa.

Types of Work Visas

The major types of Argentine employment visa categories are as follows:

A) Article 29 (e) Visa – Valid for providing short-term, temporary work duties (or technical duties) while in Argentina. This visa is valid for an initial period of 15 days and can be issued by either an Argentine consular post or by Migrations in Argentina. This visa can be renewed for an additional 15 days with the migration authorities in Argentina. This visa requires prior approval of the migrations authorities and is generally required for visa nationals of non-bordering countries if in Argentina for short visits while the migrations authorities process a long-term work permit application.

B) Article 23 (A) Visa ("Labour Contract - Temporary Residence" Visa) – This visa is designed for those employees who are contracted by corporations settled in Argentina for at least a 6 – 12 month period AND will be assigned to the Argentine payroll as a "localized" employee. If the employee is to be paid from the Argentine payroll. A formal Labour Contract must be executed between the employee and the Argentine sponsor. This visa requires prior approval from the migrations authorities prior to applying for this visa at an Argentine consular post.

C) Article 23 (E) Visa ("Secondment -Temporary Residence" Visa) under Provision 18/94 – This visa is designed for those employees who are transferred to Argentina by a subsidiary corporation or from the same corporation group, for at least a 6 – 12 month period. This is the typical type of transfer for most assignments to Argentina. This visa does not require a Labour Contract but prior approval from the migrations authorities prior to applying for this visa at an Argentine consular post.

Read full article on Allo' Expat.

Public HealthVolunteer Project at a Glance

2009-11-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

Volunteer in Patagonia with the most underprivileged group in need of public assistance, particularly in the area of healthcare. Volunteering in Patagonia will expose you to the unfortunate extremes of wealth in Argentina. Your assitance in a hospital or in a medical clinic, will be an eye opening but rewarding experience. These public health and medical volunteering positions in Patagonia are very hands-on, and your assitance is truly needed and appreciated.

Volunteer Project Requirements

Minimum commitment of 1 month
Advanced level of Spanish
Have international insurance coverage
Submit your resume and a letter of intent in Spanish

Start Dates and Schedule

The start and end date of your volunteer project is flexible and can be arranged upon your needs. The volunteer project schedule depends upon each placement but it is generaly 3 or 4 days per week or 10-15 hours/week. *Volunteer placements from December to March may be limited due to the Argentina summer vacation break, particularly education related volunteer projects. If you wish to volunteer in Argentina during these months, please apply as early as possible for our volunteer programs.

Finish the article on GIC Argentina.

Water supply cut in drought-hit Córdoba town

2009-11-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

The town of Río Ceballos in the province of Córdoba has cut water supply today as it is facing one of the worst droughts in the history of Argentina's central region.

The interruption of the service is part of a policy to palliate water shortages in mountain areas of the province. Cuts in water supply in the towns of Unquillo and Mendiolaza is scheduled for tomorrow.

Authorities of municipal and provincial government will meet on Monday to coordinate actions in the view of the worsening situation. The Under-Secretariat of Water Resources of the province is expected to fine large users who fail to reduce consumption after the government ordered that water should only be used for drinking and cleansing, and forbade the use of water for plants.

"We aim at prevent the inappropriate use of water," said Jorge Saravia, head of the Public Services Regulating Agency ERESEP after a meeting with officials of the Under-Secretariat of Water Resoutces and Aguas Cordobesas yesterday.

WHAT IS Bueno, entonces... exactly?

2009-11-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

Bueno, entonces... is the best selling language-learning program for the iPhone, now available on DVD and instant download! Featured by Apple as New & Noteworthy, tens of thousands are already learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces…

Taking the most effective elements from traditional audio books and software programs, Bueno, entonces... has revamped language-learning by incorporating those features into a 1-on-1 Spanish lesson format, where you sit in on private classes with fresh audio/visual teaching tools, a huge improvement over programs currently available on the market.

Bueno, entonces... takes you inside 30 private Spanish lessons with Jimena, a gorgeous Spanish instructor, and David, her jackass student from London as he learns Spanish in beautiful Buenos Aires. Like learn-Spanish reality TV, but without the guilt of getting addicted, because in just 5 weeks you'll be speaking Spanish conversationally.

Developed by world-class linguists and seasoned comedy writers, Bueno, entonces... is the most entertaining, effective language program available. Instead of your Spanish lessons being torture, you’ll look forward to every class and want to watch them over and over again!

Bueno, entonces… is the only learn-Spanish program offering true Spanish language immersion. We relocated personnel from 6 countries to produce on-location in Latin America so students get a taste of authentic language and cultural immersion.

To learn more about Bueno, entonces, go to General Linguistics.

"One semester of Spanish" video. Really fun!!!

2009-11-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Check out more videos on Youtube.

Ecovolunteer in Argentina

2009-11-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

Learn About Permaculture at Gaia

By Ande Wanderer

If you are interested in sustainable living, improving your Spanish skills at an affordable cost, and enjoying vegetarian food in the otherwise carnivorous country of Argentina, you could do no better than Gaia, an ecovillage a couple of hours outside of Buenos Aires.

Founded in 1996, the 20-hectare community is situated on the grounds of a former dairy farm. A handful of friendly full-time residents and their frequent visitors stay in comfortable ecofriendly clay houses. Three on-site windmills provide electricity (even Internet access), and food and water are heated with solar power. A laborious method of turning compost into electricity is also in place. Fruit and vegetables practically grow themselves in the rich soil, which requires no tilling thanks to traditional sustainable agricultural practices.

In this method of living, called “permaculture”—an Australian-born 30-year old science of living in harmony with the environment—residents enjoy modern conveniences, but have no need for outside electricity, water, or gas.

As genetic engineering of crops increases worldwide, Gaia aims to serve as a storehouse of genetic information contained in organic seeds. The community guards 220 species of food and medicinal plants, including a 2,400-year-old variety of vitamin-rich quinoa.

Volunteers are required to work for a minimum of one month. They are expected to devote four hours a day, six days a week to helping plant and cultivate trees and crops, construct natural buildings, and aid in other maintenance. Another two hours a day are required for daily chores such as cooking and cleaning. A fee of $5 dollars a day (which may be waived for volunteers from poor countries) helps to cover food costs.

Read full article on Transitions Abroad.

Travel Guide to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Watch this video

2009-11-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

And to see more and more about Argentina, go to Youtube.

On Argentina

2009-11-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico, Colombia and Spain are more populous.

Argentina's continental area is between the Andes mountain range in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It borders Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. Argentina claims the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It also claims a part of Antarctica, overlapping claims made by Chile and the United Kingdom, though all claims were suspended by the Antarctic Treaty of 1961.

Argentina has the second-highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in purchasing power parity in Latin America. Argentina is one of the G-20 major economies, with the world's 30th largest nominal GDP, and the 23rd largest when purchasing power is taken into account. The country is classified as upper-middle income or a secondary emerging market by the World Bank.

Read more about Argentina, on Wikipedia.

Volunteer in a Women's Rights Center in Córdoba, Argentina

2009-11-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

Project Overview

Volunteers will be working in a women's center that strives for a more just and peaceful Argentina. The goal of this project is to educate the local community about women's rights and to promote the empowerment of women. Volunteers will be motivating the women of Córdoba to practice their rights. Through various activities, volunteers will educate the women about prevention and assistance from domestic violence, personal development and health, and other social issues.

Where will I be volunteering?

You will be working in a women's center in Córdoba, Argentina. It is located in the heart of Argentina and is the second largest city in the country. The rich Spanish colonial heritage is still alive with many old churches and traditional buildings still intact. Córdoba has a vibrant cultural scene, and you will enjoy the famous kindness and hospitality of the "Cordobeses". It is a major cosmopolitan city with all the conveniences that volunteers expect.

What am I going to be doing?

Helping with various activities to improve the quality of life of the women.
Organizing and helping with educational and cultural events.
Caring for and providing sympathetic company for victims of abuse and domestic violence.
Helping staff maintain the office and keep the library organized.

What is required to volunteer on this project?

Language Requirement: Intermediate Spanish
However, you can still join this project if your Spanish does not meet the requirements, by taking our Spanish language course.
Must be 18 years or older.

To read more about this program, go to uVolunteer.

Volunteer Opportunities

2009-11-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Volunteer opportunities and service learning projects in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Make a difference by taking part in volunteer opportunities in Buenos Aires and working side by side with locals at schools, hospitals, orphanages and other community and service learning project locations.

Argentina Human Rights volunteer positions range from working at legal advice centers to helping with public health awareness campaigns to researching children’s rights-related legislation. Projects range from research to on-the-ground training and support

Argentina Medical and Public Health volunteer opportunities range from conducting medical research to assisting with health care-related workshops in the communities. They also include providing non-medical care to patients at hospitals in Buenos Aires, attending ward rounds and helping the nursing staff.

Social Work, Education, and Community Service volunteer opportunities in Argentina include mentoring children, teaching English, caring for infants and toddlers at orphanages, and helping to build schools and houses for disadvantaged communities.

What To Pack When Volunteering in Argentina

2009-10-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

Planning or thinking about embarking upon a volunteering adventure in Argentina? There is plenty of preparation that goes into world traveling, but don’t forget the small stuff!

While volunteering you will have the opportunity to go on excursions as well as work in very different and exciting settings throughout Argentina. Whether you are helping children on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, or developing environmentally friendly changes in Mendoza, you will want to come prepared!

Backpacks are extremely convenient, but given that you wear them on your back, you have to be cautious while traveling about the city. Like many major cities, petty theft is very common on the streets of Buenos Aires. Don’t fear! While you may feel a little strange at first, most people wear their backpacks on the front of their body when in crowded areas. When you are outside of the city, this is not such a big concern.

Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when packing your bag everyday!

Prepare For Anything: Volunteering is an exciting and life-changing opportunity. Everyday will bring something new, exciting, and unpredictable. You will want to prepare for the best and the worst! This means, bring a camera (but store it safely) to take pictures! Also, always have a small umbrella on hand; while most of the days in Argentina are bright and sunny, you can’t always predict the weather.

Pack Lightly: While commuting to your volunteer site, or going on excursions, you will not want to be debilitated by a big heavy bag around your shoulders. It is important to carry around the essentials, but feel free to leave the heavy travel books at home! Keep weight in mind as you are making choices between clothes, food, gadgets, etc.

To get more tips, go to expanishvolunteer.com/blog

HEALTHCARE IN ARGENTINA

2009-10-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

In 2000 the total population in Argentina was estimated at 37 million. Argentina is divided into 23 provinces and a federal district, Buenos Aires, the Capital Federal.

Resources for Health services in Argentina were US$ 22.700 million in 1999 of which US$ 5,400 million were for public hospitals, US$ 8,300 million for Obras Sociales and Pami, US$ 2,300 in Pre-paid services, US$ 6,700 direct payment for beneficiaries.

Health expenditures as percentage of GDP were 7.4% in 1997 and 9.7% in 1999.

The public sector has an annual budget of US$ 13.012 million, representing 1,9% of GDP. The GDP per capita is US$ 8,514. Health expenditures per capita amounted to US$ 675 in 1997 and US$ 826 in 1999.

The compulsory portion of health care has two components: the government-administered component is financed through tax revenue (on a pay-as-you-go basis) and guarantees a standard minimum benefit according to principles of redistribution and insurance; the private component is geared toward savings and security, and takes the form of individual member-capitalized savings plans or company-managed plans that are funded by joint employee and employer contributions, fully and individually capitalised and regulated by the government (i.e., fully funded plans).

The voluntary plans are identical in all respects to the fully funded plans with the exception that they are capitalised exclusively by the beneficiary.

The health services system is composed of four main sub sectors: the public Hospital sub-sector (i.e., government-provided financing and services), the Obras Sociales (employee-benefit plans formerly run by unions and now organized by professional category), the private sub-sector (Pre-Paid voluntary insurance plans based on actuarial risk) and Insurance companies which cover a marginal sector of the economy. There is a strong bias toward curative care, with emphasis on hospital services. Although national, provincial, and municipal policies all define primary health care as their basic strategy, most of the jurisdictions that have adopted this strategy approach it in the form of "programme's" to be carried out at the primary care level.

The Obras Sociales plans are a system of compulsory social insurance that includes other benefits in addition to health care. Their financing comes from employer (5% monthly of salary) and employee (3% monthly) contributions. The Government is expediting deregulation of the sector in order to foster competition between the Obras Sociales plans and private (pre-paid) health insurance companies, encouraging beneficiaries to take an active role in choosing their Obras Sociales plan, and guaranteeing that all plans afford the basic benefits package of main services, diagnoses, and treatments for subscriber and dependants (PMO) as required by law. Benefits for primary and secondary care have a small co-payment (US$ 5 or US$10 for doctor's visits) but in-patient care and complex surgery/ procedures are free of charge. There is a 50% cover for drugs.

These Obras Sociales used to be linked to economic activities. Therefore each industry had its own OS as they vary in their level of quality of service and their services depend on salary scales and contributions. Nowadays members can choose any OS if they deem it to provide better care. By law, OS are not allowed to impose waiting periods, pre-existing conditions or exclusions. There are approximately 260 Obras Sociales providing care to 16 million members.

There are also Obras Sociales not associated to trade unions which offer care to middle and senior management who earn over US$2,000 monthly. These OS are financed like regular OS. The difference lies in the quality of service due to higher revenues. There are 24 institutions of this type in Argentina covering approximately 950,000 members. They have the same obligations as the trade union OS.

Except for those included under special programmes, the public sub-sector does not cover drugs for out-patient care. The public sub-sector of Obras Sociales plans defray a percentage of members' drug costs and fully subsidise all the uncommon, high-cost drugs included in the PMO (Plan Medico Obligatorio).

Pre-paid medicine companies also cover 50% of beneficiaries' drug costs. It is estimated that 8% of the population covered by the OS would also contribute to Pre-paid (PP) medicine. Pre-paid companies amount to 2,200.000 beneficiaries and operate very much any company providing private health insurance.

The only institution, which provides health care for the retired/elderly, is PAMIs, which are privately owned but managed by the government. The level of care and financing is inadequate. Pamis cover approximately 4,500.000 people.
In 1992 there was an average of only one physician for every 367 residents, and a ratio of 1 nurse for every 4 physicians and 5.4 nurses per 10,000 of the population, levels in this category were also considered insufficient. In 1999 there were 24.9 physicians for 10,000 of the population.

The number of available beds was 1,55.749 in 1995, with 54% in the public sub-sector, 2.8% in the Obras Sociales sub-sector, 43% in the private sub-sector. In 1996 there were 824 self'- managing public hospitals, offering a total of 62,402 beds (almost 75.3% of the country's public beds). In 1999 there were 44.8 hospital beds per 1,000 of the population.

In the private sub-sector, the two main subgroups are: professionals who provide independent care services to members of Obras Sociales or private, pre-paid plans; and health care facilities that are contracted by Obras Sociales plans.

Argentina health is not administered as insurance, as is the case with most foreign countries.

Pre-paid medical insurance originated as cover for independent workers. The popular perception is that pre-paid medicine rates very highly, as everybody would like to afford a particular plan. Pre-paid cover has a higher rate of usage than Obras Sociales and the Pre-paid client demands good service and is not willing to pay co-payments. PPs do not need sanction from any government body to operate; they exist to satisfy supply and demand.

Regarding outside cover, there is an international network only for emergencies providing free-of- charge care for accidents and for not pre-existing conditions for up to 180 days abroad. It includes repatriation of mortal remains due to accidental death. There are various plans on offer.

Expatriates are not covered unless they choose one of the pre-paid institutions. The level of care and quality is similar to that in their home countries.

DIRECTORY OF HOSPITALS & CLINICS

Clinica Bessone
Paunero 1648/86
San Miguel
Argentina
Tel: + 54 381 4667 2040

Clinica Del Sol
Av Coronel Diaz 2211
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: + 54 11 4821 1000

Hospital Aleman
Av. Pueyrredon 1640
Buenos Aires
1118
Argentina
Tel: + 54 11 4821 1700
Fax: + 54 11 4805 6087
Email: mterrera@hospitalaleman.com
Website: www.hospitalaleman.com

Read the whole list of hospitals on Allo' Expat Argentina.