Argentina Visual Arts, Photography, and Service

Each student has a unique and individual experience on their Experiment program. The following essay is a single glimpse into a program from one student's perspective.

Olivia Kirven

An Unforgettable Experience

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to take part in the Experiment in International Living program to Argentina. From meeting my new group member friends, to living with a great family, to working with kids at a school; there were a thousand new and unfamiliar experiences that came together making it an unforgettable trip. I learned more during those short four weeks than I ever anticipated possible.

To begin with, my learning started when I met my group in the airport. There was a wide variety of personalities and characters, and students from all different places. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and discovering the similarities and differences we shared. The group made a huge impact on my outlook of other kids across America and added greatly to the trip overall. I’m so glad we all became close friends and could help each other along during our time in Argentina.

Then, together we learned about Argentina when we spent a lot of time discovering Buenos Aires. The city was beautiful and I loved the architecture. I was always in awe of it. Taking pictures of the city and people gave us an idea of the Argentine way of life. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It was a perfect way to ease into the culture and the best way to learn.

And finally, after we had become somewhat comfortable, we took the next big step and probably the scariest. The family-stay connected with me the most. Becoming part of a family is a powerful experience and the people there opened their home and their hearts to me, as well as the rest of the group. I learned about Argentina from the inside perspective of all five members of the family as well as from the students at San Francisco School. We worked with the kids and helped them with pinhole photography. I really enjoyed teaching them and helping them create something they could be very proud of. Watching them helped me keep life in perspective because even though they were from the poorer area of Santa Fe and received assistance with clothing and food, they were so friendly and just so happy to be alive.

I could elaborate on so many more parts and details from my trip because it has impacted me so much, but all in all, I have taken from my experience in Argentina: lasting friendships, more knowledge about the Argentine way of life, and deeper than that, I have learned about who I am and where I want to be in the future.