John Sanders
Córdoba, Argentina
February - June 2025
It was not until completing the introductory level of Spanish classes at Clemson when I decided to add Modern Languages as an accompanying major to Sociology, as opposed to just a minor. After making substantial progress in my language skills from those introductory classes, I became confident that I could master the Spanish language by the time I graduated. My interest in Hispanic culture had also grown during that time, and I had become impressed by my professors and their teaching styles. However, what motivated me the most to become a Spanish major was the unique opportunity to participate in a faculty-directed study-abroad program. At Clemson University, language programs have international education incorporated directly into the curriculum; Spanish majors at Clemson are required to participate in a semester-long program, curated to the apprehension and immersion of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.
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My study abroad semester took place in the Spring of 2024, when I lived and studied in Córdoba, Argentina for five months. I chose this program because it emphasized cultural immersion and language apprehension and required students to live with a host family, all while living in a unique and beautiful destination. During this time, I attended a local university, completing language and culture intensive classes, followed by classes in history, business, and literature of South America. Utilizing the historic significance of the city, the courses offered me a firsthand education of the social and political history of the city of Córdoba and her respective country. I attended class trips to an estancia- a historical remanent of the Jesuits who first colonized the region, a campo- providing insight into the rural and agricultural backbone of Argentina, a former detention center for political prisoners- an artifact from a brutal military regime, and an art museum- where I discovered the contemporary artistic identity of the city and country. Our cohort also attended a local soccer match for a firsthand experience of the sports culture we had learned about in the classroom, and we traveled to Buenos Aires to explore its bounty of historical and cultural artifacts. In the classroom, I was introduced to literature and media significant to the region, lectured on the history of Argentina and Latin America as a whole, and immersed in the ethics and practice of business in Argentina.
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I enjoyed my courses, professors, and classmates, but the experiences that I had outside the classroom were what made the semester a life-changing experience. Navigating my home life with my host family entirely in Spanish was crucial to my development as a Spanish speaker. I ate almost every dinner with my host family, and what began as small talk evolved into much more profound conversations over dinner involving political and philosophical discussions in a family with differing views. By the end of the semester, I had begun assisting with meals and participating in discussions as if I had always lived in that house. Living with a family was a deeply immersive and genuine experience of the periphery of Argentinian culture hidden from most travelers. Throughout interacting with my host family and the countless Argentinian friends I made, I began to adopt cultural practices into my daily life; I became a connoisseur of yerba mate and Argentinian cuisine, I joined the university’s soccer team, I became a member of a nearby gym club, and became a fan of a local soccer club, attending several games with friends.
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Another extracurricular experience that defined my semester abroad was the travel. As a student I was granted plenty of autonomy to travel independently to five different provinces of Argentina. In the Federal District of Buenos Aires, I encountered both the classical architecture and the nightlife culture that defines the city. In Misiones, I experienced the breathtaking Iguazú Waterfalls and the culture of the indigenous Guaraní people. In the Rio Negro province, I caught a glimpse of Patagonia and went skiing for the first time. In Mendoza, I learned about the wine culture of Argentina while standing face-to-face with the beautiful Andes mountains. In Jujuy, I travelled alone to remote desert towns with thriving indigenous identities and unique cultural practices. During my semester I also did two international trips- to Uruguay and Brazil. The experiences of navigating foreign systems of travel and transportation and confronting a vast range of cultures added to the depth of my immersion.
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Perhaps the most culturally immersive aspect of my semester abroad was the experience of living with a host family. As they did not speak any English, this aspect was crucial in my development as a Spanish speaker, but it also immersed me in the family dynamic of an Argentinian home. One of the most culturally different characteristics of my household were the family dinners. Almost every night, our family ate dinner together, often times hosting guests from around the neighborhood. During these dinners, up to twelve people would cram at the table and immediately explode into an array of conversation. Many of these conversations were lighthearted, but they would occasionally devolve into rather heated political and philosophical arguments. People would be standing up and shouting across the table, sometimes hitting the table, and after only several minutes would be done, and speaking completely normally as if nothing had happened. I also attended church and cultural festivals with my host family, and learned how to cook traditional Argentinian dishes with my host parents.
