Back from Abroad: Anna's Return From Argentina

We are extremely excited to welcome Anna O’Connor, Program Coordinator, back to Global Ties Iowa after her semester abroad in Argentina where she participated in the SIT program “Social Movements and Human Rights.” Spending four months abroad, Anna learned a lot about herself and Argentinian culture that will help her with her future personal, academic, and professional goals.  

When asked about her favorite memories from Argentina, Anna highlighted two stories: her independent study project and trip to Iguazu Falls. During the last month Anna was in Argentina, she researched a theme of her own choosing: the effects of appropriation of children from their parents on children’s mental health during the last dictatorship in Argentina from 1976-1983. “I learned so much about the effects of state sponsored terrorism and got to connect with people who were at the forefront of the fight to reinstitute appropriated children, such as an Abuela de la Plaza de Mayo and a reinstituted nieto or grandson,” Anna said. She also got to connect with her advisor during this period, Ana Maria Careaga, a psychologist with experience in tireless activism fighting for justice for victims of the dictatorship. This experience truly changed her life and gave Anna connections that she will never take for granted. Additionally, Anna’s trip to Iguazu Falls with her friends was an unforgettable time. She traveled for a total of 28 hours to get to the falls, a trip that, in Anna’s words, was “so worth it!” She got to see the largest network of waterfalls in the world while also hiking and exploring nature where there were hundreds of butterflies that would come and land on you! 

In reflecting about what she learned about herself in Argentina, Anna said, “I am a lot more adaptable than I realized. The culture in Argentina is very go with the flow and it was super important to adapt that to your daily life to survive in the academic and social environment.” As the program was also a way to enhance her Spanish language skills, she also learned to be more confident in her language abilities and, in turn, all social interactions. 

This adaptability and confidence are what Anna will bring back to and continue to develop at Global Ties Iowa, as well as her newfound skill of expanded communication beyond the barriers of language. She also hopes to use the connections she made and the knowledge she gained through the program to look for programs that would be suitable for eastern Iowa and the unique resources we have to offer. Anna's time spent in Argentina also opened her eyes to what our International Visitors experience during their time in the United States. She gained much more empathy and knowledge in the world of exchange, having now been on the other side of it. “It is so fulfilling to be able to have the view of working in international exchange as well as being a part of an international exchange,” Anna said. “I am so excited to continue to connect with Spanish speaking visitors and hopefully get to share a bit of my Spanish speaking knowledge and study abroad experience with them.” 

As a side note, Anna’s experience being hosted by a woman in Argentina also highlighted the importance and significance of Iowa Table Dinners and Homestay Hosting. Being in a homestay allows International Visitors to connect with the culture on an entirely different and deeper level. “You are a part of your host family's daily life and share yours with them as well. It is a game changer for expanding your language skills. The daily conversations I had with my host mom were vital to our relationship and my skill building within the language,” Anna recounted. “It was a great way to understand my host culture as well as increased my connections and comfortability within the city of Buenos Aires.” 

We are extremely excited to have Anna back with us after her semester abroad! Her invaluable experiences abroad in Argentina will not only help her connect with IVLP visitors and programming tasks but also provide our office with countless incredible stories. Welcome back, Anna!