Live, Learn and Tango! A fusion of Art, Politics & Culture Study Abroad Argentina 2009

  Argentina

• Buenos Aires: 
Buenos Aires

Term: Summer, Throughout the year 
Dates: July 3rd, 2009- August 2nd, 2009

Description: Live, Learn and Tango! : A fusion of art, politics and culture is a comprehensive four-week program that includes: university courses, cultural activities, and community service. The program is open to undergraduate and graduate university students from around the world.

Come discover the best kept secret of Latin America, a vibrant city were passion is the norm, mixture of cultures one-of a kind and home to some of the most welcoming and artistically inclined people in the world. Buenos Aires combines old world charm with a cosmopolitan modern edge giving way to an array of entertainment, culture and education.

University Courses:

Students will have the opportunity to engage in specially designed courses. The main focus will be placed on issues of global importance while maintaining personal relevance through interactive and challenging means.

All students will be required to take minimum of two courses but can take up to three. The main course that everyone will take is "Poverty, Social Struggle and Revolution," students will then choose between "History, Society and Photography", "Spanish Language course" for a 6 credit program or both for an intensive 9 credit program.

All courses are taught in English and are fully accredited. Transcripts are issued by Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, our ongoing academic partner. Each course is worth 3 US/6 ECTS semester credits. Credits can be transferred upon approval from the student's home university.

Cultural Activities:
Immerse yourself in a new culture and way of life. Through out this program we have carefully selected activities that will not only broaden your notion of the Argentine culture, but you will also relate to it in unimaginable ways while building long lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

Some of the activities currently planned include a retreat to the countryside to a typical 'Estancia' (Ranch) home of the well-known 'Gauchos'. Once there we will enjoy world-renowned Argentinean food 'empanadas', 'asado', fine Argentinean wines, folkloric music and dances. On a different day we may take a stroll to the northern part of the province of Buenos Aires to an area called "El Tigre" and see for ourselves a piece of living history. Colonization started here with the second foundation of Buenos Aires by Don Juan Garay in 1580. Today, the City of El Tigre is a vibrant location, the Fruit Market, a different, almost magical world. We will take an excursion on one of several catamarans (boats) and travel down the river where thousands of islands and inlets, water channels, and backwaters form a sub-tropical wonderland about twenty miles northeast of Buenos Aires.

Throughout your stay in Buenos Aires you will witness first hand the passionate dance of Tango whether it is with couples dancing in the streets or at an elegant theatre. Tango classes will be available for those students interested in taking part in this intricate dance form. With a few lessons soon you'll be able to Tango the night away!

Community Service:
Work with members of the Argentinean community on service projects. These activities are not only highly rewarding, but allow you to put theory into practice. Get to know Argentineans involved in community work and find out more about the projects they work on.

Field Trips:
We will embark on several tours throughout your stay to better acquaint you with the exciting city that will be your home for the next few weeks. Discover Buenos Aires' beauty visiting its museums and civic center. Beginning with the National Congress and Mayo Square with the Government's House (Pink House - Casa Rosada), and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then, continue to visit the world famous Columbus Theater (Teatro Colón), house of the Opera and other performing art forms. Following, we will visit the traditional neighborhood of San Telmo, where its magical atmosphere will make you go back in time. Then, we will stop at La Boca, where the first Italian immigrates settled down, famous by its colorful and picturesque architecture. We will continue to Palermo, passing by Puerto Madero, residential neighborhood with several attractions like the zoo, Palermo Park, the Planetario, etc. Finally, we will visit Recoleta, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods, where we will see the famous cemetery, elegant boutiques, excellent restaurants and open air cafes.

Staff:
There will be knowledgeable and friendly on-site staff that will be available to guide you every step of the program and are well prepared to handle any problems that may arise.

Speakers:
Get first-hand information from leaders in business, art, politics, education, and other areas of the public sector. (subject to change upon availability)

Workshops:
Work together with your fellow staff members and students in an open environment of discussion in order to develop a plan of action that you would like to implement in your community. Receive guidance and support on developing and expanding current ideas and finding ways to concretize these into plans for change.

Accommodations:
Located in the heart of the city the accommodations will be comfortable, clean and safe. They have been carefully selected to maximize your experience abroad. Also, you will be in walking distance to subways, buses and other forms of transportation that will safely get you to your destination. Internet access will be available. Students will share a room with one or two other students depending on living preferences and room availability. Students will be matched per request or by interests.

Meals:
Meals will be the student's responsibility. Luckily eating is one of Argentineans favorite past times and have become quite proficient in doing so. Eating is practically and art form and quality food is something Argentineans take great pride in. You might want to budget approximately $5-10 (USD) for lunch and about $10-15 (USD) for dinners depending on personal eating habits.

Eating in Argentina as with most Latin cultures is a social pastime that friends and family take very seriously and will often engage in for hours. Lunch and dinner often consists of pizza, pasta and meat dishes. Those who are fond of exotic cuisines will be pleased to find that Argentina offers exquisite regional dishes like empanadas, this is minced meat and other ingredients covered with puff pastry. Argentina is famous for 'asados', restaurants specializing in barbecued and grilled meat dishes, mainly beef, but also pork, lamb and chicken. Beef is of a particularly high grade which results in quality dishes and some of the best steak the world has to offer. The variety of cuts of meat and methods of preparing these is nothing less than spectacular, and the price of such a meal accompanied by one of the many excellent local wines makes it a bargain. Sandwiches de miga are wonderful dainty sandwiches made of very thin-crusted white bread and filled with slices of ham and cheese. Churros, a bit like donuts and can come filled with dulce de leche or chocolate are definitely worth a taste. Hungry yet? Just wait and see all the delicacies Argentina has to offer!

Transportation:
Buenos Aires has a reliable and inexpensive public transportation system consisting of buses, subway and train. Taxi's or Remises are widely available and inexpensive.

Airport Pick-up:
The Tomorrow People program begins as soon as you step off of the airplane. We will arrange your airport pickup so you don't have to worry about getting to your accommodation. A car and friendly staff member will be waiting for you at the airport and will accompany you directly to your place of residence.

Free Time:
Student will have several free afternoons and weekends. This is when students can go sightseeing and exploring Buenos Aires and even take trips to nearby cities or neighboring countries!

Additional Activities:
Our program also organizes several activities through out your stay in order to maximize your study abroad experience. The following are examples of some of our past activities:

* Tango Shows
* Fútbol Matches
* Neighborhood Tours
* Museum Visits
* Concerts
* Bike Rides
* Group Dinners
* Wine Tasting
* Artisans Fairs
* Folklore Shows
* Polo match
* Typical Argentine BBQ

Tango Lessons:
Our program includes a group tango lesson at one of the top dance studios in Buenos Aires. No previous knowledge or skill is needed; ladies please bring your heels for dancing!

Optional Weekend Trips:
As in previous study abroad programs, many of the students decide to get together and go on trips on the weekends and or after the program ends to maximize their experience abroad. In order to facilitate such we ask that you bring extra money in the event that you would like to go on these "unofficial trips". Examples of trips taken: Mar del Plata, Iguazu, Colonia and Montevideo.

Cost:
The cost of tuition is $3,750 US dollars for the 2-course program (6 US credits/12 ECTS) or $4,750 for the 3-course program (9 US Credits/18ECTS). Programs include: tuition, housing, fieldtrips, workshops, community service projects, cultural activities, onsite staff and transferable transcripts. Due to our commitment to accessibility, we strive to minimize tuition in all of our non- profit programs.

A non-refundable deposit is due two weeks after the invitation is received or by January 15th, 2009 at latest. It is required to secure a spot in program. Remaining amount is due by February 15, 2009. Payment plans can be arranged. The price of the program does not include airfare or meals.

Our programs are one of a kind and offer a level of personal attention and flexibility unseen in typical programs. We have onsite friendly staff members that will be available to you 24 hours a day. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the program every step of the way and be there for you should you encounter any problems throughout your trip. Our programs are tailored with student's interest in mind and have proven time and time again to offer one of a kind learning experience that will never be forgotten.

Please note all information provided is subject to change depending on availability and enrollment.

Scholarships:
Tomorrow People Non-Profit Organization strives to make our programs accessible to all. A limited number of scholarships may be available and only for students accepted into the program. To apply for a scholarship please fill-out the applicable section on the application. Please note that we are unable to provide full tuition scholarships to any student, and under no circumstances can we provide funds for travel. We encourage students to find outside funding, if this is something you are interested in doing we will provide a letter of support for you.

Please consult your home university for funding opportunities. A large percentage of participants receive funding from their home university to attend this program.

Applications:
Simply fill-out the on-line application. Participants are selected based on the quality of their application and essay so please fill it out carefully. Admission into our program is highly competitive but we highly encourage all students interested to apply.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling admission basis and are reviewed weekly, meaning the sooner you apply the sooner you will receive the admission decision.

We encourage all persons to apply early. Finalists may be contacted for a phone interview and/or to submit official transcripts and letters of recommendation.

Fast Track Application:
The overwhelming requests for financial aid have lengthened the decision process. For those who do NOT require financial aid, we offer a new Fast Track option.

Few Words...

On behalf of Tomorrow People non-profit organization we hope you will find our program exciting, rewarding and life-changing. We strive to motivate students to become active members of the global society we're creating in an effort to bring social change, and unveil the leaders of tomorrow. We're here to facilitate your learning and maximize your experience as you choose the world as your playground. If there is anything we can do to improve any aspect of our program, or simply have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for considering our program.

We look forward to meeting you next summer!

Highlights: Students will have the opportunity to engage in specially designed courses. The main focus will be placed on issues of global importance while maintaining personal relevance through interactive and challenging means.

All students will be required to take minimum of two courses but can take up to three. The main course that everyone will take is "Poverty, Social Struggle and Revolution," students will then choose between "History, Society and Photography", "Spanish Language course" for a 6 credit program or both for an intensive 9 credit program.

All courses are taught in English and are fully accredited by the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero our ongoing academic partner. Each course is worth 3 US/6 ECTS semester credits. Credits can be transferred upon approval from the student's home university.

Main course: (taken by all TPO Participants)

Poverty, Social Struggle and Revolution:

3 US Credits/6 ECTS

Poverty is one of the most pressing problems in the world today and this course will provide you with an overview of the causes of poverty and some of the ways out of it. A specific objective is to identify and analyze the role of politics in both the causation and elimination of poverty.

Poverty is an intrinsic component of the daily struggles for survival of the more than one billion people in the developing world. Poverty is rising rapidly in Europe and Central Asia, and continuing to rise in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. In Asia, where most of the world's poor live, the proportion in poverty has declined over the past two decades although the Asian crisis slowed down overall progress. In general, the world appears to be divided into clusters of countries, the worst of which seem to be caught in a 'poverty trap'. The course will address to what extent the continued existence of poverty can be attributed to national and international policies. In this context, certain key questions will be addressed: What are the causes of extreme poverty and famine and the role of politics in combating such deprivation? Why have conventional approaches to development not had greater impact on poverty reduction? Will a human rights-based approach to poverty reduction result in greater urgency and effectiveness in tackling the problem? What has been the role of bilateral and multilateral agencies in poverty reduction and are certain regimes better equipped to eradicate poverty than others?

In addition we will be focusing on the ways in which ideological, political, and legal-institutional factors have shaped the historical development, current structure, and future possibilities for welfare policy at an international level. Discussion will center on public welfare, medical care, social security and workfare, and the racial distribution of poverty.

This course will emphasize class discussion and group interaction as a part of the learning process. An important part of this course will be building connections with local organizations that will serve as examples of actors in the political arena, to better understand the process and its effect in the "real world". An example of such are the famous worker run factories. After analyzing the currennt social situation in Buenos Aires, students will then decide on an issue they would like to impact, and through a community service project they will be given the resources necessary to help make a difference.

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Additional Courses:

History, Society & Photography:

3 US Credits/6 ECTS

* Historicity and Social Conscience
* Looking at "the other"
* Political use of images
* Photography, reality and the truth. The digital era.

Intensive Spanish Language Course:

3 US Credits/6 ECTS

* Course will cover grammar, writing skills &reading comprehension
* Oral communication will be an essential component of course.
* Experienced and motivated teachers
* Small groups allowing more individual attention.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: $3,750

A non-refundable deposit is due two weeks after the invitation is received or by January 15th, 2009 at latest. It is required to secure a spot in program. Remaining amount is due by February 15, 2009. Payment plans can be arranged. The price of the program does not include airfare or meals.

Our programs are one of a kind and offer a level of personal attention and flexibility unseen in typical programs. We have onsite friendly staff members that will be available to you 24 hours a day. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the program every step of the way and be there for you should you encounter any problems throughout your trip. Our programs are tailored with students interest in mind and have proven time and time again to offer one of a kind learning experience that will never be forgotten.

Experience Required: yes

This program was carefully designed to motivate students to become active members of the global society we are creating. Tomorrow People is a non-profit organization and we hope you will find our program exciting, rewarding and life-changing. With this in mind, we look for students with an insatiable desire to learn, motivate, and potentially change the world one step at a time. Students will have a great opportunity to build lasting networks with unique individuals since the students selected for our program will usually fit into most of these categories: Future leaders. Individuals who want to make a difference in this world. We believe that cultural awareness is one of the most important steps towards creating ethically responsible global citizens and future leaders. You do not need to have years of leadership experience but you do need to have a desire to learn about yourself, other cultures, and ways to improve your community. People who want to take a chance. Experiencing another culture can be an adventure. It will challenge how you view yourself and the world around you. This program is for people who want to open their minds to new ways of thinking and are flexible and daring enough to take the necessary steps to doing so. People who want to make new friends. The program is open to enthusiastic people from around the world. Without a doubt you will make lasting relationships that will shape you as an individual in unimaginable ways. People who want to have fun. Argentina is famous for its unique culture. Buenos Aires offers a wide range of activities to do during the day and night. The biggest problem youll encounter is deciding what to do first and how to fit everything in!

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Argentina Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Scholarships are Available. -  Tomorrow People Non-Profit Organization strives to make our programs accessible to all. A limited number of scholarships may be available and only for students accepted into the program. To apply for a scholarship please fill-out the applicable section on the application. Please note that we are unable to provide full tuition scholarships to any student, and under no circumstances can we provide funds for travel. We encourage students to find outside funding, if this is something you are interested in doing we will provide a letter of support for you. Please consult your home university for funding opportunities. A large percentage of participants receive funding from their home university to attend this program.

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Tomorrow People Non-Profit Organization's Mission Statement: Tomorrow People Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals become educated and ethical, globally aware professionals, committed to inflicting a positive change in the world. Our focus is on leadership and cross-cultural studies. By motivating people to develop new ideas and teaching them the skills necessary to put those ideas into action, we are creating new generations of responsible and successful global citizens--future leaders.

Year Founded: 2002