Córdoba, Argentina
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Know Before You Go: A survival guide to Córdoba, Argentina Spanish Studies Abroad The Center for Cross~Cultural Study www.SpanishStudies.org Learn the Language... Travel the Land... Live the Life... TABLE OF CONTENTS Country Profile: Argentina ...................................................................................................................... 1-6 Country Overview: History, Quick Facts, Government, Educational System…………… ..................... 1-4 Córdoba Overview: History, Quick Facts, Economy, Language ........................................................... 5-6 Practical Information ............................................................................................................................. 6-10 Making Phone Calls .............................................................................................................................. 6-7 Emergency Contact Information ........................................................................................................... 7-8 Handling Money .................................................................................................................................... 8-9 Weather ............................................................................................................................................... 9-10 Being a North American Abroad ........................................................................................................ 10-13 Culture Shock .................................................................................................................................... 10-11 Gender Relations, GLBT, Religious Diversity, Race and Ethnicity ................................................... 11-13 Safety ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Travel the Land ..................................................................................................................................... 14-16 Getting Around the City, Argentina and South America ................................................................... 14-15 Fun Places to Visit ............................................................................................................................ 15-16 Live the Life ......................................................................................................................................... 17-22 Meeting Argentine Friends, Dress Code ................................................................................................ 17 Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) Campus .......................................................................... 17-18 Housing .................................................................................................................................................. 18 Mealtime and Food: Meals, What to Expect from Argentine Food, Special Dietary Needs ............. 18-21 Shopping, Social Activities, Night Life ............................................................................................... 21-22 Learn the Language ............................................................................................................................. 23-26 Dialect .................................................................................................................................................... 23 Helpful Vocabulary ............................................................................................................................ 24-25 Suggested Reading/Viewing/Listening ............................................................................................. 25-27 Conversion Charts .................................................................................................................................... 27 10/04/2012 As part of your cross-cultural experience, you will find that you will encounter different cultural attitudes and behaviors while you are abroad. This is a guide to help you better understand the cultural norms of where you will be studying, as well as to offer useful information about the city and country. The Córdoba Handbook, on the other hand, relates to Spanish Studies Abroad’s policies and program-related information, and it is equally important to review that information as well. Think of this as an insider’s guide to help you quickly and effectively acclimate to your new city and become a Cordobés in no time. ¡Buena suerte y buen viaje! At the end of your program, you will know more about Argentina than you ever could have expected. The following is information that will give you some idea about Argentine life before you go. Further up-to-date details on Argentina and other South American countries can be found on the website of the U.S. Department of State at http://travel.state.gov. BRIEF HISTORY OF ARGENTINA The history of Argentina is divided by historians into four main parts: the pre-Columbian time, or early history (up to the sixteenth century), the colonial period (roughly 1516 to 1810), the independence wars and the early post-colonial period of the nation (1810 to 1880) and the history of modern Argentina (from around 1880). The beginning of prehistory in the present territory of Argentina began with the first human settlements on the southern tip of Patagonia around 13,000 years ago. The written history began with the arrival of Spanish chroniclers with the expedition of Juan Díaz de Solís in 1516 to Río de la Plata river, which marks the beginning of Spanish domination in this region. In 1776 the Spanish Crown established the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, an umbrella of territories from which, with the Revolution of May 2010, began a process of gradual formation of several independent states, including one called the United Provinces of Río de la Plata. With the declaration of independence on July 9, 1816 and the military defeat of the Spanish Empire in 1824, a federal state was formed in 1853-1861, known today as the Republic of Argentina. COUNTRY OVERVIEW Argentina is a founding member of UNASUR, the Union of South American Nations, and MERCOSUR, a common economic and customs bloc of several neighboring countries on the continent. It is a 1 well-developed and stable democracy with a modern economy. Additional information on the country may be obtained online from the Argentine Ministry of Tourism website at www.turismo.gov.ar. 2/3/2012 Argentina is located in the so-called “southern cone” region of South America, which includes the republics of Chile to the west and Uruguay to the east. It also shares borders with Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia to the north. The second-largest country on the continent (after Brazil), Argentina is home to both the highest and lowest geographic points in the Americas. The Western Hemisphere’s tallest mountain, Cerro Aconcagua, is found in Argentina’s Mendoza Province, within the Andes range along the border with Chile. Conversely, the continents’ lowest location, Laguna del Carbón, is found in the southern Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The country’s geography includes a highly diverse array of landscapes and habitats. Its coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean stretches nearly 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) long. The Argentine Northwest is a desert-like area marked salt flats and impressive colorful mountain ranges. The north-central Chaco region is a semi-arid plain, while the northeastern Litoral area encompasses a lush tropical rainforest containing the famous waterfalls at Iguazú. The nation’s heartland is made up of the fertile plains of the Pampas, comparable to the prairies of North America. The mountainous Cuyo region of central-west Argentina is widely known for its world-class vineyards and excellent winter skiing while the extensive Patagonia in the south is famous for its remoteness and unique wildlife. Even further south, the province of Tierra del Fuego is a snowy mountainous sub-Antarctic island. Its capital, Ushuaia, bills itself as the southernmost city in the world. Federal Capital Autonomous City of Buenos Aires National Population 40.7 million Religions Nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% Native Languages Spanish, the national official language, spoken by nearly all Argentines; indigenous South American languages of Quechua and Aymara also spoken by some communities in the rural Argentine Northwest, while the Guaraní language is used by some in the tropical Northeast; various other languages spoken by ethnic and expatriate enclaves in some metropolitan areas. Principal Government Officials Cristina Fernández de Kirchner o President of the Argentine Nation o Presidenta de la Nación Argentina Amado Boudou o Vice President of the Argentine Nation and President of the Argentine Senate o Vicepresidente de la Nación Argentina y Presidente del Senado Argentino Eduardo Fellner o President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies o Presidente de la Cámara de Diputados de la Argentina National Government & Legislature Argentina is a democratic presidential republic whose government structure closely resembles that of the United States. The bicameral national legislature, the Congreso de la Nación Argentina, consists of a 2 257-seat Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) and a 72-seat Senate (Senado). Three Senators are elected by voters to represent each of the 23 provinces of Argentina and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.