2016 DC| INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HANDBOOK FOR INCOMING STUDENTS www.utdt.edu/international 1 INDEX Welcome 3 About Universidad Torcuato Di Tella 4 Section I: Argentina 5 History, culture and climate 5 Buenos Aires 6 Useful websites Section II: Practical information 6 Health 6 Food and water Alcohol Drug Hospitals Pharmacies Safety 8 General precautions Outside precautions At home Taxis Money 9 ATM’s Bank hours Credit cards Exchange rates Money transfers Tipping VAT (Value Added Tax) Transportation 10 Subways Trains Buses Activities to do in and around Buenos Aires 12 Places to visit Shows Days Trips Useful information 17 Weather Time Electricity Shopping areas Embassies Communications 18 Important telephone numbers Cultural tips 19 Learning and respecting local customs Lunfardo 20 Section III: Universidad Torcuato Di Tella 21 Facilities and services 21 Academic information 23 Section IV: International Programs Office 24 Contact information 24 2 ¡Bienvenidos! Bienvenues! Welcome! Wilkommen! Bienvenuti! We are very happy that you have chosen Universidad Torcuato Di Tella to study while in Buenos Aires! We are certain that you will have a life-changing and enriching experience in our wonderful city and University. In order to make the most out of your time here, please take some time to read this Handbook, where you will find useful information to help you prepare and truly take advantage of your time in Buenos Aires. We look forward to working with you and to contributing to a very memorable experience. Alex Markman Tania Sturla Tatiana Cuadra Director International Programs Incoming Student Coordinator Coordinator 3 Universidad Torcuato Di Tella Founded in 1991, the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella is a non-profit organization founded on the pillars of two cornerstone organizations in Argentina: the SIAM factory (1910) and the Instituto Di Tella (1958). SIAM was the country’s first industrial company and also the first local organization to have commercial presence in several Latin American countries as well as in Europe. Innovative and with a global vision, it produced over 250 different products, ranging from household appliances to gas pumps and cars. The Instituto Torcuato Di Tella (1958) was home of the artistic vanguard of the late 50s through the 70s. Also home of outstanding research in the Social Sciences, the Instituto Di Tella brought together some of Argentina´s most influential intellectuals and artists. Inheriting the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of SIAM and the vanguardist essence of the Instituto Di Tella, the University’s mission is to educate the country’s new business, political, academic, social and artistic generation and to produce basic knowledge, in an environment of pluralism, academic excellence and equal opportunity. 4 Part I: Argentina History, culture and climate Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Argentina was a part of the Spanish Empire. On May 25th, 1816 the country became an independent Republic conformed by 23 provinces. The country’s capital, Buenos Aires, later became an autonomous city. During the 19th and 20th centuries many Europeans, mainly Italians, Spaniards, French and Germans, as well as many people from Eastern Europe, immigrated to Argentina escaping war and prosecution. Their presence in Argentina greatly shaped the country’s culture, so much so, that Buenos Aires prides itself of being called the “Paris of South America” as its Architecture and café culture very much resemble those of the French capital. The country’s geography is as diverse as its culture. The north has warm, desert-like climate; the northeast, where the Iguazú Falls are, features humid, subtropical forests. The “Pampas”, located in the center-south of the country has temperate climate that make the region exceptionally good for agricultural production. The Patagonia region, located south of the country, has cold, arid climate with stunning lakes, mountains and glaciers. Argentine people are very gregarious and enjoy being outside: eating out, spending innumerable hours at cafes, attending the cultural activities, many of them free that are offered weekly. Family and friends are very important for argentines. Indeed, Friendship day, which is celebrated in July, was established by an argentine and is now celebrated in many parts of the world. Soccer is the national sport and passion. 5 Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, South America’s largest Spanish-speaking country. This dynamic metropolis of more than 12 million people is home to one of every three Argentines. Buenos Aires is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with a European flavor, whose elegant residential neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and wide boulevards are why some refer to it as the “Paris of the Americas”. The vast array of cultural activities in Buenos Aires rivals that of any other world capital. Porteños, as the residents are called, enjoy an extensive offering of theater, music, dance, and cinema as well as plenty of local soccer games and other sporting events. Buenos Aires never sleeps; there is always time to enjoy a coffee at a street café, sample Argentina’s famous beef or visit a trendy nightclub and dance until dawn. UTDT is located in Belgrano, one of the 47 neighborhoods that make up the city of Buenos Aires. It is about twenty minutes from downtown Buenos Aires, connected by the subway, commuter train and several bus lines. Useful websites City of Buenos Aires homepage This comprehensive website has information on city events, maps, museums, theaters, etc.: http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar Interactive Map of Buenos Aires Very useful to find out best ways to move around the city: http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar Argentine Tourist Bureau http://www.turismo.gov.ar Cultural agenda and listings of things to do in Buenos Aires http://agendacultural.buenosaires.gob.ar http://www.vuenosairez.com/v3 Time Out Guide http://www.timeout.com/buenosaires Lonely Planet Guide http://www.lonelyplanet.com Guía Oleo Restaurant guide with customer reviews: http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/ Restorando Restaurant options and booking page: http://buenos-aires.restorando.com.ar You can find all the country’s newspapers in Spanish and English at www.onlinenewspapers.com/argentin.htm Part II: Practical information Health > Make sure to understand how your insurance works and to always carry your policy number and the provider’s contact information with you. > Should you need to see a doctor, unless it is an emergency, make sure to contact your health insurance provider before seeing one (otherwise, you risk having to pay for medical fees out of your pocket) > Please let the Office of International Programs know if you have any health problems as we can help you contact the health insurance provider and accompany to the hospital, if necessary. > If you take any medicine regularly, bring to Argentina its generic name and dosage. Also, if you wear glasses/contact lenses, remember to bring extra pairs. > If your sickness makes you miss classes, inform this to the Office of International Programs (OIP) right away and make sure to get a doctor’s note (to submit to the OIP) indicating how long you will miss school. 6 Food and water > Water in most big cities is potable. However, in Tigre and in some smaller towns in northern and eastern provinces, it is not. > Avoid eating foods from street vendors. > Always make sure that your food (especially meat) is fully cooked. Alcohol > All serious problems that international students have had in the past in Buenos Aires have been related to excessive consumption of alcohol. Therefore, drink responsibly! > The legal drinking age is 18. > It is forbidden to drink alcohol in the street. > Make sure to drink only with people you know and trust. > Do not mix different types of alcohol. > Always eat before and while you are drinking and make sure you drink water as well, to avoid dehydration. Drugs > Drug use in Argentina is illegal and can lead to very serious consequences. > Anti-narcotics laws are strictly enforced regardless of the amount of drug that a person may be caught with. > Drugs are a risk to mental and physical health. Hospitals Hospital Alemán Sanatorio Mater Dei 4827-7000 4809- 5555 www.hospitalaleman.org.ar www.sanatoriomaterdei.com.ar Av. Pueyrredón 1640 San Martín de Tours 2952 Hospital Italiano CEMIC 4959-0800 4808-8200 www.hospitalitaliano.org.ar www.cemic.edu.ar Gascón 450 Av. Las Heras 2900 Hospital Británico Sanatorio La Trinidad 4304-1081 4127-5500 www.hospitalbritanico.org.ar www.trinidadpalermo.com.ar Perdriel 74 Cerviño 4720 Swiss Medical Clínica del Sol 4824-7777 4821-1000 www.swissmedical.com www.cdelsol.com.ar Santa Fe 3700 Pharmacies > Are usually open from 9 am to 8 pm, however, every day there must be at least one pharmacy open 24 hours in each neighborhood. > You can find a list of all pharmacies in Buenos Aires in www.enfarmacias.com.ar. > Local health insurance plans always have discounts in prescribed medicines. 7 Safety Buenos Aires is a marvelous city. However, just like most big cities, it has a fair bit of crime. This is mostly non-violent and it usually consists of pickpocketing and stealing. Resistance and fighting back is may turn non-violent crime into fatal situations. Therefore, if mugged, just let go of your valuables; material things can be replaced. Common-sense and extra precautions, like the ones below will most likely keep you safe. General > Always listen to your gut feeling and to your intuition. > Always let a friend/your host family know where you are going to and if you are travelling somewhere. > During the first days in the city, make sure to have your address written down somewhere until you memorize it. > Should you have any problems, always remember to inform them promptly to the International Programs Office. > For emergencies call 911.