WHAT DO I NEED BEFORE I COME TO ARGENTINA?

VISA:

The first thing you need to look into is the Student Visa:

1. Pay $200 fee.
2. Submit a medical record including a chest x-ray, signed by a physician and notarized. The notary must be certified by the County Clerk. A raised seal from the Secretary of State must stamp the document.
3. Good conduct certificate covering the last 5 years from the local police department. Must be translated into Spanish with a certificate of accuracy.
4. Birth certificate which must be legalized by the Argentine consulate with a $30 fee.
5. Passport with 3 pictures.

You need to call the Argentine consulate in your jurisdiction for more information. Customs and Immigration are generally relaxed and helpful with any problems that you might have.

To find out the argentine consulate in your area click here: (LINK a doc. de consulados)

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

1. CLOTHES: When you are in class: the dress is casual. Appearance is regarded as very important here. You would never see the housewife with curlers at the local supermarket. You might also want to bring one really nice outfit in case you go to the Theater, etc. Winter is cool here so bring a jacket. It doesn't snow but it still gets quite chilly. The summer months are very hot. It is just like the US with all the seasons. If you like to ski and if you have room, bring your ski coat (in July and August, skiing is a popular vacation spot for Argentines. There are great resorts like Las Leñas and Bariloche). Also, some weekends you might be vacationing in the mountains or the beach, so think ahead.
   
   
2. UMBRELLA: Yes, it does rain. And when it does do not expect to find a taxi anywhere. They disappear.
   
   
3. COMFORTABLE SHOES: You will be walking around a lot. Walking is the cheapest and at time the easiest form of transportation.
   
   
4. BATTERY OPERATED ALARM CLOCK: the Watts are different here, so it is not wise to bring an alarm clock that needs to be plugged in. Even with a convertor, the clock will not work. The difference in Watts causes the clock to be either too fast or too slow.
   
   
5. DON´T BRING A BLOW DRYER FROM HOME. The Watts are different here and even with an adapter it will either ruin your blow dryer or blow a fuse in your house. The travel blow dryers with the 120-220 convertor switch do work, you might want to try it.
   
   
6. WALKMAN. This is perfect for taking on the subway or the bus.
   
   
7. Anything else you cannot live without. A lot of the American products (hair products, deodorant, shampoo, etc) are very expensive at the stores.

HEALTH INSURANCE:

The university will not provide you with medical insurance. You need to take care of this in the US. In doing so, you can try the following options:

1. Your credit card. Usually the credit cards have some kind of health insurance for card holders when they are abroad.
   
   
2. The Blue Shield network has some coverage in Argentina. You can check the specific plans at www.blueshield.com .

TELEPHONES:
Using the phone is expensive. They charge not only for long distance per minute but also local calls. It is cheaper to call the U.S. between 9 and 10 at night (you should check with your local Company). The rates are lower, but it is better to get a calling card. MCI and AT&T both have cards that are available in Argentina since they both have access numbers that you can call. The university has a computer center where you can check e-mails and navigate the web, you may want to use this as your daily communication method and save the telephone for especial occasions.

WHERE AM I GOING TO LIVE IN B. A.?

HOUSING:
The city is expensive but you can find the house of your dreams. It does take time. Housing is one of the most difficult tasks once you arrive to BA. It is not as simple as looking in the newspaper and finding the perfect place. You may find yourself looking at 100 apartments before you find the right one. But do not despair, you will find something.

There are three different housing options:

HOMESTAY: (renting a room or room/bath in a house or apartment)
If you choose this option be ready for another set of parents in Argentina. It depends on the situation, but remember that you are living with an actual family and must abide by their rules. It is not a plush hotel or a boarding house. This option can be really rewarding if you like to have someone there to check on you and to make sure you are "eating all your vegetables". But if you like your independence and are used to things your own way, this might not be the choice for you. One advantage is total immersion with the language. It would definitely improve your Spanish.

RESIDENCIAS:
They are usually a meeting place for foreigners from all over the globe and are filled with eighty different languages, cultures and customs. They can be very enjoyable to live in, but after a while you may realize that you want your own room and a private bath for a while. You will have an opportunity to learn about other cultures and may even find yourself learning more languages besides Spanish. These places are a great place to meet people from all over the world. This is a good "middle-of-the-road" option. It is less strict than a homestay, but it has more rules than an apartment. The majority of the places have flexible rates, private rooms and baths (optional), and a common kitchen and living room.

APARTMENTS:
The search for a "wonderful" apartment is not as easy as picking up the newspaper and looking in the classified ads. The hunt for an apartment is just that, a hunt. It takes a good amount of patience and time. However, if this is the option, you want it can be done. A few things to note:

1. Apartment owners usually ask for a "garantia" (guarantee). A "garantia" can be very difficult for a foreigner to obtain. It is a voucher that must be signed by someone who owns property here in Argentina. It is like an insurance for the owner that you will pay your rent, bills, etc. The signer of the "garantia" is responsible if you don´t pay. This might seem like no big deal but it is a pain. It is really difficult to find someone who is willing to act as a "garantia" for a foreigner. However, do not despair. Some places will rent without a "garantia" BUT they will ask for a large deposit or advanced payments of the rent.
   
   
2. Apartments also have "common expenses" that are tacked on to the rent. These run between 50-200 dollars per month. They pay for any maintenance that is to be done in your building and for the doorman or anything else they see fit to spend your money on.
   
   
3. Be careful when you sign the contract. If your Spanish is not very strong, make sure you have someone read it and check for accuracy. Also, make sure that when you sign the contract, you do so immediately following the last sentence of the contract.
   
   
4. You can go through an "inmobiliaria" to find housing. However, you will have to pay for the service and that can be as much as one month's rent. If you have some extra money and do not mind spending it, this could simplify your search.

A few things to keep in mind before when you decide to move:

• Look at the area:
  - Is it convenient? Meaning do you have access to the subway or buses? This is important because taking taxis everyday can add up. Is it close to the laundromat and grocery store? Yes, most of these places will deliver (it depends on the amount of money that you spend). It is much easier to be within a few blocks in case you only need a few small items.
  - Is it safe? Certain areas in the city are better than others. The apartment might be super cheap, but the area could be more prone to pick-pocketing, etc. Ask!
  
  
• Light: this sounds crazy, but a lot of apartments look to the inside of the building. This can be really depressing, it will seem like night all day long. So if you prefer darkness then is perfect for you. If not, keep that in mind.
  
  
• Go see the apartment/ room/ house: never agree to anything over the phone or without looking at it yourself. Things are not always as they seem.
  
  
• Check out the neighborhood before you move: like every city, there are different neighborhoods, some nicer than others. Common neighborhoods: Palermo (nice area, lots of parks), Recoleta (very posh/ more expensive), Once, Belgrano, San Telmo, Caballito, Congreso, Barrio Norte, Boca: (can be more dangerous at night), etc. Ask around about the area before you decide to live there. Some are safer than others, some are more expensive than others.

Check the Classified sections in the newspaper "Clarín" and "La Nación" (Saturdays & Sundays). The Buenos Aires Herald has a few, but they are really expensive. Looking for housing is very frustrating. It takes time. Find somewhere to stay for a month (a lot of people stay in Hostels, the San Telmo Hostel is supposed to be really nice, or hotels for the first few weeks) and then jump in with both feet. Where you live and how you live is very important. After fighting with the hectic city, no one wants to come home to fight with your house.

HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO NEED?

MONEY:
The following fees are only average and they can vary greatly, but these are per month expenses in US dollars. Currently the Argentine peso and the US dollar are 1=1.

Transportation: $30
Food: $250
Housing: $350 - $400
Entertainment: $200
Misc.: $100

This is just a sample budget. You might need more money or this might be enough for you.

• One thing to remember, Travelers Checks are not worth anything here. If you have them, CHANGE THEM ASAP. They are a safe method of travelling with your money and they are easy to exchange. The American Express Building is located on Arenales near the San Martin Plaza.
  
  
• Another important note. Don't travel around the city with large bills. A lot of Taxis, Kioscos, etc, do not have change and then you will be stuck. Try to carry at least one smaller bill with you.
  
  
• Tipping here is not the same as it is in the US. You do not have to tip taxi drivers, mail carriers, etc. However, it is nice to give them one peso. They are delivering whatever directly to your house. You should leave a small tip at a restaurant depending on the service. It is customary to leave 10%.
  
  
• Try to carry coins around with you for the buses. They don't offer change. It is a machine that gives you the ticket. Without coins, forget it.

HOW AM I GOING TO GET AROUND?

TRANSPORTATION:
For being such a big city, the transportation is great here. You can get from one side of the city to the other with no problems. There are 5 main ways of getting around.

TAXIS:
These are the most expensive out of the 4 options, but they are still relatively cheap. The starting cost is $1,12 and it goes up from there. The only problem with the Taxis is that they sometimes try to take advantage of the fact that you are a foreigner and will drive you out of your way in order to increase the charge. Be on the alert.

COLECTIVOS:
BA has one of the most intensive bus systems. There is a bus that will take you anywhere. They cost 70 cents and are one of the fastest means of transportation. Buy a Lumi Guide when you get here to help you get around with the buses. The hardest part is to know where to take what bus. It is easy to take the bus in the wrong direction. But practice makes perfect. When you get on the bus, before you put your coins into the machine, tell the driver "Setenta" (70 cents, one way) and then put your money in the machine to get your ticket. If you do not tell the driver, the machine will not work and you will wind up holding everyone up (which will lead to a lot of angry people behind you).

SUBTE:
The subway is incredible. It is the easiest and cheapest form of transportation in the city. It costs 60 cents. The only disadvantage is that these fast cars are crowded in the mornings around 9 am and the evenings between 6 and 8 PM. You will be amazed at many people actually fit into one of the subway cars. You can ride the subway via the Internet, search for Buenos Aires and then under subway you can type your destination and it will print your entire trip.

TRAINS:
The trains are great ways to travel out to the Suburbs like Olivos, Martinez, San Isidro, etc. They cost between 35 to 50 cents. They are located in Retiro. (On Libertador, you can't miss the station, there are tons of vendors selling everything outside).

WALKING:
This is the easiest and cheapest way of transportation. You will be walking a lot here. So make sure you have your map and wear walking shoes.

• It is important to set aside at least half an hour to travel anywhere. You have to take into consideration the traffic, if the bus is on time, and how crowded the subways are. A short trip across the city is imaginable. Once you become more familiar with the different modes of transportation you will know exactly how long it will take you to get to each place. At first, always set aside extra travel time. It is very easy, at first, to get confused in the city.

WHAT IF I WANT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CITY?

LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL:

There are many different ways to travel around Argentina to visit the sites. If you look in the travel sections of the newspapers, you will find lots of different travel trips. Two great student travel companies are: ASATEJ, located in Florida 835 3rd floor, office 319/ 4315-1457 and Feeling, San Martin 969/ 4311-9422. They offer the cheapest prices for students. (Places you might visit: Iguazu Falls, the provinces of Tucumán, Salta …, Mar del Plata, Uruguay, the Glacier, Ushuaia, Córdoba, Mendoza and the rest of South America).

If you need to get to a suburb and you don't want to take the train, you can call for a Remis. These are personal taxis that will take you anywhere. People pass out cards with different prices on the street all the time. These are cheaper than a regular taxi for longer trips because they have a set price.

There are also long distance bus services that you can find at Retiro. (TAC located on 976 Santa Fe, BUQUEBUS, etc.). These buses are not that bad, but it is a long trip.

For domestic flights you can leave from the National Airport, "Aeropuerto Nacional" or Aeroparque Jorge Newbery.

• This handout was prepared by Lori Stesiak, intern at the Fulbright Commission in Buenos Aires, Argentina.