How an Internship in Buenos Aires Changed the Way I Think About Work

When I chose an IFSA program in Buenos Aires, I wanted an authentic experience that would challenge me in all aspects of life. One of the best choices I made was enrolling in an internship that pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me skills I didn’t even know I needed.  

Finding my place at Federación Argentina LGBT  

In the weeks before I arrived in Argentina, I was matched with Federación Argentina LGBT through IFSA’s internship placement process. This nonprofit provides advocacy and support to LGBTQ individuals across Argentina. My main responsibility was migrating over 500 client cases from outdated Excel spreadsheets into a new system.  

Throughout my time with the Federation, I was building the organization’s institutional memory by creating a database that ensures no client falls through the cracks during a transition. Each day, my goal was to process cases, verifying that every entry included complete information, was assigned to a supervisor, and had the proper status. At the end of each day, I used internal controls to check for missing information, ensuring no case status remained pending.  

Working entirely in Spanish  

While I knew my entire internship would be conducted in Spanish, the first few days still rattled me. I was suddenly in an environment of rapid professional Spanish in an Argentine workplace, where colleagues problem-solved quickly around me, used dialect and slang I’d never heard, and communicated with directness that’s normal in Argentina but was jarring at first to me.  

I had never worked in an office that only spoke Spanish. The language fatigue was real. I spent half the day concentrating intensely to follow conversations, then headed straight to Spanish-immersion classes. Some days, by 6 p.m., my brain felt like it couldn’t process one more word in Spanish. 

This challenge became my biggest area of growth. I learned to ask questions without feeling embarrassed, navigate dynamics across language barriers, and pick up context clues and professional norms.  

Skills that stick  

I’m returning to my home university after the unique experience of being immersed in an entirely new work culture. I gained an understanding of how data organization protects knowledge and client relationships, as well as bilingual professional communication skills that will serve me throughout my career. I learned that I could thrive in a professional environment in my second language, contribute even when I don’t have all the answers, and handle the adjustment that comes with any challenging environment.  

My advice to future students  

Seek opportunities that push you outside of your comfort zone, especially in your target language. This experience showed me that the struggle is truly part of the journey, and I invite you to embrace the discomfort and uncertainty that might feel impossible at first. An international internship can be a great addition to your resume—and it can also revolutionize your confidence in your own capabilities. 

Lauren C. | Tulane University | IFSA Argentine Universities Program, Argentina | Fall 2025