Acceptance!

"Congratulations" was all I could see from the subject line..."You have been accepted to the Foundation for Sustainable Development’s Internship in Argentina," appeared after I opened the email.

Argentina?! The most European country in the Americas? With the highest standard of living in South America?! No parasites, just dengue-carrying mosquitoes?! Woo-hoo! Okay, it took a bit longer to re-align my expectations. Some FAQ's:


What will you do while you're there?
I have been placed with a non-profit called El Bohio, where I'll be interning 30-40 hours per week. For more detailed information, here's my offer letter: El Bohio

How much does it cost?
Total Cost of 52-Week Program: $7,450

This covers transportation to and from the airport, 3 meals a day, lodging, "access to weekly laundry service," trainings, emergency health insurance, ongoing support from the FSD field office, and a mid-term retreat.

Airfare: $500-$1000
Estimated Additional Daily Living Expenses: $4,000-8,000 for the year

Where will you be living?
The first 10 weeks I will be placed with a family, after that I have the option to either continue the homestay or move into a shared apartment/dorm setting. (At this point I can also come running home, if we decide the program isn't right for me.)

Preparation, Take 1

To-Do List:
Application...check (after about 15 hours of Spanish review).
Savings...check (after 6 months of delivering pizzas and saving my pennies).
Research...check (read Culture Shock's Ecuador book, shock is right! More than half the population has parasites or worms,eww!)
Acceptance notice...T-minus 2 and counting.
Fundraising...pending acceptance notice.