The tango lesson starts with matching the music’s beat.
Choosing a partner, 17 Bryant undergrads spread out on the dance floor and practice a basic six-step tango routine. With the leading partner’s left hand pressed on the outside of their follower’s right hand, and their right hand on the middle of their partner’s back, students four step and promenade across the floor while attentively listening to dance instructors Rodrigo Calvete and Denisa Eliana Ferreira. Matching the rhythmic ebbs and flows, undergrads are especially giddy as they tango; after all, they are in Argentina — the tango capital of the world.
This immersive experience is just one of the cultural adventures students have engaged in as part of their short-term faculty-led study abroad trip to Argentina and Chile this past January. Ditching their New England winter coats for two weeks of shorts and t-shirt weather, students were tasked with examining the two countries’ economies, histories, and how their cultures impact Latin America’s business and political climates.
Led by Senior Lecturer of Communication and Language Studies Patricia Gomez, students studied the two countries prior to their visit and used their observations in each country to inform their group presentations, which they shared this past March.
“Short-term study abroad programs enable students to experience different countries, exposing them to diverse cultures, and languages, and broadening their perspectives,” says Gomez, who has run the “History, Politics, and Culture in Latin America” course and trip numerous times over the last decade.
Using the past to understand the present
Settling into their seats in a Buenos Aires hotel conference room, undergrads gaze at the presentation in front of them and keenly listen to Ivan Ordonez, an economist who has long explored Argentina's complex economic landscape. He explains that Argentina's economy is divided into key sectors, including urban centers that drive economic activity and agricultural areas, which produce commodities like cattle, soybeans, and corn. Learning that government programs help combat unemployment but also add economic strain, the group is surprised to hear that Argentina relies heavily on the U.S. dollar for transactions due to a lack of mortgage systems and currency instability.
“His talk emphasized Argentina's resilience and potential, while underscoring the need for reforms to address inflation,” says Morgan Levesque ’26, a Health Sciences major.
From the grandeur of Buenos Aires Cathedral to the towering marble mausoleums of Recoleta Cemetery, students spend much of their trip exploring awe-inspiring locales. Visiting Museo Evita, undergrads learn about Evita Perón — a famous actress, politician, activist, and advocate for women and the poor. Later traveling to the Espacio Memoria y Derechos Humanos Museum, which preserves the memory of victims from the country's last military dictatorship, the gears start turning as students begin to understand Argentina’s larger role in the international system.
Partway through their Argentine journey, Bulldogs trade their tourist gear for cleaning supplies. Traveling to the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the group reaches a humble abode known as Hogar San Jose — a house for girls; the space is reserved for young women who’ve experienced domestic violence.
“The staff here empowers girls to thrive and reach their full potential. They do so by providing education opportunities, medical care, and recreational activities, all while creating a safe and loving environment that encourages the girls to heal from their pasts,” says Anya Mishenina ’26, a Finance major.
Cleaning and organizing the home, students — who brought gifts for the girls — also spend time preparing empanadas and eating lunch with the girls followed by a spirited game of soccer under the warm, afternoon sun.
Learning through doing
Dipping their kayak paddles into the cloudy light-brown water, undergrads cruise along the Delta Tigre perched atop their neon kayaks. As one of the most populated deltas in the world, the river offers a leisurely space for boating and swimming while also functioning as an avenue for food transport. Needing to satiate their hunger after their aquatic workout, undergrads visit Puerto de Frutos, a market known for its shops and restaurants. Getting to know Argentina through its food, undergrads enjoy everything from empanadas and cured fish with capers to beef tenderloin and pumpkin with sage butter.
While food is an important part of Argentine culture, soccer — or fútbol — has captivated the country’s attention. Together, undergrads tour River Plate Stadium, the largest stadium in South America, which seats 93,000 fans.
“The culture of the game is almost like a religion,” says Brooke Hammond ’26, a Marketing and Applied Economics double major. “Many parents name their children after their favorite players and put their babies in team onesies in the hospital — it’s even popular to get tattoos of dates, team founding dates, and logos. Fútbol has also become a distraction in many ways in the past for what is going on politically or economically in the country.”
Ending one adventure to start another
After seven days in Argentina, jaw-dropping views of the Andes Mountains await undergrads following a two-hour plane ride to Chile. Greeted by a warm breeze, students begin the second half of their journey with an exploration of historical landmarks throughout the city of Santiago. Layering their site-seeing with insight on the country’s economic situation, students are busy comparing the economies of Argentina and Chile, as well as the decisions made by the governments to improve their economy.
“Argentina's government supplies many social services like education and housing to their citizens but is unable to collect enough taxes from the wealthy; this forces the Argentinian government to print money to pay for these services, which causes severe inflation and instability,” says Josiah Bugbee ’27. “Meanwhile, the Chilean government was forced to reestablish many social services after the dictatorship, and these social services led to a higher tax rate.”
Learning more about Chile’s history, students visit the Memory and Human Rights Museum, which houses testimonies and archives on the violations of human rights committed during the last Chilean military dictatorship and the democratic transition process. There, they quietly watch and listen to recordings of individuals' experiences during that period.
Just as students had visited a house for girls in Argentina, undergrads spend a day at Hogar de Cristo, a private organization that provides support to individuals experiencing homelessness. From interacting with elderly residents, assisting with wood working projects, and engaging in several intense rounds of bocce, students leave feeling a new gravity to the role of social responsibility and community engagement.
Venturing from the city and into the mountains, a portion of the group grabs their sneakers and treks to the Cascada De Animas waterfall. They pass through valleys, gaze upon lagoons tucked along the route, and take note of unusual flora and fauna. Reaching the waterfall, undergrads listen to the rushing water as it bathes the gorges below. Meanwhile, the remaining Bryant students opt for horseback riding on the mountainside. Crossing ravines and enjoying spectacular views, the group eventually reconnects for lunch; with renewed energy fueling them, the whole group takes to the trees for ziplining — a once-in-a-lifetime experience as they travel 100 feet over the Maipo River while crossing a forest of pine and eucalyptus trees.
Gaining perspective through distance
From sea lions resting on port docks to jellyfish that lazily move along the harbor, students look back at land during a tour of Chile by boat. The buildings, positioned on steep hills, are defining characteristics of Valparaíso — Chile’s oldest and most important port. Known for transporting copper, fruits, and vegetables, the area is bustling with activity as cargo ships come and go with ease.
While gaining distance from shore gives students perspective of the area’s geography, breathtaking views of the bay from Pablo Neruda’s home gives students another vantage point for taking in the scenery around them. A politician, diplomat, and distinguished poet who won a Nobel Prize in literature, Neruda’s childhood influenced his artistic work, which undergrads uncover during their tour of the site.
Exploring the city’s art scene, undergrads discover the deep roots of Valparaíso’s graffiti culture. Known as the street art capital of Chile, graffiti murals date back to the early 20th century and attract artists from around the world. Graffiti in Valparaíso is often legal and encouraged — resulting in many property owners commissioning artists to create murals on their buildings. Graffiti here is not just art but a powerful form of cultural expression that reflects Valparaíso’s vibrant and diverse community.
“Many artists use unique techniques and materials, including homemade inks, to create their pieces, adding a personal and innovative touch to their work. The graffiti often carries strong political messages, echoing the city’s history of social activism and resistance,” says Devon Garvey ’25, a Team and Project Management major.
Shaping a meaningful experience
One of the last stops on the trip includes a visit to a pottery studio in Pomaire – a small village known for its craftmanship in pottery production – where undergrads are greeted by Cueca dancers. Taking a pottery lesson in town, students secure their aprons with a snug knot, pull back their chairs, and sit at a long wooden table. In front of them rests a hunk of clay on an amber-colored board. Listening to local artists teach them techniques for creating bowls and jugs, undergrads let their creative flow take over. Pressing the palms of their hands into the malleable material, students thoughtfully mold the clay — turning it from an ambiguous lump of minerals and rock particles to functional kitchen tools.
The process takes a while, but the group eventually places their final products together on an empty table. Admiring their creations, the outside light illuminates the bowls’ rounded rims while creating shadows on the jugs’ ballooning middle; the pottery pieces are full of potential and waiting to be used.
The clay has transformed.
And so have they.
