Argentine Fulbright students take New York City by storm

Sebastián Dell Elce, one of 10 Argentine students participating in the Friends of Fulbright Argentina Undergraduate Exchange Program at Virginia Tech, wrote recently about the group's trip to New York City.

Exploring New York's Chinatown.

And just like that I woke up in the City That Never Sleeps. I had always dreamed about visiting this place, and finally I was there, in the city where dreams come true, where a great part of the main events of the world take place. So many dreamers, such possibilities, and yet I still could not have foreseen the incredible day it was.

The rest of the Friends of Fulbright students and I started the day with a surprise birthday party for our peer and friend, Agustina. A muffin and some balloons were set in anticipation for the coming day.

 We began our tour visiting Grand Central Station. Thousands of movies show New York City’s famous station, and we discovered why. Its majestic lamps, huge posters and well-known clock make this station unique. Then we went on and walked to the New York Public Library. But not only for the books is it famous; its architecture and art pieces are human heritage. By the time we left, it was already time to stop for lunch — but only for a small break, as we didn’t want to lose a second. The best was about to start.

"The 11th Argentinian Hokie.Argent"

We walked between never-ending skyscrapers for some minutes and then went inside one. They were waiting for us, “the Argentinians.” All of a sudden, a man appeared speaking in very Argentinian Spanish. We sat in a meeting room, and he started talking. We had never imagined such an inspiring story. He was also a Fulbrighter, very involved with his job, which consists of South-South and triangular cooperation. His passion for and confidence in what he does was breathtaking. He also mentioned the importance of having a worldwide perspective, and how you can change the future independently where you work.

We then moved to another building — as astonishing as the first — for a second meeting. After going upstairs, an Argentine shield appeared. Finding that Argentine symbol in the middle of the big city was moving. It was the Permanent Mission of Argentina in the United Nations. After introducing ourselves, they started explaining what they do and how they are representing Argentina to the world, before later opening a discussion regarding Argentina’s role in the world.

The day went on, and we attended the MoMA to see some of the most famous pieces of art in the world. After eating some slices of famous New York pizza while sitting in the street with our formal clothes, we returned to the hotel.

That’s how I finished one the most incredible days in my life, proud of the Argentinians who are representing my country, and inspired by their lives to be a better world citizen and a better professional.

At United Nations, Argentine students are challenged to change the world

On a characteristically bustling New York City afternoon, students from Virginia Tech’s Friends of Fulbright Argentina Undergraduate Exchange Program gathered at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan. There, they met with Jorge Chediek, director of the U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation and envoy of the secretary-general on SSC, and Alejandro Verdier, deputy permanent representative to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Argentina to the U.N. Both encouraged the students to think about how they can make an international impact.

For Clara Perez Bonin, a civil engineering student from the National Technological University in Buenos Aires province, the experience of attending such meetings was unique. “It gave us a new perspective of global collaboration,” she said. “It made us feel interested to try and do our part in working for a better world.”

Discussions centered on the U.N.’s work of integrating the political, human, social, and economic aspects of making the world more equitable. The students learned specifically about the Sustainable Development Goals, or Agenda 2030 after the deadline for meeting them. Adopted by all 193 member states in 2015, the goals form a global action plan  to end extreme poverty, protect the planet, and bring prosperity to all humans.

The students talked about Argentina’s role in addressing Agenda 2030, including confronting the country’s target of eliminating poverty.

“It was interesting to see the problematics that Argentina is involved in, which were a little bit different from what I imagined,” said Lautaro Lorenzen, an electrical engineering student from the National University of La Plata in Buenos Aires province.

As the Sustainable Development Goals are a joint, universal compromise, the meetings animated the students to consider how they could play a role in effecting change in Argentina and the world – how they, as STEM students, could bridge the gap between technologists, entrepreneurs, and nation-states to collaboratively, sustainably innovate.

“The hosts were very generous and showed us what their jobs were like,” Perez Bonin said. “They opened our minds to international networking and its importance – something that may sometimes be strange for technology students.” 

Gonzalo German Guendulain, from the National University of Córdoba, agreed. As a biotechnology student, he said, he doesn’t usually find himself in a diplomatic environment. “Visiting the U.N. gave me a completely new sight of the opportunities we – students from different universities – have for contributing our knowledge to a world that’s constantly changing. Beginning to visualize our professions as a link to people from around Earth, and deconstructing the idea of involving ourselves in political surroundings to contribute to this purpose made me realize that every person from this group has capacities necessary to help construct a fairer, more developed, and friendlier world.”

Written by program coordinator Leslie Jernegan

Argentine Fulbright students get a taste of life as Hokies

Friends of Fulbright Argentina students meet with Jorge Chediek, director of the U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation.

For Mercedes Saenz, one of 10 undergraduate students from Argentina spending seven weeks studying at Virginia Tech, the experience is more than an academic exchange.

The biotechnology student from the National University of Rosario in Santa Fe province said much of her learning has come not from the classroom but from the residence hall. “My roommate is Pakistani-American,” Saenz said. “We’ve gotten along great since we met each other. We spend hours talking about our home countries, showing pictures, and comparing our traditions and cultures.”

In its third year at Virginia Tech, the Friends of Fulbright Argentina Undergraduate Exchange Program is organized and implemented by the Language and Culture Institute. The program enables high-achieving Argentine students to live and learn at a U.S. university. Its goals are to provide a meaningful study abroad experience for participants and to bring diverse perspectives into Virginia Tech’s classrooms.

Read more at VT News.