I took a private intensive wine course for 6 days (3 hours per day, totaling 18 hours) with “Mente Argentina.” The Resident Director, David Rosenfeld, was very helpful in arranging the program for me with many options in order to fit my schedule. The course itself took place at an EAV wine school, which is one of the three wine schools in Buenos Aires approved by the Sommelier Association International. The instructor, George Bourdieu, is a very knowledgeable sommelier who is not only passionate about wines, but also about teaching. As such, I enjoyed his course very much, which was very well organized and well delivered. I learned a lot from him despite the short duration of the course. For example, I learned how to distinguish the smells and the tastes of various wines, the wine production processes, the wine regions in Argentina, the main characteristics of various grapes (both for red and white wines), the defects of wines, and the systematic approach to wine tasting. I’d like to recommend this wine course to those who are interested in learning about wines!
Mente Argentina
Hola! I recently studied abroad with Mente Argentina in Buenos Aires for one month. This was my first long term trip abroad and I must say that I was slightly nervous upon leaving for Argentina. However, the advisor with Mente provided me with so much support and comfort that it was nearly impossible for me to feel afraid. Months before I left for my trip, they were helping me set up my program and promptly answered every single question I had along the way. I was never left in the dark with Mente and they made me feel all the more comfortable with my decision to study abroad with them! Upon arrival, there was someone to pick me up at the airport and transport me into the city. I chose to stay in an apartment with other people, which was in the heart of the Palermo district. I couldn't have asked for a better location or better roommates! The location made it extremely easy to get to and from my classes. I am in the hospitality industry so I took the short term wine program at night and the Spanish program in the mornings (with plenty of time for siesta in the middle :)) Both classes were intense and I learned so much in the four weeks I was studying! Both programs had wonderful teachers that made learning so much fun. I truly enjoyed going to all of my classes! In addition to the course, Mente constantly arranged for the students to hang out and do local activities together. I made so many friends while studying abroad and the advisors were there every step of the way. Even when I decided to extend my trip after my studies, they still made sure to arrange transportation to the airport when I was finally ready to come home. I'm so happy I made the decision to study abroad with their program and I can only hope to return someday. THANK YOU Mente!
Hola! I have traveled to 3 different countries before going to Argentina and I can say without a doubt that my time with Mente was one of the best experiences of my life.
I took a 14 weeks Marketing internship program in Buenos Aires and everything worked out great! I stayed in a shared apartment with 3 other girls that were taking different programs. The apartment was located in palermo on las heras avenue which was a great spot for visiting Buenos Aires (only a couple of blocks away from the Subway and walking distance to the main city parks such as "Los Lagos de Palermo" and "Jardin Botanico").
As for the staff, they were extremely nice and helpful by answering all the questions we had with a big smile. They also planned lots of different free activities for us which were great to get to know all the other participants (la bomba del tiempo and mente night out were my favorites).
I would definitely recommend mente to anyone and I cannot wait to come back to Buenos Aires next summer! ;)
I spent 5 months with Mente Argentina (MA) in Buenos Aires, and my programme was actually made up of two 10 week internships. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience as a whole and for the most part I think that this is a great organisation that I would recommend to others, in particular those who are in Argentina for the first time, as I was. There is a very large variety of different internships available, and the staff are helpful in helping you find the one which is right for you - I really enjoyed both of mine and gained highly valuable work experience from them. The apartment I was put in was also great - great location and size, comfortable and well matched- I shared it with two other participants of the programme with whom I soon became close friends. The gym for which we had our membership included was also close by. I found the MA staff friendly, attentive and approachable, and enjoyed attending several of the activities they provided to participants...although a little more variety of these perhaps could would have been desirable! However they provided a great opportunity to meet the other participants on the programme and to make friends. You just might have to think outside the box a little, however, if you'd like to befriend some locals too!
Overall I definitely would recommend this organisation, as well as the city of Buenos Aires in general - its pretty, energetic and you definitely will never be short of things to do there!
I did a 8 weeks intensive spanish program as I planed to travel through South America afterwords. When I came I hardly spoke any Spanish, but now 8 weeks later I'm capable to speak with the locals and get around really well on my travels! The amazing thing is, you don't only learn a new language but also it opens the door to the culture of the countrys your travelling through. I recomend this experience to everyone, you will experience once in a lifetime oportunities and make a lot of new international friends!
