Etienne in Argentina

My story

I’ve always been interested in other cultures and languages, but especially in 2024 my YouTube algorithm started recommending more and more videos from South America. I don’t like to generalise, but what struck me was how people there treated each other in a warmer, more familiar way, something I was missing in Holland at the time. That got me thinking and led me to look for internship placements in South America. Normally I research everything down to the last detail, but this search was surprisingly short. I still remember my search term: “sports internship South America”. The first site that came up was The Power of Sports. The website looked well cared for, I immediately read a few lovely experience stories like this one, and in no time I was on a video call with Ruben.

Before my internship in Argentina I did a Spanish minor in Holland. That meant I left fairly well prepared, and it gave me the confidence to speak Spanish from day one. I haven’t regretted that for a second, and I can highly recommend it to others.
I found the day of arrival quite nerve-racking. I’d never shared a house with people I didn’t know beforehand. But that very same evening I already felt completely at ease.

In the end you become friends with everyone really quickly, because you spend so much time together: you work and live together. Something that seemed strange to me at first, like sleeping with several people in one room, actually turned out to bring us really close. Telling stories and laughing until you fall asleep… That’s something I definitely miss now.

The projects themselves were very educational and, I think, have also made me more humble. The contact with people in the deprived neighbourhoods has particularly stayed with me. In areas where nothing can be taken for granted, I saw how neighbours share everything with each other and how nobody is selfish. During my internship I also worked on a documentary about a remarkable neighbourhood with a special football pitch. As soon as it’s finished, the video will be available on this site, made possible in part by The Power of Sports.
During my time in Argentina I also got the chance to travel with colleagues and friends. For example, a big group of us went to the carnival in Rio. I also made smaller trips to Salta (in the north of Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Bariloche (Patagonia).

During that time I also met my Venezuelan girlfriend. Since then we’ve travelled together to Ilha Grande and Paraty (Brazil), and to the Iguazú Falls, on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

All in all, I can honestly say that this has been the best time of my life. I feel hugely grateful that I got to experience all of this. On top of that, I learnt a language in a fantastic way, and I now dare to say that I speak fluent Spanish.

What advice would you like to give future interns and volunteers?

Be eager to learn, because there’s so much wonderful stuff to discover here.

You might not change the world in a short period, but do your bit. Because the energy you put in comes back to you in one way or another. That’s truly how I experienced it.

And something practical: if you still have time to learn or improve your Spanish before you come, 100% do it!