Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.- How do I apply for an internship?
2.- How do I pay my fees for the internships?
3.- Why are there fees for the Aap and the movements?
4.- Can I get credits for the internship program?
5.- Is there a time of the year that internships are available or can interns join year round?
6.- Does the Aap provide financial aid for internship programs?
7.- Do I need a visa to go to Argentina ?
8.- What are the housing options for those who are coming to intern in a recovered factory/coop?
9.- Can I bring my camera and take photographs during my internship?
10. - What does the insurance include for those who will intern with recovered factories?
11.- Do I need my own health insurance to travel?
12.- How is the best way to deal with the money in Argentina?
13.- How much money do I need per month to live in Buenos Aires?
14. What’s the weather like in Buenos Aires?

1.- How do I apply for an internship?

Download the internship questionnaire, Contract and Health & Liability Forms,and send them back to us via snail mail, along with a $50.00 non-refundable fee to Graciela Monteagudo, Aap coordinator, 188 Barre St., Montpelier , VT 05602.

Send your application via email to Marcelo Dimentstein (Kelo) to aapbuenosaires@yahoo.com.ar (the check is to go to Graciela Monteagudo, 188 Barre St. , Montpelier , VT 05602.) Please, send it in Word or rtf ... you can write in English.

back

2.- How do I pay my fees for the internships?

back

3.- Why are there fees for the Aap and the movements?

The Aap is a small grassroots organization, with no support from big foundations. Most of the Aap expenses (including personnel) are covered by the fees received from the different programs we organize. The Aap has a coordinator who lives in the US and earns approximately $ 15,000 a year. The program plans on increasing her salary whenever possible. The Aap also gets help from two other people (in Argentina ), who get paid an equivalent to what somebody doing that job would get paid in the US .

The Aap is not a regular “solidarity” organization. Our objective is to facilitate communication. We do not have upon our main objectives to transfer funds from industrialized nations to Argentinean social movements, but we do think that the movements should receive some financial support from activists/students/artists and folks who wish to spend time learning from them.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Aap finances and how we manage and distribute program fees, please don’t hesitate to send an email to questionsaap@aol.com.

back

4.- Can I get credits for the internship program?

The internships are not set up by a local University. We can’t offer credits directly. But, we can send you/your University an official letter detailing the activities you are going to do in order for you to show it wherever you need to.

back

5.- Is there a time of the year that internships are available or can interns join year round?

Interns can join the recovered factories program all year round. The length and the intensity of the internship can be negotiated with the movements and the Aap.

back

6.- Does the Aap provide financial aid for internship programs?

The Aap is a small grassroots organization, with no support from big foundations. Most of the Aap expenses (including personnel) are covered by the fees received for the different programs we organize. We are not in a position to offer financial aid, but will support you with letters of recommendations if you wish to seek it yourself from your University, church, private donors that you might know of, etc.

back

7.- Do I need a visa to go to Argentina ?

American, Canadian and European citizens do not need visas to stay in Argentina for periods of less than 90 days. As soon as you show up with your passport at the customs you will be stamped a costfree-90-day-visa. For those who are planning to go for more than 90 days you should ask for a visa at your nearest Argentine Consulate. However, sometimes folks who are staying in Argentina for more than 90 days, find it easier and nicer to spend a day in Colonia, Uruguay (45 min trip by ferry from Buenos Aires port) just when the visa is about to expire. When they re-enter the country they get a new 90 day visa.

back

8.- What are the housing options for those who are coming to intern in a recovered factory/coop?

We recommend Hostal Don Sancho www.hostaldonsancho.com.ar if you are looking for an affordable and cool hostel. If not, the Aap can pass you contact info to locate furnished apartaments for rent. Arrangements to stay with a local family also can be done and you should estimate that they charge USD 200 per four weeks. Please contact Yuli at vanesayuliprieto@yahoo.com.ar if you wish to either rent an apartment or stay with a local family. Housing is not included in the Internship fees.

back

9.- Can I bring my camera and take photographs during my internship?

Yes, but you must ask people before you start shooting if this is OK with them. Normally they are Ok with that. Also, we strongly recommend you insure your equipment. It is not uncommon for equipment to be stolen in the streets and elsewhere.

back

10.- What does the insurance include for those who will intern with recovered factories?

You will have an insurance from the same company that insure the workers of the recovered factories and coops. This is the detail:

back

11.- Do I need my own health insurance to travel?

Yes. No interns will be accepted into the program that cannot show us proof of their health insurance.

back

12.- How is the best way to deal with the money in Argentina?

It can be challenging to change traveler’s checks, so please also bring some US Dollars with you, which are easier to change.  Make sure your dollars are not marked in any way, or broken (even if it’s a tiny tear).  Even if you can use them in the US , nobody will accept them in Argentina .  Bills marked with colored pencils, markers, or whatever, are rejected by the banks. You will have to present your passport when changing US dollars into Argentinean $. If you have a credit/debit card and you are going to stay mainly in capital city you can use ATMs. There are plenty of them everywhere. Check with your bank/credit card company what exchange rate they will use.

back

13.- How much money do I need per month to live in Buenos Aires?

Things in Buenos Aires cost aproximately 50% less than in the US . Food and transportation are even cheaper. We estimate that perhaps you will need like USD 200/300 for four weeks. That's probably a good ammount of money if you don’t take into consideration what you’ll have to pay for accommodation.
Here are some prices expresed in US dollars (1 USD = $arg 2,8)
Local buses: USD 0,28
Subway (1 journey}: USD 0,25
Taxi (15 minutes drive): USD 4 aprox.
Fixed menu in a local restaurant or in a Café (lunch): USD 5 aprox. That includes a starter, main course, dessert and soft drink/water.
Internet in a Cybercafé: USD 0,40 per hour.
(To learn more about Buenos Aires , see our tips for travellers page)

back

14.- What’s the weather like in Buenos Aires?

Above all Buenos Aires ’ climate is humid. The changeable spring (Sep. 21 st to Dec. 21 st), hot summer (Dec. 21 st to March 21 st) and mild autumn (March 21 st to June 21 st) resemble New York ’s seasons, but winter (June 21 st to Sep. 21 st) temperatures are moderated by the South Atlantic and are more comparable to Los Angeles , Sydney or Cape Town . Last time it snowed in Buenos Aires was in 1918 but although we don’t have a freezing winter it is certainly chilly, 30 to 60F . Summers are humid and hot and we can have temperatures around 90/100F. Also, the weather changes very fast during the day and temperatures can drop dramatically in a short segment of time. (To learn more about Buenos Aires, see our tips for travellers page)

back

aapbuenosaires@yahoo.com.ar