Study Abroad in Mendoza, Argentina

In studying abroad, I wanted to immerse myself in learning about different cultures and engaging in food justice, while also gaining first-hand knowledge of issues at hand for local people. Studying in Mendoza, Argentina and taking classes in the Agrarian Science college directly enrolled in the local university, I thrived on the different perspectives I was gaining as well as looked forward to the many discussions that arose among my classmates, professors, and friends—both inside and outside the classroom. I found that my classmate and professors were as eager to hear my perspective on many subjects just as I was to hear theirs, and the information I learned from these dialogues has been invaluable.

     Something that first caught my attention while working in rural communities abroad are the disparities between rural and urban access to resources. This was highlighted in the international service trip I led in 2016 to Belize focusing on school garden initiatives and access to nutritious food for students. The group spent time in both a rural and urban school, and the differences in access between the two environments were stark. Rural environments throughout the world continue to be marginalized, and continued urbanization only continues to reinforce barriers to access and cycles of poverty. During my year abroad in Mendoza, Argentina studying in the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo’s College of Agrarian Science, I enrolled in a Rural Extension course, which was centered on how to effectively dissolve barriers, improve communication, and increase access to rural areas—the heart of most of the world’s food system. Promoting rural equality and farmer justice is a key component to improving our food system as well as reducing rural poverty.

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