{"id":860,"date":"2012-05-02T15:59:17","date_gmt":"2012-05-02T15:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.menteargentina.com\/blog\/?p=860"},"modified":"2026-10-08T15:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T15:37:21","slug":"day-in-the-life-mente-participant-simon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.menteargentina.com\/blog\/day-in-the-life-mente-participant-simon\/","title":{"rendered":"Day in the Life: Mente Participant Simon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some real, live Mente participants. We just happen to attract naturally beautiful people.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nSure, we\u2019ve all heard stories about studying abroad<\/a>; but what is it really like? \u00a0We were curious ourselves to see what an actual, on-the-ground day in the life involves, so we decided to tag along with some of our participants over the next few months to get a picture of the real Mente Argentina experience<\/a>.\r\n\r\n
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View from Simon’s apartment overlooking the Botanical Gardens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nSo meet Simon, a participant from Hong Kong. He came to Argentina on vacation to study bartending<\/a> and wine<\/a>; not a bad life. \u00a0A typical day? \u00a0Waking up in a shared apartment on Las Heras, across from the botanical gardens in the heart of Palermo. \u00a0Breakfast might be medialunas and mate, an acquired taste, to be sure\u2014but what doesn\u2019t go with medialunas? \u00a0It has to be a quick breakfast; at 8 am Simon heads to Spanish class on Calle Florida<\/a>.\r\n\r\n
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Medialunas and mate outside Recoleta Cementery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nVerbs can be fun. \u00a0Honest. \u00a0At the intensive Spanish class there are only a few students– never more than 8 per class– and each week, the class advances to a new level. \u00a0Professors are experienced Argentinians– perfect for adopting the lisp and other peculiarities of speech to make one an authentic porteno. \u00a0It\u2019s a four hour class but there\u2019s a break in between; just enough time to grab a quick coffee and chat with the other students, or get insider tips on life in Buenos Aires from the professor.\r\n\r\nNothing caps off a morning of imperfect Spanish verbs like mixing a few drinks. \u00a0For the first two weeks of his four week program, Simon is participating in the Barman course<\/a>, a Mente program which will certify him to bartend internationally.\r\n\r\n
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Definitely a place that inspires learning….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n
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Just a few of the Barman course’s school supplies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nEach day involves learning how to mix drinks, flip bottles in the air, and pour the perfect drink.\r\n\r\nAt the end of the program, Simon creates his own, signature cocktail: a Ginger Honey Martini. \u00a0We could definitely get used to drinking that!\r\n\r\n
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Final Exam: A+<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nAfter a tough day of language-learning in the morning and drink-creating– and tasting– in the afternoon, a night out is in order<\/a>. \u00a0Maybe it\u2019s cooking at home, going out in Palermo, or doing a Mente night out<\/a>— like a group outing to a show like Hombre Vertiente, or bar-hopping with the other participants–whatever it is, there better be time for sleep; tomorrow\u2019s a new day!\r\n

Stay tuned for our next post on a real, live, Mente Argentina participant!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Simon with his Barman classmates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n
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Mente participants out on the town<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n—Patricia<\/em>\n\n\n\n