AFS aims to provide 30% of our students with scholarships or grants
Find out about our range of scholarships, grants and fundraising
Uruguay
Unique experiences, unforgettable moments - Uruguay is a country full of stories to discover!
Enquire about UruguayEligibility Requirements
- You must be between 16 years 6 months and 17 years 9 months of age
- Language requirements: Basic Spanish recommended
- Enrolled in an NZ school, graduates depend projected numbers for Uruguay’s office
Note
Please enquire and let us know if you are interested in a programme to Uruguay
What's included in your experience
- Airfare
- Airport Pick-up
- Host Family Placement
- Housing
- Meals
- School Placement
- Individual Contact Person
- Medical Insurance
- 24/7 Emergency Support
- School Transport
- Assistance with Application Process
- Visa Application Assistance
- Pre-Departure Orientation
- Orientations during your time abroad
- Continuous Support
- Worldwide Presence
- 70 Years Experience
What you are responsible for
- Vaccinations
- Cultural Tours
- Visa and Passport Fees
- Stipend
- School Uniform
Host Family
In Uruguayan culture, families are interwoven tightly together. The average Uruguayan family has one or two children. It’s common for families to have grandparents living with them at their home. It’s somewhat normal for Uruguayan children to be lectured. This attitude doesn’t represent a lack of trust or respect. On the contrary, in Uruguayan culture, it is a sign of attention, and above all, affection and care. Parental decisions are respected and followed, and parents have the last word in family matters.
Uruguayan teens have very active social lives, meeting with friends after school and going out to eat, the cinema and dancing on weekends. Friends are around so often in fact, that teens seem to lack much privacy and may consider their friend’s property theirs as well. Most teenagers are a part of sports teams. In Argentinian culture, teenagers are expected to help their parents with chores around the house.
People & Culture
Uruguay is a nation of immigrants and a considerable percentage of its population comes from Italy, Spain, and other European countries. Uruguayan people tend to be politically aware and socially conscious with progressive attitudes, and often place a large value on individualism and education. They can also be opinionated – it is common for Uruguayans to show their passion or enthusiasm for a topic by interrupting others mid-conversation!
Hobbies
Football is a passion in Uruguay, from watching local games and national matches to playing with friends at the park or in a local club. Dancing is another national pastime, with music like tango and candombe keeping everyone dancing until the early hours! Both tango and candombe developed from African roots, and both have been recognised by the UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Language
Spanish is the main language of Uruguay, thanks to its colonial heritage. Uruguay shares a similar dialect to Argentina, known as Rioplatense Spanish after the Rio de la Plata Basin. This Spanish dialect is sometimes considered “Spanish with an Italian accent”! Indigenous languages like Quechua and Guaraní have also shaped the Uruguayan language.
Food
You won’t go hungry in Uruguay, with main courses like asado (traditional barbecue) and chivito (a sandwich of sliced beef, mozzarella, ham, tomatoes, mayonnaise and olives) followed by delicious treats like churros with dulce de leche! Uruguay’s food is often focused on meat, especially beef, pork, chicken and lamb, so vegetarians, vegans and pescatarians may prefer a different host country.