Following the long journey from Pittsburgh, to Atlanta, to the Ezeiza airport, we are finally here! The first nine hours in this country have been enjoyable so far despite the rainy, Pittsburgh-esque weather. With a brief walk through the city to get our bearings, a few things stood out to me. The city seems less busy than one would expect, especially considering that Buenos Aires is the capital. With three million people residing in the inner city, I expected more of the chaos that comes with a metropolis. Another thing that stood out to me was the mix of new and old. Old beat up buildings just a short walk from the beautiful neighborhood of Recoletta.
Signs of globalization and development were felt immediately upon landing in the airport. As soon as I exited the plane, I immediately noticed an advertisement for a hamburger from McDonald’s. The burger pictured had an onion sauce that is typical in Argentine cuisine but was primarily the result of American influence. After stepping farther into the airport, I was impressed by the grandeur of the building itself. The lights hanging from the ceiling were reminiscent of an art gallery, and the large windows gave the place a luxurious vibe. This leads me to believe that Argentina is moving further into development, because the airport is the first connection the rest of the world has.
Though we have only been in the country for half a day, the Culture Smart book descriptions have been fairly accurate to what I have experienced. I was surprised by the amount and duration of rain we have experienced. The book suggested that the month of May experienced a couple of rainy days with mostly mild weather throughout. However, the rain here has been fairly consistent and heavy. Additionally, I have not experienced the differences of personal space that the Culture Smart book suggested. The average American expects a greater amount of space between them and a stranger than a typical Argentine does. While sitting in the Atlanta airport and waiting for our delayed flight, many of the passengers kept their distance rather than crowding around to get on the plane.
Some other highlights from the day include eating breaded chicken at a restaurant, and then eating a three-course dinner at an upscale restaurant. The food was delicious, but the large portions of meat left me longing for more vegetables. After an exciting day of arrival, I am excited to experience more throughout the rest of the week!
