After taking on a 10 hour flight, we have finally made it to our destination! Though we carried the rainy Pittsburgh weather with us all the way over to Buenos Aires, I was ready to hit the ground running and discover the city I have been learning so much about these past several weeks. During the hour bus ride from the airport to our temporary apartments, I spent most of my time looking out the window and soaking in Argentina in snapshots. Tall apartment buildings with chipped paint that still managed to look lively with the various plants that covered each balcony. A playground outside a nearby school. Paris-style townhouses in the residential neighborhood of Recoleta in which we are staying. The dramatic jump in the standard of living I saw during this hour long ride showed the reality of Buenos Aires and Argentina itself, a country that has and still is facing great economic troubles. This is something that I was aware of before my arrival, but seeing it firsthand and so soon into my time here was still quite shocking. It was interesting to see the difference between the bright and colorful photos of the places shown in the Culture Smart book we used in class, versus the reality of some of the struggling areas we passed through that I felt were of equal importance to learn about.
Walking around Buenos Aires today I noticed the definite European influence on the country that I had read about. The architecture, food and general feel of the area seemed so similar to something that one would find in Italy or France. Locals were generally laid back and no one seemed to be in a rush. Buenos Aires so far does not seem to be too fast-paced, but maintains the feel of a city.
While it does have a heavy European influence, Argentina maintains its originality in several areas, especially its food. Tonight’s dinner introduced me to what the country does best: Steak. Meat, papas fritas (French fries) and agua con gas (sparkling water) is a meal that I have quickly learned is an Argentinian specialty. Not sure how much more steak I can eat, but at least it’s tasty!
Looking forward to exploring Buenos Aires more tomorrow, hasty luego!