Ah… after two long hauls of flights and airport Mcdonald’s meals, we finally landed in the thriving, growing city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The crick in my neck may not be ideal, but boy had it already been worth it. As a first-time traveler abroad, this country has exceeded my expectations earlier on. When thinking of cities in South America, the movie’s cliche image of torn buildings and streets, grey skies, and angry folks comes to mind. I can assure you that Buenos Aires is far from a cliche.
As we exited the plane, you can feel this humid yet fresh breeze hit your skin that was beyond needed after these last cold, rainy Pittsburgh days. The skies greeted us with a beautiful baby blue hue with pure white clouds… far from grey. Each airport attendee didn’t think twice about giving any of us a helping hand with a smile. There was nothing but kindness from the departure gate all the way to the main doors.
While on our way to the hotel and the study abroad office, I encountered a little surprise on the road. At home, stray dogs can be common but not stray horses! As we were traveling in the van to the hotel, I had seen two dogs following a stray horse on a sidewalk next to the road. For an occurrence so odd, it was very wholesome.
Finally, the study abroad office hosting our stay had an amazing barbeque lunch waiting for us on our first day. Oh my goodness. The chef had perfectly prepared carne asada and chorizo sandwiches that were phenomenal. I was aware of Argentina’s fine array of beef, but now my love for steak has thickened. The absolutely gorgeous view of the city from the balcony was the icing on top. It was very much a moment between the heart and eyes.
I can’t wait to dive deeper into Buenos Aires for the next two weeks. My hopes are to go to see a soccer game, try new foods, learn to tango, and especially see La Boca -one of the city’s most colorful neighborhoods. Of course, I aspire to have my first whine and steak meal at a local restaurant as well! There’s so much more to come from this trip and I’m very excited to get exploring.
