After a long day (and night) of travel, we finally made it to Buenos Aires! As soon as we landed, the local IES team welcomed us with delicious “Alfajores”, a classic Argentinian delicacy made of two biscuits with dulce de leche sandwiched between them. I’d planned to try them as soon as I got to Argentina, and I’m delighted to report they did not disappoint. Afterwards, the bus picked us up from the airport and drove us to our city hotel.
On the way to the city from the airport, I caught a quick glimpse of Buenos Aires and its many facades. Overall, I’d say the city seems inspired by European architecture. It has a mix of traditional charm and contemporary refinement to it. With lots of vehicle traffic, as well as pedestrians and cyclists all around, the streets had a lively vitality. I also noticed the different types of shops, restaurants, and grocery stores at every corner along the way.
After settling into our rooms, we walked over to the IES Buenos Aires Center where we had a welcome lunch and orientation. The food was delicious and all of the staff were extremely welcoming. One thing that has surprised me since our arrival is the number of people that speak and understand English extremely well. I did not expect that to be the case. During orientation, we went over general health and safety requirements. Florencia from IES talked to us about the change in pace and general lifestyle of the Argentinian people. Specifically, she highlighted how much slower paced their way of life when compared with most Americans. For instance, people prefer to sit down and enjoy their coffee rather than ordering it to go. Also, nobody rushes when having dinner, thus it typically lasts longer than “normal”. I’d like to come to appreciate this slower pace while in Argentina and how much it is valued by the locals.
I’m also looking forward to having the chance to just wander around and explore Buenos Aires’ streets. I definitely plan on attending a soccer match, trying out an “asado”, taking a tango class, and visiting the iconic neighborhoods of La Boca and Palermo. Being in Argentina still seems surreal and I’m still trying to take it all in. I can’t wait for what’s to come!