Today was our first day in Buenos Aires, Argentina! We landed in the morning and had a short day to start off our trip. The bus ride into the city from the airport was about 30 minutes and took us through many of the towns bordering the city. The architecture of the buildings was so beautiful and there was lots of greenery. We had a delicious meal prepared by the IES abroad team, giving us a taste of the amazing cuisine of the culture. Finally, we learned more about how to stay safe while we are abroad, thanks to the IES staff. Other than that, we just got checked in, exchanged our currency, and took a short walk around the block to explore.

My first impressions of Buenos Aires were shaped by the beautiful buildings, the slower pace compared to the U.S., and meeting the community who calls it home. I expected Buenos Aires to be a bustling city much like Pittsburgh, but it felt quite the opposite. While it still has the fast drivers rushing to get to their next destination, there is a sense of calm not often seen in a city. The buildings hold history and the people who walk the streets are at the pace of a stroll. I was pretty tired after our red-eye flight but the city’s uniqueness woke me up and I can’t wait to further explore the city in these next two weeks.