The first day in Argentina went much better than I expected. Upon arrival, I noticed immediately how clean the city was. It was just as metropolitan as New York, but without the abundance of trash and unhoused people. The advertisements, billboards, and streets reminded me of American cities such as New York, however it seemed to have its own unique qualities as well. It was super cool to see everyone’s style, the architecture which was a blend of historic and modern, and to see the people going through their daily activities in the city of Buenos Aires. I admire the culture of Latin America, cities like Buenos Aires and Santiago have a cooler, slightly edgier vibe to them than cities familiar to me such as New York and Pittsburgh. Today I was eager to explore despite just having arrived off of the overnight flight, and immediately went out to the park in search of historical monuments and espresso. Immediately Alaina and I came across the Monumento a Combatientes de Malvinas en el Parque Retiro. I went to a cafe where I spoke to a local resident who recommended some good spots to check out. We saw the obelisk and the building sporting a massive portrait of Eva Peron. Then, after walking to the church, I explored the main streets all the way to the theater district and back, amassing a whopping 16,000 steps. I love the culture here, and I’ve really enjoyed putting to good use my Spanish speaking skills to better connect with local residents. After finding a place for Empanadas for dinner, my friends and I walked around some more, exploring each vintage shop, cafe, and even pausing to listen to a man playing the accordion and singing along in his native tongue. I love traveling, this is the 23rd country I have been to, and for this love of new cultures and horizons, I thank my mother. Her global upbringing moving from India to Switzerland to attending high school in Japan instilled in her the value of constantly expanding your perspective, language capabilities, and stretching the boundaries of your mind beyond just the country you reside in. My mother’s love of travel and her global perspective is the reason I am here in Argentina today.