La Feria de San Telmo

Last Sunday my roommate Andriana and I went to the Feria de San Telmo. It is one of the largest antique markets in the world, and it is held every Sunday in San Telmo (a barrio in Buenos Aires). With its cobble-stone streets and ancient buildings, the location creates a charming atmosphere that makes you feel as if you are in a different time. The city shuts down an entire street for the whole day so that vendors can set up their stands. It was completely overwhelming! We started at the beginning, walked for 5 hours, and still didn’t make it to the end! You could find anything imaginable there, but jewelry, art, and leather were sold at every other stand. I even purchased a $15 handmade leather wallet for myself. I didn’t buy anything else because I was too overwhelmed by the selection!

Vendors at San Telmo

Art displays set up along the street

             

One of the most interesting things about the fair were the street performers. Every direction you looked somebody was putting on a show for the passers-by. Singers, violin players, tango dancers. We even saw one girl playing an instrument that was bigger than she was. 

I will definitely return to San Telmo more than once!

The City that Never Sleeps

When they say that Buenos Aires is the city that never sleeps, they really mean it! I don’t know how they do it, but I swear porteños don’t sleep. Dinner is served after 9pm every night, and we usually sit at the table for 2 or 3 hours eating, talking, and drinking wine. At home, I am usually an early bird, so this has been a big change for me.

This weekend, my roommates and I went clubbing for the first time. In Buenos Aires, nightclubs are called boliches. It proved to support my theory that porteños don’t sleep. In Buenos Aires, if you show up to a boliche before 2 am, you will be the only one there. Usually you start the night off at a bar for a few drinks, and then head to the boliche from there. Once at the boliche, prepare yourself for a night of dancing, hundreds of people, and really loud music. Don’t be surprised if the sun is rising when you walk out the doors. Some places even have a terrace outside where you can watch the sunrise.

Crowd at Crobar

DJ at Pacha

I didn’t think I would make it all night at the boliches, but I was definitely wrong. Once inside, you don’t even realize how fast time goes by. You are so busy dancing and talking to people that before you know it, the doors are closing and the sun is rising. I am beginning to understand how they do it!

Bienvenido a Argentina

Despite a horrendous 7-hour delay and almost 24 hours of traveling with little to no sleep, the trip was well worth it! Upon my arrival, my host family graciously welcomed me to their home with a hug and kiss on the cheek. As I was the last one to arrive, they had been waiting for me all day and were excited to meet me. As soon as I arrived we sat outside on the patio were we ate homemade empanadas, drank glass upon glass of vino (wine), and talked for hours- mostly in Spanish.  For our first night, Carlos and Cristina, my host parents, threw a welcome asado (barbecue) for the four of us. I have never had better food. Everything was delicious, and it never seemed to end! We started with choripan, grilled sausage on toasted bread. Next came the salad, grilled chicken and veggies, and steak. I don’t eat a lot of red meat, but this steak was not on my plate for more than 2 mintues. And to top it off, we had chocolate mousse with dulce de leche. Dulce de leche is a well-known caramel spread that porteños put on everything, from bread to fruit. And let me tell you, it is everything its cracked up to be.

Welcome to mi casa!

My host parents, Carlos and Cristina

Carlos working his grill

Carlos and Cristina are giving us daily lessons on Spanish and how to behave like an Argentine. Last night, Carlos and Cristina demonstrated the Tango for us, and then taught each of us the first steps. We also learned some folk songs while Carlos played his guitar. One goes a little something like this: “Drinking, drinking, drinking, what a pleasure. Water is for drinking and for frogs that can swim well.” Haha. Its also very possible that I will have an English accent by the time I return to the states because Carlos only understands British English, and therefore sometimes we have to speak with an accent!

Backyard- the view from my window

A little tango demonstration

Final Day in America!

Hello all! It is my final day in America before I head off to Argentina! I am studying abroad there for 3 whole months! I will be living with a host family in the capital city of Buenos Aires, along with 3 other girls from the US. Right there in the city is La Universidad de Belgrano, where I will be taking Spanish classes 5 days a week with the other students in my program. This is an independent study abroad program outside of JMU, so I won't know anybody in the program, including my roommates, until I get there. Exciting, right!? The nerves haven't kicked in...yet.

The purpose of this blog is to keep all my friends and family back home in the US updated about my travels, adventures, and experiences while I am in Argentina. I figure this is the best method to share my experience with everyone since I won't have easy access (or the time) to contact everyone individually. I will try to update as much as I can (with pictures!), so that you all can see what sort of things I am up to!

My time abroad will be a learning experience, filled with lots of "differents". Different foods, different customs, different ways of thinking, and not to mention a different language. It will take some getting use to, I'm sure. But what better way is there to learn about a different culture than to totally immerse yourself into it? I cannot wait to learn from los porteños (citizens of Buenos Aires) how to live like a true Argentine!

For my final night in America I am going out to eat with my parents and brother to celebrate his 20th birthday, which happens to be the same day as my departure. Tomorrow morning I leave my house at 11AM to catch a 3PM flight out of Dulles to Miami. After a 3 hour layover in Miami (where I will hopefully get to meet up with one of my roommates!) I embark on a 9 hour overnight (ugh!) flight to Buenos Aires!! Hopefully I sit next to someone interesting!