I sometimes feel like I had a romanticized view of studying abroad before I decided to actually do it. Studying abroad has been wonderful and I absolutely recommend it. Argentina is wonderful too! Still, in the interest of full disclosure, I want to make sure I give a fair portrayal of both the good and bad of moving to a new country. I'd like to take a minute to share some of my toughest moments as well as some of my favorites. A lot of the things that have been hardest for me have more to do with me being a foreigner than any problems with Argentina as a country. So here we go...
The Lows
1. Feeling helpless / incompetent
The primary purpose for my trip to Argentina was to practice Spanish, so I'm really glad to have the opportunity to do that. With that said, it can be frustrating to try to express complicated ideas in your second language. There were plenty of moments when I thought "I sound so unintelligent right now..." When I first arrived in the country I was overwhelmed. Castellano (the spanish spoken in Argentina) is very different from what I learned in school and it was not an easy adjustment. I was extremely nervous whenever anyone said anything to me. I still laugh about the time a woman asked me my name and I got so flustered I responded in Portuguese.
Part of traveling to a new place and experiencing a different way of doing things is making mistakes. I have certainly made my fair share. Especially toward the beginning of my trip, there were a lot of moments where I made time-consuming or embarrassing mistakes because I didn't fully understand something. It is usually something small, like waiting in the wrong line at migrations for half an hour (this thursday), but those moments add up after a while. It's difficult to adapt to a new way of doing everything. Getting a visa? Finding housing? Buying school supplies? Navigating the bus system? (side note - at the same bus stop there are three 29 buses of the same number and color that go to different places... you have to pay attention.) So many basic things suddenly became challenging because I had to learn new ways to do them. The good news is that for every mistake or confusing situation I find myself in, there is usually a kind person nearby to help me figure things out.
2. The sidewalks
The sidewalks in Buenos Aires are often struggling. Sometimes they are perfectly level and cause no problems. Other times it looks like someone came through with a jackhammer and didn't clean up. The worst part is when you step on a sidewalk tile and it moves, splashing black liquid all over your shoes and pants. There is also an abundance of dog poop so you really have to watch your step. Occasionally I have to hold back a yelp when I come across a dead rat on the sidewalk, with its legs up in the air and teeth bared. (Note - North Carolina is no stranger to roadkill either.)
3. My entire first week
Looking back, I think my first week in Buenos Aires was one of my least favorite weeks in life. It's up there with the time I got a stomach virus on Christmas day as a kid. I was overwhelmed, stressed, and generally fearful, though I didn't express that to many people at the time. First of all, my flight to Buenos Aires was an ordeal, to say the least. The moral of that story is: never fly through Brazil unless you have a visa. It is technically allowed but it caused so many problems that I had to re-book an entirely new flight and lost probably $800 - $1000 USD. It was awful, awful, awful. I drove to the Charlotte airport on three separate occasions trying to leave. At one point I genuinely believed my entire trip was not going to happen and that I would have to withdraw from a semester of school. There was a really embarrassing sobbing scene in the airport that was not one of my finer moments. There were a lot of wonderful people helping me through all of that. So after all of that chaos I arrived in Buenos Aires having missed my orientation entirely. So I knew no one and found my way to a hostel where I then had to try to find a place to live. I had never really spent much time in a big city so everything was terrifying and I didn't eat dinner several nights in a row because I was too afraid to go outside alone after dark. I survived on a few granola bars I had from home. Some programs assist students more than others, but I felt pretty alone during my first week in Argentina.
4. Housing
As I mentioned, I had the stressful experience of finding my own housing because my program doesn't assist with that. So I had to contact a random stranger on Craigslist and arrange a viewing at their apartment. I brought my pepper spray in case they tried to attack me. It actually worked out but the feeling of not knowing where you are going to live the next week is not fun. I had to change apartments because I wasn't happy with my first living situation which brought upon that entire process all over again. The second time I went through a website called sparerooms and found the experience much less stressful.
5. Smoking
Smoking is a cultural norm that is prevalent in far more countries than just Argentina. But the fact is, sometimes it feels like everyone in Argentina smokes. (That is an exaggeration, of course.) I'm fairly used to it now but it wasn't my favorite in the beginning. The combination of typical big city smog and cigarette smoke meant that I had a sore throat for my first few weeks. Smoking is a personal choice, but it's hard to avoid impacting other people when you smoke. The only thing that really bothers me now is when I see women holding tiny infants and a lit cigarette at the same time. It hasn't been that long since the US was the same way, but being in Argentina makes me appreciate that smoking is becoming much less prevalent in much of the US.
6. Missing people
Being away from every single person you know and love is hard. It gets easier when you meet lovely new people but it's still hard. I constantly miss people. (If you are reading this, I miss you!) I miss my family and friends, even though skype helps. I miss my sweet dogs and my sister's snooty but charming cat. I especially miss Donovan. Long distance relationships are hard! Spending my birthday without all of these people was tough. But being away from everyone has made me appreciate people more and want to be extra attentive when I come home.
Honorable mention: feeling claustrophobic in a packed subway car (being short doesn't help with that)
Okay, so that was a bit heavy. I promise, the majority of my feelings toward studying abroad are wonderful! Now on to the fun things...
The Highs
1. Being immersed in the beautiful Spanish language
Learning foreign languages is wonderful and immensely valuable. Every day I am so happy to have the opportunity to constantly practice my language skills. I still have a lot of work to do, but I have noticed a change for the better. There is no better way to learn than by jumping in and trying to communicate with people! I'm constantly amazed at the mind's capacity to understand something that once made no sense. It's really exciting to be able to see a movie in spanish, talk with strangers, read literature, etc. and understand. Sometimes it's challenging and tiring to speak Spanish all the time, but it's worth the extra effort. Not to mention all of the wonderful Argentine literature I get to experience. A whole new world is open to me now that I have a decent grasp of Spanish and it is really exciting.
2. Kind strangers
Living in a city where you don't really know what you're doing is a great opportunity to see the good in people. While I've heard stories of robbery and other tough situations, the majority of my interactions with people in Argentina have been positive. I have met so many helpful people all over Buenos Aires. People who don't know me at all are constantly taking the time to tell me which bus stop to get off at, which line to stand in, etc. People have been welcoming, friendly, and patient with my Spanish. That really makes an impact. If I'm going to be making a lot of mistakes, it's at least nice to be around people who are understanding.
3. Cost effectiveness
I have been pleasantly surprised to find that Argentina is definitely an affordable destination. Hostels, buses, and groceries are all very cheap. Restaurants can be cheap or pricey but thankfully there are tons to choose from. It amazes me that I can get a pound of ground beef for $2.50, a loaf of bread for much less than a dollar, and six eggs for less than a dollar. Being able to save money on food and housing has meant more opportunities to do exciting things like visit other cities or see performances. I've also really enjoyed practicing my cooking skills since I almost always cook for myself now.
4. Being visited by people from home
After being away from Donovan, it was amazing to have the chance to spend almost a full week together in Buenos Aires. Words can't even describe the feeling. It was like being at maximum happiness level for a full week. To be fair, there was a little bit of sadness mixed in too because I knew we only had a little bit of time. We had a blast seeing Fuerza Bruta (an amazing, interactive show from a company based in Buenos Aires), eating a delicious steak dinner, roller blading in the park, wandering around in street fairs, trying new foods, and just generally being together. There are endless amounts of things to do in Buenos Aires!
5. Appreciating a new culture
There's something very unique about being the only non foreigner in a classroom or social setting. Both of those experiences are fairly frequent for me and I value them greatly. It's challenging to keep up with a room full of native Spanish speakers, but it's also kind of the ultimate language exercise. It's a great opportunity to gain a new perspective and learn about another country. I am challenged to look at my own country more critically and learn from explaining it to other people and hearing their own descriptions. Whether it is Christmas traditions, politics, or cultural norms, it's really interesting to hear what other people have to say. I've met a lot of really nice people from Buenos Aires and it's been fun to get to know them. Trying new foods, visiting museums, seeing musical performances, and just exploring the city have been fascinating experiences. I love being surprised by what Buenos Aires has to offer.
6. Challenging myself
Studying abroad is challenging, but I chose to come to Argentina because I considered it an investment in my future self. Living here is making me work harder but has some definite benefits. Here are some of the things I'm working toward:
The Lows
1. Feeling helpless / incompetent
The primary purpose for my trip to Argentina was to practice Spanish, so I'm really glad to have the opportunity to do that. With that said, it can be frustrating to try to express complicated ideas in your second language. There were plenty of moments when I thought "I sound so unintelligent right now..." When I first arrived in the country I was overwhelmed. Castellano (the spanish spoken in Argentina) is very different from what I learned in school and it was not an easy adjustment. I was extremely nervous whenever anyone said anything to me. I still laugh about the time a woman asked me my name and I got so flustered I responded in Portuguese.
Part of traveling to a new place and experiencing a different way of doing things is making mistakes. I have certainly made my fair share. Especially toward the beginning of my trip, there were a lot of moments where I made time-consuming or embarrassing mistakes because I didn't fully understand something. It is usually something small, like waiting in the wrong line at migrations for half an hour (this thursday), but those moments add up after a while. It's difficult to adapt to a new way of doing everything. Getting a visa? Finding housing? Buying school supplies? Navigating the bus system? (side note - at the same bus stop there are three 29 buses of the same number and color that go to different places... you have to pay attention.) So many basic things suddenly became challenging because I had to learn new ways to do them. The good news is that for every mistake or confusing situation I find myself in, there is usually a kind person nearby to help me figure things out.
2. The sidewalks
The sidewalks in Buenos Aires are often struggling. Sometimes they are perfectly level and cause no problems. Other times it looks like someone came through with a jackhammer and didn't clean up. The worst part is when you step on a sidewalk tile and it moves, splashing black liquid all over your shoes and pants. There is also an abundance of dog poop so you really have to watch your step. Occasionally I have to hold back a yelp when I come across a dead rat on the sidewalk, with its legs up in the air and teeth bared. (Note - North Carolina is no stranger to roadkill either.)
3. My entire first week
Looking back, I think my first week in Buenos Aires was one of my least favorite weeks in life. It's up there with the time I got a stomach virus on Christmas day as a kid. I was overwhelmed, stressed, and generally fearful, though I didn't express that to many people at the time. First of all, my flight to Buenos Aires was an ordeal, to say the least. The moral of that story is: never fly through Brazil unless you have a visa. It is technically allowed but it caused so many problems that I had to re-book an entirely new flight and lost probably $800 - $1000 USD. It was awful, awful, awful. I drove to the Charlotte airport on three separate occasions trying to leave. At one point I genuinely believed my entire trip was not going to happen and that I would have to withdraw from a semester of school. There was a really embarrassing sobbing scene in the airport that was not one of my finer moments. There were a lot of wonderful people helping me through all of that. So after all of that chaos I arrived in Buenos Aires having missed my orientation entirely. So I knew no one and found my way to a hostel where I then had to try to find a place to live. I had never really spent much time in a big city so everything was terrifying and I didn't eat dinner several nights in a row because I was too afraid to go outside alone after dark. I survived on a few granola bars I had from home. Some programs assist students more than others, but I felt pretty alone during my first week in Argentina.
4. Housing
As I mentioned, I had the stressful experience of finding my own housing because my program doesn't assist with that. So I had to contact a random stranger on Craigslist and arrange a viewing at their apartment. I brought my pepper spray in case they tried to attack me. It actually worked out but the feeling of not knowing where you are going to live the next week is not fun. I had to change apartments because I wasn't happy with my first living situation which brought upon that entire process all over again. The second time I went through a website called sparerooms and found the experience much less stressful.
 |
| dragging this down the aforementioned sidewalks was a struggle |
Smoking is a cultural norm that is prevalent in far more countries than just Argentina. But the fact is, sometimes it feels like everyone in Argentina smokes. (That is an exaggeration, of course.) I'm fairly used to it now but it wasn't my favorite in the beginning. The combination of typical big city smog and cigarette smoke meant that I had a sore throat for my first few weeks. Smoking is a personal choice, but it's hard to avoid impacting other people when you smoke. The only thing that really bothers me now is when I see women holding tiny infants and a lit cigarette at the same time. It hasn't been that long since the US was the same way, but being in Argentina makes me appreciate that smoking is becoming much less prevalent in much of the US.
 |
| All cigarettes here come with gruesome warning pictures. |
Being away from every single person you know and love is hard. It gets easier when you meet lovely new people but it's still hard. I constantly miss people. (If you are reading this, I miss you!) I miss my family and friends, even though skype helps. I miss my sweet dogs and my sister's snooty but charming cat. I especially miss Donovan. Long distance relationships are hard! Spending my birthday without all of these people was tough. But being away from everyone has made me appreciate people more and want to be extra attentive when I come home.
Honorable mention: feeling claustrophobic in a packed subway car (being short doesn't help with that)
Okay, so that was a bit heavy. I promise, the majority of my feelings toward studying abroad are wonderful! Now on to the fun things...
The Highs
1. Being immersed in the beautiful Spanish language
Learning foreign languages is wonderful and immensely valuable. Every day I am so happy to have the opportunity to constantly practice my language skills. I still have a lot of work to do, but I have noticed a change for the better. There is no better way to learn than by jumping in and trying to communicate with people! I'm constantly amazed at the mind's capacity to understand something that once made no sense. It's really exciting to be able to see a movie in spanish, talk with strangers, read literature, etc. and understand. Sometimes it's challenging and tiring to speak Spanish all the time, but it's worth the extra effort. Not to mention all of the wonderful Argentine literature I get to experience. A whole new world is open to me now that I have a decent grasp of Spanish and it is really exciting.
2. Kind strangers
Living in a city where you don't really know what you're doing is a great opportunity to see the good in people. While I've heard stories of robbery and other tough situations, the majority of my interactions with people in Argentina have been positive. I have met so many helpful people all over Buenos Aires. People who don't know me at all are constantly taking the time to tell me which bus stop to get off at, which line to stand in, etc. People have been welcoming, friendly, and patient with my Spanish. That really makes an impact. If I'm going to be making a lot of mistakes, it's at least nice to be around people who are understanding.
3. Cost effectiveness
I have been pleasantly surprised to find that Argentina is definitely an affordable destination. Hostels, buses, and groceries are all very cheap. Restaurants can be cheap or pricey but thankfully there are tons to choose from. It amazes me that I can get a pound of ground beef for $2.50, a loaf of bread for much less than a dollar, and six eggs for less than a dollar. Being able to save money on food and housing has meant more opportunities to do exciting things like visit other cities or see performances. I've also really enjoyed practicing my cooking skills since I almost always cook for myself now.
 |
| a recent cooking endeavour: strawberry pancakes with dulce de leche :) |
4. Being visited by people from home
After being away from Donovan, it was amazing to have the chance to spend almost a full week together in Buenos Aires. Words can't even describe the feeling. It was like being at maximum happiness level for a full week. To be fair, there was a little bit of sadness mixed in too because I knew we only had a little bit of time. We had a blast seeing Fuerza Bruta (an amazing, interactive show from a company based in Buenos Aires), eating a delicious steak dinner, roller blading in the park, wandering around in street fairs, trying new foods, and just generally being together. There are endless amounts of things to do in Buenos Aires!
 |
| visiting La casa rosada, Argentina's version of the White House |
There's something very unique about being the only non foreigner in a classroom or social setting. Both of those experiences are fairly frequent for me and I value them greatly. It's challenging to keep up with a room full of native Spanish speakers, but it's also kind of the ultimate language exercise. It's a great opportunity to gain a new perspective and learn about another country. I am challenged to look at my own country more critically and learn from explaining it to other people and hearing their own descriptions. Whether it is Christmas traditions, politics, or cultural norms, it's really interesting to hear what other people have to say. I've met a lot of really nice people from Buenos Aires and it's been fun to get to know them. Trying new foods, visiting museums, seeing musical performances, and just exploring the city have been fascinating experiences. I love being surprised by what Buenos Aires has to offer.
 |
| some friends from Argentina |
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| Getting to know our host, a woman from Mendoza |
Studying abroad is challenging, but I chose to come to Argentina because I considered it an investment in my future self. Living here is making me work harder but has some definite benefits. Here are some of the things I'm working toward:
- Compassion: I feel much more compassionate now in regards to people who immigrate to the US. Now I know how it feels to be the foreigner. It's one thing to have an abstract idea of what it must be like to be the outsider, but it is an entirely different sensation to be alone in a new place, trying to navigate and understand a very different way of doing things.
- Independence: I also have been pushing myself to be more independent. Sometimes it's through tough things like finding a new housing situation or navigating the migrations office. Other times it's through little things like cooking for myself, buying my own toilet paper, or spending time on my own. All of those things make me feel more like an adult.
- Humility: Studying abroad makes you humble. There is really no time to be proud or stubborn when you are trying to learn how to survive in a new country. I make silly mistakes and often misunderstand when people tell me things. Living here has made me practiced at admitting when I don't understand or when I have no idea what I'm doing.
This isn't necessarily a complete list, but hopefully it will give a balanced glimpse into the ups and downs of living in a new country. I have had tough moments, but I am really happy to be living in Argentina and learning from all of the wonderful things it has to offer. I am gaining a new appreciation for people and things at home (like mexican food and functioning stove tops) but also for the Argentine way of life. I think it's important to be prepared for some challenging moments when you study abroad but know that getting through those moments will make you a stronger and more well rounded person. I wouldn't give up the life lessons I have been learning thus far :)
