Following the rhythm of Buenos Aires

COUNTRY: Argentina
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Care Work
WRITTEN BY: Kelvin Wicks & Bronte Coleman

After a week of BA I'm yet to dislike any part of this amazing and beautiful city. Feeling the rhythm of the city, late nights and football is part and parcel of its people. For me, I'm simply enjoying the mid afternoon football instead of the usual 5am wake up in Australia. But football aside, this city offers grand architecture that shows off its European influence, perhaps emphasised also by the millions of pizza joints, and a great vibrant culture. Eating at 11pm and staying out till 5am or later is common, with anyone in bed before 11pm considered a rarity, especially amongst the youth.

On arrival we were quite tired from the long flight to BA but Tom and I, the first to arrive, couldn't help but go out with a fellow Aussie’s we just met at the roadhouse (student residency). We lost track of time and of sleep as we were swept up by the people and the energetic hum of the city center.

The following day preceded with wanders around the city before the rest of the group arrived later that day. Once together we went exploring almost everyday for the rest of the week, some of us explored the famous Cemeterio de la Recoleta, the Sunday market’s, the Congreso whereby the large Obelisk stands as a great monument and the many intricate streets full of shops and bookstores.



Unlike the dying bookstores in Australia, there still stands many old and interesting bookstores in BA, much like the one on Sante Fe that was once a theatre now bookstore.
Two book stores we have come across. Top is the ‘El Ateneo Grand Splendid” whilst the bottom is a very cluttered and Harry Potter esq bookstore



I've been staying with the host family this week and its been great. The family is lovely and having a maid makes life easier. It also allows me to remove myself from the busy road house at times which is pleasant. Whilst my beginner spanish is alright, it's of little help yet as I'm having to learn BA Spanish with its different accent and slang. But a week in I'm feeling more comfortable with ordering at restaurants or pizza places as well as asking for the prices of items, good thing I learnt my numbers beforehand. It's also nice that the host family lives only a short distance from the residency, making the routine trip to and from is common practice now.

Saturday night was a special occasion, we got to celebrate Sheena's 18th birthday. Eating out at a local Mexican joint in Palermo, which Edward announced as “the best food, hands down he has ever tasted”, we treated ourselves to another beautiful part of BA

Happy Birthday Sheena!

As a whole we're loving it here and are trying to fully immerse ourselves in the culture. We are yet to start volunteering as instead we've had Spanish classes but next week it all begins and we are very excited.