COUNTRY: Argentina
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Sustainable Projects
WRITTEN BY: Ed Spiller
The day would begin as all bad mornings do, a phone alarm. Whispering lo siento (sorry) to my Argentinian room mates, I climb of my top bunk (or roll off depending on how late the night was before).
The frustrating action of being unable to find the perfect temperature of the shower continues until I realise I need to head off to spanish classes. I´ll grab some toast and put on what I think is jam but suspect is coloured pure sugar in jam form. The subway trip to class can be too packed to get on, but sometimes you´ll be delighted to find a peformer, with a guitar and occasionally a pan flute, all it needs is some Tango and you´ve found the essence of Argentina on the subway. When I get into town, Spanish classes begin. The classes are classes, poeple reading this may be thinking about taking a gap year to Argentina and are currently sick of being in school, so I won´t delve into details. All I´ll say is that I step outside and immediately use my Spanish when I still haven´t needed to apply trigonomic equations to any part of my life. After Spanish classes usually involves exploring the city grabbing some delicious empanadas, the national on the go meal of Argentina and the only thing that gives the aussie meat pie a real run for its money, while taking in the sights of Buenos Aires. I´ve been able to tick off one of my lifetime goals of visiting the biggest cathedral in Buenos Aires, El Bombanera stadium, home of Boca Juniors and next to a really good empanada shop. If you´re not into the whole "when in Rome" thing, the pituresque La Boca area is still a must visit for all gringos. Gringos is the Argentinian slang word for foreigners, I have absolutely no clue if it´s insulting or not but all I know is that as much as I try, locals can pick me out as one way too easily. I guess my rank amateur spanish has something to do with it, I guess the only way is up. . After a busy day, I´ll return to the hostel that has become my home in Buenos Aires. Even though the wifi is slow and unreliable it´s become a place to relax and get the local Argentinians to do my spanish homework for me when I´m feeling sick and tired of the wierd sounding double L´s.
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