Buenosairessummerseminar2019

As we returned to Fé y Alegría, we were greeted with smiles and familiar faces. We began it by taking a visit to the classroom.          The students, who are unable to go to the public school due to their age or living situation started to talk about the similarities and differences between America and Argentina. We proceeded to discuss the perfect school and different aspects of education that would enhance the learning experience. We were split into groups and then presented our ideas to the other groups.    After, we walked to athletic fields to play soccer, volleyball, and run. We were split into teams of six and competed. The games were fun and allowed us to connect with our teammates. We played hard and eventually returned to the school where we ate choripan and Asado.      The food was amazing and everybody dove for it every time a plate of food came out. We continued to talk with the students well after the lunch was over. We were then split into

Today’s adventure began with the familiar first period class in Colegio del Salvador before boarding the bus for the two hour trip out to Estancia el Ombú. The Estancia was a beautiful building surrounded by fields of cattle where visitors can ride horses, eat delicious meals, and spend the night. Upon our arrival we were greeted with cold weather and warm empanadas. After the snack, the group saddled up and climbed onto their horses. We rode through the fields of San Antonio de Areco, and although some of us travelled a bit slower, the hour-long journey was a success.               After surviving the horseback riding, we were treated with an outstanding meal from the Estancia. The food supply seemed infinite as meat was piled on our plates! Finally, the group attempted to dance once again with help from the Estancia’s caretakers. The traditional folkloric music was enjoyed, however our dancing skills have not improved.    After some more

Yesterday we started the day off with an hour of classes and a snack of medialunas and drinks before heading off on our trip down the Avenida de Mayo. We were each given slips of papers with the address and history of a specific historical building we would pass along the way and whenever we arrived to one of the addresses we would read the history, in Spanish, aloud.   It was cold (by Argentina standards and mine too) so we stopped in the famous Cafe Tortoni for some hot chocolates and delicious churros.      We also crossed the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio and saw the famous Obelisk.      My favorite stop of the day was the Palacio Barolo.  It’s a building that’s based on The Divine Comedy and so different parts of the building are based on Hell, Purgatory & Heaven. We climbed (took an elevator) first to the 13th floor and then had to walk up a very skinny, short and spirally stairwell to get to the top dome where we could see the entire ci

We began our day with a class with our host brothers before meeting in the cafeteria for a light snack. Soon after we headed to Recoleta Cemetery, a cemetery spanning over multiple blocks in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires.  The cemetery contains almost five thousand vaults which contain anywhere between 10-15 coffins inside. These coffins are all located above ground level in these house-like tombs. Many people of great significance to the history of Argentina are buried in the Recoleta Cemetery including Eva Perón, the wife of the well- known president Juan Perón. We explored the cemetery through a scavenger hunt by trying to find the resting places of significant figures or general items like a cross or one of the many cats that roams the cemetery. After completing the scavenger hunt we walked to the Recoleta Cemetery church located right next the the cemetery -  Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar .  We walked through the church and took some pictures. We

We begun the day with an overview class of Argentinian politics led by a Tutor at Del Salvador, Fefo.  He explained to us the logistics of the governmental structure and political systems, including political parties, past and current heads of power, and upcoming elections. Moreover, he described the process and requirements that must be met for a presidential candidate to be elected into office — one must receive 45% of the popular vote in the “first round”, and if not, must receive more of the popular vote in the “second round” between the top two most popular candidates. Afterwards, we went with our brothers to their respective 2nd period classes. For me, I went with a few others to a class called “Tecnología de la Información”, in which the students were tasked with writing computer code to calculate the worth of certain products according to their weight.             In the afternoon, we went as a group to the school “Fe y Alegría”. While there, we learned of the schoo

During the day our group spent sometime  learning about the origin of the native  Argentine drink mate. We came together with  other students from Georgetown Prep where  we learned that the mate had first derived  from the Guaranie Indians who lived in  Northeastern Argentina in Misiones. Also the  group learned that within mate it included the  mate cup with the bombilla, a straw like  instrument for drinking. Within the drink itself  there is normally water but can be substituted  by other drinks like orange juice which is  called terere. The water is kept in a termo or  thermos at 80 degrees Fahrenheit in order to  stay hot. Everyday students all over the  school drink it and share it with others.        Not only did the group spend time learning  about mate but we also got to learn about  ancient history and the arts at the museum of  fine arts as well. There were paintings and  statues from all periods of time ranging from  Greek mythology all the way to modern da

On Saturday, I slept in, and my brother, Mike, and I took the bus and train out to another students country house. It was about a two hour trip there because of traffic on the bus. When we got there we watched the Argentina vs. Colombia Copa America Game. It was a close game, but unfortunately at the end Colombia ended up winning. After the game, we made Asado, which is an assortment of meats all salted and grilled.  In total there were ten of us at the house, and we ate and hung out for a few more hours. After we ate, we took the bus back to another student's apartment. Girls from Fontbonne Academy and their host sisters came over, and we played a card game called Truco, which took quite some time for them to explain. After, we went back to Tristan’s apartment and slept. Sunday, we slept in again. We picked up our friend Giovanni and walked to get pizza. We had pizza at a restaurant, and then we came back to Tristan’s. We had a FIFA tournament for about an hour. We t

As our third day began in Buenos Aires, the plan was to visit La Flor, UBA Derecho, the public university in Buenos Aires, and Recoleta Cemetery. This plan was quickly changed as it started raining, since it would have required a lot of time outside walking.  Thus, we visited Teatro Colón, the largest theater in Argentina that is considered to be among the best opera houses. Today’s theater opened in 1908, although the original was first created in 1857. It has a distinct European style.  Building the set for the next opera - Turandot After a tour of the theater we left to return to the school, but the rain held us up. We stopped at a cafe to relax while the rain stopped. Back at the Colegio del Salvador, we enjoyed a nice lunch (one that cannot even be compared to those back at BCH), and we had one last class. We were split up into two groups, each of which attended a class with students from what would be 7th grade English class. They intervi

Today was our second day in the grand city of Buenos Aires, and although it’s a generally well known fact that I think Chile is better in every which way, Buenos Aires is pretty good too. For the first part of the morning, we had attended a class at Colegio del Salvador. I had la clase de artes, but for the entire time we just talked and watched Youtube videos. I would have liked to learn something, but I’m not one to complain about an hour and half of socializing. From there we met up with Fefo outside, and we took a minibus to the neighborhood of La Boca, home of Boca Juniors, one of the most well-known clubs from Argentina. In my opinion, not as good as River Plate, though.             First, we visited La Bombonera, which is the stadium that the Club Atletico de Boca Juniors plays at.  If you’re asking yourself why that name sounds so weird, it’s because it is. The stadium is irregularly shaped, with one side being totally vertical, as opposed to the rounded semi-ci

After all those months of planning we were thrilled to have the trip finally arrive, and are so happy to be here in Buenos Aires! All of us, and our very large suitcases, arrived safe and sound after the long journey from Boston. Although we arrived to a rather overcast day, we were greeted with warm smiles and hugs from our friends at Colegio del Salvador. Even after all that travel everyone is still smiling! They gave us our first Argentinian meal of empanadas - delicious and gone too quickly to actually be caught in the photo!  After that the guys were off with their host brothers - either to class, an activity at school, or home. Reports of the first night were all positive, but we did see a few tired faces when we met again today for the morning meeting. But each of us got a a hug or handshake to start the day off right.         Then it was time for a quick geography lesson of Argentina, a tour of the school, and a few gifts from Colegio del Salva