Submitted by Jennifer Azevedo on the 2016 winter session program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
Week one is complete and what a week it was! From the minute we landed in Buenos Aires, my whole world shifted. I surprised myself with how easily I could navigate a foreign airport and interact with people in a language that was not my own. In this past week, I have familiarized myself with the neighborhoods of Recoleta and Palermo, did not get lost on a run and have eaten my weight in empanadas. We explored the Recoleta Cemetery, La Puerta de Fruta on the El Tigre River and Iguazu Falls. This week was full of new things.
The greatest appreciation that I have developed for the Argentine culture this week is the ability to relax. We arrived on a Sunday. Unknowingly, we ventured out of our apartment during siesta. There was almost no one to be seen. The cafes were empty and the park was as well. Slowly, as time passed, people started coming out of the wood works. The park across from our apartment, La Plaza de Vincente Lopez, was filled with people having picnics, watching their children play, reading and playing music. Everyone was enjoying the company of those around them. It was a huge difference from what I am used to. At home, we often see people passing by quickly with their heads in their phones and their minds somewhere else. Not here, people here seem to live in the moment. This observation set the tone for my week and hopefully for the rest of my program. Now, to relax and take it all in the best I can.