The beginning of the end is upon us. On Monday we
went to an estancia outside the city. It is similar to a ranch. At this estancia we started the day by getting a
tour. We then moved on to riding horses. For most of us,
myself included, riding these horses was better than the time we rode
horses in Cordoba. The reason for this was because
we got to gallop and make the horses somewhat run. After this ride we had lunch, a variety of meat, and
vanilla ice cream, followed by a round of soccer
before ending our day with with another horse ride.
This
goodbye will not be an easy one. We have made a lot of connections and
saying goodbye to them is not fun. Especially since everyone has been so
open to us. The people that we have
met along with dulce de leche, empanadas, kiosco at every block,
chorros and el mate will all be missed.
Lastly
I want to say thank you to Eugenia, the Colegio del Salvador program coordinator; Fefo, a counselor from Colegio del Salvador;
Esteban, our tour guide from Cordoba; the cafeteria staff; Mr. Rakovec and Ms.
Basin; and all those who made
this experience so great. Good bye Argentina.
-Igor
miércoles, 10 de julio de 2013
lunes, 8 de julio de 2013
Madero Tango
It amazes me that as I sit down to write this post that
we have just completed our last weekend in Buenos Aires. It seems like
yesterday that we were reunited with our host brothers and introduced
to the rest of our families
for the time being. This trip has flown by fast which brings us to our
most recent days in city
On Thursday, our group traveled to The Bicentennial
Museum of Argentina. This museum was very interesting and did a great
job explaining the history of the country. This museum took us
through all the major events in Argentine history,
such as la guerra sucia and the country's monetary crisis. This museum
also featured a very interesting mural. We then returned to school
where our host brothers had just finished their exams and all parted our
separate ways.
The next day was even more eventful than Thursday.
On Friday our group walked to the Recoleta cemetery. This cemetery is
a big tourist attraction and is nothing like we have back in Boston.
This cemetery takes up a whole block and has
gravestones that are 20 feet high. This cemetery is home to some of
the most famous citizens in Argentine history such as presidents and
their families and the writer of the Argentine national anthem. After
the cemetery we all went to the Recoleta Mall
to shop and to have lunch. That afternoon Colegio del Salvador was in
the best out of three championship for basketball. Some of us whose
brothers went, such as Luke, Brendan, Mike, and Igor experienced one of
the most intense sporting events I've ever attended.
The crowd was filled with Salvador fans who threw balloons, sang and
jumped up and down the whole entire game. With the support of the crowd
Salvador won by 20 points. This action packed day had yet to complete
because after the game all of us attended a
tango show at Madero Tango with Mr. Rakovec and Sra. Basin. This was many of
our first experiences with a real tango show and we were awestruck with
the dancers' talent. Along with the show we were treated to a 3 course
meal. This was an action filled day and one
of the best I have had in Argentina.
This weekend has been a normal Argentine weekend
for me. Saturday, Luke and I went to our brothers' fútbol match. Then
later that evening my host father, Mr. Rakovec and I went to Palermo, a nearby neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Sunday has been relaxing
as well and my family has had nothing planned so Nacho and I went to
the mall.
I hope this post finds everyone well. We are all
sad to leave Argentina but at the same time are looking forward to
coming back home. See you all Thursday!
- Steve
sábado, 6 de julio de 2013
La última semana completa
As our
motley crew heads into its last week here in Argentina, we are beginning to
feel the bittersweet moments of our stay. Some want to return home to their
families and return to regular sleep schedules, while others prefer the
fast-paced life in the city and are going to miss Argentina dearly. Therefore,
we all must enjoy our last week here.
On
Monday, July 1, we celebrated the Eucharist with our fellow brethren of
Argentina. Even though we only filled two pews of the hulking establishment,
the spirit of God could be felt by all. The day concluded with our beloved
teacher, Mr. Rakovec, joining us in a game of 5 v. 5 fútbol (soccer). Toward the end of our time in the gym, Mr.
Rakovec delivered a blistering pass to the foot of striker Luke Ayers who volleyed
the ball into the 6 x 8 frame. We have really enjoyed playing fútbol in Buenos Aires, both amongst ourselves and with the
fellow Argentines.
On
Tuesday, the group went on a tour of the Colón
Theatre. The theatre is considered one of the best concert venues in the world,
along with New York's Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Opera and Australia's
Sydney Opera House. We toured various areas once inside, ranging from
marble-walled waiting rooms to the balcony facing the stage. We even had the
pleasure of listening to a performer practice a piece of work for an upcoming
opera! Upon leaving, we ate a pre-lunch snack at the famous Café Tortoni. The cuisine most common among the group were a
combination of "submarinos" and "churros."A
"submarino" is a warm glass of milk along with a bar of chocolate
that can be dunked in and stirred to make a chocolate delight. A "churro
is a hardened pastry, similar to a doughnut that has been straightened into a
roll, that is lightly coated in sugar. We ate them plain, but they can be
filled with dulce de leche or cloaked in chocolate.
On
Wednesday, the group traveled to La Boca, a barrio, or neighborhood, of Argentina.
The main attraction was the stadium of the local Boca Juniors fútbol squad, called "La Bombonera." While hooligans
Luke Ayers and Steve O'Sullivan were quite disgruntled at the fact that we
chose not to visit the River Plate stadium (River is the rival of Boca), they
made due with the time spent. After touring the stadium, we walked through
various shops, and we arrived at our
restaurant for lunch, "La Vieja Rotisería."
It was a mainly outdoor restaurant that featured live dancing of both tango and
zamba.
The
students at Colegio del Salvador have final exams this week. They are exhausted
and ready for their three-week vacation that will follow. While this may be our
last week, the spirits are high. Happy Fourth of July to all! We hope it will
be as fun for you as Argentina has been for us.
In the Boca Juniors stadium |
In the visitors' locker room at the Boca Juniors stadium |
miércoles, 3 de julio de 2013
El fin de semana
As we
continued our journey on the bus back from Cordoba, the majority of us sleeping, we were
suddenly awakened. All of us sleepily opened our eyes and were startled
to find policemen requesting our
passports. Mr. Rakovec and Mrs. Basin had to retrieve all passports
from their backpacks and the police slowly examined our
passports for what seemed like hours. Finally, the police handed our
passports back to Mr. Rakovec and Mrs. Basin and
left the bus. We are still perplexed as to how the police found out
that we were tourists.
Once we got off the bus about an hour later, we walked to another bus, which then transported us to the school. There, we waited a short time until our host families picked us up and brought us back home. Meanwhile, our host brothers were still at a spiritual retreat until 6:00 pm. I am sure that many others did the same thing as I did and took a nap while waiting for their brothers to return. Upon returning, Santiago (my host brother) and I continued our normal routine for the remainder of the night which was to play on the PS3 and eat dinner then go to the house of Andrew's host, Manuel, where we hung out with a few others, just talking and playing video games.
On Saturday, Santiago went to the house of the host brother of Brendan Bennett; Danny. At Danny's house, Santiago and Danny prepared studying for their equivalent of midterms which began on Saturday. While they studied, Brendan Bennett and I were taken by Danny's parents to San Telmo, a neighborhood filled with many antiques and charm. We stopped to get dulce de leche ice cream then went back to Danny's house to play on his Wii. Later that night, Brendan and I went with our host brothers to Manuel's house and had an enjoyable time there.
Lastly, on Sunday, Brendan, Andrew and I went with our host brothers to an asado hosted by Danny. We played card games, ping pong, and soccer while waiting for the food to cook then enjoyed a delicious lunch followed by more soccer. All in all, it was a great weekend.
-Brennan M.
Once we got off the bus about an hour later, we walked to another bus, which then transported us to the school. There, we waited a short time until our host families picked us up and brought us back home. Meanwhile, our host brothers were still at a spiritual retreat until 6:00 pm. I am sure that many others did the same thing as I did and took a nap while waiting for their brothers to return. Upon returning, Santiago (my host brother) and I continued our normal routine for the remainder of the night which was to play on the PS3 and eat dinner then go to the house of Andrew's host, Manuel, where we hung out with a few others, just talking and playing video games.
On Saturday, Santiago went to the house of the host brother of Brendan Bennett; Danny. At Danny's house, Santiago and Danny prepared studying for their equivalent of midterms which began on Saturday. While they studied, Brendan Bennett and I were taken by Danny's parents to San Telmo, a neighborhood filled with many antiques and charm. We stopped to get dulce de leche ice cream then went back to Danny's house to play on his Wii. Later that night, Brendan and I went with our host brothers to Manuel's house and had an enjoyable time there.
Lastly, on Sunday, Brendan, Andrew and I went with our host brothers to an asado hosted by Danny. We played card games, ping pong, and soccer while waiting for the food to cook then enjoyed a delicious lunch followed by more soccer. All in all, it was a great weekend.
-Brennan M.
domingo, 30 de junio de 2013
Las aventuras cordobesas
Ascending the serpentine mountain roads overlooking the immense
features of the landscape, I couldn't help but take a few pictures.
Cobalt blue lakes and jagged boulders dotted the landscape, surrounded by
endless pine trees and quaint hamlets.
But after our hour ride in the Mercedes van we arrived at our
destination: Peñón
del aguila. What we did next literally cannot be
named in English, but the best I can say is "treeing, in which we were
all doned in impressive rock climbing gear and traversed
large gaps between impressive features of the sylvan scenery. The
consenus was that I looked extremely experienced in this activity,
rocking my puffy winter jacket and sleek aviators, while Brendan Bennett
was most congrous to Bob the Builder. The "levels"
became progressively more challenging, but nevertheless we all made it
out unharmed, lest we were unprepared for a what was next.
After a scenic and oddly German themed lunch we tackled our next objective of the day: zip-lining. Harnessing up once more we zipped along longer and longer lines through more and more formidable ravines. Next was rock climbing, in which Wall Number Four humiliated every soul who attempted to conquer it including, unfortunately, myself. After a short stop in the very peculiar town of Germany IN Argentina, I indulged in mint chocolate chip, tiramisu, waffle cone ice cream. Said desert was so indulgent I had trouble remaining conscious, the only encouragement being that I could eat more.
The next day, the last day in which we were able to enjoy the extensive breakfast selection of Hotel Felipe II of croissants and yogurts, we set off for somewhere a bit more authentic. Do you know how to ride a horse? How about in salmon colored dress shorts? The riding itself was adventurous and daring, in which breathtaking views from the summits of ridges were combined with the thrill of riding horseback and the disobedience of a few stubborn horses. Personally I have a lot of riding experience, so my skills were yet to be truly tested. When the other half of the group went out to horseback ride I and the few others were introduced to a game without a name. Nail is nailed into wooden pole, small metal circle hanging by string from a top, you stand back and try to swing the circle onto the nail. With four successful attempts of circle-on-nail I am the undisputed champion of this game out of all the other Americans. My reward? A modest yet symbolic horseshoe.
But now, we depart. After the farm we went back to the hotel, then to the mall again for dinner at the food court, then gone again to catch our bus at the bus terminal. Our sojourn to Córdoba, which provided everything from historic tours of churches to overpriced German beer mug souvenirs to raw tests of brute strength along unforgiving rock walls, was phenomenal. Now though, cruising across the Argentine countryside, cutting through the night, we must return to the bustling South American metropolis so known for its cafeterías and political Peronist past. I look around now, trying to see if anyone is still awake on this double decker bus. Even trustworthy Mr. Rakovec, who just moments ago was infuriated at how the reading light above his seat did not actually permit him to read, is now utterly lost in slumber. I wipe the condensation off the glass, peer at the stellar moon. I yawn. 1:08 AM is not a time for blogging, but sleeping. Buenas noches.
-Ross
After a scenic and oddly German themed lunch we tackled our next objective of the day: zip-lining. Harnessing up once more we zipped along longer and longer lines through more and more formidable ravines. Next was rock climbing, in which Wall Number Four humiliated every soul who attempted to conquer it including, unfortunately, myself. After a short stop in the very peculiar town of Germany IN Argentina, I indulged in mint chocolate chip, tiramisu, waffle cone ice cream. Said desert was so indulgent I had trouble remaining conscious, the only encouragement being that I could eat more.
The next day, the last day in which we were able to enjoy the extensive breakfast selection of Hotel Felipe II of croissants and yogurts, we set off for somewhere a bit more authentic. Do you know how to ride a horse? How about in salmon colored dress shorts? The riding itself was adventurous and daring, in which breathtaking views from the summits of ridges were combined with the thrill of riding horseback and the disobedience of a few stubborn horses. Personally I have a lot of riding experience, so my skills were yet to be truly tested. When the other half of the group went out to horseback ride I and the few others were introduced to a game without a name. Nail is nailed into wooden pole, small metal circle hanging by string from a top, you stand back and try to swing the circle onto the nail. With four successful attempts of circle-on-nail I am the undisputed champion of this game out of all the other Americans. My reward? A modest yet symbolic horseshoe.
But now, we depart. After the farm we went back to the hotel, then to the mall again for dinner at the food court, then gone again to catch our bus at the bus terminal. Our sojourn to Córdoba, which provided everything from historic tours of churches to overpriced German beer mug souvenirs to raw tests of brute strength along unforgiving rock walls, was phenomenal. Now though, cruising across the Argentine countryside, cutting through the night, we must return to the bustling South American metropolis so known for its cafeterías and political Peronist past. I look around now, trying to see if anyone is still awake on this double decker bus. Even trustworthy Mr. Rakovec, who just moments ago was infuriated at how the reading light above his seat did not actually permit him to read, is now utterly lost in slumber. I wipe the condensation off the glass, peer at the stellar moon. I yawn. 1:08 AM is not a time for blogging, but sleeping. Buenas noches.
-Ross
jueves, 27 de junio de 2013
Córdoba
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that our trip to Argentina is
nearing its half way point. The experience thus far has been nothing
short of astonishing.
On Monday, we traveled back
to the elderly home in Buenos Aires to teach the elders a set of popular American
anthems. We attempted to teach them the YMCA dance and sang to them both
the Star Spangled Banner and Sweet Caroline. Despite
looking like fools, they were entertained, which is all that matters.
Later that night we headed
to the Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires to catch our bus to
Córdoba. Córdoba is a smaller city north of Buenos Aires and is about a 9
hour drive. The bus we took had the most comfortable
seats and it was easy to sleep the ride away. Upon arriving in Córdoba,
we checked in to our luxurious hotel, The Felipe II. Soon after
checking in, we departed on a walking city tour directed by Esteban, the
most friendly, energetic, and knowledgeable tour
guide of Córdoba. We visited many sites throughout the city such as the
first Jesuit church in Argentina and a Carmelite church. After the
city tour, we went to grab a bite in the Mall of Córdoba. I ordered a
small calzone at a restaurant and it ended
up being the biggest calzone I had ever eaten! We jumped on the bus
again and drove out to the country side to see the peaceful and
beautiful countryside of Argentina. Brendan and I went up via chairlift
to the top of a small mountain to witness the incredible
views of Córdoba and its outskirts. The views were incredible. This
was a perfect way to end a perfect day.
Mike M.
domingo, 23 de junio de 2013
El acto de la bandera
On
Wednesday morning we celebrated Flag Day, the Argentine holiday commemorating
the creation of the Argentine flag by Manuel Belgrano. Manuel Belgrano was a
hero during the war of independence and remains one of the most respected men
in Argentina. Flag Day is also the anniversary of his death on June 20th.
Several host brothers were flag bearers during the ceremony. It was the first
time that we heard the Argentine National Anthem, which was a very beautiful
and interesting experience. After the flag ceremony we went to debate class
with our host brothers. We helped them prepare a debate in English. The
question was whether or not medicines should be patented. We had to help the
students translate their arguments into English and make sure their grammar was
correct.
Thursday and Friday were school
holidays. My host family and I traveled outside the city to the town of Fatima
where they own a vacation house. Another pair of exchange program students were
also in Fatima and we hung out with them and had an "asado." An "asado" is a large
barbecue, with all different kinds of meat and sausage prepared over a special
grill. On Friday we went to a soccer game between Racing and Union. The game
and atmosphere were amazing. The fans were crazy, rowdy, and very passionate. It
was interesting to see the difference between the sport/game atmospheres in the
United States and Argentina.
The ceremony begins. |
BC High, Loyola Los Angeles, and Georgetown Prep @ La Casa Rosada |
martes, 18 de junio de 2013
Los primeros días…
Hello, I
hope to find you all well. All of us are doing great and have accustomed
ourselves nicely into our temporary homes with our host brothers. It was a
smooth transition into the very much hospitable Argentine culture. The people
are welcoming, the weather has been agreeable, and the food of course, has been
splendid.
This past
Friday we were lucky enough to enter the U.S. embassy and have a meeting with
an official from Boston. At the beginning of the meeting we discussed what role
an embassy has and what its purpose is. Later on during the meeting, a group of
five students from a local Argentine school who participate in the Model UN
club, joined us as we discussed the
relations of Argentina and the United States. Both groups of students discussed
major historical events in our varying countries past, most significantly 9/11
and the 2001 economic crisis of Argentina in
which in just a nights time, the former one dollar to one peso ratio dropped to
1:4, and therefore a person's wealth was a fourth of what it was that past
night. It was a great experience to be able to talk with the other students and hear what
they had to say.
Monday, we started the day off with a little fútbol, as always to wake ourselves up. Soon after we
traveled by bus to a retirement center type of facility where semi-elderly
residents gathered for coffee and conversation. We were introduced to the
Argentine native dance of the tango which originated in the late 1800's. Two
different couples who were in full costume and full character performed for us
and set the bar high! We were all quick learners and had a blast dancing for
and with the audience. I'm sure that they got many laughs out of it, as did we.
Hasta
luego,
-Brendan B.
viernes, 14 de junio de 2013
El principio
When our parents dropped us off at Logan at 10:30 on Tuesday it was
the start of our 35 hour journey leading up to our arrival. After
arriving in Houston we soon discovered our flight was cancelled. From
the airport we took a bus to a nearby hotel where
we spent the night. Although our plane was delayed and we had to stay
a night in Houston, in the end we got here safe which is what mattered
most. We arrived in Buenos Aires around 9 very tired. Our families met
us at school, they were very kind and helped
with our transition.
The next day we woke up early and headed to school, some walking
and some by car. All of the students at the school were very friendly
and it made it easy for us to feel welcome. The day consisted of a
couple classes and lots of fútbol. We toured the
school and met many of their teachers and faculty members. After school
we all went our separate ways and met back at school the next day. For
me personally and I am sure for the others the host families have been
great. They care for you and treat you like
one of their own. So far, although only two days in, this trip has
been great and it is a great opportunity to see a whole new culture and
learn about it.
-Luke
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