Buenos Aires is not just Palermo!

The desk I wish I hadThis is a hard post for me to write, because I am still trying to assess how much I took advantage of my study abroad opportunity, what I have learned, what I regret, what I really have to say about Buenos Aires. It was a very big adjustment for me. I guess one thing I would say is identify needs that are not being met and make sure they are met, if that’s not vague enough for you. For me it was my home stay… like I described in a recent post, my home stay mother did not really abide by the contract in a few ways. One thing I never made a stink about and regret now is I never had a desk in my room. It is in my contract that I am guaranteed my own room with a bed, closet, and desk. As a result of my lack of desk, I tried to study in my bed, and it put me to sleep, and I tried to study in cafes, but I was always uncomfortable and distracted. It took me half the semester to find suitable study spaces for me, and it made the first half of the semester a bigger adjustment than it needed to be.

Also, Buenos Aires is shockingly and purposefully different from South America. I have read this post on other people’s blogs and I have noticed that many people say do not go away too much, stay where you are and get to know your abroad site. I only half agree with this advice when it comes to Buenos Aires. If you stay in Buenos Aires all semester you will not have a true South American experience. The stark contrast between Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina is shocking and worth experiencing. I recommend staying in South America when the semester is done if you can manage it, because Buenos Aires is truly atypical for South America, for the better and for the worse as a South American study abroad site.

Finally, I would say leave Recoleta and Palermo! See other parts of the city. This is probably the thing I regret most. It is daunting, I know. Most parts of Buenos Aires feel utterly inaccessible to foreigners, but attack them in accessible ways. And learn to read the Guia T as soon as you get it. It will absolutely revolutionize your experience of the city, and your ability to grasp it as a whole. There is a lot to find here, too much, if you have your eyes open; sometimes it is too much to take.