First impressions

I arrived in Buenos Aires almost a week ago and am very excited to share some of my first impressions with you! Coming from State College- a place where drivers will ensure that distracted, unaware students on cell phones may cross the street safely- I feel bombarded by all  the people, aggressive taxis and buses, and the necessity to look both ways.

The street outside of my homestay.

While I try to maneuver through the streets, I am awed by the strange mix of French architecture, palm trees, graffiti, and people chatting in cafes.

At home, my host family is very accommodating and welcoming. They are very kind when I ask them to repeat something or if I don’t understand the Spanish. I am very grateful for their patience and am getting to know them better.

Playing my part

Expressing myself with my host family or in a cafe, I still feel frustrated with my fluency. I do not know the words that I want to express or I make a mistake in conjugation. At school with the other American students, we all speak English and I feel relieved that I can express myself without such difficulty. I can make friends and introduce myself without a language barrier. In this foreign place, all of us cling to what we have in common. Penn State students are excited to meet each other and talk about THON. Whenever we hear another American, we reach out to them, introduce ourselves, and connect with some small part of ourselves.

As we settle into our new environment away from home, we carefully observe what is “normal” in Buenos Aires. Although we still jump at the sight of anything close to home, we are trying to learn more about the culture of our temporary home. It’s normal to walk your dog at 11 o’clock at night; you have to beg for the check after you’re finished eating; you don’t go out until midnight. My peers and I try to emulate these norms and try to adapt to Argentine culture. However, we clearly stick out speaking English, and our Spanish language mistakes further identify us as foreigners. When this occurs, the waiter may start pointing at the menu or speaking English. So inevitably, our own personas and our language skills act as antagonists to this process. As I spend more time in Buenos Aires and my Spanish improves, I hope to find a more positive, rewarding balance between seeking out my own culture and adapting to a new one.

Location: Recoleta, Buenos Aires