Argentina

Your Stories From Abroad
Argentina
SLIDESHOW: On The Street In Buenos Aires
Estación 9 de Julio/Carlos Pellegrini/Diagonal Norte—where three subway lines meet—is perhaps the busiest and loudest ... read more
by Julie Turkewitz
07 Mar 2009
Argentina
They Say Everything Is Degenerating In Santa Ana, But I'm Not So Sure
As my companion slowed to a stop before a smiling, generously armed police officer, I was reminded that the crumbled road was indeed part of route 9, Argentina's main ... read more
by Michelle Gil-Montero
30 Nov 2002
Tips
Argentina
'Che' does not mean communist
In Argentina, people often say "che" to one another. The first time someone did this to me, it threw me for a loop. Were they making fun of me? Implying ... read more
by Anders Kelto
10 Feb 2009
Argentina
They aren't calling you fat!
Having learned Spanish in California and spoken it in Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico, I thought with a little review I'd be ready to take on the Porteños -- city ... read more
by Gianna Toboni
20 Mar 2009
Argentina
Hoard your coins
Porteños – those are locals of Buenos Aires – value the one peso coin more than the two peso note. Why? Local buses only accept coins, and everyone takes the bus. Be ... read more
by Julie Turkewitz
25 Apr 2009
Blog Posts
Argentina
As far north as Jujuy
Our drive to Jujuy began before the stray dogs were even up. We got our wake up call at 5:30 AM and were on the road within the hour. I’ve learned to take the tour guide’s advice. When he says, “Buy some coca leaves”, do. You probably will need ... read more
by Audrey Bergner
30 Jan 2010
Argentina
Double-Barrelled Packing
I'm sitting in my room now and it's nearly empty. There are still the paintings on the wall that my roommate made, but my maps of Buenos Aires and Argentina are down. Most of my clothes are either packed up or at the laundromat. A suitcase lies opened and nearly ... read more
by Jon Brandt
12 Jan 2010
Argentina
A Note on the Style of Night Life in Buenos Aires
People think of Argentinians as very fashionable, and justly so. Walking through the Microcentro during the say, one finds high powered businessmen and women bustling about, wearing the latest fashions. There is a certain air carried by so many here, with the large sunglasses covering the face up and the ... read more
by Jon Brandt
21 Dec 2009
Argentina
Stuck in the Middle
Last night I went out with my friends Dan and Valerie, meeting up with a couple of Dan's students and their friends. Though the final destination was to be a house party in a residential neighborhood far away (I eventually hitch-hiked home at 5:30 am), we first went to the ... read more
by Jon Brandt
20 Dec 2009
Argentina
Get Your Own Culture!
How does one truly describe what culture is? You can go across the sea, visit museums, drink different wines and eat different foods, all in an attempt to get some culture. Listen to classical music, watch a foreign film, or see a play. Whatever it is that makes you think ... read more
by Jon Brandt
25 Nov 2009
Argentina
Life is to enjoy (La Vida es para gozarla)
Wow, it feels good to be solo on the beach. The breeze flows steadily from the southeast; it's beautiful, with the sun's streaking rays cutting through the thin frosting of clouds downward towards the sandy coast. This is no beach resort, this ain't no disco, no Caribbean coast, or tropical ... read more
by Brian Funk
19 Nov 2009
Argentina
What You Leave Behind
What do you gain when you spend so much time away from home, living abroad in some wild expat dream or traveling? Often enough, you wind up losing more than you think you're gaining. Ask yourself, do the long term potential benefits of leaving home really outweigh the short term ... read more
by Jon Brandt
10 Nov 2009
Argentina
A Picture For Your Thoughts
The other night I went home and found that an American couple were in my apartment purchasing a painting from my roommate, who’s an artist. It turns out they live on Nantucket, and we wound up talking for a long time. At some point the conversation turned to photography, and ... read more
by Jon Brandt
04 Nov 2009
Argentina
Mountains, Football, Dreams
You take away the mountains and the rough country roads, you take away the ancient buses with black plumes of smoke billowing behind, and you take away the expectation that every day will bring something totally new and unexpected. I wake up and it's all according to a plan now. ... read more
by Jon Brandt
01 Nov 2009
Argentina
Forget Paris
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about my place here in Argentina, and since meeting two new friends who feel similarly, I've been discussing it as well. Earlier in the week I wrote about not feeling that I perfectly fit in here, or that something is amiss, but ... read more
by Jon Brandt
17 Oct 2009
Argentina
Can't Sleep, Might As Well Write
Tonight I can't sleep, but I'm so tired. My mind is riddled with thoughts about where I've been, where I am, and where I'll be. On the edge of sleep still, but my brain just won't let it go, so I've given up trying for now. Coffee will have to ... read more
by Jon Brandt
13 Oct 2009
Argentina
Dear Video Diary,
One of the best ways to chronicle your trip is to create a video diary. This past summer, before embarking on my South American adventure, I purchased a camcorder and it was one of my best investments ever! Not only was I able to capture some of the most magnificent scenery, but ... read more
by Audrey Bergner
10 Oct 2009
Argentina
An Expensive Mistake
Before leaving for Ecuador, I signed up on the U.S. State Department’s database as a citizen residing in Ecuador. This was mainly so they could keep track of me in the event of an emergency, and it’s something that everyone should do regardless of whether or not they live in ... read more
by Jon Brandt
07 Oct 2009
Argentina
Losing My Spanish
While I wholeheartedly agree that 40 million people can’t be wrong, I have to admit that the Spanish spoken in Argentina is a bit different, and definitely takes some getting used to. Last year I began to pick up the usage of ‘vos’ while living in Ecuador, though they never ... read more
by Jon Brandt
05 Oct 2009
Argentina
Left On Red? Nah, Just Kidding, There Are No Reds
Congratulations, Buenos Aires! You've done it again. Another significant title has been awarded to you. Previous honors include the "Paris of South America," "Most Metropolitan City in the Continent", and "Beef Capital of the World." Well, on behalf of, me, I'm giving this great city another crowning title. Are you ... read more
by Jon Brandt
24 Sep 2009
Argentina
Like A Fine Wine
Since I've started my job, I've been fortunate enough to be reading up entirely on Wine Country, the many wine vineyards in Argentina, and how to taste and appreciate wine, among other things. There's a whole world and culture when it comes to wine, and as 2 weeks of 9 ... read more
by Jon Brandt
24 Sep 2009
Argentina
Welcome to Americatown, Fatty!
On Monday night I attended my first meeting with a writing circle here in Buenos Aires. The group, which is composed mainly of expat women, used to meet at a café every week, but now bounces around from people’s apartments. It’s a good way for me to meet more people ... read more
by Jon Brandt
24 Sep 2009
Argentina
The Latinization of Jon
No matter how much time I spend in Latin America, I’ll always be an American and always revert back to the culture that I was raised in. For many obviously reasons, I’ll never be truly Latino, but after spending over a year in Latin America, I feel like I’m slowly ... read more
by Jon Brandt
24 Sep 2009
Argentina
Not Quite Elevator Music
Last night I was riding the Subte (subway) headed towards Belgrano. The subway would be a great way to get around in Buenos Aires, except for the fact that they didn't put much thought into it when they built it. Realistically, it serves only the centro, and the second you ... read more













