Julie Nagler – Argentina & Uruguay – Saying “Adiós” to Suburbia
As I sit here from the comfort of my bedroom in the small suburb of Concord, Massachusetts, it is hard to believe that in just 3 short days I will be in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, immersed in a culture that is completely unfamiliar to me. Right now, my feelings are fluctuating between excitement that is strong enough to make me want to hop on the plane right now, nervousness that is strong enough to make me want to throw up, and just about everything in between.
One of my biggest fears is the inevitable culture shock that is to come. With the exception of a couple weekend getaways, I have been in Boston for the past 6 months living on the same campus, working with the same people, and drinking the same daily Dunkin’ Iced. I have to come to terms with the fact that, at least for the next few weeks, quite literally everything is about to change and this is as nerve wracking as it is exciting. I also fear that I may struggle to communicate with the people around me. I am an advanced Spanish speaker but Argentinians are notorious for their thick (albeit beautiful) accents which could prove challenging. Lastly, the typical tourist fears such as getting ripped off, getting lost or getting mugged are certainly bouncing around in the back of my brain.
When I have these fears and concerns, it is helpful to remind myself why I chose to go abroad to Argentina in the first place. First of all, it is completely out of my comfort zone. I have never been to South America before, nor have I even been outside of the United States without my family for an extended period of time. I am a strong believer that putting oneself outside of one’s comfort zone is essential to personal growth. This journey will be no exception. I expect to emerge from it with a newfound sense of independence and a more culturally aware perspective. Second, I wanted to be immersed in an environment that would improve my Spanish speaking abilities. Living with a host family and thus being forced to speak the language for the majority of every day will inevitably help fulfill this goal.
There is so much that I am looking forward to about Argentina. For one thing, I am looking forward to the vibe of the city. I am a city girl at heart, and I can’t wait to feel the energy of the vibrant and purely cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires. I want to explore the sights, the shops, the sounds, the cafes (definitely the cafes), the parks, and everything else the city has to offer. Also, I can’t wait to delve into the history. As of now, I know very little about the country’s origins and I am looking forward to learning about the history’s role in shaping the current cultural norms. On a more personal note, Argentina sports one of the largest Jewish populations in the world and I am fascinated to see how the interplay between my faith and their culture carries out. Last but not least, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to live in an authentic Argentinian household. I can’t think of a better way to truly learn the culture than to be immersed in it 24/7. I will be living in Retiro which is in Northeast Buenos Aires and is well equipped with parks, squares and is just minutes away from the famous Avenida Santa Fe and many other attractions. I also found out today that my host family has two kittens which is just icing on the cake.
Thank you all for embarking on this journey with me! Next time I post I will be in Retiro, hopefully snuggling up with a kitten and drinking a warm cup of mate.
