When I first set off on my journey to Argentina, there was a list of things that I wanted to accomplish. The first and most important thing was to improve my Spanish. Part of me was naïve enough to think that after two months I was going to be close to fluent and the thought of that excited me. I also knew that, while I was gone, I was going to have to break out of my comfort zone. I have always been one or two steps behind others in my Spanish classes, allowing them to speak up first, and would only practice my Spanish in class when I was called on. There have always been those fears of mispronouncing words, not being able to find the right vocabulary, or just having the most obvious North American accent. I knew that I was going to have to completely ignore those fears while in Argentina, and as I tried to prepare myself mentally for the challenge, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
The two months I spent in Argentina were the most exciting two months I have ever experienced. I found myself in uncomfortable situations where I was forced to dig deep into my Spanish vocabulary and found that I was ever so thankful that Professor Green-Nagle taught us the “art” of circumlocution in her Spanish classes. Throughout all of this, however, it was also easy to forget that I was in a Spanish speaking country. All of the friends I made that were in my program are from the United States, and when we were together, we learned how difficult it was to keep speaking Spanish. Also, quite a few Argentines, once they heard our accents, would try to practice their English. Some of my favorite conversations were held on the buses or subways with Argentines who would speak to me in English, and I would respond to them in Spanish. It took a lot of discipline to stay in “Spanish mode” while they spoke in English, but we would help one another and would both be learning.
The first few weeks were the hardest ones. Culture shock hit me hard and if someone would have offered me a way home after week two, I probably would have accepted. There were a few problems with my housing once I got there and I was working off of very little sleep which affected my emotions. Thankfully, going home early was not an option and I am so happy I stayed with it to the end. I can happily say that I have met people from all around the world: Canada, England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, China, Israel, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Angola, and of course, Argentina. I also have made many friends who live within the United States who I am sure I will keep in contact with. Meeting all of these people has rekindled my love of intercultural communications. There is nothing more enjoyable to me then getting to learn the differences and similarities between two cultures. I was able to study this in depth with Argentina, but the more people I met from other countries, the more I was able to compare and contrast the cultures of the United States, Argentina, and the other countries, respectively. Where many people would learn and think, “That is so strange!” I learn it and think, “That is so amazing!” If there is only one thing that this trip has given me, it is the passion and the want-to to dive deeper into studies of other cultures.
Apart from learning Spanish and learning about cultural differences, I was able to experience the life of Buenos Aires, the “Paris of South America,” first hand. Buenos Aires’ culture focuses heavily on European influence. Much of the architecture resembles that of France, Spain, and Italy. There is quite an obsession with coffee and ice cream (thanks to the Italian influence) and Italian cuisine is the most popular right behind asado (common to our North American barbecue). Steak is the number one food of Argentina, due to the large number of ranches with cattle around the country. Argentines are very proud of their history and their culture and it is imperative for a visitor to share a cup of mate (a strong, herbal tea) when it is offered.
Tango is also an important pastime of Argentina, and to go to Buenos Aires and not try tango is missing out on an important part of their culture. Although I can easily say that tango might not be my favorite thing to do, I enjoyed watching it and was so happy when one brave man from Ecuador attempted to teach me. I learned eight basic steps of tango that I could probably do in my sleep, and yet following someone’s lead is quite difficult. I attended many milongas (types of clubs that are reserved for partner dancing: tango, salsa, swing, etc) where I enjoyed watching friends and professionals dance. The art of tango is beautiful and beautifully complicated and as much as I would love to learn to do it well, I was content with watching those who knew what they were doing!
Another aspect of Argentine lifestyle is how late they stay out. Dinner usually does not begin until after nine o’clock at night (sometimes after ten) and dinner is more than just about the food. If there is anything I discovered about being in an Argentine restaurant, it was how impatient Americans from the United States are. In the United States, when you sit down to an evening meal, you want service and you want it fast. In Argentina, once the waiter seats you, you will not see him again until you are ready to order, and only after ten to twenty minutes of conversation while looking at the menu. Once you have ordered and received your food, there is at least an hour (and that is a short amount of time) set aside for eating and conversation. The waiter does not bring the bill until it is asked for and he never gets impatient waiting for the customers to leave. Conversation and companionship are very important elements to an Argentine dinner. My first dinner in Buenos Aires was three hours long, and it was a time when I was surrounded by new friends whom I got to know over the course of the meal.
After dinner, especially on the weekends, the younger crowd of Buenos Aires goes out into the night with one thing in mind: boliches! (clubs). It is very common to go out to a club around one in the morning, and stay there until six. There are even clubs that open at six in the morning called “After Parties”. These are the places for those who either need a break from tango or who want a great exercise from dancing for hours.
Throughout my two months in Argentina, I discovered that becoming bilingual is something that is going to take more than two months of intense study to accomplish. As if I did not already know, I realized that Spanish is quite a complicated language that is harder to grasp than I imagined. My Spanish has definitely improved and I feel as if I can comprehend it much better. Of course, my speaking has improved as well, but I have found that many people are surprised when I say that I am not anywhere near being fluent. At times, I wanted to give up. I wanted to take my future Spanish degree and hide it because getting through Spanish classes and a summer in Argentina does not necessarily mean I am ready to use the language in my career. But I have found hope knowing that I can keep practicing and studying. I can continue learning and growing in my Spanish knowledge. I know that native Spanish speakers (especially those in Argentina) are forgiving and understand how hard it is to communicate in a second language. I am so thankful for my time in Argentina and will continue to enjoy sharing my story with others. This opportunity would not have been possible without loving parents and supportive friends and it was an experience I will never forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment