I sometimes have trouble deciding if I am continuing the same study abroad in Buenos Aires or if I should consider my second semester its own separate experience. After being here for a little over five months, I went to Brazil, home, and then came back. As I began the new semester, a lot had changed – my good American friends were gone (how much I miss my Quilombos), the classes I had become accustomed to had changed, my schedule was all over the place, and much more. I wasn’t learning the city again, but I was facing the same bureaucratic nightmares from both sides of the equator and assisting a new set of lost sheep (read: new exchange students).
The gang from last semester (minus one, Katie) all together.
I’m happy to help the new students, but I think there’s a value to having to struggle and learn by oneself. I’ll say something if it’s a serious situation – I told someone not to buy a boat ticket to Uruguay with her credit card (currency exchange fees plus the bad exchange rate), explained that metro cards can go into debt, helped show the dangers of taking the wrong rama, or branch, of the bus, and shared the value of getting coke light at the supermarket instead of a kiosk. But I kept my mouth shut when someone unwittingly joined the priciest and most chic gym in the city or when another person went to a restaurant I knew had bad food.
Some of my challenges remain the same too. I am constantly dealing with silly bureaucratic rules, and I can successfully say I know how to navigate the Argentine system better than IU’s now. I was able to get exceptions made to get the classes I needed as well as schedule two classes at effectively the same time. I just now await IU’s response on syllabi to complete my course schedule. Likewise, just like last semester, I still am having difficulty finding my readings at the Catholic University. I’ll post about my experience in my class in the future.
But after one month here (again), I am truly starting to appreciate the improvement in Spanish I have made. I understand a good deal of what is going on in class and am able to resolve problems with a good grasp of Spanish. I have already spoken to more students in my UCA class than I did all last semester. My speaking abilities, which still aren’t great, are coming along—my speed is a lot better and I have to consciously think less about how to conjugate a verb or phrase a sentence. The other night, my Argentine boyfriend told me that I sounded really Argentine when we spoke on the phone, which might be the biggest compliment I’ve gotten since arriving in July.
I’m excited to see what the next (or final) four months of my adventure bring. I hope that I can keep exploring new parts of South America and continue being amazed with my life in Buenos Aires. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally learn to roll my rs.
Hoping for more moments of happiness and beauty in my final four months abroad.