Buenos Aires is the most colorful, vibrant, and passionate place I have ever been. I have been out of the country before, but this experience was completely different. There were many times when speaking Spanish was necessary to have conversations with locals, find places, or even to order food. The people were very patient and helpful in teaching us how to say certain things. You cannot go to Buenos Aires without eating empanadas and alfajors at least once a day, because they are delicious. I was surprised by how innovative and technologically advanced the businesses were, which made me realize how inaccurate my preconceived notions about Argentina, and South America in general had been.
We visited Exo, the U.S. Embassy, Globant, La Serenisima, River Plate Stadium, and the Metropolitan Design Center. I got a better understanding of what I wanted to do career-wise, and where I want to work. I also got a taste of what it would be like to work in a country that speaks a different language. I now have more respect for immigrants who have to learn English when they move to the United States.
The city was going through a crazy time (politically/economically) so there were (peaceful) protests that caused a few delays. The airport shut down, transportation workers were striking, the banks even shut down for a couple days. Culture shock is a real thing, and it didn’t hit me until we found ourselves in a cab, stuck smack dab in the middle of a protest. But it was a cool experience to see how passionate the people are, and just the fact that protests some times actually work in their favor.
La Boca was my favorite place we went to, it was so colorful and beautiful and the people there were so friendly. Closer to the center of the city is Palermo. Palermo is a province in Buenos Aires, and there you will find murals, and graffiti. Art is a huge part of the culture. Graffiti in Buenos Aires is not vandalism as we usually hear it being talked about in the United States. It is art, and it seems to be on every wall in Palermo. I fell in love with the city, the people, and the culture. It was an incredible learning experience, professionally and personally.
Bronwyn is working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Management. She participated in a College of Business faculty led trip to Argentina in December, 2017. Bronwyn had the following to say about her time abroad, “I had the opportunity to spend 8 days in Argentina for an “International Business Experience” course. The whole city of Buenos Aires is very diverse, from Rio Tigre to La Boca to Palermo there is so much the city has to offer. Art is a huge part of the culture. Graffiti in Buenos Aires is not vandalism as we usually hear it being talked about in the United States. It is art, and it seems to be on every wall in Palermo. The people are very friendly, passionate about their country, passionate about football, and the food is delicious (empanadas and alfajors are on every corner). This trip pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize where I want to go professionally and personally. I fell in love with the city, the people, and the culture. It was an unforgettable, amazing experience. Thank you UTC!”
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