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BIG BLUE MARBLE NEWSLETTER: SAMPLE ARTICLE
To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries. Studying, Living, and Tangoing in Buenos Aires I believe that every traveler, for some inexplicable reason, has a part of themselves that is tied to another place and they will not feel fulf Since childhood, I felt destined to visit Buenos Aires someday. The only question was: When? The Argentine economy is so volatile that the cost of living there swings wildly. Sometimes, Buenos Aires is the most expensive places to travel on earth. At other times, it?s among the cheapest destinations. In 2002, following the country?s economic malaise, Argentina was cheap and I decided to take advantage of the low cost of living (at the time it was one of the ten cheapest places on Earth according to a Runzheimer International cost of living survey) before Buenos Aires got expensive again. While looking on-line for a cheap airfare to Buenos Aires, I stumbled upon a website for a local travel agency called Aloja Argentina (Aloja in Spanish means lodging). There I discovered the perfect travel package. Three weeks accommodations with a local family (with a small breakfast), transportation to and from the airport, 12 hours private tango lessons, a tour of the city, a night at a tango club, and 40 hours of small group Spanish language classes for $800 US. It had just what I wanted: an inexpensive price combined with a real chance to immerse myself in Buenos Aires?s culture and life. I wasn?t disappointed. My host family, Juan and Georgina, a young brother and sister who lived in their family?s apartment in Buenos Aires while studying at the local university, were attractive, vivacious, and accommodating. They let me into their lives by introducing me to family and friends and sharing their life stories and dreams. We became friends and occasionally went out on the town together. The apartment, though not large, was comfortable and the location couldn?t be beat - an attractive Art Deco style building in a stylish neighborhood reminiscent of New York?s Central Park (the City?s Palermo district). My Spanish instructors at CEDIC ? Maria Luisa and Laura ? cared about my progress and enjoyed sharing their culture and language. Maria Luisa?s eyes danced with enthusiasm whenever we spoke something that sounded vaguely like Spanish. Laura, a statuesque young lady of Slovakian heritage like many Argentine women, could easily have graced the catwalks in New York or Milan. My fellow students were eclectic, fun-loving, and enthusiastic: Saara, a young Finnish geography graduate student; Eric, a 30ish recently laid-off investment banker from New York City; Tara, an attractive recent refugee from the marketing business in San Francisco; and Stefan, a wild eyed and talented Swiss young student. The school once a week scheduled a night out on the town for the students (at additional cost). We boogied and drank these nights away like real Portenos (the nickname for local residents) into the wee hours of the morning. The tango classes were also terrific. My instructor, Anita, had endless patience with my two left feet. The staff at the Centro Cultural Konex (website in Spanish only) tried valiantly to help Anita teach me learn to dance (sadly, to limited avail). As an added bonus, the Centro had walking tours of the City?s neighborhood led by an extremely knowledgeable pair of guides who became quick friends, Valeria and Maria Elena. These vivacious young women enthusiastically pointed out Buenos Aires?s stunning Art Nouveau buildings and explained the history of the City?s romantic San Telmo and La Boca Italian neighborhoods. I am glad I followed my destiny to Buenos Aires. The people made me feel comfortable immediately. I loved my classes, tours, and host family. I wish I could have stayed longer, but, I?m sure that my destiny will send me back there soon.
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illed until they visit this place.