The group is getting ready for their flight home to the US. This evening they will fly from Buenos Aires to Houston on Continental flight #52, arriving tomorrow morning at 6:15am.
They will change planes in Houston to CO flight #1495, scheduled to arrive at LAX on Thursday, April 7, at 10:52am (assuming no delays).
Yesterday ended our all too short stay in Mar del Plata as we returned by bus to Buenos Aires. During our long bus ride, we stopped for lunch in Pinamar, a small beach town, and walked along the shore. The trip was exhausting, but we were all excited to be back in Buenos Aires.
Today we spent our first day back exploring Tigre, a network of rivers and islands just outside of Buenos Aires. We had time to shop around in the nearby fruit and handicraft markets, where there were many various fruits and plants, as well as wood and wicker goods. After lunch, we went on a relaxing boat tour of the delta.
This will be our last blog post, as tomorrow we will be departing for home. But before we leave, we will have the opportunity to spend the day in Palermo and spend the rest of our pesos before dinner and Tango dancing!
Quick note from Alicia:
We have arrived safely in BA! Beautiful day of traveling back from Mar del Plata along the coast. Now we are off to eat empanadas and sleep before tomorrow's excursion to the river delta TIGRE.
Day 8: Today we went on a bus tour of the harbor in Mar Del Plata and visited famous neighborhoods and little Bethelem. We started our tour at a beautiful gothic style church which was generously donated by the people in the neighborhood. Later we visited a ship harbor and watched sea lions play in the water. Later concluding our tour we sat down and enjoyed fresh fish, paella, and other dishes in a resturant near the harbor. The bus took us to the beach allowing us to relax on the beach or even shop in the various shops set up along the shore. At the beach we played an Argentinian game called tejo. We later regathered for dinner. I think we can all say that this dinner was by far the best we have had yet. After we were allowed to freely roam around the streets of Mar Del Plata and grab a desert after the delish dinner that we had. Some chose to eat the scumptious churros and others the chocolate dipped ice cream. YUM!
Day 9: Today we took another bus tour to visit the Laguna Hills of the Fathers. Not only we were able to see the refurbished homes of the natives of the lands. We continued our tour to the zoo. Here we had the pleasure of seeing, petting, and feeding a range of animals from llamas to sheeps. Many of the animals were either donated by people in order to recover from past troubled lives. We later enjoyed lunch in a small restaurant nearby and were given time to browse around and shop. We concluded our night together by enojoying a nice dinner in a little restaurant followed by ice cream.
Our day started as we boarded the bus to head over to a soup kitchen in a more rural area of Mar Del Plata. Even as we parked, children lined the fence cheering for us to get off the bus. Sister Marta, the director of the soup kitchen, emphasized her work at this establishment as a place to cultivate richness within despite the lack of resources. That fact was prevalent in the personality of each kid. None truly spoke English, and despite that they didn't hesitate to communicate and interact with us. They cartwheeled, played ball, and some even danced for us! The bond between all the children ranging from 2 to 12 years old was evident, as little girls trained the little 2 year old to kiss the guests. It was a dismay to all of us to have to depart the kitchen, and travel back to the hotel. That experience was perhaps one of the most enriching ones we´ve been rewarded with on this trip.
After the children sang us songs to bless us for visiting, we drove to another school, also in Mar del Plata. After eating lunch, we learned more about the school and its students, who are in grades K through 12. We then learned more tango and even a bit of salsa dancing. After this, we joined the students outside during break and divided into groups for gym class. After splitting into groups to either play soccer or hockey, we gained first hand experience about how the Argentines play ¨futbol¨ and field hockey. While competing on integrated field hockey and soccer teams, we had the opportunity to learn more about Argentinian teenagers and to practice our Spanish.
After leaving the beautiful forest behind, we traveled along the beach back to the hotel. Now we have some free time to shop and explore Mar del Plata and we will be heading to dinner at 8!
After an eventful night, we began our long day with some shopping around the small town of Chascomus. Around 10·30, we boarded the bus and began the 4 hour drive to Mar Del Plata. Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a rest stop. After we ate, we went to a bird park where we saw ducks and flamingos.
For the rest of the bus trip we had a dance party and some people slept. We also listened to some Argentine music! Que rico! We finally arrived in Mar del Plata and we checked into the hotel. After a short break we went on a walking tour of the city with a new tour guide. We walked up San Martin Avenue and walked along the Atlantic Ocean.
After working up an appetite, we sat down to eat at a famous churro restaurant called Manolo. Some ordered nepolitan pizza, others order burgers and more traditional Argentine dishes. After dinner, we indulged in churros filled with Dulce de Leche or Chocolate.
Some craved some ice cream, so on our way to make a stop at the ice cream store, we found a pack of boys. Many girls followed them and did not realize that half the group had stopped walking and was watching them follow the boys. It was very funny! We then walked back to the hotel and we are going to bed soon.
The group has arrived safely in Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Check back soon for updates from the students.
John
Today we started off with a bus ride to La Alameda where we revelled in the beauty of an extravagant lagoon. There, we were welcomed with a hot empanada followed by the traditional Argentine asado (delicious barbequed beef and sausage).
After lunch, we saw various folk-dances. Following the performances, we watched the gauchos play sortija, a game in which the gauchos were supposed to capture a small ring. If they were successful, they could trade the ring for a kiss from one of the women in the audience. One of the gauchos, an adorable nine year old boy, captured the attention of all the girls. At the end of this demonstration, the gauchos asked for volunteers to be pulled on a sled made of cow skin, by their horse, around the arena.
Later in the day, we lounged in the sun around the lagoon, sunbathing on the dock and playing cards with friends. Once we got into town, we were given free time to roam around town and do some shopping.
Now we´re off to dinner and pool!
As if being surrounded by Argentine culture was not enough, we became even more immersed in the country´s history and spirit through visiting several renowned sites.
Our first stop was ESMA, a former military school/ detention center in the 1970s that now serves as a memorial of Argentina´s most devestating human rights crisis. This experience gave us extrodinary compassion for those who were killed and tortured. As we stood in the very basement and attic where many were detained, we felt the sorrow and despair that many Argentines experienced.
Next we took a bus the lunch. Our options were chicken or spinich filled crepes.
Most of us ordered the crepes and when they came out they were BRIGHT green!
....Maybe not the best thing we have had so far.
After lunch we all went to the Evita museum. A museum dedicated to one of Argentina´s most loved and most hated political and social figures: Eva Peron. The guide helped us see the two sides of this influential figure. Not only was she a crucial influence in helping the middle class, she also used her charity work to futher her political campaign.
Then.... TANGO LESSONS!
We worked on the basic step we learned the day before and even learned some extra steps. It was quite an experience to learn both the men´s and the women´s role.
Here are some pictures and a video.
We started the day nice and early... okay maybe at 10. We traveled by bus to the museum for the ¨Dirty War¨ exhibit. So interesting being in the same building and retracing the steps of the past.
We then went to lunch and ate crepes or grilled chicken. The meat here is absolutely divine.
We traveled onward to one of the oldest gravesites in Argentina where Eva Peron was buried. Even though we couldn´t visit Maddie's family mausoleum it was still a sight to remember.
Then, after a cozy bus ride, we took tango lessons from the girlfriend of our tour guide. What an experience with all girls! We took turns being the men, que interesante. Tomorrow, however, we will be with dance partners so we are all glad for the practice.
After the dance lesson we walked around Santa Fe and shopped. Well, mostly window shopped due to the limmited amount of time. We finished the day with a delicious dinner at Cocina y Cia. Que delicioso! And tried our skills on the metro. We are all nice and tired and look forward to another cozy night at the hotel.
Adios from Argentina, We miss you all!
Today, after a long and sleepless flight, we finally landed in Ezesa Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentinaaaaa!!! We must admit, there were few valuable impressions of the drive to the hotel because most of the girls fell right asleep on our luxurious tour bus. However, despite the much needed sleep, the minute we laid eyes on the city our excitement to be in a new country ignited. Once we got to the hotel we were given our room keys and sent off to settle in our rooms...for 10 minutes before we were off again. The majority of those ten minutes were spent navagating the quaint yet charming Hotel Reina and figuring how to unlock the door to our rooms with our seemingly ageless keys.
We then took a walk to the program office to get acquainted with the culture, customs, and our itinerary for the duration of the trip. We learned some interesting facts about colloquial Spanish and the Argentine accent. Our lunch of empanadas and our introduction to Mate were great ways to boost our energy so that we could move forward with our day, despite our earlier exhaustion. It was "re" fantastico!
San Telmo was the location of our next adventure (can you believe it`s still the first day?). Every Sunday the neighborhood of San Telmo is lined with street performers and local venders selling their handcrafted goods. We trekked over 10 blocks of this market trying hard not to get lost within the buzzing crowd of tourists and locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon. Our final destination? The renowned Plaza de Mayo, home of the Casa Rosada, the office place of Argentina´s president Cristina Kirschner.
The Casa Rosada, aka "The Pink House"
We finally got back to rest before dinner, and we are in the locutorio directly to the left of our hotel where we can make phone calls and use the internet. After this we will get some rest and then head out for a classic Argentine meal, of many more to come!
Adios!
Maddie and Julia <3
The group has landed in Argentina, cleared customs/immigration, and successfully connected with Martin.
After some rest at the hotel, an orientation, empanadas & mate, they will head out to begin exploring the surrounding neighborhood of San Telmo, renowned for its cobbled lanes, colonial architecture, and fascinating street life of bustling markets and plazas.
As Lao Tzu famously wrote, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."
In the case of our intrepid Westridge travelers bound today for Argentina, the first step--clearing TSA security at LAX--has been successfully accomplished and only 6,100 or so miles remain! Kristin Webster just let us know the group is all together, relaxing before it is time to board their flight to Buenos Aires.
Stay tuned as the long-awaited adventure begins at last. And feel free to use the blog's comments feature if you'd like to add your voice here in the days ahead.
John Eastman
"He who would travel happily must travel light." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Lugging a heavy pack or suitcase around for the entire time we are in Argentina will be extremely tiresome for you, and for the rest of the group. There will be plenty of times when we'll be traveling around and we don't want to end up like this.
Since you will be responsible for carrying your own luggage, seriously challenge yourself to pack light. An old traveler's trick is to put out everything you think you need, then pack half of it and return the rest to your closet. Then, carry your bag around your house for 15 minutes to make sure you are able to easily carry it by yourself. If not, take some more items out! Remember, you will be able to purchase anything you forget in Argentina. And, you will most likely want to leave some extra room in your bag so you can bring home small souvenirs or gifts you may buy during your travels.
A NOTE ON DRESS: We will be visitors in Argentina and we will strive to be respectful of our hosts at all times. This means that the clothing and the way we dress may be different and more conservative than what we are used to at home. While Buenos Aires is deservedly known as a very fashionable city, the country is also 90% Roman Catholic and very traditional in values, and we should do all we can to lessen the unfortunately widespread Hollywood stereotype of flashy, promiscuous young Americans.
The Core Travel Insurance Program: Global LAB provides international emergency/medical insurance for all of our program participants. Linked below is a document that will provide you with information on the insurance program. If you would like to upgrade from the Core level to another level of coverage, please email the administrator directly.
Download Global LAB's Core Travel Insurance Program FAQs here.
You are of course welcome to purchase additional insurance of any kind with any other providers should you so choose.
We asked all the students to briefly explain why they want to travel to Argentina. Here are the responses, with a couple more in the works:
Elizabeth:
I've never been to South America before, so when the opportunity presented itself I knew it was definitely something I would be interested in. When I was younger, I often played the game "Risk" with my brother and I'd always start out in South America. Even from a young age, I always had the desire to visit and experience other cultures but especially those of South America, which I so often acquired during the board game with my brother.
Tori:
I have always wanted to travel to Argentina because of the fascinating cultural blend. I cannot wait to experience the vibrant culture, especially the food and tango. I have never been to South America, so I am very excited to learn about the culture!
Celine:
I've grown up traveling and moving, and the thrill of exploration in every new country is something I've always taken to, and my brother who has spoken fluent Spanish since he was four has inevitably influenced our entire family to gravitate towards anything remotely latin- Argentina included. But first and foremost, I love food, so it would be an intolerable sin to not taste the native flavors of Argentina. And being a rider, I've always been enamored by the leather, saddlery, and horses of Argentina!
Hi! My name is Martin Soliani and I will be your local Group Leader on your forthcoming program to Argentina. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires thirty two years ago and I have been working as a local guide of Buenos Aires and a Tour Conductor in South America with international travelers since 1998. My passion for tourism goes back to when I started as a 20 years old guide.
In addition to working with the Westridge group last year, I have been coordinating groups for The Language Experience / Experiment Argentina since 6 years ago - This includes groups of high school students on the World Learning Experiment Summer Abroad programs during their stay in Buenos Aires. I also have worked with the Robertson Scholar Summer Enrichment program and the Experiment volunteers and successfully led Road Scholar groups, Elderhostel Patagonia and Wine & Tradition groups as well as the Buenos Aires segment of the other Elderhostel (now Roadscholar) groups.
Hi everyone-
As I write you I am getting ready to take off for a five month adventure in South America, a lifelong dream of mine. I will be meeting you all in Buenos Aires in the middle of my journey to enjoy traveling with you in Argentina. I can't wait to meet you all--and am looking forward to the adventures we will have together!
So you know a little about me--I recently finished my undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science and Latin American Studies at the University of New Mexico. Before attending UNM I took a year off, which included a three month section hike on the Appalachian trail.
Since I was 16, I have been working with middle and high school kids, leading backpacking trips and being a summer camp counselor. I have travelled in Argentina, Mexico, and Costa Rica and love exploring new places and cultures. On my travels this spring, I will be visiting Chile, Argentina and Brazil, working on organic farms and camping, backpacking, and mountain biking my way around the south. In my free time, I love riding my bike, snowboarding, cooking, gardening, yoga, and anything active that gets me outside.
Good luck with your classes this spring--I look forward to meeting you all in March!
Take care,
Katya
Alicia with her son, Matias
Hi Everyone,
I am really looking forward to meeting all of you soon and having a great adventure together in Argentina. Here's a little bit about me:
I currently live in North Carolina but I am originally from the west coast. I got my 1st B.A in Art and Education from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. I am a high school and middle school teacher. I taught for several years in Colorado before going back to school for a 2nd BA in Spanish from the University of South Dakota. I then taught both Art and Spanish in schools in Minnesota and South Dakota and now in North Carolina.
I've traveled extensively throughout Argentina and Chile and have spent a total of two years living, studying and working in Argentina. I have a deep love of the Argentine culture. As a matter of fact, in 2007 I married a man from Mar del Plata, Argentina.
I am excited to tell you that on our trip, you will get to know my family in Argentina. We will be visiting the bi-lingual school that my In-laws own in Mar del Plata; through this connection and others we have planned you will experience the Argentine culture and people on a more personal level than most visitors.
I am an avid outdoors woman, I love hiking, biking, running and spending time in nature. I also love to travel and find each journey offers new adventures. Hopefully I can share with you the magic that has made me fall in love with Argentina and its people.
From "Asado" to "Tango" we will have a great time!
See you soon,
Alicia
[Please Note: This itinerary is subject to change based on group interest, opportunities to engage in local cultural events, health and safety concerns, and/or other factors beyond the control of Global LAB.]
Saturday, March 26
Depart from LAX bound for Buenos Aires!
Sunday, March 27
AM: Arrival Buenos Aires and Transfer to hotel
Short walk to The Language Experience office in San Telmo for a welcome orientation and brief presentation on Argentine traditions, customs, and colloquial Spanish.
Lunch at the office, with a demonstration on how to prepare Mate, a national ritual (similar to preparing and serving tea in other cultures) that is enjoyed in social settings in Argentina.
PM: This evening we explore the Buenos Aires neighbourhood ("barrio") of San Telmo, famous for its cobblestone streets, lively artists and tango parlours, and well-preserved Colonial architecture.
Dinner
Continue reading "Westridge School Argentina Itinerary: 2011" »
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