Volunteer Abroad in Argentina with Voluntario Global

Highlights: The best part about the time I spent in Buenos Aires was simply getting to experience the rich porteño culture. It was the small things that highlighted my trip; strolling through the rose gardens of Parque Tres de Febrero, sipping mate with friends along the river in the ecological reserve, practicing my Spanish with the merchants at the markets in Recoleta, dancing down the streets of San Telmo behind a band of drummers. My three months interning in the city enabled me to not just experience Buenos Aires on its surface, but to experience its people, its communities, its triumphs and failures. I was able to live and breathe the real Buenos Aires, and this is what made my trip so meaningful.

Morning: On a typical morning, I started work around 9:30 a.m. I would wake up and eat a light breakfast of coffee, fruit and medialunas. Medialunas are a popular (and delicious) Argentine pastry, much like a sugar-glazed croissant. Around 9 a.m., I would leave the large apartment in Microcentro that I shared with 15 other Voluntario Global volunteers, and walk the few blocks to the subway (or subte as it is referred to in Buenos Aires). The office where I worked was located in San Telmo, only about a 15 minute commute by train and foot. Once at the office, I would meet with my coordinator and the other communications interns to divvy up the workload, discuss new projects, and brainstorm ideas.

Afternoon: My work in San Telmo generally finished up around 2 or 3 p.m. Instead of taking the subte home, I would usually walk back to my apartment. The walk only took about 30 minutes and gave me a chance to unwind and enjoy the colonial charm of San Telmo. Sometimes, I would stop for lunch at one of the many cafes along my way or simply duck into a small produce market to pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables to fix back home. Sharing a home with so many people meant the apartment was almost always bustling with activity. It also meant there was always someone around willing to go explore a new park or museum in the city.

Evening: Buenos Aires has a very vibrant nightlife. With countless bars and restaurants, an exciting music and art scene, and clubs that don’t close until sunrise, there was never any shortage of things to occupy my evenings. I often ate with the other volunteers, either cooking a meal together at home or venturing out to one of the many Argentine steakhouses, called parillas. Afterward, we would find a bar or café to grab a drink in, and perhaps catch some live music or a tango show if we were lucky. I also spent many nights with my friends out dancing in the tango clubs, known as milongas, or some of the many other dance clubs in Buenos Aires.