Australia to Argentina my Travel Abroad Experience This is my second trip to Buenos Aires and so far I have been here for about 7 weeks. My first trip to this great city was in December 2014 and to be honest I only got a brief taste of it, but enough of a taste to…
Important factors which will determine your Study Abroad Success
The process of learning a language is a lot like an athlete training for a gold medal. There’s coaching, goal setting, hard work, determination, riding the ups and downs and modifying your strategies to get to the prize at the end. The Olympics have concluded in Rio for another 4 years and you’ve possibly been…
From London to Argentina: My First Month in Buenos Aires
My Spanish Immersion Experience in Buenos Aires Argentina After finishing university in England earlier this year, I knew I wanted to do something a bit more challenging than following the usual route of finding a job in London. Above all, I wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and explore a new country. I…
From USA to Argentina Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires
Living in Argentina while Studing Spanish in Buenos Aires In three days, I will have officially been in Buenos Aires for two months! It’s not like I haven’t felt it coming, since that’s one of the first questions I get when striking up a conversation with locals: “How long have you been here?” It comes right after,…
Best Bars in Buenos Aires 2017
By: Vamos Spanish Academy June 11th, 2017 Six Bars – The Hidden Gems of BA Some of you may already know that Buenos Aires is world-famous for having a buzzing vibrant nightlife. So if you’re a nocturnal party-loving person – you’re in for a treat. There is a reason why we call it…
A “Scientific” Study Of The Best Ice Cream in Buenos Aires
Your Guide to the Best Argentine Ice Cream When people think of Argentina they often think of key food groups such as red wine and steak, but there’s an important food group they’ve forgotten… ice cream or ( Helado in Argentine Spanish ). Some of you may say that ice cream is not a food…
Your Guide to UBER in Buenos Aires Argentina
What you need to know about UBER in Argentina Being a United States native, I have become accustomed to the luxuries of tapping my phone and magically making an uberX appear rather than hailing a cab. I was happy to know the same convenience would be available at my new home in Argentina. Only while…
How to Learn Spanish in Argentina
My study abroad experience in Argentina I began learning Spanish over a month ago and figured it was now a good time to reflect on learning the language. As background, I grew up in the U.S. and studied Spanish until 8th grade. I then switched to studying Chinese for high school and university, living in…
Discovering the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires
Recoleta Cemetery Facts By Stina Persen – February 25 2017 Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de la Recoleta) is often listed as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. After spending an afternoon wandering through the cobblestone streets lined with tombs I would have to agree. Recoleta Cemetery is located in the prestigious neighbourhood of Recoleta, in…
Free Practical Alternatives to Learn Spanish
6 Alternative Ways to Studying Spanish Attending an intensive, structured language class is the number one way to improve your Spanish quickly. There is simply no substitution to putting hours into conversational practice, having a native teacher to help you with grammar and any difficulties you might have. But your efforts shouldn’t end when school…
Spanish Grammar – Nouns and Gender
Spanish Grammar Series One of the trickiest things to come to terms with for a native English speaker attempting to learn Spanish, is the key role that gender plays. In English, gender is not important unless you are speaking about a living object, ie, a person or an animal. However, in Spanish, all nouns (person,…
Spanish Reflexive Verbs
What are they and how do I use them? If you have read the other blogs in this grammar series, you will be aware that there are numerous differences in grammar between English and Spanish, such as the gender of a noun and articles which can often be confusing. Reflexive Verbs are another concept which…
Lollapalooza in Buenos Aires. Your Guide to the best party in Argentina
What is Lollapalooza? Lollapalooza is a music festival that originates from the United States, it was created in 1991 and has undergone various revivals since then. It first expanded into South America in 2010 when the festival was staged in Santiago, Chile. The following year there was a festival in Brazil and in 2014 Buenos…
The Story of Milanesa – Learn How To Make it and Recipes
Understanding the Milanesa When you think of meat in Argentina most likely the first thing that comes to mind is parillas and asados. Which is for very good reason because it’s done great and it’s a part of the culture. When you think of places in the world known for meat it’s a battle between…
Moving Abroad To Argentina from England
Starting a new life in Argentina Buenos Aires I come from a small, modest city in the north west of England called Preston, whose main claim to fame is that it is home to Europe’s second largest bus station and we also used to have the National Football Museum before it was begrudgingly relocated to…
Ultimate Guide to Argentine Facturas Names Types & History
Learn more about the Argentine top Pastries By Luke Whitehead 9/11/2016 Where do Facturas get their names from? There is no just denying that facturas are a way of life for many here in Buenos Aires. Flakey, buttery, sometimes gooey, and always delicious. People buy them by the dozen from their local panaderías (bakeries) to enjoy…
An Alternative Perspective of La Boca and Caminito in Buenos Aires Argentina
Why you need a tour guide to fully experience La Boca La Boca is a renowned destination in Buenos Aires and a tourist hotspot. Pictures of its iconic brightly coloured houses and streets are all over the internet and social media. I have been in Buenos Aires since October 2015, it is now March 2016, and…
Essential Apps In Buenos Aires Argentina
Useful apps to make the most of Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is a metropolitan, energetic, diverse, and seductive city. It is a capital on a grand scale, though it can be a little complex and even daunting for the unprepared. Fortunately, almost everyone nowadays has a smartphone sat in their pocket which can be a…
Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish
Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish Study Spanish in Buenos Aires In order to learn any language, you need to spend some time understanding basic grammar and while it is not the most exciting aspect of learning a new language, it is important. One essential element of Spanish is the article. What is an article?…
Cultural Do’s and Don’ts in Argentina
The DON’Ts and DO’s complete guide. What you need to know now before going to Argentina Beautiful landscapes with high mountains and the famous La Pampa, a long and massive coastline, big cities like Buenos Aires and a healthy mixture of cultures – these are just a few things that make Argentina a country worth visiting. But,…
How to Change Dollars – Euros and How to Use your Credit and Debit Card in Argentina
What you should know before traveling to Buenos Aires By Stina Persen – Buenos Aires Sep 1 – 2016 A couple of minor inconveniences this weekend have reminded me how complicated money can be in Argentina, especially foreign money. So here is a few tips and tricks to avoid frustration. Before Traveling to Argentina make…
5 Places to Get The Best Views of Buenos Aires
In comparison to other cosmopolitan cities, Buenos Aires does not have that many tall buildings. The majority of them are located in the downtown area. That means, if you know where to go to get up high enough, you will be able to find an amazing unobstructed view of the city. Here are 5 places…
Traveling from New Zealand to Argentina
There wasn’t a great deal of thought or planning behind my partner and myself choosing to move to Argentina. Quite simply we were both at points in our lives where an adventure was well overdue. Max’s birthday was shortly after we meet and I bought my new chef boyfriend an Argentine cookbook because he had…
The Best Guide to the Iguazu Falls in Argentina
WEEKEND TRIP TO IGUAZÚ FALLS Unlike Anything Else in the World No trip to Argentina is complete without a visit to Iguazu Falls, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and 2011 was named one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World. There are few sights more awe inspiring as Iguazu Falls. Stretching almost…
Torrontes The Exclusive Argentine Wine
Discovering Torrontes The Argentine Hidden Gem The first Argentine wine I tried was in Mendoza, and it was not a Malbec; back then my tastes ran only to white wine. I tried a Torrontes and was hooked. Torrontes is a grape variety grown almost exclusively in Argentina throughout the wine regions. There are three main varieties of…
Best Places for Skateboarding in Buenos Aires Argentina
Skateboarding in Buenos Aires I find skating in a big city like Buenos Aires can sometimes be a bit daunting with the amount of cars and not knowing quite how the streets can match up in order to get to where you need to go. Buenos Aires thankfully has bike lanes which make their way…
Crazy about Locro
Loco por el locro! The tradition of eating certain foods to help celebrate cultural traditions dates back far beyond written history. From food being left in tombs of Egyptian tombs to eat turkey to celebrate genocide… Food plays an essential part in human history and it is no different in Argentina where they use Locro…
How to Make Dulce de Leche & Recipes
Dulce de Leche in Argentina One of my favorite food items I have discovered here in Argentina is Dulce de Leche though popular in many parts of Latin America, Europe and even Asia I had never seen it before in my little old New Zealand. The History of Dulce De Leche Legend has it that…
Catching a Cold in Buenos Aires Argentina
Getting Sick in Buenos Aires Life as a traveler is a life full of excitement, you learn to ebb and flow with the constant change of surroundings, friends and acquaintances. Days are filled with things you have never seen, foods you have never tasted and experiences you have never experienced. As your environment changes you…
Mercado del Progreso in Caballito Buenos Aires Argentina
The History of the Progreso Market in Buenos Aires City El Mercado del Progreso (The Market of Progress) is a historical and locally owned market in the beautiful Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Caballito. Built by The Society of Progress Caballito this market opened its doors in December 1889 and after more than 125 years is…
Caballito Neighborhood or Barrio de Caballito in Buenos Aires City
Discovering the traditional Caballito are in Buenos Aires City So… what about Caballito? Caballito is a historic neighbourhood in Buenos Aires which manages to maintain a relatively low profile considering its name and location. Caballito means ‘little horse’ but this is not due to a proud history of pony rides. The name in fact came…
Places To Try Yerba Mate In Buenos Aires
Yerba Mate Bars in Buenos Aires Argentina Many foreigners to Buenos Aires may find themselves wanting to try yerba mate (the hot beverage which the Argentines drink daily), but are hesitant to invest in all of the necessary supplies in order to make it. The solution? Mate bars. Now as a (silly) foreigner myself, upon hearing…
Choripan Recipe Types and History of Argentina Chorizo Sandwich
Guide to The Best Choripan. Recipe, Types and Origin By Spanish School Argentina – 15 July – 2015 Buenos Aires Argentina Choripán the essential Argentinian street food Bread and meat, bread and meat, bread and meat. If you´ve been here for 3 days this is probably your diet. The porteños have gotten this down to an…
Cooking in Buenos Aires Argentina as a Professional Chef
Working as a Professional Chef in Buenos Aires By Spanish School Buenos Aires – July 11 2016 (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Ah the life of a professional chef, working and learning, getting paid to eat and learning to reproduce food that causes yours and other people’s mouths to drool. I´ve been a cook for the past 10 years…
How to Renew your tourist visa in Buenos Aires Argentina
Visas for Argentina As an american with his 90 day tourist visa running out I started to stress on how to extend this. After googling and failing to find time for a trip to colonia I found the best option was to deal with the Dirección Nacional De Migraciones. My Spanish in this first 90…
Ways to Put Your Spanish Skills to the Test While Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires
Practicing Spanish in Buenos Aires Argentina As we are learning a foreign language, other than making sure we are grasping the grammar and applying them correctly in a classroom setting, we often feel like testing ourselves and trying to see how we actually fare in the real world. Able to interact with native speakers is…
Mataderos Sunday Market in Buenos Aires City – Argentina
What you need to know about Mataderos Market Street Fair in Buenos Aires City – Argentina Feria de Mataderos is an afternoon in Porteño heaven, where you get a different perspective from all the other markets around Buenos Aires. From some of the best artisanal crafts, a whole street with cheese and fiambres (cured meat), great dancing…
Argentine Empanadas – History, Recipes and Types.
Discovering the Argentine Empanada After the meat and pizza, a trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without empanadas. Every region of Argentina has its own special recipe which, the locals will assure you, is better than any other empanada out there. The modern empanada is believed to be a derivative of the Indian…
Argentine Culture 101: Yerba Mate
Mate – The Popular Drink from Argentina Argentina is internationally renowned for its beef, wine, and tango, but one Argentine delicacy many foreigners are unfamiliar with is mate. Mate is an extremely popular beverage in Argentina. Made from a bitter herb, called yerba mate, the drink has an extensive history and a wealth of rituals…
The Story Behind Madres de Plaza de Mayo
The Argentina Story Behind the Date – March 24 Thursday, March 24, don’t expect to go to work, to class, or shopping- it’s a national holiday, and a big one at that. Known as el Día de la Memoria, the Day of Memory, it’s not your run-of-the-mill recognition of some old battle. In fact, pretty…