Our goal at Vamos Spanish Academy is to make sure our students learn. Providing a relevant and productive learning environment is always at the top of our minds, but in order to do so, understanding our students is key. This is why we push ourselves to get to know every single one of our students, both academically and personally, before they even set foot into our classrooms.
Archives for October 2018
A Gayer Argentina
The 22nd of July 2010 saw the dawning of a new age for gay rights here in Argentina. The Chamber of Deputies approved the nationwide same-sex marriage, which also included the controversial issue of adoption. This made Argentina the first country in Latin America to allow same-sex marriages and the second in the whole of the Americas.
I remember watching the dramatic debate unfold in the Senate back in 2010. I was unsure as to what the final decision would be. The tense discussion between the catholic church, members of the gay community and the Senate left the final decision very uncertain, and in true Argentine fashion, the bill was passed by a tiny margin and after many extra hours of debate. Creating a true reason to celebrate in Argentina!
But I was wondering what is different about Argentina? How come such a bill was passed here Argentina first?
A unique atmosphere exists here in Argentina that aided the passing of the bill. While the church is a dominant figure in Argentina and protested strongly against the bill, it is somewhat separated from the political party. There is no strong Christian Democratic Party as there is in Chile and Venezuela. Inclusively, there is a relatively low weekly church attendance rate, surprisingly only around 22 per cent of people go to church weekly. This, however, did not stop the Church from engaging in a strong crusade against the bill, even releasing kids from school to tell parents to protest against gay marriage in Congress!
Also, crucially, the inherently flawed national vote on an issue of minority rights was avoided. Instead, the issue was approved first by a court ruling and later by legislative vote, creating an ultimately fairer decision process that has not been found in other parts of the world. The decision would never have been passed if President at the time Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had not had taken the risk to stand against the church. Whether the decision was taken for altruistic, or for secret selfish motives, only she knows. Perhaps she wanted to regain some ground with the young and urban people of Argentina? Perhaps she was in-keeping with the Peronist tradition of confrontation? Perhaps she finally realised the morality and correctness of gay marriage? Either way, the important point is that she took the risk, and for this she deserves credit. A few days after the bill, she even invited into the Pink House members of gay rights organisations. This too was a historical and gutsy move, reinforcing her stance against the church.
Since then the first few applications for marriages have been trickling through. The first to get married in Buenos Aires were Alejandro Vannelli and actor Ernesto Larrese who took to the altar both wearing black suits. During the historic ceremony, Ernesto spoke to his partner but also to the whole nation:
“To all those who are afraid … those who are homophobic … I tell them, don’t worry; this doesn’t affect you,” Larrese said. “You have nothing to fear. Fear is the opposite of love. Any phobia can be cured with love.”
Since the decision, the general feeling within the public has been very positive, not just within the thriving gay community of Buenos Aires but with the majority of Argentina being very proud of their country’s openness and forwardness.
Regardless of the method, gay marriage is here to stay in Argentina. The passing of the gay rights bill shows how mature and advanced Argentina can be on certain issues, and on the topic of gay rights, it is far ahead of many more “developed” countries where same-sex marriage is still not yet recognised. Argentina should be proud of its ever progressing and open stance in the political world. From here on, Buenos Aires will become an ever more gay-friendly, vibrant and culturally diverse place to visit, and obviously, will become a major destination in the $64 billion dollar gay tourism industry.
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Looking for a GAY Friendly Spanish School Study Spanish with Vamos Spanish Academy in Palermo Buenos Aires
This month is an important one for Buenos Aires as it is hosting the largest multi-discipline sporting event in the country’s history! The Youth Olympic Games will take place in Buenos Aires from the 6th to the 18th of October. Buenos Aires beat Glasgow, UK and Medellín, Colombia to be selected to hold the sporting event. Over the course of two weeks, over 4,000 athletes from more than 200 countries are coming to the city to compete against each other in an attempt to win a Gold medal.
So what is happening? Over 12 days, there will be 241 events in 32 different sports. Amazingly, all these events are free, you just have to apply for a pass and turn up early to get a seat. The opening ceremony was held on Saturday 6th of October by the Obelisk. If you go to this, you can expect parades, fireworks and music, and also an opportunity to see the athletes. Keep your eyes open for the mascot. It is a young Yaguareté, a large South American cat, very similar to the Jaguar, called “Pandi”. He was accompanying the torch on its 14,000-kilometer tour of the country before heading back to Buenos Aires for the opening ceremony.
If you want to go to an event you can register for free. This will give you a pass to the four Youth Olympic Parks and a number of other independent venues throughout the city. This can be found at https://ticketing.buenosaires2018.com. There are hundreds of thousands of passes available and there will be various points available throughout the city to pick up the wristbands. The events aren’t ticketed, but with the pass, you can go to any event you want. However, access to popular events will be allowed on a first come, first serve basis. So, it will be worth planning which ones you want to go to and arrive early if you think it will be popular.
Here are a few of the sports that I am looking forward to:
Roller speed skating. I only found out about this sport while researching for this event. Each race has 12 skaters speed around the track in a combined event that covers three distances – the 500m sprint, the 1,000m sprint, and the 5,000m elimination, and the final ranking is based on the combined number of points earned across the races. It’s a fast event and great fun to watch.
Cycling. As an avid cyclist, I will be watching a few of the cycling events. Some of these will be held in Bosques de Palermo, a park not far from Vamos Spanish Academy. There is a combined event, where riders compete as pairs in five different stages: three on the road and two cross-country. There are also two BMX competitions, racing, and freestyle park. These are great events where you can see riders perform gravity-defying tricks.
Sport Climbing. This will cover three styles: speed, bouldering, and lead. In speed, the aim is to be the fastest to the top of a 15m-high wall. In bouldering, the objective is to overcome the most problems on a climbing route in the least number of attempts and in lead, the goal is to go as high as possible on a route on a 15m wall in six minutes.
Finally, make sure to watch Delfina Pignatiello competing in the swimming. She is from Buenos Aires and has won a number of Gold Medals at other international events. Hopefully, she will win some more this time.
¡Vamos Argentina!
RECOMMENDED READ
Ate too many facturas in the morning and too much steak at night? There are tons of options for you to keep fit and be active, check out our live healthily series:
How to Stay in Shape in Buenos Aires Part 1 – Outdoor Edition
How to Stay in Shape in Buenos Aires Part 2 – Indoor Edition
How to Stay in Shape in Buenos Aires Part 1 – Outdoor Edition
How to Stay in Shape in Buenos Aires Part 2 – Indoor Edition
Written by Oliver Rock, currently living in Buenos Aires and studying Spanish at Vamos Spanish Academy.
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GET INFO AND SUPPORT FROM THE BUENOS AIRES EXPAT COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE RESOURCES
While moving to a foreign country is the experience of a lifetime, you’re bound to miss the routines and familiarities of your everyday life back home, e.g. your local food delivery service or your neighborhood dry cleaners. But to help ease the process, there is a myriad of online communities, forums, and groups that bring expats together to share advice and help each other out. Whether you’re in search of an apartment, the best hair salon in your area, or simply wanting to make some new friends, there is no shortage of resources for expats in Buenos Aires. Here’s a list of the resources that were invaluable to me during my first year living abroad.
Discover our Expats Blog ↓
Buenos Aires Expat Online Communities & Forums
InterNations
internations.org
Based off of a recommendation from a fellow student at Vamos, InterNations is the first expat community I joined when I moved to Argentina. InterNations is an online expat community where you can search for locals jobs & housing, join groups based on personal interests, and connect with fellow expats to receive tips & advice on life in Buenos Aires. Most groups also host monthly, bi-monthly or even weekly meetups making it a foolproof way to meet expats with similar hobbies of your own. Personally, I found my first remote job through a post in the Jobs forum and have made friends through the Buenos Aires Runners Group.
BA Expats
baexpats.org
Buenos Aires Expat Community is an online forum for expats in Buenos Aires. While BAexpats is not quite as extensive as InterNations, it’s an excellent resource to use when you have a quick question or comment on life as an expat. You’ll find everything from topics on buying real estate in Argentina as a non-resident to finding the best maple syrup in the city. They also host a weekly “Coffee Chat” every Tuesday at Alto Palermo for English-speaking expats. (Search ‘Coffee Chat’ on the forum to find further information)
Expat Arrivals
expatarrivals.com
Another helpful resource to check out is Expat Arrivals. It’s especially useful if you’re considering a move to Argentina and have some questions. They have downloadable PDFs that have a wealth of information about moving, working and studying in Buenos Aires. All of their PDFs are filled with up-to-date and accurate content based on advice from expats living and working in Buenos Aires. There’s also a forum where you can ask local “expat experts” relevant questions. A few include “can I bring my dogs with me to live in Buenos Aires?” and “how do I get a visa extension?”
Buenos Aires Fútbol Amigos
www.fcbafa.com
While I personally am not a member, I’ve heard from several expats that Buenos Aires Fútbol Amigos is a great way to meet people if you enjoy playing fútbol. BAFA is an international community that forms weekly fútbol games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights in Palermo. And it’s super easy to join. All you have to do is create an account, choose a team and prepay before the games!
Also Read: Fantastic Way to Practice Spanish and Immerse in the Culture of Buenos Aires
Facebook Groups For Expats Residing in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Expat Hub
facebook.com/groups/BuenosAiresExpatHub/
Buenos Aires Expat Hub is the largest Facebook group for expats living in Buenos Aires. It’s the perfect resource for all general questions you may have. People post questions and comments ranging from where the best camping is located close to the city to the best way to exchange or transfer currency. And with around 11k members, you’re sure to get your all your pressing questions answered.
Expat Events in Buenos Aires
facebook.com/groups/249342203697/
If you’re getting antsy to get out of the house and meet new people I would definitely recommend joining the Facebook group Expat Events in Buenos Aires. It’s just what you’d guess – events for expats in Buenos Aires. Group members post events daily from wine tastings, stand up comedy shows, to open mic nights. With the wide range of events, I can guarantee you’ll find something that interests you.
BsAs Girlfriends Group
facebook.com/groups/1109884709022670/
BsAs Girlfriends Group is a Facebook group for girls, both expats and Argentines, currently living in Buenos Aires. It’s a very active group with around 1,400 members looking to make new friends and connect with other expats. I’ve found it particularly useful for recommendations like where to find a trustworthy dentist in the city, the best place to get your eyebrows tinted (you know, the important things in life) or simply a recommendation for a good date night spot. The admins also occasionally plan events like wine nights or book club meetups.
Buenos Aires Expats – Business Network
facebook.com/groups/buenosairesbusinessnetwork/
Looking for a job? The Facebook group Buenos Aires Expats – Business Network is a great place to start. You can post the type of work you’re looking for/your job experience as well as browse opportunities that other people have posted.
Whether you’re in the planning stages or have already moved, I’m confident these resources will provide you the support you need throughout your entire expat journey. Are there any resources you’ve used as an expat that I didn’t mention? Please share in the comments!
Vamos Spanish Academy offers Spanish Group Classes, Individual Lessons, Private Group Classes and Online Spanish Classes. We can help you pick up the language before even you set foot in Argentina or after you have already settled down in Buenos Aires.