Today we woke up for our check out day in buenos aires! I woke up at 8:30 (but snoozed it until 9), and we needed to be downstairs and to have ate by 10:15. I showered and finished packing up because today is the day we are going to Pilar to see our exchange students again. I went down around 9:45 and ate some delicious croissants with dulce de leche. Then, we walked to the “Theatro Colon”, where we got a tour of theater. We learned that 3 architects worked on designing the theater, and that is what makes it so unique, three completely different styles combined to create a beautiful theater. After the theater, we got on the bus and went to a place where we all had the opportunity to go where we want to get lunch and to buy gifts and things. I went to a restaurant which I don’t remember the name of, and I ordered the tenderloin sandwich. I really enjoyed the sandwich, but the worst thing about the restaurant was that they took forever to bring us our check so we ended up being late to meet the group at our scheduled time. after this, we went to the storage facility for the “Theatro Colon”, where we took many pictures and got a tour of the facility. It was really cool to see all of the props that they used. After, we took pictures by the river and made a TikTok and then we got on the bus and came to Pilar. At Pilar, we saw all of our old friends, which was a beautiful moment, saying hello to everyone in the exchange. I went home and unpacked my stuff at Juaqin‘s beautiful home and met his family and got ready for a party with all the people in the exchange. We ate pizza and listen to music at the party, and had a great time meeting our friends again and just talking about everything. We walked to a clubhouse to get ice cream and just had an overall amazing time filled with laughs and smiles. so far, this day has been the best day of the exchange and we had an amazing time. –Yusef
After today, I can officially call myself immersed in the rich culture of Argentina. With an extra hour of shut eye and cup of coffee, I made my way down the street into La Teatro Colon. The marble walls and tiled floors were lit with extravagant chandeliers and the streaks of reflected stain glass. The guide walked us through the rooms and sculptures that lined the theatre. The actual theatre is overwhelming, with red velvet and gold splattered in every inch of the building. The halls centerpiece, another chandelier with more than three times the lightbulbs, is fixed in the middle of the dome, traditional mural.
Even though we have been overwhelmed with rich colors, we found ourselves riding a bus to La Boca. What was once a vibrant street full of art and dancing for the working class, lies a market full of keepsakes and restaurants. In La Boca, I bought a brilliant still life of La Porta Madero, a woven bracelet with my friends, and a surprise for my mom’s birthday.
Behind the noise and stalls lives the Colon Fabrica. Inside, are costumes and props that are displayed for the public to see what was on-stage in the previous performances. The first thing the guide showed us when we walked in was rows of outfits from popular shows, like Carmen. Beside them, were little shoebox stages filled with a miniature version of what was once on set. What blew me away was how huge the sets were. There were Egyptian sculptures twice my size, and 2-3 story buildings that once housed characters from old shows. At the end of the tour, those carried away by the bustling streets and shopping of La Boca (me) walked down the block to a traditional sandwich shop, where we watched the chef prepare our tough, juicy Choripans.
After a long day of touring, we climbed onto the bus, eager to see our friends in Pilar. The hour-long journey and our anticipation made the bus ride feel longer than it should have. However, seeing all of our friends once again made the wait and anxiety worth it. After greeting every single student and their parents, my host Nacho and his parents drove me to their house where I got to meet his adorable dog, Mancha, and unpack my belongings.
After unwinding, Nacho took me to his Rugby club, where him and his friends practice and play. While he trained, his friends and I exchanged vocabulary and “la pelota”, the ball (I was terrible). The second the clock hit 8:30, we left the club and headed to the welcome party. I was reunited with my school friends, who I haven’t seen for a whole 3.5 hours, and the North Hills students. The gathering lasting till an unfamiliar time was not what shocked me, it was eating dinner at 10:30 that got to me. I always thought Vic was exaggerating. After an extremely busy day, I’m grateful this once in a lifetime opportunity Cary Academy, Ms. Caccuitto and Vic, and of course my wonderful parents have provided for me. Spending time in the main city is something I will reminisce, and I hope that my adventures with Nacho stay exciting and fun. –Rehan