Last day in Córdoba/Saturday (Sean Dwyer & testimonials)

Today was our 8th day in Argentina and we left Córdoba on our way to Buenos Aires. The departure was an incredible mix of emotions for the students from both schools.

In just one week together the host families in Córdoba and our students formed an inspiring bond that was displayed with 100’s of hugs, pictures and tears in the middle of the airport! The host families also showered our students with gifts and home made food for the short journey to Buenos Aires.

Patricia, Gretel and I have not stopped smiling all day - Córdoba was truly a special opportunity for our students!

During one of our group chats after dinner tonight, the students talked about being home sick... for Córdoba!

Testimonials:

Arriving to the airport in Cordoba to board the flight to Buenos Aires was one of the hardest things I've had to do. In such a short time, my homestay family had become like a real family, and all of the Argentinian kids my friends. I was overwhelmed (to the point of tears) by all of the amazing memories I had made this passed week in Cordoba, and I know I will visit again someday in the future (my host mom has already offered to host me again any time).

Rory

I am sad about leaving behind the good memories in Córdoba but hopeful that we will see those kids again.

Austin

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Day 10: All Good Things

Tuesday, our last full day in Buenos Aires, was as packed as every other. After breakfast at the hotel buffet, we took the bus over to Palermo, where we embarked on a tour of street art and murals. We talked about the importance of street art to the culture of Buenos Aires, visiting murals ranging in subject from Frida Khalo to the LGBTQ community to soccer. It amazed us to see murals in many parts of the city, each symbolizing something different. Many of the murals wowed us with their intertwinement of 2D art with 3D art, incorporating aspects of the building’s architecture into the paintings. After the mural tour, we headed to another graffiti workshop, where we learned to paint a distinctive form of art central to Argentine culture. This style of art, called Fileteado, incorporates colorful components like borders to decorate parts of the city, including buses, signs, taxis, and trucks. At first, we attempted to mimic our maestro’s masterful paint strokes, but eventually diverged i...

Day 5: Los Porteños!

On Thursday, we started our day with a swift breakfast in the hotel and a short walk to the Casa Rosada--workplace of the Argentinian president--where we began a scavenger hunt that was organized by an Argentinian travel company that we have been working with so far on this trip. As we split into groups (los carpinchos, los chocotortas, y los empanadas), we began to walk around the city and complete tasks along the way. These challenges often included talking to friendly strangers or organized actors and asking many questions regarding the daily lives of Argentinians. For example, we asked an actor (our previous tour guide Fernando) and other locals (pedestrians, workers, police officers, etc.) questions about Argentinian football. In turn they taught us facts like how fans of the team River Plate are called “Los millionarios” (the millionaires) because their home stadium, which is el estadio mas monumental of South America, is located in a wealthy neighborhood. In addition, we we...

Day 9: Day Trip to Colonia

Monday morning was wet and windy. We walked a short way to the ferry station where we caught a boat to Uruguay. Once on the boat, some of us chatted while others slept, and to our pleasant surprise, across the river, we found specks of blue and some sun. Profe. Levin crossed her fingers, hoping that the temperate conditions would hold for the day. Colonia was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, and for much of its history, the settlement has passed from one controlling power to another. In the 18th century, the Spanish and the Portuguese fought for its possession, and in the 19th century, Argentina and Brazil became its new claimants. Finally, in 1825, Uruguay, along with Colonia del Sacramento, gained its independence. This history of hostilities had a hand in the settlement's design; the Portuguese surrounded the old peninsular town in a thick stone wall, whose battlements held cannons directed at whatever enemy the river might bring. We walked the cobble stone streets, whi...

Poly GIP Argentina 2023-25

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