Getting Schooled in Buenos Aires
- Bienvenidos a la Universidad de Belgrano
In order to reassure everyone that I am doing more here in Buenos Aires than dancing until dawn, spending all my money at the ferias and chasing after the argentinas I thought I would let you know a bit about how I spend the daytime hours during the week.
The monday after I arrived in Bs As, I began intensive Spanish class at the University of Belgrano. The school is a short walk (about 8-10 blocks) from my house. There are a few different buildings, but only one main place where I attend my class. It is an interesting spot, more akin to an office building than a school, that towers over you as you approach it from the street.
- Education, Buenos Aires style
My classroom is on the 10th floor. The elevators for the students don’t stop on every floor, so I get off at the 12th and walk down. The faculty elevators make all the stops, but to be caught using one of those means being chastised in rapid porteño spanish that makes you feel as if you had committed some heinous crime against humanity.
Once I make it to the classroom, without being verbally abused if I have not strayed from the designated path. I am greeted with a view of the city that is quite distracting. It is difficult to concentrate on the intricacies of some of the most difficult concepts of the Spanish language when you are staring out into a vast urban landscape and daydreaming of the endless adventures that await you there.
- “I’m sorry, what was the question?” The view from my classroom
On the first monday of classes, a mob of hundreds of loud and obnoxious american students descended upon the university and took placement tests to determine what level of class they would take. After that, they divided us up into classes of varying numbers (mine has about 14) and began the process of cramming our skulls with as much information as they can throw at us in what little time we have.
My professors are nice enough, but I would much rather be out amongst the natives and learning first hand than going over grammar exercises. For this reason, I have not been too worried about my class. I show up on time, do the work, and wait impatiently for the time to come when I will once again be let loose upon the city…
It’s a beautiful city and i don’t blame you for distraction. The campus itself is one of the most beautiful campuses i have seen. But hey, enjoy when you have it, that’s all i can tell you. I remember my first day when i arrived in California, it was a total shock for me. I thought i was going to Hollywood, but i landed to a small town where people knew agriculture and nothing else. Well, not quite. Some of the people I met there were very educated and sometimes I felt embarrassed when i couldn’t answer some of their questions. I hope you are not running into that yet!
February 20, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Hola Maysa. Por qué vos no escribés en castellano? (discúlpame por usar el voseo) Las personas de Buenos Aires son únicos, hermosos inteligentes, y un poco arrogantes con opiniones fuertes sobre todo. Hay muchas veces cuando no puedo contestar sus preguntas porque son MUY difícil entender. Hablan muy rapido y con demasiado lunfardo (slang). Sin embargo, cada día estoy mejorando. Gracias por el comentario! Espero que estés muy bien. Chau!!
February 21, 2012 at 12:47 am
Badass man, looks freekin sweet!
February 21, 2012 at 11:14 am
It’s crazy! Is it real? haha
February 21, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Thanks for all the interesting pictures and comments. Enjoy the life time experience and we are so proud of you. Aunt Stef
February 23, 2012 at 11:21 am
Gracias!
February 23, 2012 at 3:33 pm
It looks so beautiful out the window that high………a slight difference in the Universities here with the rolling campuses. Sounds like you are settling in and “blending with the natives”. Can’t wait for each post. Love Ya, D-Man….Chau!! I was able to pick up the “Hello and Good-bye” in your post to Maysa…I’m impressed .
February 23, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Thanks! Here I am just another gringo, but I blend in well enough that people ask me for directions a lot…of course, I can’t really give them since I’m not too familiar with the city yet, but I am working on it.
February 23, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Another fine and interesting post. Thanks for keeping us all posted!
Love You! Dad
April 22, 2012 at 7:38 pm