Expanish Blog > 2008 > October

Archive for October, 2008

Students in Spanish lessons in Buenos Aires; Check out this year’s photography exhibit

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 9:42

Categories - Art, Museums, Theatre & Cinema - 1 Comment

Buenos Aires, Argentina is one of the few chosen cities that is fortunate enough to be blessed by the exhibit of the World Press Photo Tour. For the past several years, the World Press Photo Tour has been held at the Centro Cultural Borges, located inside the Galerias Pacifico mall on Florida Street, and it will be here again this November7th-27th. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires should not miss this fantastic display of photography from countries from all over the world.

World Press Photo is a non-profit organization that was created an established in 1955 in Amsterdam, Holland. The organization is directed by an independent executive board, a supervisory board, and employs around 25 permanent staff who are connected to professionals around the world, who then, as a team, organize the contest, exhibitions, and all large scale events. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can check out their site for more history, www.worldpressphoto.org.

Every year, photographers from around the world submit their photos to World Press. World Press then chooses a select amount of photos that will be displayed in the exhibit and shown across the world, 45 countries in total, and viewed by more than 2 million people. A yearbook is published yearly with all submissions in over 6 languages.

This year, students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires can head to the Centro Cultural Borges during a three week period to see the magnificent works of photography. Some pieces are uplifting, while others truly shocking. The idea of World Photo is to display excellent photography of real life; you will see everything from the slums Brazil to the war zone in Afghanistan to the Eskimos fishing in the Arctic. It truly is a wonderful experience not to be missed.

Click for more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires!

Tags: , , , ,

The survival site to living and studying Spanish in Buenos Aires

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 9:44

Categories - Argentina Travel Info - 0 Comments

Leaving home and traveling across the world is an exciting and thrilling adventure that sometimes can also be a little scary, to say the least. I know for myself and from other students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires that the first arrival in a foreign city, especially one as big as Buenos Aires, can be intimidating and a little challenging to get settled. There are things to do like find an apartment, enroll in Spanish lessons or tango lessons, or if you are looking for a longer term stay, a job. And so, to make your life easier, as it did mine, I am sharing the website with all the solutions, and usually pretty good ones at that, www.craigslist.org.

 

For students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires, craigslist.org is like a God-given gift. Well, perhaps that is exaggerating a bit, but it is darn helpful. Many students living, working, or studying Spanish in Buenos Aires know about it, however, I am still surprised at how many do not, and for that reason I wanted to advertise it today.

 

Craigslist.org is originally from the United States, but expanded quickly to other countries around the world after its incredible success throughout the states. Anyone can use craigslist.org to publish an ad or look for an ad. When you access the site you can find countless countries and cities that have access to craigslist.org, all you need to do is click on the location you are interested in.

 

Once you access the site, you are able to explore all the headlines present. You will find everything from lessons to classes, rental apartments to real estate, services to a ‘for sale’ section, personal ads, discussion forums, and a list of job opportunities. For students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, craigslist.org makes finding Spanish lessons, apartments, jobs, and more, much easier.

 

One last thing; Perhaps the only downside to craigslist.org is that there is not real control of the site. Which means that anyone can publish a post or ad; there are no background checks, no client feedback forms, and no real contact information. This should be kept in mind at all times when using the site however, with a bit of caution craigslist.org is perfectly safe.

 

Learn more about our Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires or check out craiglist.org!<–>

Tags: , , , , ,

Study Spanish in Argentina and learn your manners!

Friday, October 24, 2008 7:40

Categories - Argentine Customs and Culture - 0 Comments

Have you ever visited a country and seen mannerisms, characteristics, or gestures that you were either shocked or confused by? This is very common when traveling to a country with a different culture than your own and it is important to be aware and try to adjust to that country’s cultural norms. For students studying Spanish in Argentina, here is a little starter guide that will help you out!

 

Greetings:

In Argentina, people always greet each other with a kiss which is sometimes also extended into a hug depending on how well you know the person. It is also proper to introduce yourself to a group of people rather than waiting for the host to do it; and yes, most likely everyone should receive a kiss. Our Spanish classes in Buenos Aires should prepare students to also add ‘mucho gusto’ (nice to meet you) or ‘encantada’ (enchanted) to the greeting.

 

Pleases, Thank You’s, and You’re Welcomes:

The people of Argentina are very polite and although laid-back in nature, still have very good manners. Students studying Spanish in Argentina, do not be afraid to say please, thank you, or you’re welcome whenever you can as kindness goes a long way over here. Here are some different ways to say it all in Spanish; Gracias (thank you); Muchas Gracias (thank you very much); Muy amable (very kind); Por favor (please); Puede ser (it’s possible?); De nada (you’re welcome) Por nada (for nothing).

 

Dress:

Argentines are slightly more formal and conservative in their dress. It is a good idea for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires, especially women, who would like to avoid that extra ‘attention’ to try to dress like the locals do. Men wear suits to work but often look well kept when not working. Women, although very fashionable, are more covered up even in the hot summer months. Try to dress depending on the situation, if you are not sure, just take a look at what others are wearing and imitate.

Hand Gestures:

True to their Italian origin, Argentines also use many hand gestures to communicate and express feelings to others. Perhaps one of the most noted Argentine hand gesture is the hand swipe under the chin; this invokes the idea of the speaker having nothing left to say at their statement, of course, they do continue on talking. There are just too many hand gestures to describe so just keep an eye out and ask when you are not sure of its meaning.

 

Relationships:

Oh this is a big one and for any students studying Spanish in Argentina that have dated someone from here will know there are many cultural differences to be observed. Perhaps this is too deep of a discussion for such a small description; for you cross-cultural love birds out there, just keep in mind that cultural differences can create misunderstandings even when you are speaking of the same thing. But they can also create a much deeper level of communication. Be patient with your mate, ask questions, and be open to each other’s cultures.

 

For more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires click here!

 

 

Tags: , , , , ,

3 great places for students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires to head to this summer!

Thursday, October 23, 2008 11:44

Categories - Uncategorized - 1 Comment

As a lover of the summer, sun, and heat, even I myself get a little overwhelmed with the Argentina summers as they do tend to be stifling hot with very little off time from the sun. However, as the old saying goes, ‘if you can’t beat em’, join em’.’ For students studying Spanish in Argentina, who are perhaps not so used to the South American heat, here are three fantastic places to visit this summer that may have you forgetting about the sun overhead.

 

1. Iguazu Falls

What could be a better way to cool off than to visit the largest waterfalls in South America? These falls, located on the Brazilian border, consist of 275 individual falls with some falls reaching up to 82m in height. The falls can either be visited on the Argentina side or the Brazilian side, both giving a slightly different outlook on the falls. Away from any sort of human civilization, the air is fresh, the landscape green, and the water cool. Iguazu makes for the perfect weekend or week trip for students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires; plus, it is impossible to not get wet when visiting the falls. The perfect summer getaway.

 

2. Punta del Este

Most students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will no doubt have heard of this place. Known around the world as one of the most luxurious beach resorts, Punta del Este lives up to its name; the beaches are white, the waters blue, and the people beautiful. Punta is a small city that has all the amenities of a big city; restaurants, cafes, shopping, cinemas, water sports, and more. During the day, people head to the beach and the streets of downtown; during the night, people visit the many restaurants and bars that line the coast. Not for the timid or laid-back traveler, Punta is a city to see and be-seen.

 

3. Mar del Plata

One of the most popular destinations for Argentines look to escape the heat is Mar del Plata, almost 6 hours south of Buenos Aires. This city of 2 million has been popular for years and continues to draw in tourists in the summer season, including many students in Spanish immersion courses in Argentina. The beaches, although not the most beautiful, are completely full during the summer and are lined with restaurants, cabanas, and other tourist related rest spots. Many summer sports are offered during the summer including surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, and more. One of the highlights for most is to venture slightly out of the city and check out the enormous group of Sea Lions hanging out around one of the port areas. The best part about these animals is their smell (awful!) and the horrible yet beautiful noises they make. A must see!

 

 

For more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires click here!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires: Spring is in the air!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 11:14

Categories - Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays - 0 Comments

Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires should have no problem noticing the change in the city; the air is refreshingly warm, the flowers are in bloom, the skies are clear and sunny, and the people of Buenos Aires have a sort of ‘spring’ in their step. Its spring in Argentina and we are welcoming it in with open arms.

 

To celebrate this joyful occasion the Ministry of Culture in Buenos Aires is inviting the public to participate in more than 250 free cultural and artistic activities throughout the months of October, November, and December. The program is appropriately called, ‘Primavera Buenos Aires,’ (Buenos Aires Spring). This is a great opportunity for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires to get out in the city, meet locals, and participate in some fun and free activities.

 

For a total 11 weekends, students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will have the opportunity to enjoy musical shows, tango, theater, puppets, magic shows, film screenings, poetry, etc, mostly held in the city’s parks, squares, and other open air spaces. On November 22 a free concert will be held on Avenida de Julio by the world famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. During these three months there will be recitals at Parque Roca, tango in Mataderos, a tour of the Orquesta de Tango and the City’s Symphonic Band around the city, and urban music at the Greek Amphitheater in Puerto Madero.

 

For more information and for a list of activities, click here!

 

For more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires, click here!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Rachel Arkle: Profile of a student learning Spanish in Buenos Aires.

Friday, October 17, 2008 11:27

Categories - Expanish News - 1 Comment

Every student that walks through the doors of Expanish has come to study Spanish in Buenos Aires for a different reason; each student has their own story to tell and we are thrilled to help them tell it. Here is the story of Rachel Arkle and her experience at Expanish.

 

Rachel reports for the BBC, a United Kingdom based broadcasting corporation that is not only one of the longest running but also the biggest broadcasting corporation in the world. Along with the help of the BBC Rachel headed down to Latin America to answer her question on ‘How to be a stable traveler?’

 

She began her journey studying Spanish in Buenos Aires with Expanish.  Rachel felt that it was important to study the local language and therefore be able to better immerse herself into the culture. Alongside taking group classes (20hrs/week) Rachel participated in many of the activities at Expanish including weekly tango lessons and city excursions.  I had an absolutely excellent time,’ Rachel stresses when speaking about combining her classes with the Expanish activities.

 

Rachel studied Spanish in Buenos Aires for just one week before taking off to see the rest of Latin America and, although short, her stay and her Spanish classes in Buenos Aires were memorable.  In regards to her experience with Expanish Rachel says, ‘I really cannot recommend it enough; it has been an amazing experience.’

 

 

 

At Expanish we strive towards creating the ultimate study and travel abroad experience for each one of our students. Hearing from students like Rachel makes us thrilled that we are doing are job and that we are leading the way in education excellence with our Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires.

 

Click for more information on Spanish classes in Buenos Aires or to see Rachel Arkles’ video on youtube.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can find a little bit of ‘China’ in the big neighborhood of Belgrano

Thursday, October 16, 2008 7:00

Categories - Uncategorized - 0 Comments

The Chinatown in Buenos Aires began in the 1980´s, not long after the second wave of Asian immigrants landed in Argentina in the late 1960´s. In the 1990´s more Chinese immigrants arrived in Argentina, mostly entrepreneurs, and Chinatown and the number of Chinese owned business began to flourish. Many Chinese and Asian owned businesses began to open up around the city, mostly dealing in supermarkets, textiles, and buffet-styled restaurants. Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires will see that Asian owned supermarkets are very common and it is even said that there may be a total of almost 200 throughout the city.

 

Today, students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will find the majority of the Asian and more specifically Chinese shops and restaurants are in the streets of Chinatown located in the Belgrano neighborhood. Regarding restaurants, students can just pick the one that strikes their fancy since most have a similar menu and all offer great food for great prices. You will be able to find all the classic delights that you know from your Chinese restaurants back home and even a few new ones.

 

For shops, Chinatown offers a myriad of stores that sell everything from clothing, textiles, furniture, decorations, etc. Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires can also find specialty dried fruits, soy and tofu products, and other Asian influenced food that you cannot find in the other Buenos Aires supermarkets. Day or night students can head down to Chinatown, located in the crossroads of Arribenos and Juramento and extending over a few blocks down Arribenos, for a little Asian indulgence.

 

Click for more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires.

 

Tags: , , , ,

Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can find a little bit of the Middle East right in the middle of Buenos Aires.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 12:37

Categories - Buenos Aires City Attractions - 0 Comments

In 1998, former President Carlos Ménem began constructing South America’s biggest mosque, today called the Centro Cultural Islámico. Although catholic at the time of his presidency, Ménem was of Syrain Muslim decent and on return from a visit to Saudi Arabia he decided to build the mosque in homage to his ancestry, finishing this project in 2000. The entire project cost more than $30 million dollars, which includes the mosque, a library, two schools, and a park.

 

The mosque covers an impressive amount of land, has well-tended lawns, palm trees, and minarets. This enormous structure overlooks the polo grounds and has a modern design and structure that looks equally impressive in the sunlight as it does artificially lit during the night. Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires may have noticed this amazing structure when passing through Palermo or taking the city trains. The mosque library is open to the public during the week, and the centre itself offers classes in Koran and Arabic.

 

 

Students studying Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires can learn more about this fascinating mosque Tuesday and Thursdays at noon. The tour last 45 minutes and you will be taken through the courtyards and interior of the building; tours are often in Spanish, therefore being a great Spanish lesson for students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires.

 

Click for more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires or the Centro Cultural Islámico.

 

 

Tags: , ,

Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can enjoy Argentina’s monthly celebration of Gnocchi!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 8:22

Categories - Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays - 0 Comments

Argentina has a story behind it, in fact it has two. In the beginning of the 20th century large groups of immigrants came to Argentina, more than 50% of Italian descent, and with them they brought Italian tradition and culture. In Italian culture, the 29th was known as the day when people were the poorest as it was one day before pay-day and so people would eat Gnocchi on these days as it was very cheap pasta. Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires can see that this pasta today is still slightly less-costly than other forms of pasta.

 

The other story is of one of the patron saints of Venice who was practicing healings across Northern Italy and who then was offered charity by a family living on a farm when he had no food to eat. The family shared the only thing they had, bread, and the patron saint then blessed the family. The family saw years of abundant crops and therefore today the idea of eating simple foods represents a way to honor that miracle and ask for prosperity and blessings. This is a tradition that students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can experience in the restaurants that serve up Gnocchi on the 29th of each month.

 

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can also experience the Italian belief of putting a coin or bank note under a plate of Gnocchi and therefore attracting prosperity. For these two stories and the fact that Gnocchi is a delicious and affordable form of pasta, students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires should take advantage of the 29th of every month during their stay in Argentina.

 

Click for more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires!

Tags: , , , ,

Looking for shopping and culture in the same place? Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can get their fill of both in the beautiful Galerías Pacifico.

Friday, October 10, 2008 7:36

Categories - Shopping - 1 Comment

For students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, a day or night at the Galerías Pacifico creates a perfect outing by combining great shopping and dining along with culture and history. This beautiful mall, once a building owned by the railroad company of the state, is located on Florida, known for its architectural innovation and dynamic shopping. During the late 1800´s and early 1900´s the building went through many changes mostly due to the economic crisis in that time and by 1908 the building was separated into part gallery of shops and part railroad administration. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can admire this building from the outside along the streets of Cordoba and Florida.

 

Although always architecturally beautiful the building received a boost of color in 1945 when 5 famous muralists painted the buildings central dome in 5 different themes. Together and yet separate these artists managed to paint this dome using different colors, shapes, and themes and yet creating one fluid and beautiful mural. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can enter the building and head to its centre to admire this dome.  Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires can learn more by taking one of the guided tours offered in the afternoons – in Spanish of course!

 

Alongside its history, the Galerías Pacifico offers up fantastic shopping, activities, and dining options. It has over 200 shops located throughout the building and a food court that includes everything from fine dining to fast food. The building also has a movie theatre and is home to the Centro Cultural Borges, offering various exhibitions and activities, and the Julio Bocca´s School of Ballet. Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can check out either of these websites for event guides or for more information.

 

This historical city mall is a must see for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires for its unique combination of shopping, art, and culture.

Click for more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires.

Tags: , , , , ,

« Older Entries