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Archive for September, 2009

Tips and Tricks to Finding Cheap Flights to Argentina

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 7:59

Categories - Argentina Travel Info - 0 Comments

airplane 300x225 Tips and Tricks to Finding Cheap Flights to Argentina

Look to Fly to Argentina to take Spanish Courses in Buenos Aires?

As we all know, finding an affordable flight can be challenging, if not a little obnoxious, and it usually take a great deal of time to find one that is just perfect for us. Is there a better way?

There are a few tips and tricks for finding cheap flights and avoiding hours spent looking up countless sites on the web or phoning every travel agent in the city, plus learning when to stop looking and just purchase the ticket and knowing when paying a few more dollars is worth the cost!


Tips and Tricks to Finding Cheap Flights to Argentina

  • Consider everything but eliminate quickly

When searching for a flight you have the option to look online, searching airline sites or flight search sites. You can head into a local travel agent, or call them directly. Or, you can call directly to the airlines office.  It is almost guaranteed that you will get a different price from each, so usually this is a process that is worth the time. However, keep organized, note down dates and prices (with taxes), and remember to eliminate as you go. Often an extra charge is made when booking over the phone compared to the internet, so keep that in mind with final costs.

  • Be flexible

One of the best ways to find an affordable flight is to have flexible dates. This depends on your schedule but if you can, give yourself a week extra both ways, you would be surprised that sometimes a day or two before or after is a lot less money!  If you are searching online, always look for the “I am flexible with my dates’ option.

  • Get points

Almost every big airline today has a points system and while it may seem like you will never reap the benefits, you would be surprised how quickly these points add up. So stick to one point system if you can and also look for new ways to gain points and what those points can get you. Before you know it, your points will buy you a flight across the country.

  • Pay a little more…

Sometimes it is not worth it to save the extra $10 or even $100 dollars on a flight. Make sure you weigh out both of your options well and seriously consider if it is worth it to save $100 dollars when adding another 5 hours to your flight schedule.  Often times making more stops or flying on a no frills airline does not outweigh the money you saved, so think about it before you start saving!

Find that Flight, Save your Money, and Study Spanish in Buenos Aires today!

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Worker’s Protest in Buenos Aires

Monday, September 28, 2009 13:07

Categories - Buenos Aires City Attractions - 0 Comments

plaza de mayo 300x225 Worker’s Protest in Buenos Aires

You could never say that Argentines are not passionate nor stand up for what they believe in – Today, September 28, was witness to one of the biggest road blocks and protests that Argentine’s have been experiencing in the last week, with a highway line more than 8km long.

A large group of Kraft ex-employees were let go a couple of weeks ago when Kraft, who blamed the state of the economy for the drastic movement, could not find use for this group of staff any longer. Approximately 160 ex-employees have been protesting in Buenos Aires, closing off various highway and road passes, today creating a line of more than 8km. Protests are also taking place in the Santa Fe, Mendoza, Entre Rios, and Chaco provinces.

By the end of the morning, the group of protestors lifted their road blocks, for the time being, get ready to head down to the centre of the city to stage a very large and public protest, marching from the Congress, down Avenida de Mayo, arriving in Plaza de Mayo where the most famous Argentine protests have taken place for the past several decades.

The labour minister is keeping communication open with the ex-employees, working together to come to an agreeable situation for everyone, including the Kraft company.

If you are studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, it can be an incredible experience to see a peaceful local protest and have an opportunity to see a group of people fight for what they believe in.  If you feel the need to experience this protest, we urge you to take care and stay out of the way. You can watch everything from a distance and at any time that you feel that mood is changing, head out of the there, and go and watch the spectacle from a television. Although many of the protests are peaceful, the danger of hundreds of people grouping together can prove to be very negative. So be careful and if in doubt, again, get out of there, and watch it safely on the television.

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How to Make Yourself Feel at Home While Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires

Friday, September 25, 2009 13:38

Categories - Buenos Aires City Attractions - 0 Comments


decorations 202x300 How to Make Yourself Feel at Home While Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires
Have you just landed in the beautiful cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires?

Do you want to make yourself feel right at home in this city of 3 million people?

There are a myriad of ways to help you adjust comfortably into your new life in Buenos Aires that do not involve meeting new people, learning the language, working with locals, buying long distance phone plans, etc, but rather creating a home environment that allows you to rest and relax while studying Spanish in Buenos Aires.

Your home environment can be one of the most important aspects of successful immersion into a new culture and it is important whether you are living in a shared apartment, a homestay, or in a private apartment that you make your place or just your room, your home.

How do you do this?

·    Try to bring items from home with you such as photos, small photo albums, or any small decorations (that don’t weigh too much!).

·    Go out into Buenos Aires and have fun finding small boutiques and stores that sell unique items, and often inexpensive, and decorate your house/room.

·    Head down to San Telmo on Sunday’s for their larger than life market that has everything from art work, to antiques, to kitchenware, to everything in between.

·    Take pictures of your experiences in Buenos Aires and Argentina and combine them with your pictures from you, mixing your friends and family from back home with your new life in South America.


Interested in More Ways to Immerse Yourself in the Argentine Culture and the City of Buenos Aires?

The Best Way to Cultural Immersion in Buenos Aires

Getting Ready to Travel, Study, and Live Abroad in Buenos Aires

Going to the Gym

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The Argentine Food Guide for Spanish students in Buenos Aires. Part 6

Thursday, September 24, 2009 7:45

Categories - Argentine Recipes - 0 Comments

pasta flora 300x199 The Argentine Food Guide for Spanish students in Buenos Aires. Part 6
Argentina is known for its fabulous foods, especially for all the delicious sweets and baked goods that are found in the countless deli’s located on almost every block throughout the city.   One of the most famous baked goods that you will find is called Pasta Flora, a traditional pastry filled with different flavors of jam and a definite favorite among Argentine’s looking for something sweet.


Pasta Flora

Ingredients

2 eggs
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup shortening, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp milk
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup jam/marmalade/mambrillo

  • Mix the eggs, the sugar, the butter, and shortening until smooth. Add vanilla, milk, and salt, adding the flour, baking powder mix, and roll the mixture until it becomes a dough ball.
  • Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Press half of the dough in the pan, spreading it evenly and covering with the jam. Take the other half of the dough and roll it out on a non-stick surface, and cut it into 14-18 strips.  Once you have all the strips, cross them over the pan with the dough and the jam, creating a top surface that looks like a graph.
  • Place the pastry in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, waiting until the dough is a golden brown color.

Enjoy!

Looking more Argentine recipes?

Living Abroad in Buenos Aires? Learn more About Argentine Culture with our Expanish Activities in Buenos Aires!

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The Wine Guide in Argentina ~ Salta & Wine

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 15:23

Categories - Uncategorized - 0 Comments

winery in salta 300x165 The Wine Guide in Argentina ~ Salta & Wine

Last time we featured Wine in Argentina we looked at Neuquén & Wine, one of the wine regions to produce some of Argentina’s fruitiest and full flavoured wines, now we will head up North to the province of Salta, where a singular but very productive wine region is located.

Salta is one of the most unique provinces in the country of Argentina, attractive to all types of traveler’s, especially lovers of nature. For those students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, a trip to Salta can offer an incredible and unique addition to the culture experience of Argentina.

Salta is one of Argentina’s most Northern provinces and is famous for its wide range of diverse landscapes, climates, and altitudes, and just one unique area that is optimal for vineyards.  This region is located in the Calchaqui’s Valleys, a large valley that runs straight through three of the country’s provinces, characterized by desert terrain, subtropical forests, and colourful mountain sides.

There are approximately 2,000 hectares of vineyards in Salta, producing high quality wines that are distributed in both Argentina and around the world. The wines of Salta are offered in a wide range of flavours and aroma, specializing in strong bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Chardonnay.

Check out these great wines from the Salta region:

Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Syrah.

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5 Every Day Things You Can Buy with 5 pesos in Buenos Aires

Friday, September 18, 2009 9:08

Categories - Uncategorized - 0 Comments

pesosos 300x225 5 Every Day Things You Can Buy with 5 pesos in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is one of the Latin America’s most fabulous, eccentric, and exciting cosmopolitan cities, and has managed to still stay affordable, even since its growth spurt after the 2001 economic crisis, for travellers with foreign currencies. Now, that is to say that Buenos Aires is still a big city and some things are relative to the big city life, but you can still find great and necessary buys for little money.

Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires and Looking to Spend Your Money Wisely?

To prove that theory, below are 5 Everyday Things You Can Buy with 5 Pesos in Buenos Aires.

1.    A Long Distance Calling Card.
Call home! For 5 pesos you can buy a calling card that will give you about 40 minutes to talk with friends and family.

2.    2 Miga Sandwiches.
These delectable little sandwiches look like pressed sandwiches, filled with things like ham, cheese, egg, pepperoni, etc, and are perfect for a mid day snack.

3.    Transportation (Subway, Train, Bus)
For 5 pesos you can buy about 4-5 one way tickets on either a subway, train, or bus, throughout the city.

4.  An Alfajor
The most famous Argentine cookie around, this delicious combination of shortbread plus filling of dulce de leche or chocolate, caramel, etc, is a great buy for less than 5 pesos.

5.     A Guia-T
The best transportation guide for buses in Buenos Aires, this is a must have for anyone traveling through or living in Buenos Aires. The Guia-T has a map of every part of the city and outside of the city, detailed information on every bus and its route, and best of all, is easy to read and easy to use. A steal for 5 pesos!

Looking For Tips About Living and Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, Check Out Our All You Need Argentina Travel Guide.

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How to renew your American Passport in the US Embassy

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:57

Categories - Uncategorized - 1 Comment

us passport renewal How to renew your American Passport in the US Embassy

US Passport Renewal Walkthrough

The purpose of this here post is to help you out with renewing your american passport in a United States Embassy. I recently had to renew my US Passport and the current online info didn’t suffice so I was thinking that writing this post could be useful to future expat students that want to study Spanish in Argentina with Expanish.

Ok, so this is what you need to do. There’s a form you need to fill out and take it to the US Embassy. You could go there and fill it out when they give it to you, but I strongly suggest you download them from their site. Once you have it, print it out and fill it out.

Before knowing which form you need to fill out, you need to know what type of US Passport Aplication you are interested in. There are two types of applications:

  1. First Time Adult Applicants (age 16 or older)
  2. Minor Applicants (under age 16)
In this post I will be detailing First Time Adult Applicants. Minor Applicants must go with a Parent (more details on the above link).
You need to fill out the DS-11 form. How do you know if this form is for you? If you answer YES to any one of the following:
  • You have never been issued a US Passport OR
  • You are under age 16 OR
  • You were under age 16 when your previous Passport was issued OR
  • Your most recent US Passport was issued more than 15 years ago OR
  • Your most recent US Passport was lost or stolen OR
  • Your name has changed since your previous US Passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change
    If the above does NOT apply to you, you may be eligible to apply for your Passport by mail. More info on this here.
    Ok, so you’ve printed the DS-11 Form and filled it out. Now what? There are some other documents you need to take to get your US Passport renewed. Basically you need two things: proof of identity (a photo of yourself; details here), valid ID and proof of citizenship.
    How do you prove to the US Embassy that you’re an United States Citizen? Present one of the following:
    You will also need to present some Valid ID. You can show them any of these:
    • Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
    • Naturalization Certificate
    • Valid Driver’s License
    • Current Government ID (city, state or federal)
    • Current Military ID (military and dependents)
    Once you’ve gathered all the required things (filled out DS-11 Form, Valid ID, 2 photos of you, and Passport Fee Money) you should ask for an appointment at the Embassy. Do NOT go to the US Embassy without an appointment!
    Useful info on US Passport renewals:
    • US Passport Renewal Fee in Argentina: U$D 100 (you can pay in equivalent Argentine pesos or with credit card, check, etc.)
    • Estimated delay at the US Embassy: One hour. This varies on the amount US Citizens waiting in line.
    • Receiving the Passport: You can have it mailed to you for a fee by DHL (in Argentina) or you can go pick it up in person when it’s ready for retrieval.
    Other misc info:
    • You don’t necessarily need to staple your 2 photos to the form. Just hand them in with the form.
    • You don’t necessarily need to fill out the flight details (location and trip date) if you’re not sure yet. Just explain it in person.
    • You should pay in US Dollars preferably since the exchange rate for foreign currency won’t likely be rounded in your favor.

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    Semana del Arte, 2009

    Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:45

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

    giraffe art 300x276 Semana del Arte, 2009

    It is a great time to be Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires as this September 20th starts the cities biggest art event, Semana del Arte, 2009 (Buenos Aires Art Week 2009).

    For anyone who is working, living, or studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, you must be well aware of the cities passion for the arts.  From the architecture to city sculptures to the aesthetics of Buenos Aires, it is obvious that the arts have played and continue to play an important role in the character of Argentina’s capital. The city is creative in every way, from its murals to the design of its open spaces, and takes pride in its devotion to creative mind’s and thinker’s and celebrates all forms of art from Argentina, Latin America, and around the world.

    Almost 100 galleries, museums, and cultural centres in Buenos Aires have been participating in Art Week for the past 6 years and once again this year the public will enjoy numerous guided visits, conferences, and both cultural and art activities, all free of charge.

    Art week will take place in the neighbourhoods of Barrio Norte, Recoleta, Belgrano, Centro, Plaza San Martin, Palermo, Retiro, Puerto Madero, and San Telmo, and each evening will feature a different Gallery Night, circulating in one of these areas.

    The public can enjoy various activities from performances, art exhibits, art conferences, art classes, workshops, live music, special guest presentations, and even an art lottery.

    This event will kick off with two free concerts at the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires, starting at 4:00pm, bands featured are Voxpop – Acapella Band and Javier Malosetti -Electrohope.

    For more information, check out the Semana del Arte 2009 website here.

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    Use Google.Com to Improve Your Spanish Skills

    Monday, September 14, 2009 12:31

    Categories - Spanish - 0 Comments

    googledefine Use Google.Com to Improve Your Spanish Skills

    The internet is one of the most incredible and endless resources you can find today, offering up billions of websites, related to any subject imaginable, and all for the general public.  In 2009 alone, almost 2 billion people around the globe will use the internet, and the numbers continue to grow.

    If you are studying Spanish in Argentina, the internet can be your greatest resource and is almost always free or at low cost. As I am sure you know, there are various search engines you can use on the internet, however one of the most popular is Google.com, said to have over an 80% share of the global search engine market and also stated to be one of the fastest growing companies in the world.

    How can you learn Spanish while using Google.Com?

    Besides being a search engine and therefore a portal to Spanish language related websites, Google has its very own tool to improve your language skills online.

    Google Define

    This handy little tool lets you define any word you choose in a moment of seconds, providing numerous definitions plus the definition’s original URL site.

    Here’s how it works:

    Just type in your toolbar or main Google search screen the word “define:” followed by a word, then press search.  What will appear is a list of definitions of that word from a myriad of resources.

    This can be a great tool for those who are writing in Spanish, wanting to learn new words, investigate words they have read, or want to just simply expand on their vocabulary. Words will be given to you in the same language that you have input, so keep in mind that this is not a dictionary, it is a word reference tool that will define words for you in the same language.

    What is your favorite way to use the internet in order to learn Spanish in Buenos Aires?

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    Living Abroad Makes You More Creative

    Friday, September 11, 2009 11:29

    Categories - Expanish News - 0 Comments

    smart girl 288x300 Living Abroad Makes You More Creative
    Could this be true?

    Is it true that if you study Spanish in Buenos Aires, you are actually not only increasing your language skills but improving your creative capabilities?

    According to an article written by a journalist at the Economist, a  well-known and highly reputable magazine, it actually does.

    Here is what the article claims:

    From a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a test was given to measure creativity between 155 American business students and 55 foreign students studying in America.

    Students were given one candle, some matches and a box of drawing pins and each asked to attach the candle to a cardboard wall so that the wax would not drip on the floor.  60% of students who were living abroad or had lived abroad completed the task, whereas only 42% of those who had never lived abroad did so.

    Another test where 72 Americans and 36 foreigners were asked to try out their negotiating skills, two students paired at a time, found the same results. When both negotiators had lived abroad, the negotiating success was at 70%, when neither of the negotiators had lived abroad, there was 0% success.

    ~At the end of these tests, results were based on the fact that people who live abroad are actually more creative in the sense of openness to new experiences, the ability to adapt, and the ability to solve problems.~

    Living abroad is often described as one of the most ‘eye-opening’ and interesting experiences that one can have, exposing you to a myriad of new experiences and often challenges. I suppose it really is safe to say that with evidence as such, it is no wonder that living abroad increases your creative capability.

    Some of the most creative minds in history are also linked to lives spent abroad, such as Picasso, Charles Darwin, and Ernest Hemmingway.

    Are you interested in Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires?

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