While there are some events and fairs that go on hiatus for the chillier months in Buenos Aires, there is one that runs exclusively through the fall and winter- the Feria de Mataderos! Located about 45 minutes away from the more well known areas of Buenos Aires city, the Mataderos neighborhood hosts this fair every Sunday from April to December. If you’re a student studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, hop on a colectivo (55, 63, 80, 92, 117, 126, 141, 155, or 180)  in your neighborhood to check out an attraction that you may not come across in your Argentina guidebook, but is sure to be a worthwhile day trip!

The fair consists of traditional Argentine folk music and dances (zambas), gauchos from interior displaying their talents on horseback, traditional food and drink, and various artisans- an impressive mix of tradition and culture, and an experience unique to the Feria de Mataderos!

If you decide to spend a Sunday at the fair, be sure to be there around 3:30 PM, for the Carerra de Sortija, or the Race of the Ring. This spectacle involves gauchos racing down Avenida Lisandro de la Torre at lightning fast speeds, each trying to obtain a small ring hanging overheard on a metal frame. Arguably the most exciting moment of the fair, the crowd erupts in cheers and applause each time a gaucho succeeds in grabbing a ring.

Students studying Spanish in Argentina are often looking for a weekend activity that’s a bit off the beaten path, and filled with Argentine culture and tradition—if you are, take a Sunday during this fall and upcoming winter to take in the Feria de Mataderos, and share this experience with your Expanish Spanish School classmates!

Learn more about the fair on it’s official website (in Spanish only): http://www.feriademataderos.com.ar/

Learn about Expanish’s Spanish immersion courses in South America!

If you are a student studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, you may have spent a relaxing night at the cinema or stopped into a movie rental shop looking for your favorite films from back home. While many English language films are available in both Buenos Aires cinemas and stores, you’ve probably noticed that most movie titles are not only in Spanish, but translated quite differently! Movies are a great option for a casual evening out or a midday break from your Spanish courses in Argentina. Take a look at the following list of popular English language films whose titles are a bit different in Spanish than their originals:

Rompiendo el Hielo- Happy Feet

Enamorándome De Mi Ex- It’s Complicated

Secreto en la Montaña- Brokeback Mountain

Sonrisas y Lágrimas- The Sound of Music

Expiación, Deseo y Pecado- Atonement

Viviendo Con Mi Ex- The Breakup

La Jungla de Cristal- Die Hard

Que Paso Ayer- The Hangover

While the titles are varied, these films can probably be found just as you remember them! Spend a rainy day at the theater, or take a break from the never-ending Buenos Aires nightlife with one of your favorite films. If you’re interested in learning about other activities around the city, take a peek at the busy daily life of an Expanish student taking Spanish immersion classes in Argentina!

Learn more about Expanish Spanish School in Buenos Aires!

Expanish Spanish School in Buenos Aires has been improving the Spanish language ability of students from all over the world since 2006 through Spanish immersion classes in both private and group settings. If you are looking to study a new language, but can’t exactly decide on which direction to take your studies in, or if you have already learned a bit of Spanish, and are looking for ways to get over that common plateau that comes along with learning any new language, we have compiled some facts that will definitely get you motivated to get working on your Spanish! By now, you have certainly heard about the growing popularity of studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, but take a look at what makes learning Spanish, or improving upon the skills that you have already acquired, so worthwhile and so significant for students from across the globe!

- Spanish is the native language of almost 400 million people in 21 countries worldwide. It is spoken by over 500 million people today, and is the third most spoken language in the world.

- Learning even a little Spanish will enhance any travel experience. Knowledge of a foreign language when traveling  to a Spanish speaking country will open you up to another culture and lifestyle and bring you opportunities that a traveler without the language skill would never have the chance to discover.

- More than ever, companies are valuing employees with a Spanish language ability, thus providing them access to one of the fastest growing markets in the world. In North America, Hispanics make up the fasting growing consumer market, with a growth of 60 percent in the past decade. More and more companies are looking to globalize and international trade is expanding.

- Spanish is the second most utilized language in international communication, and is an official language of the United Nation’s and it’s associated organizations

-  With talents, such as Miguel de Cervantes’, author of Don Quixote (the second most translated book in the world behind the Bible!), Pablo Picasso, founder the cubist movement, and numerous film stars from both Spain and Latin America, it is impossible to ignore the influence Hispanics have had on art, literature, and film across the globe.

- Currently in the US, one in ten residents speaks Spanish at home. The US Census Bureau is reporting that the Hispanic community should see a growth of up to 50 million by the year 2015. This influx of Spanish speakers creates a need for additional Spanish language media, such as television programs, newspapers and magazines, and radio broadcasts.

A knowledge of the Spanish language will have a profound affect on your life, whether your interests lie in business, education, or art. Check out Expanish Spanish School in Argentina to see even more reasons for studying Spanish, especially in Buenos Aires!

If you are a foreign student studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, be aware that the ATM withdrawal fee for your foreign debit cards has recently been raised by local banks to 15,50 pesos (approximately $4 USD) per transaction. This fee will apply to anyone who withdraws money from a foreign account at a local ATM.

This increase comes after the transaction fee for foreigners was established in Argentina in July 2009, and does not include the international transaction fee (usually a charge of 1% of your withdrawal amount) charged by the majority of banks across the globe to their own customers. Similar to the reasoning behind charging residents from certain countries a reciprocity fee to enter the country, Argentine companies, such as Banelco and Link, have tried to justify the fee increase, saying it is comparable to the transaction fees that have been charged at banks and ATMs across the globe for years.

The best option for students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires is to withdraw larger amounts of money from ATMs, therefore avoiding paying the 15,50 transaction fee for small withdrawals. Many banks allow withdrawals of up to 1,000 pesos at a time. If you are studying Spanish in Argentina for a semester or longer, many foreigners living in Buenos Aires suggest opening an account with Charles Schwab, as they return all transaction fees charged to customers abroad at the end of each month’s billing cycle. Many Expats have also reported that Citibank locations in Buenos Aires do not charge this transaction fee to their own customers, but still charge the standard international transaction fee. 

While the cost of living in Buenos Aires is more affordable for many students than the cost of living in their home countries, it is important for students to be aware of various fees, such as this ATM withdrawal fee, incurred by foreigners when traveling abroad!

Learn more about studying Spanish in Buenos Aires at Expanish’s Spanish School!