SPAN 201A: Buenos Aires Interterm Travel Course 

Imagine it’s your last night in Buenos Aires and you are about to get into your Uber then BAM your phone gets snatched out of your hand by a man on a motorcycle.  

What would you do next? 

Well, I put all my emotions to the side and went out for my last night with my roomies.   

My name is Rylee Knapp a senior at Chapman University and I will be writing about my adventure of a lifetime studying Español for 3 weeks in Buenos Aries, Argentina.  

Let’s jump right into my time abroad! With a just a little Spanish knowledge under my belt I was fully immersed and thrown into the Argentian culture. The culture shock is real and not talked about enough. Throughout my blog post, I will highlight the extreme ups and downs of my adventure of Argentina. On the plane ride I wrote out a “checklist” of everything I wanted to accomplish and I completed it all! I highly recommend journaling and bringing a film camera for your studies abroad.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crossing the equator and entering the 95 degree summer humidity and heat, we were in for a ride. With no AC and one small fan, adapting to the constant sweaty glow became my new makeup routine. I traveled with a class of 26 Chapman students of all ages and majors in addition to 2 lovely professors, Ian Romain and Laura Loustau. Once arriving in Buenos Aries I had troubles with my housing the first week and finally moved into a place in the cutest town Recoleta. My host abuela Mercedes welcomed me with open arms and wanted a house full of “tranquilla” calm.  

 

 

“Tranquilla” was not in store for me.  

I made the most of my trip in Buenos Aires. Every day, we had Spanish class in the most beautiful school, Academia Buenos Aries located in the center of the Plaza de Mayo and Cabildo.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I absolutely LOVED my Argentinian profesora Camila and all my campañeros (classmates). We all became very close chatting about our hobbies and past time activities in Spanish. It was fun getting to meet different people from all over the world, Ireland, Denmark and Brazil and communicating in Spanish, however my brain sure hurt at the end of the day.  

After classes everyday, the program planned multiple tours and activities for us to explore the city and learn about the amazing history. We explored famous museums like the MALBA and Cementerio as well as fun activities like Tango dance lessons and Mate making courses. I also enjoyed our weekend excursions. We traveled 2 hours by bus to an exclusive ranch called El Estancia El Ombú de Areco. This day felt like stepping into another time- one where life moves at the rhythm of horse hooves and the scent of asado fills the air. The authentic gauchos took us horseback riding and prepared a sizziling parrillada a dish of grilled assorted meats. After the hot horseback ride and lunch we cooled off by taking a dip in the infinity pool. A much needed break from our intense schedule back in the city.  

 

 The second week flew by. Back in classes and eating dinner at 10pm was quite the adjustment to my parents 5pm early bird special. The Argentinian people thrive off the nightlife and know how to have fun. Staying up until the sunrose for the first time of my life felt unreal. Every Monday night, the cultural center came alive with the rhythms of La Bomba de Tiempo, a mesmerizing drum show that had us dancing nonstop.  

Our last weekend excursion was one to remember. Seeing one of the 7 wonders of the world brought instant tears to my eyes. We had a weekend getaway to see the Iguazu Falls on both the Argentian and Brazilian side. As I walked along the trails and through the thick jungle, we embarked on the most insane boat ride underneath the falls. Getting completely soaked and feeling the power of the falls made you feel so insignificant to beauty of the world.  

The final week was a stretch. I jammed as many activities as I could after Spanish my classes. La Boca, a vibrant neighborhood famous for its colorful buildings and home to the best choripán (a mouthwatering sausage sandwich), made for another unforgettable school trip. I also took a half day trip to El Tigre, just an hour north of Buenos Aires – it was like stepping into a different world of river, nature and culture. Taking a boat tour through the Paraná Delta, to see the vast network of winding rivers and lush islands paired with a cold corona was a perfect end to the day. AS I thought it would be….  

 

 

 

 

 

This is when the extreme downs come into play. My last night I had my phone taken out of my hand right after our farewell dinner. It is important to always be on guard, however I was unfortunate and unlucky at this moment in time. An adventure to say the least. I am grateful for the friends I met along my trip – the compinches who were by my side.  

The food, the people, the city—every moment of this trip was unforgettable. I’m beyond grateful to have experienced a true Argentinian adventure in all its richness and authenticity. I highly recommend traveling abroad to experience different cultures and push yourself out of your comfort zones.  

¡Hasta la próxima South America! 

Buenos Aries tienes mi corazón. 

 

Rylee Knapp  

Communications Studies  

Interterm 2025 

Buenos Aires, Argentina  

Spanish Travel Course