The land of tango, mate, and beef

My role is to teach and facilitate English to students of all ages at Argentinian schools and institutes. I teach various years, therefore the level of their language varies and I have to create new fun ideas for each lesson. With younger kids and teenagers we tend to talk about Argentina, the Czech Republic, and England and the differences and similarities that can be found between these countries. With adults, I usually help them write essays and the topic of conversation is more about politics and global issues. As a part of my placement, I also have to take part in 3-day camps for kids that already speak English. These camps let them immerse in the language in a fun way and use English outside of school as well. We play different games, have meals together and they have the chance to talk to us continuously for 3 days and ask us any questions about our culture.

The main reason as to why I chose to come to Argentina, is because I get to live with a local family. Not only do I get the chance to use my Spanish in everyday life, but I can also learn about their culture and different ways of life. I didn't want to set my expectations too high and then end up being disappointed, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I can say that people here are one of the warmest, friendliest and helpful people. They are happy to help you out even when you did not ask for it, only because you looked a bit lost. Everyone wants to know everything about you when they meet you and of course, you will get countless tips on where to go, what to do and what to eat.

Due to the small number of university students that applied for this program in this semester, I really got the chance to spend a lot of time together with the group I had met in the beginning. Fairly quickly, we all became good friends and started making plans together. In our free time, we can travel and explore the truly magnificent landscapes of Argentina. So far, I have seen one of the seven wonders of the world - the breathtaking waterfalls called the Cataratas del Iguazu. This was a completely unique experience that I will never forget.

Our second destination was a city called Bariloche, located on the foothills of the Andes, over a thousand kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires. There, we saw some of the most stunning views of mountains, lakes with crystal clear water, and tasted Argentina's best chocolate. The pictures I took do not quite resemble the real beauty of this place.

Without a doubt, these last couple of months have been incredible and I can honestly say being here has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and support that the Kellner Family Foundation has been providing me, and of course a huge thank you goes to my family as well. If someone told me a year ago, I'd be traveling through Argentina I wouldn't have believed them, but such is life. Truly amazing.