Newsletters from Argentina

Perhaps one of the most enduring images of Argentina is that of the gaucho – the country’s larger than life cowboy riding the endless plains and pampas, a master of horsemanship and at the same time commanding a wealth of rural traditions. Women love him and men want to be him.

Music not only reflects but also shapes and defines cultures. The musical culture of Córdoba can be defined in one simple word: Cuarteto. The cuarteto music and dance is one of Córdoba’s icons.

Volunteers who work in veterinary care will have a unique opportunity to work closely to help train dogs at the Parque de Lobos Canine training center. This project is done in addition to the volunteers work at the veterinarian and the dog refuge. It began a few weeks ago and the volunteers so far are really enjoying their work.

Care and teaching volunteers have been working hard in January at the summer camp held at the Ricardo Nassif school. About 15 volunteers have been preparing daily lessons, games and activities for the almost 100 neighborhood children that come to the school every day. They also give a daily snack to the children.

On December 22nd we held a holiday party at the Projects Abroad office for all of our host families. The gathering was also a chance for us to show our appreciation and say MUCHAS GRACIAS to all of our wonderful host families for all that they have done for the many volunteers throughout the past year.

It is not really what you would expect in the middle of Nueva Córdoba, one of Córdoba’s most important neighborhoods, filled with students, nice restaurants and shops. In between all the fun you can find CeCAM, short for ‘Centro Correccional de adolescentes Mujeres’; a place you would rather avoid.

Journalism volunteer Melissa Krechting took some time to talk to volunteer Dana Barrios (US, Care 3 months) about her experience so far at the Care placement at Los Boulevares.

Projects Abroad began a monthly food collection campaign in June to help the various dining halls that we work with. These dining halls help feed their local communities and give children a meal or snack in the afternoon as well as a safe place to play and spend time with our volunteeres.

Heading south along the coast of Argentina you will find the gorgeous Peninsula Valdes. It is especially noted for its vibrant coastline, which features a stunning array of tall cliffs, rocky reefs and hidden inlets surrounded by crashing surf. Considered one of the most valuable wildlife habitats in the world, it is home to some of the most exotic marine creatures, along with penguins, sea lions, seals, and whales.

Argentina’s biggest unsung attraction, Esteros del Iberá, is a breathtaking wetland covering up to 13,000 square kilometers (esti mates vary), nearly 15 percent of the province. Recharged almost exclusively by rainwater, it’s really a broad shallow river covered by semi-submerged marsh grasses, reeds, and other water-loving plants; it flows almost imperceptibly northeast to southwest, where the Río Corrientes enters the middle Paraná.

For almost two months now I have been volunteering at Quisquisacarte, an institution for girls aged 6 to 14, who have been taken away from their families due to rape and other forms of abuse which they have been subject to at home. As a result of their past experiences the girls have many behavioral issues and can be impatient, demanding of attention, as well as, at times, disrespectful.

I arrived in Cordoba, Argentina – aside from being extremely exhausted- very much excited and overwhelmed. I loved getting off the plane and feeling that warm breeze, hallelujah. That feeling of wow, I am actually on my own in South America over twenty hours away on flight from my parents, hit me.

Argentina’s northwest is the most indigenous region. It is here you will notice the influence from the country’s Andean neighbors, rather than the European vibe of the urban areas. Near the border of Chile, in the province of San Juan, is a can’t miss destination.

In January an ex-Projects Abroad volunteer returned to Argentina to face a great adventure - climb Aconcagua Mountain. It’s not only the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, but also the highest outside of Asia! In just under 3 weeks she climbed 22,834 ft (6,960 m) and reached the top to enjoy a spectacular view on the Andes. Projects Abroad would like to congratulate Astrid for this amazing performance!

Hvordan kan jeg best beskrive mine første dager i Argentina med ett ord – jeg tror det må bli overveldende. Folket, språket, trafikken, klimaet – alt var overveldende. Åpenheten, den genuine interessen, varmen og gjestfriheten hos menneskene jeg møtte og etter hvert ble kjent med; intensiteten, utrykksfullheten, energien og vakkerheten i den argentinske spansken; det å sitte med hjertet i halsen under taxiturene,

Sparkling sequins and Amazonian feathers jig about to the infecti ous beat of Brazilian music at Argenti na’s most spectacular festi val, the annual Gualeguaychú Carnival. Huge fl oats with fantasti cally costumed dancers parade night and day every Saturday during summer in Gualeguaychú.

Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, is a wild, lonely place stuck on the bottom of the American continent, almost touching Antarctica. Once a prison, it is now a winter sports hub and ecotourism hive where penguins and sea lions abound.

Hidden deep in the South American jungle, the vast expanse of roaring water that is Iguazú Falls takes your breath away. One of the world’s greatest natural wonders, the falls mark the border between Argenti na, Brazil and Paraguay.

Make your way down towards the very ti p of South America and the cold begins to set in. The freezing waters of the Antarcti c lap the shores and icy winds blow northwards. Los Glaciares Nati onal Park lies at the southern ti p of Patagonia and it is an area of stunning natural beauty.

When arriving to Puerto Madryn, this city amazes you right at the very first sight. Madryn is one of the fates growing cities in Patagonia, with a beautiful coastal avenue, the Almirante Brown Boulevard, the residential area where the houses have got an unbeatable view of the Atlantic Ocean within this huge natural amphitheater, constituted by the Nuevo Gulf. Its port has got deep waters, and is one of the best in Argentina. But Madryn is also an industrial city, mainly focused on aluminum.

Located at a distance of 130 kilometres from the City of Cordoba, Sierras Grandes is a place where you would be able to enjoy its clear skies and its fresh rivers and streams. This is a place where the sun shines through all year long, and the clear waters of its river invite you to enjoy them at every moment. This valley is one of the most untouched regions in the Cordoba ranges.

Intense, moody and undeniably sexy, tango is the emblemati c dance of Buenos Aires and the annual Buenos Aires Tango Festi val is a great place to see it at its best. The fi nest practi ti oners in the world join the peerless local arti stes in a programme of tango concerts, dancing displays, exhibiti ons, classes and a one-minute fi lm festi val. Together they fi ll the city with endless possibiliti es to watch, listen, learn and to take part in a range of events all dedicated to this passionate dance form.

Football is a synonym for Argentinean. The passion awakened by this wonderful sport that reached the country back in 1840 on English ships can be breathed in the streets, bars and workplaces. Many of the immigrants who arrived on those boats sett led down in these lands and founded colonies and colleges where the importance of physical educati on was encouraged.

Marlies Barsingerhorn from Holand, collected a large sum of money back home donated by friends and family. She decided, aft er talking to the Projects Abroad staff , that she wanted to use it for diff erent projects. Her fi rst donati on was paint for three diff erent placements: Dining Hall in Unquillo, Rios Ceballos clinic and the paint that was used to paint the playroom at Los Hermanitos home for young children.

Excerpt from “The Mate” by Mónica G.Hoss de le Comte. “When people gather to drink mate (mah-tay) something magical happens. It is a simple, daily custom and yet it has all the characteristi cs of a ceremony. Like any ceremony it has rites which are carefully performed in the same way, day aft er day. It is a moment of leisure with friends and family.

First, I’d like to thank all of the volunteers who participated in the trip. I think we all had a really good time in Icho Cruz and I hope to be organizing another trip next spring. On Saturday the 27th of February, 23 volunteers of Projects Abroad and three members of the staff set off for what was going to be a great weekend in Icho Cruz – a village located outside the city of Cordoba in the Sierras. We left early Saturday morning from the bus terminal and drove 60 km to the camping site.

Around the world Argentina is known for its beef and tango, but few realize the quality of its wine, especially in the Cuyo region in northwestern Argentina. The perfect combination of growing conditions like high altitude, strong sunlight and protection from the Andes means that most of the vineyards and the wine industry are located around the Mendoza province.

Travelling North in Argentina, you might come upon Gauchos, also known as wanderers of the Pampas. Described as hard-working horsemen, men of myth and historical significance, these ‘South American Cowboys’, are a symbol of romanticism because of their free and natural lifestyle. They have a strong cultural identity and for centuries roamed the country’s vast plains, the Pampas, herding cattle, working ranches - essentially bringing together the simplicity of this lifestyle to create a unique culinary experience.

Guillermo is 42 years old and he was born in Cordoba, Argentina and studied Business Administration at Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. He taught Economic Policy of Argentina at Faculty of Economics in Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Guillermo's experience includes serving as a founding member of ILA (International Leadership Association), former President of the local Chapter of AIESEC Cordoba (97/98) and National President of AIESEC Argentina (98/99) (International Association for Students Exchanges)

Oktoberfest is celebrated each year in the historically German town of Villa General Belgrano, about 10 km outside of Cordoba. The festival lasts for approximately 10 days and spans the first two weekends of October, to celebrate the harvest of barley in Germany. Both Argentineans and tourists flock to the city to enjoy the music, performances, and an unending variety of beers.

Music not only reflects but also shapes and constructs our social identities. The cuarteto music and dance is one of Cordoba’s icons. Argentinean music is well known for genres like tango, folk, and ´rock nacional´, but regional music such as ´cuarteto´ is less known by foreigners. That’s why we would like you to read a bit about how this genre was born, so when you visit our land you dance and sing the “tunga tunga” rhythm nonstop.

There are many reasons why Argentina is famous. One of them is because of its popular dance "Tango". Anyone can enjoy listening to or dancing Argentinean Tango. This dance expresses the passion and feelings. In Cordoba, our volunteers had the great opportunity to learn how to dance it. During the lesson, as well as having a lot of laughs, they learned the basic steps to move on the dance floor.

Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain outside Asia. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza. The summit is located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the international border with Chile. It lies 112 km (70 mi) west by north of the city of Mendoza. Aconcagua is the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is one of the Seven Summits.

The new years has began with the joy and happiness of having lots of volunteers in Cordoba where they will be able to see their dreams of enjoying their projects, meeting new friends and visiting new places come true.

As everyone may have deduced by my look, I am an extreme sports lover and I was planning to go sky diving on my own. When I commented on this to some of the volunteers, they automatically wanted to join me. The scheduled day was Saturday 18^th. I had been planning this for a long time, so when the day before it started pouring with rain, I thought I was about to pass away! Against everyone’s perception, Saturday came sunny and with no clouds in the sky!

Alter a couple of months, we meet again! We have been more than busy with lots of volunteers in every project, amounting to 52 by the end of July. The fact that volunteers choose Argentina as the place to do their project makes us so proud and we are happy to meet people so willing to help others without asking anything in return.

During the 19^th century when the first European settlers arrived in Argentina they brought their horses and cattle with them. Some animals escaped domestication and quickly populated the fertile pampas, and from these free resources emerged the gaucho, relying on the cattle for food and clothing and the horses for transportation. It is said that the real gaucho is recognized by his bandy legs as he is seldom out of the saddle and when a gaucho was without his horse he was without legs.

Sunday was cold and rainy, and we walked what seemed like a lifetime (carrying all on food and drinks) to another part of the river. We enjoyed our time together talking, while Nelson made chorizo sausage on the parilla for choripan. After a quiet day together we made our way back to the office tired but happy.

I am writing to give a warm welcome to all the volunteers, hoping that their stay in our country it is not only pleasant but also of great learning in your projects. It is important to remember that being a “volunteer” is a compromise that involves commitment and responsibility towards the institution you are working for. Also I want to say goodbye to the volunteers who leave and return to their home. It has been very important to have you here and be able to share their dreams. I hope e we can meet again. We will always remember you.

We were up in a hostel in Cordoba where I picked up some leaflets for 'Paracaidismo' (skydiving). There were lots of pictures of people falling out of planes. I turned to the other volunteers and said "I'll do it if you do it", half joking. Everyone agreed to it without really knowing what they where getting themselves into. The following weekend we all trooped off to Alta Gracia (birth place of Che Guevara, which is worth a visit if you have time)