Week 2:
Into the Fray

June 20, 2016

It’s amazing how your perception of time changes when you’re in a new place experiencing new things. A week into my internship, I’ve already done so much, and feel like I’ve lived here for months. With only 9 weeks of work, I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to accomplish everything that I wanted to, or have enough time in the city I’ve wanted to travel to for so long, but now I know that’s not the case. This short tenure here in Buenos Aires will be enough time for me to get the feel of an embassy, to explore this huge city, and to travel around the country. My internship wraps up on August 12th, but my plane doesn’t depart until the 25th, leaving me 13 days to take care of any last minute Buenos Aires bucket list items, to travel farther than I normally would be able to on a weekend, and to take care of some long term travel goals.

A little bit about my routine: I wake up at 6:30, in order to actually get out of bed by 6:45 and to get on the subte (subway) at 7:30 to make it to the security gate by 7:55. By 8 o’clock, I’m at my desk, tea and medialuna (the Argentine version of a croissant but with honey glaze on it, they cost 6 pesos [43 cents] from the commissary) in hand, working on my projects for the day. This past week was my first real week on the job, a mix of pre-work trainings to learn the American Citizens computer program, observing meetings and consultations throughout the department, and finally getting my badge on Wednesday so that I have access to the building without needing to be escorted everywhere. My wing of the building houses sensitive information, so you need to swipe your ID every time you enter.

The work I’ve done this week has been getting started on projects that should take me at least a few weeks. So far, I’m working on creating example forms for the passport applications, updating the emergency contact information, compiling a resource list in areas that the State views as inadequate, and helping coordinate sponsors for the huge Fourth of July festivities that we’re hosting this year. However, I only have had 1.5 days of actual work, due to the quantity of training this week, and the fact that it was only a 4 day week!

The other interns and I had big plans for what we wanted to do with our 4 day weekend,  however, our travel goals didn’t quite pan out. We still had a great time in the city, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Nia (my roommate) and I adventured around, visiting the Casa Rosada and Cathedral, touring Barrio Chino (Chinatown), shopping at the markets of San Telmo, eating Chorripan (featured below), and having people over to our apartment for Nia’s 24th birthday. With some of the Argentine interns I went to a concert Saturday night, a mixture of Cumbia (Latin American dance music) and a 20+ person percussion group.  I also started my research for my senior thesis by visiting Recoleta cemetery, an absolutely awe inspiring landmark, and seeing Evita’s tomb.

I also had the incredible pleasure of sharing this city with my best friend Anna. She and I have been friends since sophomore year of high school, and since then we’ve been close, I even lived with her for a month during my exchange program to St. Olaf College in January. To add to the long list of coincidences connecting us, it just so happened that she was in Buenos Aires the first weekend I was here as part of her orchestra’s tour in Uruguay and Argentina. We were able to meet up twice to eat delicious food and explore the city together. I can’t think of a more perfect way to start my time here than to share it with one of my closest friends from home.

Looking to this week, I have so much to look forward to. I’ll get to really dive into my projects, and see if this is the career I want to pursue.  I also have started to create my Buenos Aires bucket list, and as this is the city I’ve wanted to travel to since I was 16, I’m going to need to make better use of my time if I’m going to get to everything.