Tuesday, June 30, 2009

About Buenos Aires: from the "booklet" i just received


Buenos Aires

About Location:
The City of Buenos Aires is the capital of the Argentine Republic and is located in the southern hemisphere, latitude 34º 36’ and longitude 58º 26’. The city extends on a plain and has 202 square kilometers (78.3 sq miles). Approximately 3 million people live in this city. Including the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above ten millions, making it one of the 10 most populated urban centers in the world.

The Río de la Plata and the Riachuelo are the natural borders of the city on the east and south, respectively. The rest of the metropolitan perimeter is surrounded by the General Paz Avenue from north to west. This avenue provides a fast connection between the city and the Greater Buenos Aires, a densely populated area with important business and industrial activity

History:
Buenos Aires was founded twice:

The first foundation was in 1536. Don Pedro de Mendoza, a Spanish colonizer, established the first settlement. He named it Ciudad del Espíritu Santo y Puerto Santa María del Buen Ayre. The second, and final, foundation was in 1580. Juan de Garay called the site Ciudad de Trinidad.

In the 19th. century, the port was the arrival point for the great migratory wave promoted by the Argentine State to populate the nation. Spanish, Italian, Syrian-Lebanese, Polish and Russian immigrants provided Buenos Aires with the cultural eclecticism that is so characteristic of the city.

During the 20th. century, successive immigrations - from the provinces, other Latin American countries and Eastern countries – completed the picture
of Buenos Aires as a cosmopolitan city in which people with different cultures and religions live together.

IMPORTANT DATES

These are the dates of the trips and main outings sponsored by AIFS. You will also have to pay attention to the important dates that UCA sets like the visa appointment, or date for signing up for courses.


Tango show: July, Saturday 18th.

Iguazú trip: October, Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th

Colonia del Sacramento: August, Saturday 22nd

Estancia: September, Sunday 20th.

Tigre: October, Saturday 24th

Bariloche (optional trip) Sept, Friday 4th to Sunday 6th



I think that this might be useful

Sylwester, Katherine Flia. Sprinsky

Arenales 1882 PB

(1425) Buenos Aires

Tel. 4811-3028

(Although I'm not too certain about the numbers before the tel. number. Skype me. katherine.sylwester )

Departure

I leave in a few days. Rather, I have tomorrow and today in Chico, Thursday partially in Chico/Partially in San Francisco and Friday I am in the air on the way to South America. A brief stop in Florida- I've never been to Florida before- and then to Buenos Aires.

The program people will meet me at the airport. They will allow me to call home to tell my parents I arrived safely, after which they will take me to the University I will be attending and will let me meet my host family.

The next day, I will take an entrance Spanish Exam, which will decide what classes I will be taking in my first "semester" which is actually one month long. Less than one month, actually.

This is what I know so far.I also know about my host family, a bit.
Hugo, the host-father is a doctor. Laura, the host-mother is a P.E. teacher, although I do not know what level of education.

They have three children, who will be staying at the house also. Juan-Martin, Lucilia, and Victoria. They are here. They look pretty nice.

They also have 2 Golden Retrievers which is pretty exciting.

That's all for now. I'm not even gone.