In November, I finished my study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My last week included finals, packing, and saying goodbye to all my friends. In my Spanish classes, I submitted videos called “grabadas” detailing my experience volunteering in Argentina and my growth in Spanish speaking throughout my time. In my classes in English over Latin American politics and international relations, I took two written exams. At my university in Argentina, grades are numerical, from 1 to 10, with a 4 being passing. I was very excited to receive high grades in all my classes, even though I didn’t see “A” on my transcript. On my last day of classes, we surprised a friend who graduates in December with an Argentine tradition of spraying silly string and shaving cream at her. (The typical tradition is to use eggs and flour, but we did not want to waste food). Between my finals, I tried to spend as much time as possible with my friends, and on our last day, a group of students went to a cafe and played cards.

That night, my roommate and I packed our suitcases. I was so thankful to share a room with her; I can confidently say that I made a great friend while studying abroad, in addition to all the other people I met along the way. On the last day of my program, I checked and double checked my room in my homestay to make sure I had everything packed. In the morning, I left my homestay and went to my Airbnb. I still had another week in Argentina! Before I left for my study abroad, my parents and I planned for them to come visit me at the end of my study abroad. I was so excited to see them after almost four months. We stayed in Palermo, a trendy neighborhood right next to Belgrano, the neighborhood I lived in while studying. Each day, I showed my parents around the city I called home. We traveled to Micro Centro, the center of the city, and posed in front of the Obelisco and visited museums in Recoleta for the Night of the Museums, the night where museums stayed open late. I helped my parents, who don’t speak any Spanish, navigate restaurants and the public bus system, which can be a little confusing. My parents also showed me new places too. We traveled to Tigre, a city in the province known for its relaxing boat rides and calm style of life. On our last night, we went on a cruise around the city, and we invited my host brother to come with us.

It was interesting to spend this time in the city as a tourist, when I’ve spent so long navigating the city as a student. Although a part of me was ready to go home back to the United States, I do feel a continued connection with Argentina, and I hope to return soon.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: CEA CAPA: Engineering in Buenos Aires