Why Argentina?

I get asked this question a lot. Why did I pick Argentina from any country in the world for my one and only college study abroad experience? Well, why not??

Buenos Aires Argentina is atypical of anywhere else in South America. The city has some fun and crazy facts to boast:

• Population: 3 million

• 9th largest city in the world

• aka "the Paris of South America"

• Ranked #142 out of 144 in list of world's most expensive cities (my friends in Europe will be having the value of the USD to worry about)

• Voted the 2nd most desirable city to visit in Travel+Leisure in 2007, after Florence

• Average temperature when I get there: 57 degrees

• Average temperature when I leave: 84 degrees

• Avenida 9 de Julio is the widest street in the world - 16 lanes

• Where the ballpoint pen was invented, in 1943

Ok there are a lot more interesting things that could be listed here, like the insanely high ratio of psychoanalysts and the high rate of eating disorders, etc. I am super excited! I think I will be pleasantly overwhelmed by all of the city restaurants, sites, nightlife, shopping, public transportation.

Firsts for me:

• Ok, ok, this will actually be my first time living outside of Chapel Hill (besides good ole Boise)
• My first trip to South America (2 more continents to go!)
• My first time living in a city
• My first time completely relying on Spanish
• My first time getting to pass/fail classes

For all of my faithful readers from blog #1, thanks for following. I still think about Malawi all the time and want to go back. www.mindynmalawi.blogspot.com for my new or lazy friends.

Next challenge: fitting 6 months of my possessions into one bag.