Living in a globalised world has meant it has never been more valuable to speak another language. The ability to move freely between countries has meant we are now far more likely to encounter other cultures and languages than previous generations, and speaking another language helps us to integrate properly and understand more about how different societies live. Most importantly however, it is vital they are taught correctly in order to preserve the understanding of the spoken and written word.

I arrived in Buenos Aires at the start of June having listened to several hours worth of Spanish tapes convinced I could speak some basic Spanish, however it proved far more difficult than I first thought. Whilst I could repeat some basic phrases droned into my head, I was unable to comprehend any answers, or react to unforeseen questions. Thankfully I started my Spanish course a couple of days later, which has helped immeasurably. I started with intensive Spanish for four hours a day, which was split between grammar and vocabulary.

Despite the difficulties in learning a new language, the process was smoothed by the attention to detail of the teachers (the grammar class was one-to-one). Gradually, as I understood more of the language, I was invited to speak more with other students in order to help improve my fluidity and my ability to understand others. For me, the most important aspect of the course was the grammar; whilst verbs and vocabulary can be learned outside of the classroom, it is imperative to understand the grammar in order to be able to adapt in conversation.

Learning in a class has also helped me understand the nuances between languages. I have often been caught out saying distinctly un-Argentinean phrases in Buenos Aires and having a teacher to confide in has helped me realise my mistakes. Having completed four weeks of Spanish, I ‘graduated’ with a very good understanding of the basic principles of Spanish. The relaxed environment of the classes did not make it feel like school, whilst all of the teachers all make you feel part of the community. I hope to continue learning Spanish when I return to the United Kingdom through meeting up with Spanish natives and I feel confident enough to do this now. Whilst it may take me a lot of practice and effort to improve substantially, I feel I have benefited greatly from the experience of learning Spanish through the classroom and would thoroughly recommend other beginners to follow the same path.

My name is Bree and my friend Izzie and I came to Buenos Aires from Sydney, Australia two and a half months ago. We have been volunteering with Voluntario Global in orphanages known as ‘Querubines’ (meaning ‘Angels’) outside of the city located in Beccar and Olivos. Their purpose is to give children from complicated backgrounds a second chance at a family lifestyle in a caring and stable environment.

I (Izzie) was placed in an orphanage situated in a suburb called Olivos. Like Bree’s  is as well, Olivos is a middle class suburb on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. The house was donated with the intent of providing a comfortable, safe neighbourhood for the kids to grow up in. I remember my first, not-so-shiny-impressions of the 1.5 hour commute to Olivos, however I quickly became accustomed with the help of my iPod and easy ability to power-nap!

The orphange (or ‘homenage’ being its preferred name) turned out to be a sweet, little, yellow house. One seems to picture an orphanage in a certain way, but I soon learnt that it was not dissimilar to a typical home- only one which houses a larger sized family. The homenage in Olivos is home to 10 children at the moment. With all girls except for two boys, the youngest is 3 and the eldest, 16.  With that great range I have been able to a do a variety of activities with the different kids as well as helping out the ‘Tias’ (the women who work there). An average day may consist of helping the elder girls with their English homework, singing along and teaching the words of ‘Baby’ to some Justin Beiber-obsessed tweens, playing in the plaza and copying out pictures of Hello Kitty! For Bree, having a houseful of little boys, it’s a bit of a challenge but they’re always happy to muck around outside and get their hands dirty with colouring and paints.

Being as hard-working as they are, the Tias couldn’t always give me things to do for them. This combined with the language barrier certainly made things difficult in the beginning. I would sometimes find myself feeling like more of a nuisance than a help, but no sooner learnt that like any other household, plates need to be washed and clothes need to be folded and by talking more with them I would no longer feel like a stranger in their home.

When I initially started fundraising, I didn’t really know what I was fundraising for! All I knew was that I would be working somewhere in need of donations and I knew that 3 months with the same people was enough time to become emotionally invested. I created something called ‘The Buenos Aires Project’, writing a letter to friends and family explaining what I knew about what I was doing and that, with promised updates and a final report, we had a chance to make a contribution to something worthwhile and see it in the process.

For me (bree), I created a Facebook event inviting friends and family to a cinema fundraising night I held at my local cinema and I found that everyone was more than happy to help. Like Izzie, I also sent an email around to friends of my parents who were also more than willing to contribute to what I was doing in South America.

In our second week in Buenos Aires, we had a meeting at Voluntario Global to give us information of where we would be volunteering, the days and times, and also a brief overview of the organisation. We found it very helpful and well managed and we were given timetables of our placement days and the addresses of the orphanages we would be volunteering at. On our first day of volunteering, a Voluntario global staff member came with us to introduce us to the Tias and to make sure everything was going smoothly, and that we knew our way there and back. It made the day less daunting and we felt more comfortable.

During the two months we have been volunteering, we have never had a problem at the orphanage or with Voluntario Global. They send regular emails and updates and we know we always have that help there if we need it. So when we were thinking of how to donate the money raised in an appropriate manner, we emailed Voluntario Global and they got back to us immediately and arranged a meeting to discuss what was to be done.

We found the meeting very reassuring as they told us the money would go directly to the orphanage and they also spoke to the Tias and emailed us a list of things they actually needed. With the money raised we are in the process of purchasing a freezer, stoves and medications for the children. Sadly we know that Querubines’ needs extend far beyond what Izzie and I can provide. However, we are glad we can help and do something that we are sure others have done and will do later.

We were really lucky to get to work with this project as with everything the children have been through, the boys and girls are still able to experience family atmosphere and just act like normal kids! We would recommend Voluntario Global to anyone thinking of doing something like this as they are a reliable volunteer organisation and are always willing to help and provide information. It has been a great experience!

For the last 9 months I have been volunteering with Voluntario Global fulfilling the compulsory third year abroad part of my university degree.  I had volunteered before on my gap year in Ecuador where I spent a month in three different locations helping to build whatever was needed.  It was that volunteer organization who introduced me to Voluntario Global.  However despite my previous experience I was nervous before I flew out here.  Firstly my stay in Argentina was going to be three times as long as my previous stints abroad, secondly I was only going to be based in Buenos Aires (which as a girl from the English countryside I was terrified I would not like!) and finally it was helping in a totally different way than I had experienced. Needless to say within weeks of arriving here I knew I had made the right decision and I was already thinking that time was going by too fast.  Buenos Aires is a wonderful city even if you do not think you are a city person.  There really is something for everyone and you can never be bored.  Voluntario Global’s projects are based all over the city, so you get to visit lots of different areas and communities that you might not have otherwise seen.   The reason that I chose to spend all my time abroad in one place was that I wanted to go home feeling that I had really got to know the city and for ten months part felt like a local.  Thanks to volunteering I was given the opportunity to see the true city or rather the non tourist side, and I am leaving with much wider knowledge of this wonderful city than I could ever have imagined. I volunteered in three different projects during my time here.  I started off working in a local health centre in one of the poorest areas in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Jose Leon Suarez.  I worked in reception dealing with administrative tasks, making medical history files, handing out the government provided milk and helping the locals complete any paperwork required.  It was a great project and suited me perfectly as it was quite hands on and everyone was so friendly. 

The locals and other staff were patient with my poor and nervous Spanish and I grew in confidence working there.  It was also where I first begun to appreciate mate!  I then started working for the Voluntario Global communications team. 

I visited projects and wrote blogs for the website, helped translate information and emailed the volunteers about the weeks social plans and other events.  It was a great way to get to know other parts of Voluntario Globals work and see yet more examples of their invaluable help. 

My final project was in the famous barrio of La Boca.  I worked in the “prensa” section of the Comedor de los Pibes, a local community and political centre.  I translated news articles and also other relevant documents such as a wikileaks US government document about the Argentine “piqueteros”.  As a student of Spanish and Politics this project could not have been more perfect and thanks to my increased confidence with my Spanish after months here, I felt like a proper translator/journalist!  Everyone in the centre is so friendly, we ate lunch together every day and I always felt so welcome. 

On my last day I was given a flag of Argentina with the centres logo printed on – I was overwhelmed by their generosity and gratitude and I have already thought of the perfect place to hang it in my bedroom back home in England! My time here has been eye-opening and I cannot begin to thank everyone enough.  If anyone is thinking of volunteering with Voluntario Global in the future I highly recommend it.  I have never felt more like part of a team, nor felt so appreciated even if it was for doing what seems like a simple or irrelevant task.  All those involved in the projects, be it the locals, the coordinators or the volunteers have made my time here so special and I will always be thankful for all I have learnt and hopefully I have taught others something too.

Tudo começou com a vontade de fazer um intercambio, mas não tinha noção nenhuma por onde começar esta pesquisa e então fui ao Salão do Intercâmbio em São Paulo e conheci a instituição Voluntário Global que me proporcionava condições para realizar o intercâmbio, praticar o espanhol e o inglês, conhecer gente do mundo inteiro e lugares maravilhosos além da oportunidade de realizar trabalho voluntário. Foram quase dois meses me preparando, conhecendo, falando com outras pessoas que fizeram este trabalho e no dia 15 de maio embarquei com destino a Ezeiza (Buenos Aires). Quando cheguei, passei pela alfândega e sai do aeroporto que vi uma “plaquinha” com meu nome que era do taxi que iria me trazer até a casa de voluntários, foi uma sensação inexplicável. Quase 01 hora depois e por fim cheguei ao meu destino, “moro” na casa de voluntários, que é muito segura e confortável, já estavam morando aqui duas meninas de Noruega e duas de Inglaterra, mas com o tempo chegaram mais pessoas. Não tenho nada do que reclamar da casa, tem internet disponível, cozinha com um armário próprio para guardar suas coisas e é limpa três vezes por semana.

Para lavar roupa basta ir a uma lavanderia que é muito próxima daqui. Nas duas primeiras semanas estudava espanhol de manhã e trabalhava a tarde na parte de comunicação, meu trabalho era de atualizar os meios de comunicação do Voluntário Global, fazer análise de mercado para a vinda de novos brasileiros, parcerias e contatos com organizações do Brasil etc, (optei por trabalhar em comunicação por que é que o faço no Brasil, mas existem muitos outros programas que se pode trabalhar, como orfanatos, jardim de infância, aulas de computação e inglês, comedor, centro de saúde, entre outros). Nos tempos livres, saia para conhecer a cidade e os pontos turísticos com os amigos que fiz na casa e com os amigos que fazem voluntariado, mas não moram na casa de voluntários. Nas duas últimas semanas, somente trabalhava (a carga horária sempre foi de 04 horas por dia / 04 dias por semana) e então tive mais tempo para sair e conhecer outros projetos e mais pontos turísticos como Tigre, Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo, Recoletta, Galeria Pacífico, Palermo entre outros. Passei por momentos divertidos, típicos de um estrangeiro, como não saber o nome de algumas coisas e ter que desenhar e fazer mimica para tentar explicar o que quer, cozinhar        (que era uma coisa que não sabia fazer no Brasil e aprendi aqui. Obs.: somente cozinhei macarrão e sopa ...rs) os outros dias comia nos restaurantes. Quanto as noites em Buenos Aires..... saia tanto para jantar quanto para ir a uma balada ou as aulas de tango argentino, como é formoso dançar tango, passos firmes e sensuais... Mas o melhor é que encontrei alguns restaurantes brasileiros e podia comer arroz e feijão, por que acredite aqui não se come, em Argentina no almoço e na janta vai encontrar pastas, pizzas e muito frango. As amizades foram tantas, que no final eu estava dando aulas de espanhol , e uma inglesa me dava aulas de inglês... assim praticava os dois idiomas.

Quando digo que conheci gente do mundo inteiro é verdade, conheci gente da Bolívia, Peru, Estados Unidos, Canadá, Inglaterra, Noruega, Paraguai, Alemanha, Irlanda.... tem muitos outros países, mas não vou listar aqui que vai só vou ficar falando disso... Uma coisa que gostei muito da Argentina é a cultura e os lugares arquitetônicos como as danças, feiras artesanais, roupas típicas, museus, Mafalda, alfajores.... ah quanta coisa.... 04 semanas é pouco para desfrutar de tudo. E ao contrário do que dizem, os argentinos recebem muito bem os brasileiros, eu só não podia falar de futebol...., mas somos muito bem recebidos aqui. E agora já está na hora de programar a volta ao Brasil, meu voo estava programado para 11 de junho , mas o vulcão do Chile não me quer deixar ir embora, acredito que tenha que ficar por mais alguns dias aqui, mas não tem problema nenhum, vou poder desfrutar mais um pouco desta experiência que está valendo muito pena.

Por isso, convido a todos os brasileiros a vivenciar este intercambio, porque não existem palavras para descrever o aprendizado, a mudança de vida e a evolução como pessoa que este tudo isso proporciona.... desejo aos que fiquem na casa, que aproveitem muito e aos que estão em seus países que tenham a oportunidade de viver estes momentos ..... Ao Voluntário Global só tenho que agradecer pelo auxílio em todos os momentos e parabenizar pelo trabalho maravilhoso que realizam pela incansável busca da igualdade social, e por promover o intercâmbio e mostrar para o mundo a cultura de vocês. Assim me despeço, agradecendo por tudo que vivi aqui e muito feliz pela oportunidade de ajudar a fazer deste mundo e a mim mesma uma pessoa muito melhor.....

On the 25^th of May 1810, after a week of events taking place in Buenos Aires which would eventually be known as the May Revolution, the first independent government of Argentina, La Primera Junta, was established, bringing the nation one step closer to its independence. The 25^th of May is now Argentina’s National day, which along with the 9^th of July commemorates the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, during Spain’s Peninsular War, King Ferdinand VII of Spain was abdicated while the Virreinato del Río de la Plata, Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, controlled Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. In order to try and maintain stability the Viceroy tried to conceal the news. Inevitably the nation found out, causing unrest amongst the Buenos Aires population. The revolutionary events began on Friday the 18^th of May 1810 as it became clearer as to what had happened to the King. It was considered that if there was no King, then there would be no Viceroy and Cisneros was soon ousted. One week later on Friday the 25^th of May, the first local government was established, La Primera Junta. The legacy of the May Revolution lives on today, with many landmarks and monuments built to honour the events.

Buenos Aires’ oldest monument, Pirámide de Mayo, was built a year after the events to celebrate the one year anniversary of the May Revolutions. One of the main squares and the focal point of political life in Beunos Aires is Plaza de Mayo. Since the May revolutions the square has hosted many political events along with housing numerous landmarks, including La Casa Rosada. Last year the celebrations for Argentina’s Nation Day were the biggest seen yet, as it was the Bicentenario - the commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the May Revolutions. Beginning one week before, the event, which was primarily held in Buenos Aires, was attended by millions. The celebrations included the Avenida 9 de Julio being closed to traffic, allowing it to play host to the city’s main events. Stands representing each of the provinces lined the street, as well as those which showcased the culture of Argentina. An Argentinian rock concert inaugurated the Bicentenario on May 21^st, ending in a closing parade attended by presidents from Bolivia, Chile, Urugay, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay. On Wednesday Argentina celebrated the 201 year anniversary as well as the first day of the Trecentario Argentina’s president Cristina Fernández gave a speech to the country, from the city of Resistencia in Chaco. Although she continued her tradition of spending the day outside of the capital, the city saw many celebrations taking place. Avenida de Mayo was partly shut to traffic as crowed took to the streets form the early afternoon to remember the event.

Argentine flag were ubiquitous, seen lining the street, waved by children and on cars throughout the city. From the afternoon Plaza de Mayo hosted a concert. Intervals saw the story of Argentina’s fight to freedom on the screens which were innovatively placed between the archways of the Casa Rosadas front façade. The ’25 de Mayo. Gran Fiesta Popular’ saw performances for everyone, Pipo Pescador y el Sapo Pere took to the stage to entertain the young ones, national songs were sung with audience participations as well popular argentine bands pleasing the crowds. The concert climaxed with performances from Los Pericos, La Mosca, Víctor Heredia y Soledad “La Sole” Pastoruti. With Wednesdays celebration Buenos Aires took its first steps into the Trecentario with superb celebrations!