Starting our semester in Buenos Aires

We decided to travel down a few days before the organized group flight, so that we could hopefully get to know the city a little before our studies began. My luggage was left behind in Amsterdam (but I got a thousand kroner from KLM!), so it was fortunate that I had my most important belongings with me in my carry-on.

When we landed, it was dark, cold, and wet, which felt very much like home. From the taxi on the way into the city, we mostly saw puffer jackets and crowded buses. But once we arrived at the apartment we had rented through Airbnb, it wasn't long before the weather turned gloriously summery.

Suddenly, you go from planning and dreaming about traveling to the other side of the world to actually being there. No matter how long you have spent preparing for the trip, it is virtually impossible to truly be ready.

Your heart rate rises a little when you have to speak Spanish with Pablo, who is trying to fix the internet, or show ID just to buy groceries. For those of us who have also come straight out of high school, being away from home for four months feels strange as well.

But coming down here also feels like a huge relief, because you can take things at exactly the pace you want. Even though it is tempting to go hiking for hours, do a big grocery shop, and explore in search of a favorite spot, it also feels wonderful to simply relax completely on the balcony while writing or reading.

There's plenty of time to find a favorite bakery or a cozy ramen joint—we have more than two months of studying ahead of us, after all.

When we were moving into our hostel on Sunday, there was also an asado at the other hostel used by Kulturstudier in Buenos Aires, and all the Kulturstudier students from the various programs took part. It immediately felt like we were a little closer to Norway.

Meeting people who are facing the same challenges of moving to a new country, and who you will be studying with, may make you feel a little less homesick. Having others around you with whom you can share both positive and difficult experiences makes it much easier to settle in.

A word of advice: practice a little Spanish before you go. In shops, at cafés, or when speaking to a random person on the street, very few people speak any English.

When I suddenly found myself in the emergency room helping my friend, knowing a few phrases proved very useful, as no one spoke English except the doctor we eventually found, and it would have been virtually impossible to get antibiotics or bandages from the pharmacist. It’s called Culture Studies for a reason—you encounter completely different people and cultures, and a unique way of life!

Finally, I would like to highlight one area, even though most tourists would probably mention the same thing: Palermo is full of cozy cafés, exciting restaurants, and even a huge flea market!

We had both lunch and dinner and went to a bar in the same area, and discovered an incredible number of places we’re looking forward to visiting later. The bar we went to, Naranjo Bar, is a wine bar with a wide selection of both wine and food, and one of the staff members even spoke English (!) It’s very cozy, reasonably priced, and has something for everyone.

I'm really excited about what comes next and what it will be like to start studying!