“To
strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” ~Lord Alfred Tennyson
For some the adventure
started at Bryant University at 9am on Saturday, for others at 11 when we all
met at Logan International Airport. For me, the adventure stated once we were
in the sky. When you look out your window and see the houses on the ground get
smaller and smaller, until they are just sprinkles on the ground and we were in
the clouds. The plane is a healthy size plane, and we are sitting up and down
the aisles in between people going about their lives headed to Miami. Several passengers
on the plane are already speaking Spanish.
I try to listen and see what words I recognize but their tongues are
moving much too fast for my ears. Everyone
that I’ve talked to so far agrees that speaking Spanish is what they are most
nervous about.
Our plane on the runway of Logan Airport. 1pm Saturday
Before we boarded for Miami I spoke to Kevin. Here’s
what he had to say:
L: Is this your first international trip Kevin?
K: No, two years ago I visited the Dominican Republic. They speak Spanish but I stated at a resort so I mostly spoke English.
L: What are you most nervous about for this trip? K: Probably speaking Spanish, and the new culture. (Kevin has been taking Spanish for the past 7 years. If Kevin is nervous then there’s no way my 3 years of Spanish will hold up.) L: What are you most excited about, and most looking forward to on this trip? K: I am very excited to make new friends and become closer with all the other students going on this trip. L: What are you hoping to take away from your sophomore international experience? K: New friends, better language skills, and a better understanding of the South American culture and business.
L: Any additional comments? K: It’s a great day to be a bull dog.
Todos los estudios de Bryant University fueron en el avion.
K: No, two years ago I visited the Dominican Republic. They speak Spanish but I stated at a resort so I mostly spoke English.
L: What are you most nervous about for this trip? K: Probably speaking Spanish, and the new culture. (Kevin has been taking Spanish for the past 7 years. If Kevin is nervous then there’s no way my 3 years of Spanish will hold up.) L: What are you most excited about, and most looking forward to on this trip? K: I am very excited to make new friends and become closer with all the other students going on this trip. L: What are you hoping to take away from your sophomore international experience? K: New friends, better language skills, and a better understanding of the South American culture and business.
L: Any additional comments? K: It’s a great day to be a bull dog.
Todos los estudios de Bryant University fueron en el avion.
Our next stop was Miami. After arriving early and
having to wait on the runway, we were finally dismissed from the plane and into
the airport. Nice. One flight down, one to go. The airport is so big we had to
take a tram from our terminal to the next. Once we got there we all got
settled, made a time to meet back, and got dinner. During this time I had the
chance to speak with my new friend Wilson, this is what we talked about.
L: What did you think of the first flight?
W: It went pretty smoothly. There were no crying babies or anything.
L: What new experience are you looking forward to?
W: Learning how to tango…. Because I don’t know how to dance whatsoever (Ashley- added that we get a certificate at the end)
L: Are you looking forward to the food? How adventurous will you get?
W: I really want to eat authentic food of the country.
L: Would you even try cow tongue?
W: I’ll try anything once.
L: Describe your attitude right now using 3 words?
W: excited, curious, ready
L: Any last comments?
W: I hope to have a good time.
W: It went pretty smoothly. There were no crying babies or anything.
L: What new experience are you looking forward to?
W: Learning how to tango…. Because I don’t know how to dance whatsoever (Ashley- added that we get a certificate at the end)
L: Are you looking forward to the food? How adventurous will you get?
W: I really want to eat authentic food of the country.
L: Would you even try cow tongue?
W: I’ll try anything once.
L: Describe your attitude right now using 3 words?
W: excited, curious, ready
L: Any last comments?
W: I hope to have a good time.
Our second flight was
much longer, almost 8 hours in the air. When we landed we couldn’t complain
about jet lag because the time difference is only 2 hours. I think the general atmosphere
when we finally get off the plane is excitement. Running on only a few hours of
sleep we wasted no time and began our day on the bus to our hotel driving
though Buenos Aries. The city is large and beautiful full of all types of people.
There are parks and plazas at almost every corner and the architecture is just
as diverse as the people in the city.
Buildings that are centuries old stand tall next to modern buildings. If
I didn’t know any better I might think I was in Europe.
Finally, our journey has begun.
A business perspective: No opportunity is lost to
advertise. There were tv screens everywhere in the airport advertising for
everything from IBM to Dunkin Donuts. There were even screens on the plane that
were advertising for various TV stations.
In addition the cost of food/ drinks/ accessories in the airport past
security are ungodly expensive. This comes as no surprise, it is simple
economics; when there is no other competition businesses can charge whatever
they feel like.
Bienvenido a Buenos Aires. Sunday 9am
Spanish Word of the Day: Avion- airplane
By Laura Hayes
