Country Profile: Argentina

As I recently got accepted to a study abroad program for the spring semester to Argentina this year, I decided to dedicate this week's post to leaning about Argentina's culture, food and travel ideas!

Argentina has a significant Mediterranean cultural influence and this manifests itself widely in their foods as well. Spanish and Italian ingredients are abundant in most of Argentina, while the capital Buenos Aires is an international hub where any type of high class food is right around the corner. Argentina boasts a very protein centric diet where many of their meals focus around asado beef or chicken. Asado is the colloquial term for "Barbecue" which is the essential Argentinian dish. Asado does not just mean Barbecue in our meaning though it also encompasses the unique herbs and process by which it's cooked while referring to the actual social gathering of having barbecue as well.
Another staple of Argentine food is the Mate drink which is extremely widespread through the many regions and is usually used in a very social nature. Mate is made through the dried twigs and leaves of the Yerba Mate plant similar to a tea, but there are various other spices that can be added while it is also drank through a straw, known as a bombilla. These are just a couple typical aspects to the broad range of Argentinian food, yet both Mate and Asado also represent the extremely social aspect and tradition to eating in Argentine culture.

So besides eating until you burst.. What are some of the main attractions to Argentina?

First of all, the capital city Buenos Aires. This sprawling metropolitan city incorporates both the cultural allures of a distinct third world and the modern characteristics of a European city. Buenos Aires is filled with diverse architecture and every type of neighborhood. Some of the more notable things to do in buenos aires include going to see the infamous local soccer team "Boca Juniors" play in the intimidatingly packed Bombabera stadium or hit the expansive bar scene that the city is famous for.

If your not the city type, the next most captivating part of Argentina is the expansive rural Patagonia which is known for it's beauty. Hiking the Patagonia can be both an intimate experience with very local rural cultures as well as incredible sights of waterfalls, glaciers and wildlife. So if you ever plan a trip to South America do not miss out on all the beauty that Argentina represents.

I am itching to start my study abroad program now to experience all these delicious tastes and activities that Argentina has to offer!