By Michael Curcio If you are reading this you have been, are, will be, or are thinking about being a volunteer for Voluntario Global. First off, Good choice. Second off, Hiya. Imma having a pretty good time here, although right now I am recovering from my somewhat misadventurous trip to the top of a mountain. Let's just say that walking for hours on end in a desert will make you a wee bit tired and throw you for a loop. Either way, it was an adventure.
My time here has been really cool; the normal day entails: 9:00- Get up, nothing like the five thirty of Costa Rica, things here are a wee bit more tranquilo. So I get up and drink me some Yerba Mate, an Argentinian staple, with some bread, which I have gotten pretty used to and miss when I go a day with out it. 10ish to whenever I am done- Prepare for English class, run around asking questions like how do you say, “If I were to have been there at some point then maybe I would have become a superhero,” in Spanish. Also got some time to play with Pichu, the incredibly cute 1 year and seven month old baby here, who is crying right now. But when he's not crying for some reason or any other, he's sooooo cute.
I guess at around 12, other kids arrive, so we draw on the chalk board or help make lunch or set the table or something like that. At around one and a thirty we eat lunch, which is always incredibly good and consists of a soup followed by meat and rice and eggs and whatever other tasty food there be around. From two to three- We clean up, which entails washing dishes, sweeping and mopping, and moving tables. Then, I get ready for English class, woo English, which by the way makes no sense.
3 until 6 or 8: Different English classes, from an intermediate class, where I vainly attempted to teach the conditional, to the basics. I also get to talk with una professora who is studying to teach English in High School. One of the things she is studying is intonation, you know the thing that makes Shakespeare, Shakespeare, and you never really think about. But she has packets and packets that vaguely attempt to put a structure to when to stress words and when to not. But I'm not really sure it is something you can study, because it's so embedded into the language and varies so much from person to person. Either way, we read Shakespeare and just talk, in English!!! This can be a nice relief from an otherwise completely Spanish world. Plus I get to write silly stories and dialogues that don't make much of any sense, but that don't really matter.
Teaching English is quite hard and has made me realize how persnickety of a language it is, for example what does persnickety even mean? I don't know, did I even spell it right? After English class, or during breaks, we drink some more Yerba Mate and maybe I read a bit. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, we got church. This is usually a rather fun affair filled with music and singing and tons of really nice people saying “Dios te Bendiga” or “God bless you.” Plus there are a good number of other teenagers who play music and teach me new words as I try to translate English songs. Afterwards, sometimes we have warm corn mush or rice with milk, which, surprisingly, is called “Arroz con leche” and not some ridiculously hard to pronounce, unintelligible word.
After church, we sometimes go play, “La Mancha.” If you's it then you gots to tag other peeps. Then you link arms and try to run and catch other people, until there is a giant line of people chasing after whoever is left. Whenever everyone collapses from exhaustion (at about 3,400 meters or 10,000 feet, the air is pretty thin here and running, or hiking up a mountain, tires you out pretty quickly). We all go home; I may eat some dinner and go to sleep. Good day. So, if you are looking for something even more different from living and volunteering in Buenos Aires, then come out to the campo. They people here are great and it really is beautiful.
Discovering a different side of Buenos Aires
Nicola Williamson & Olivia Puddicombe & Tom HughesEl Ateneo bookstore Located in the heart of Buenos Aires is the most magnificent bookstore. El Ateneo is widely viewed as one of the most splendid books shops around the world. The UK paper The Guardian certainly seems to think so, and has listed it as number two in their top ten best book stores from around the world. It is easy to see why and is a book lover’s paradise. Originally opened as a theatre in 1919 and then converted to a cinema in the 1920’s, El Ateneo has retained its former splendour, with grand painted ceilings, original balconies and ornate carvings still intact. Even the red velvet stage curtains remain as part of the decoration. Visitors are able to take books and sit in chairs around the theatre or sit in the theatre boxes, which are still intact. If visitors get peckish or thirsty, there is a café situated where the stage used to be, often with live music being played.
http://www.cineclubmonamour.com/
Closed Door Restaurants A trend that has been rapidly increasing on the Buenos Aires restaurant scene is closed-door restaurants, also known as restaurant a puertas or simply puertas cerradas. These restaurants aren’t really restaurants, but rather dinners served by talented chefs who invite a select few guests into their private homes for an intimate dining experience. The cuisine is at the discretion of the chef, and usually entails a pre-set menu combining a creative mixture of dishes and flavours. At a closed door restaurant you will usually share a table with others, providing an opportunity to mix with local Argentineans and people from around the world. Though closed door restaurants are underground, their secret is out and can be scouted out without too much trouble on the internet.
After working for five years in London, I decided to come to Buenos Aires to experience a new culture and to help use what I had learnt from my job for a local organisation. I am currently working for Voluntario Global in their PR and Marketing team. Argentina has always appealed to me as a country to go to due to the extreme diversity of the culture and country. The one problem I have though is that I am not in any way fluent at Spanish. My Spanish is more the level of polite tourist, so that you can ask for things in Spanish such as directions, ordering food in a restaurant or buying food in a supermarket. None of these particularly useful for my placement! I felt that in order to make the most out of my time here it was important to at least attempt to learn the language.
Voluntario Global is affiliated with a few Spanish schools in Buenos Aires, and helped me enrol in one very close to my accommodation. Prior to enrolling you have to take an exam so that they can determine what class to put you in.
Each week is specifically dedicated to a certain tense or aspect of grammar such as learning the Gerund or Subjuntivo.
The first day of lessons was a bit daunting as I have not had to sit in a classroom for nearly 7 years! However, the teachers were very kind and welcoming, although right from the start everything has to be said in Spanish. We were in classes ranging from 2 to 7 and had 2 hours of grammar each day, which is then followed by 2 hours specifically dedicated to speaking and listening Spanish.
In the oral part of the lesson they try and make the context interesting and relevant by choosing subjects such as Argentinean culture to talk about. This was great as you were able to learn more about the country through discussing it, as well as picking up tips from the teacher. My passion is cinema, and the teacher told me lots of cool tips and things to do in the city relating to film. Often we would go off on a tangent and talk about other things though for the duration of the lesson. You are put in classes with people from all around the world, so it is interesting to hear about different aspects of their culture. One girl I was in class with was from Brazil, and we had a very interesting discussion about the Favelas in Rio de Janerio and what the Government is trying to do to stop drug and arms crime there. At the end of my time at the school I received a certificate indicating what level I had achieved. Although I am still far from fluent, I feel that the lesson helped me gain confidence in formulating more complex sentences in Spanish. It was also a great way to meet people who are also staying Buenos Aires for a while.
By Olivia Puddicombe. This year was my first Christmas away from home. It was also the first Christmas I spent in the southern hemisphere and it was definitely different! I had been living in Argentina for three months when December arrived and therefore should have been used to the fact that every day the weather was getting warmer. However it felt strange when opening each new door of the advent calendar my mum sent me, to be doing so in 30 degrees plus temperatures. I genuinely forgot that Christmas was fast approaching as I was not used to associating summertime with Christmas. I missed the snow, the cold, our traditional Christmas foods and songs. In Buenos Aires Christmas is a lot less noticeable in comparison with London. There were of course decorations but with it being summer the glittering lights were not as obvious and the general level of decoration was lower. It almost seemed like Christmas was not such an important event here. In England as it is so cold and dark during December we spend the whole month looking forward to and getting ready for Christmas as though our lives depend on it. In Buenos Aires Christmas seemed to suddenly be here, without a song and dance having been made about it and I was probably the most excited person about it. I cannot decide whether I like or dislike this! I spent Christmas at my friend’s house. Christmas Eve was spent sunbathing by the pool! That evening we had a big family supper. At midnight ‘Father Christmas’ came to hand out presents to the little ones which resulted in very happy children and some great photos! Then we exchanged presents. There is a long standing family tradition of playing a game which is pretty much like Secret Santa apart from that it is extremely competitive in that each person has to guess who bought them their present! It was strange to do presents on Christmas Eve. I have grown up waking up on Christmas Day to find a stocking with presents from ‘Father Christmas’ waiting at the end of your bed and then exchanging family presents later in the day. However in Argentina Christmas Day is merely the day most people spend recovering from Christmas Eve – the equivalent of our Boxing Day! I spent Christmas Day back by the pool! Some more family came round for a big asado and that was the extent of the day’s activities. All in all it was the most relaxed and stress-free Christmas that I had ever experienced!! Whilst I missed the traditional Christmas supper it was nice not having the stress that accompanies it!! Speaking to my parents on Christmas Day whilst wandering around the garden in nearly 40 degrees heat, I felt a world away from them, with them talking to me snuggled up under multiple blankets by the fire watching Christmas films! Which do I prefer... It is hard to say but I am definitely up for another Christmas spent by a pool!
Today was the Day of Primary Health Attention in the barrier of San Martin. This meant that all the centro’s de salud (who are the primary health care avaliable in the area) came to the plaza in front of the San Martin Municipalidad to display the work they have done throughout the last year. This event does not happen every year but as 2010 is the Bicentenary Celebration, today was one of the events that had been organised specially for the year. On the front of the programme for the day was the phrase ‘En el bicentenario, salud para todos, un derecho a garantizar’ which means, ‘In the bicentenary, health is for all, a guaranteed right.’ This is what all the health centres aim to achieve everyday so it was important that the public who came, saw this.
The 19 health centres each had their own table to show their work on. They displayed pictures the work they have done throughout the year and each chose one main area to focus on. The morning was divided up into various sections. Talks from all different sections of the health sector in San Martin and presentations from a few of the salitas talking about specific projects of theirs. Centro 15 (the salita where I work) was one of the health centre’s who did a presentation. They performed their famous tooth-related play that has gone down so well with the jardin’s in our area. It was an equal success today and by far the best performance of the day! Other salita’s performed raps about toothbrushes, songs about cleanliness and a play involving a witch and her cat!! Overall it was an entertaining morning and those who came enjoyed it and learnt a lot about what the salitas do throughout the year and how important it is.
One important thing I have learned while volunteering with Voluntario Global is that volunteering abroad has become a trend that has allowed organizations such as this one to benefit from a large amount of volunteers at their disposal, however the number of volunteers who are serious about putting in the effort to make a difference seem to be far and few between.
By Tiffany Granski. I´m still in shock as to how fast time has flown, and sad to say goodbye to those who´ve shown me the real Buenos Aires and given me an opportunity like no other. 
What started as an idea to fill some spare time while studying Spanish here in BA has turned into an eye opening experience that allowed me to understand the pain, patriotism, struggle, and most importantly passion that lies beneath this tourist ridden city I´ve come to know as much more than tango and asado. 
I started 8 weeks ago with VG as a volunteer in the communications team. My first job was to visit a new project VG was looking at adding to their list of projects, and I was immediately submersed into the Voluntario Global team, getting a full understanding of how VG not only helps out local communities and individuals in need, but also other teams trying to do the same. Since then I have visited many more of VG´s projects as well as events throughout the city in order to speak to participants and those being effected, to later share my experiences and insight with future and present volunteers. I couldn't have received a better project. I was able to observe and take part in many of VGs projects, and get a great overview of not only what VG is doing to improve the lives of thousands of people, but also understand better the true Buenos Aires many foreigners never get a glimpse of.Weather it was mourning the death of an ex-president, building a fence, helping a child with their homework, or learning a song with HIV/AIDS effected children trying to find normalcy, my time with VG has been eye opening and unforgettable. 
One important thing I have learned while volunteering with Voluntario Global is that volunteering abroad has become a trend that has allowed companies such as this one to benefit from a large amount of volunteers at their disposal, however the number of volunteers who are serious about putting in the effort to make a difference seem to be far and few between. If you are looking at volunteering abroad, my biggest advice to you would be to ask yourself why, and if you decide you want to make a real difference, don't come for two weeks- come, speaking the language or willing to take the time to learn, and dedicate enough time to not only get to know the city and the people you will be working with, but to give yourself a chance to really make a difference. For my last blog, wishing you all the best of luck, and an enormous thanks to those you made my time here so real and unforgettable.
In the Club "Casa de Voluntarios" begins the New Year's Party. Volunteers, youth people of projects and Voluntario Global team, are ready to the exchange of joy, new dance steps, innocent drinks, while they are performing their best angles for the facebook.
Diciembre nunca dejará de oler a Navidad y sonar a Fiesta de Fin de Año. Son las 11 de la noche del 18 de diciembre, y mientras la avenida De Mayo empieza a despoblarse de su habitual movimiento comercial y vehicular, el eco de un reggaetón invita a buscar el lugar donde se proyecta una gran celebración. En el Club "Casa de Voluntarios" empieza la Fiesta de Fin de Año. Voluntarios, jóvenes de los proyectos y el equipo operativo de Voluntario Global, se disponen al intercambio de alegría, pasitos de moda, tragos inocentes, mientras ensayan sus mejores ángulos para el facebook. En la cocina de la casa, un grupo de voluntarias hacen notar su pronta partida, con la firma de banderas argentinas y dedicatorias de despedida. Si bien, es la época de los reencuentros, también las despedidas se hacen presentes para quienes deben retornar a sus países de origen. Que lindo es observar ese desborde de buena energía, como cierre a las actividades del año. Las diferencias culturales se hacen imperceptibles al calor del ambiente, y la mezcla de voces indican el predominio del español sobre el nativo inglés, dejando evidencia del buen ejercicio del intercambio. Algunas horas después, los ritmos van variando desde la cumbia hasta la electrónica. Los flashes alumbran la escena, y el baile se torna incansable hasta el amanecer.
The purpose of this interview was to get an idea of how racism is perceived in Argentina from an insider's account, as opposed to the historical and technical contexts in previous weeks.
By Andrew Kahan The following is an interview conducted with a middle-aged, well-educated, professional Argentinean woman about her perception of racism in Argentina. The purpose of this interview was to get an idea of how racism is perceived in Argentina from an insider's account, as opposed to the historical and technical contexts in previous weeks.
How would you define yourself if someone asked you "what you were"?
I am an individual, I am a woman.
How would you classify racism in Argentina?
Racism in Argentina is different from, for example, the States. In Argentina people who discriminate against others do it against individuals who have darker skin (though not black in the sense of African American black), because they come from indigenous ancestry, either from the provinces of Argentina or from countries which are close, like Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú. They use the word “negro” in this context. Usually these individuals have a less privileged situation and are less well off (you can compare people who live in the northern suburbs of the Capital and people who live to the West or the South of the city and this will give you a fairly good idea). These people started coming into the city around the 1940s, and a great majority settled in the "villas miseria" or shantytowns for lack of resources or of a job.
Do you see racism in national & public policies?
Not now, though if you study the history of Argentina you have many examples of this in the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries. I only see corruption, which is democratic, since its effects are pernicious for everybody regardless of race or religion.
Do you find racism in Argentina to be ethnically or socially founded?
Both, but both are closely related. Do you find racism to be a generational issue?
I don´t know. I think it has been going on since before our country became Argentina, since the time of the Viceroyalty or even earlier. I think that strong prejudice will always exist and that it is utopic to think it can be eradicated from any part of the world.
Can you describe a significant encounter you have had with racism in your life?
As I was telling my students the other day in class, this happened to me a few years ago and it shocked me because the episode reflected how people who are discriminated against perceive themselves through the lens of other people´s prejudice. I was walking down Viamonte Street one afternoon, coming back from the office, and I do not remember why but I was well dressed for some reason, a meeting, probably. There is a building there which belongs to the public administration, and there were two men, two workers, talking in front of the building. They were probably taking a break from work. From a distance (add that I am shortsighted) one of them seemed to have a cigarette in his hand, which was dangerously extended away from his body, and I thought I ran the risk of getting my clothes burned and ruined. So I kept walking but when I was approaching the two men I moved a little away from them. Then I realized that what I had taken for a cigarette was actually a bunch of keys. And one of them then said something about my being afraid of getting too close to them because they were not like me (in a racial way, it was implied), or something of the sort. This made me feel terrible, since the simple truth was I was too shortsighted to see what he had in his hand and was afraid of ruining my clothes. This self perception of people who are marginalized by others scared me and made me rethink this whole racism issue in a new light.
The founder of the organisation joined in half way through the song, and it was clear the minute he entered the room the enthusiasm and love behind this organisation. Out singing all of us, his encouragement and leadership could not go un-noticed, and these children greatly benefit from such a great leader.
By Tiffany Granski
This week I got the chance to see up close and personal why Voluntario Global benefits so greatly from long term volunteers. I went to an amazing organization founded 15 years ago to assist those affected byHIV and AIDS, it has grown to become a home away from home for the children in the community who suffer from the effects of this rapidly spreading disease. The children in this area, along with many other areas of Buenos Aires, are only in school for half a day, and are often in the streets working for the remainder of the day. Casa Vela gives these children another option, and offers them a place to come after school where they play, eat, study english, computation and music, and most importantly learn and talk about how to live with, and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
On Dec 5th 2010 takes place Casa Vela's 16th anual 2KM walk to raise funds for their projects, and the children are practicing a song to sing after the walk. We were lucky enough to join in on the practice during our visit, the final practice before the recital. The founder of the organisation joined in half way through the song, and it was clear the minute he entered the room the enthusiasm and love behind this organisation. Out singing all of us, his encouragement and leadership could not go un-noticed, and these children greatly benefit from such a great leader. What struck me most about this project was the childrens concerns and curiosity at having a new face in the house. Many asked who I was, if I was a new volunteer, and why I was there. Some seemed happy to see someone new and asked me where I was from, followed by a mountain of other questions, where as others seemed concerned and uneasy at my presence. 
After speaking to Josh, one of the volunteers there I realized that I was not the only one who received this welcome, as the kids in Casa Vela have had to deal with some very difficult things in their lives, especially discrimination, and as a result need time to trust new faces in a place where they feel so safe. Josh noted that it took a week or two before the kids started warming up to him and treating him like a friend, or even an older brother. This really shows how important the long-term volunteers are to projects like this, and to me really showed what a different these volunteers are making by helping each and every one of the children in this house feel more normal each day.
The following is an interview conducted with a middle-aged, well-educated, professional Argentinean woman about her perception of racism in Argentina. The purpose of this interview was to get an idea of how racism is perceived in Argentina from an insider's account, as opposed to the historical and technical contexts in previous weeks.
How would you define yourself if someone asked you "what you were"?
I am an individual, I am a woman. How would you classify racism in Argentina?
Racism in Argentina is different from, for example, the States. In Argentina people who discriminate against others do it against individuals who have darker skin (though not black in the sense of African American black), because they come from indigenous ancestry, either from the provinces of Argentina or from countries which are close, like Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú. They use the word “negro” in this context. Usually these individuals have a less privileged situation and are less well off (you can compare people who live in the northern suburbs of the Capital and people who live to the West or the South of the city and this will give you a fairly good idea). These people started coming into the city around the 1940s, and a great majority settled in the "villas miseria" or shantytowns for lack of resources or of a job.
Do you see racism in national & public policies?
Not now, though if you study the history of Argentina you have many examples of this in the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries. I only see corruption, which is democratic, since its effects are pernicious for everybody regardless of race or religion.
Do you find racism in Argentina to be ethnically or socially founded?
Both, but both are closely related.
Do you find racism to be a generational issue?
I don´t know. I think it has been going on since before our country became Argentina, since the time of the Viceroyalty or even earlier. I think that strong prejudice will always exist and that it is utopic to think it can be eradicated from any part of the world.
Can you describe a significant encounter you have had with racism in your life?
As I was telling my students the other day in class, this happened to me a few years ago and it shocked me because the episode reflected how people who are discriminated against perceive themselves through the lens of other people´s prejudice. I was walking down Viamonte Street one afternoon, coming back from the office, and I do not remember why but I was well dressed for some reason, a meeting, probably. There is a building there which belongs to the public administration, and there were two men, two workers, talking in front of the building. They were probably taking a break from work. From a distance (add that I am shortsighted) one of them seemed to have a cigarette in his hand, which was dangerously extended away from his body, and I thought I ran the risk of getting my clothes burned and ruined. So I kept walking but when I was approaching the two men I moved a little away from them. Then I realized that what I had taken for a cigarette was actually a bunch of keys. And one of them then said something about my being afraid of getting too close to them because they were not like me (in a racial way, it was implied), or something of the sort. This made me feel terrible, since the simple truth was I was too shortsighted to see what he had in his hand and was afraid of ruining my clothes. This self perception of people who are marginalized by others scared me and made me rethink this whole racism issue in a new light. Although this is just one take on racism from an Argentinean perspective, in the weeks to come, different interviews from different generations and social classes will yield greater comparison and analysis on the issue.
VOLUNTARIO GLOBAL
Voluntario Global helps local communities by being available to discuss anything that local organizations need, and offering ideas for further change and development.
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