#AlexiaMoreno

[ashleyfrangie]

Alexia Morena x GQ Mexico 

[umichenginabroad]

1st week in Argentina

Hello again! This is Alexia Moreno reporting live from Buenos Aires, Argentina!

After a week of exploration, I am excited to share my first (of many experiences) in the heart of Buenos Aires with you! From learning how to ride the "subte" to eating my first Milanesa, my first few days studying abroad have been absolutely incredible!

Starting with day one, I was quite eager to experience what lay ahead of me. But according to my host mom (Cecilia), I appeared quite a bit "nervosa" or nervous... and maybe I was! With out much knowledge of my roommate or the culture shock I was experiencing, it made total sense to be on the edge. However, after talking to Cecilia and Juan(host dad) over a cup of black tea and homemade "tostada", I quickly found myself at home. Once my roommate Selena arrived, we instantly befriended each other- a moment that would solidify and us as travel buddies for the coming days. :D

By the end of my first day, I was exhausted and managed to have my first taste of Argentine cuisine at 10pm! *It is typical to have a late dinner in Argentina around 9-11pm.

Our first dinner of Milanesas (or breaded meat) in Buenos Aires with Hosts Cecilia & Juan!

In the days that followed, Selena and I quickly familiarized ourselves with the city life.

The next day, we attended CEA Abroad Orientation- where we met other Michigan/CEA students for the first time. During our orientation we explored surrounding areas, exchanged money for the ARS (Argentinian Peso), among other things.

On Saturday, we traveled to la Plaza Francia in the Recoleta Neighborhood where we visited the Recoleta Cemetery and the surrounding area. The Recoleta cemetery was definitely a sight to see as every tomb was grandiose in its own way!

One of the Recoleta Cemetery Tombs

After viewing the many tombstones, Selena and I walked along La Plaza Francia where various vendors sold handmade items. As the band nerd I was, I decided to buy a hand made Andes flute made of stalk.

Me posing with my Argentinian flute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Monday, we had our first day of classes! My first class of the day (Physics II) was at ITBA and the facilities here were incredible! The architecture of the building was quite modern with the college student in mind. After 2 1/2 hours of my first physics class, I had 3 hours until my next class (an Argentinian culture class) a few blocks away from ITBA. As such, I quickly oriented myself with the mall nearby that I would be getting lunch from the next couple of days. My second class was 3 hours and after that- I was done with my first full day of classes!

But of course, with Argentina's many holidays, we already had a day off on Wednesday! Selena and I went to the Jardín Japonés (Japanese Garden) for the evening.

Me looking into the distance at the Jardín Japonés!

After full days of school on both Thursday and Friday, we made the most of our weekend by exploring "La Boca"- a colorful neighborhood on the south east end of Buenos Aires!

On the staircase of a colorful building in "La Boca" Neighborhood!

And in the evening, we visited the El Ateneo Grand Splendid! El Ateneo was once a theatre that now serves as a bookstore! Honestly, it was one of the prettiest bookstores I had ever been in!

Me inside of El Ateneo Bookstore!

As you may be able to tell by now, my first week in Buenos Aires was a total success! I can't wait to share the my next few adventures coming weeks!! Until then,

Go Blue!

-

Alexia Moreno

Computer Engineering

Study Abroad at the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires 

[umichenginabroad]

Finally Studying Abroad!

¡Hola!

My name is Alexia Moreno and I am a rising sophomore studying Computer Engineering here at the University of Michigan! I am exited to be blogging my upcoming study abroad experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the span of the next six weeks!

But before I embark on my study abroad program, I want to share why this opportunity to travel abroad means so much to me.

When I was younger, I always found excitement in pursuing things that challenged me the most; whether it was learning a new instrument or learning how to skateboard, I was ready to give whatever it was a go. But there was always one thing that I never really cared for:

Traveling

Coming from a family that would constantly do 8 hour roadtrips between Arizona and California to visit family- the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a car or plane for an extended period of time. 9 year old me would do anything to stay put at home in Arizona. As such, I had never found traveling outside the country appealing. In this sense, I couldn't even image all of the time, energy, and money of committing myself to an unfamiliar destination. I was fine just where I was. Traveling from one side of the globe to the other seemed like the last thing I wanted to do.

During my junior year of high school, I nonetheless applied to my city's exchange program. After hearing upperclassmen enjoy every moment of it- I thought I would give it a shot. And after a long interview process, I was fortunate enough to be selected to go to Lower Hutt, New Zealand. For the 1st time, I was excited travel. "What could go wrong"- I thought.

My high school classmate (Billie) and I holding our Tempe Sister City Exchange Program Letters on Country Selection night in February of 2020. We were both selected to travel to Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

And of course -as most of know- March of 2020 would stop everything including this once in a lifetime trip. I remember receiving the call from my program director that the exchange would be cancelled due to COVID-19.

It sucked. A lot.

I put my time energy into this opportunity and it all disappeared within a matter of seconds. At this point, I didn't know what to do with myself. I mean how could I?

Fast forward to this past February, I somehow found myself (once again) looking at the possibility of studying abroad. My friend Zoie had told me she applied to the IPE France program(which only further encouraged me to apply as well). Despite being let down two years prior, I made the decision to submit an application for a summer in Buenos Aires. And after waiting two weeks, I was accepted into the IPE: Engineering in Argentina Program.

In that moment, I called my mom in excitement and saw this acceptance as a sign:

A sign that I was finally about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

A picture of my mom and I before leaving for Argentina!

-

Alexia Moreno

Computer Engineering

Study Abroad at the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires