Will in Argentina, an Outsider's Prospective

            I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to observe Will in his new habitat for the past week and a half, and I’ve noticed a few things about his interactions with the city, the language, and the people that his blog doesn’t do justice.  While he’s busy making some delicious guacamole, I’ve decided to share a few of my observations.

            Will has conquered Buenos Aires.  He knows dozens of bus routes and subte lines like the back of his hand.  Just tell him a destination and he’ll know how to get there.  And if he doesn’t, he’ll pull out his well-worn out guide and be able to tell you within twenty seconds.  He also knows a ton about the history of the country, as well as current politics.  Only a few of my hundreds of questions have left him stumped.  Will, after only six months, can give a better tour of this Southern American city than he can of Washington, DC.  

Augustín, Brian, myself, and Will at the frisbee party

            Will has mastered Spanish.  Not that I am the ideal person to judge this- my Spanish was mediocre at its prime, and after not using it for the past year and a half, I am far from ‘proficient’.  That aside, not only has Will become fluent in the language, but he also has made a strong effort to speak in the native dialect and has picked up quite a bit of local slang.  I definitely have a harder time understanding him than I do other Americans when they’re speaking in their second language.

         
         Everyone loves Will.  Obviously he’s done a decent job of explaining how important the people he’s met are to him, but not the other way around.  From the guards of the apartment to fellow Americans to his host family, Will has made an effort to be even more warm and friendly then he is in the US.  I had the opportunity to go to a Sapukay Frisbee party on Wednesday night, where Will’s teammates raved about/imitated/mocked (lovingly) him, and obviously appreciated his presence on the team. 

Moral of the story, Argentina has left as great a mark on Will as he has left on Argentina.

-Brendan, the girlfriend