Arriving in any new country and city is always a thrilling, unexpected, and very new experience.  From that first moment when you arrive outside from the airport, when you take your first breath of an unusual air, and feast your eyes on different style cars and people, you know you have arrived.

For those volunteers in Argentina who are arriving into this eclectic country of Tango, wine, and soccer fans, here is a list that can prepare you on What to Expect on Your First Visit to Buenos Aires.

1. If you are arriving between now and March, you can expect a warm gust of air to hit your face when you step out of the airport. Summer and Spring here see high temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s with humidity.

2. Traffic on the main highways is quick and intense ( city of 13 million people) and although it may seem slightly disorganized to a foreign eye, these people know exactly what they are doing.

3. Apartment buildings and high rises line the streets in Buenos Aires. If you are anywhere in central Buenos Aires, don’t expect to see a lot of low rise buildings or houses; this is a city of apartments and tall buildings, like Paris or New York, and all that low-rise stuff is found further outside of the city.

4. People of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Argentina has a strong Latin American influence as well as as strong European influence. You will find that some people have very dark skin, dark hair, and brown eyes, and then others are blonde, fair skinned, and blue eyed.

5. There are restaurants and cafes everywhere. Every where you look there are places to catch a bite to eat or a drink. The people of Buenos Aires love to dine out and do so for both lunch and dinner, the reason why the dining scene here is busy every night of the week.

6. There is a strong contrast between the lower class, middle class, and higher class areas. For example, if you visit Retiro neighborhood, a very expensive area, you will see that it borders a very poor area (shanty town), only separated by a train line. If you are hanging out in the central parts of Buenos Aires, it is easy to forget about the dozens of shanty towns located around the city. Check out volunteer programs in Buenos Aires that help local communities! 

7. Transportation is everywhere in the city. Buses, taxis, subways, and trains are available throughout the day and night, 7 days a week.

8. There is a lot of green space for a city that is so big. The people and government of Buenos Aires take their green spaces very seriously and put great efforts in keeping them clean and preserving them. If you are interested in the environment, ask our staff about Environmental Volunteer opportunities!

9. Argentina is pretty up-to-date with the rest of the world. Any sorts of gadgets, electronics, etc, can be found in Argentine. Occasionally, due to shipping distances, prices may be slightly higher than in other countries where mass quantities are ordered.

10. Buenos Aires is beautiful and full of life. The architecture, parks, plazas, avenues, cobblestone streets, daily life, night life, people, culture and traditions are all spectacular and sure to offer a great experience to anyone.

We guarantee that you will love Buenos Aires! Volunteer in Argentina 2010!

You are going to have a million different experiences in your life, good, bad, fine, excellent, but I guarantee that a volunteer experience will beat out any other experiences you are going to have this year!

Why is that ask? …

Top 5 Reasons Why Volunteering is Going to Be Your Best Experience This Year!

Reason 5:

Hello 2010 and hello fast forwarding… volunteering is so much more these days than it ever was before. People are not just lending a hand here or there, they are immersing themselves in new cultures and new languages in order to help out a worthy cause. We are not only volunteering in select countries around the world for two weeks at a time but we are combining our travel times, vacations, and day to day life with volunteer experiences! If there has ever been a time to volunteer, it is now!

Reason 4:

Volunteering is important to your career. Employers are not just looking for employees with education but they are looking for employees with real life experiences, problem solving experiences, adaptation experiences, and language experience. There is so much competition in the work place today and extra activities such as volunteer experience in another country is part of CV of those people getting hired. The world just suffered a economic melt down, it is 2010 and things are finally looking up, a volunteer experience will help you get that job you have been searching for this year!

Reason 3:

You don’t have to spend much money to get yourself across the globe and into a new country and culture this year. Believe it or not, prices for flights have stabilized if not gone down from what they were two years ago. Volunteer abroad and don’t break the bank!

Reason 2:

You know there are many organizations that need help, for example environmental organizations (global warming) and now is the perfect time to lend a hand before it is too late! Snow in Florida this year, warm days in Toronto? Global warming is winning and 2010 is the lock and load year for people realizing it and doing something about it!

Reason 1:

The number one reason why volunteering abroad is going to be your best experience this year is because volunteering abroad is one of the best experiences of all time and is not soon forgotten. Go to a new country, learn a new language, meet new people, and really live your life. Gain both personal and professional experience that will take you places in the future.

Not volunteering yet? Check out our Volunteer programs in Buenos Aires!

Is this you?

You are volunteering in Buenos Aires, learning Spanish, and touring the city, and need a relaxing night off, eating the best Italian food in the city (personal opinion).  

Located in Las Canitas (between Palermo and Belgrano), is the charming Italian restaurant La Cucina de Michele.  Never heard of it? That is because it a local secret, a favorite of those residents in Palermo, Belgrano, and Las Canitas, but not on the foreign word-of-mouth.

It is decorated in Italian style and is family run. It is not fancy but is not casual either, so make sure to ditch the shorts and t-shirt, and go for something with a little bit of style.  The service is very family/friend oriented, meaning the server’s speak to you like a friend, will give you recommendations or truthful suggestions, and will not offer you a fake facade.

The menu has an incredible list of pastas, one better than the next, including traditional spaghetti and meat balls, to linguini with seafood, to cream/wine sauces to fresh basil to chunky tomato. They also have delicious traditional appetizers, each made with lots of olive oil, aromatic herbs, fresh vegetables, and flavourful cheeses.

If you need a night out at a great restaurant that offers great service, great food, and great service, plus is off the beaten-track, check out La Cucina de Michele.

La Cucina de Michele – Av. Luis M. Campos 599 – Buenos Aires

Not yet volunteering in Argentina? Check out our volunteer programs in Buenos Aires!

Expanish knows how important the safety and stability of our environment is around the world and is joining the fight against global warming by attempting to offset the carbon footprint in its educational and travel programs.

Global warming (climate change) is in large part due to the carbon dioxide and other green house gases being released into the atmosphere and damaging the world’s ozone layer. It is an unfortunate truth that airplanes also release large amounts of these gases and that is why Expanish encourages all travelers to do their part in fighting global warming when traveling, studying, volunteering, or working abroad.

Expanish is doing its part by partnering with various NGO’s in Argentina that are determined to battle climate change in multiple ways:

• · Eco-friendly construction (solar panels, irrigation systems)
• · Recycle, re-new, re-use projects
• · Promoting the use of natural resources
• · Aiding communities in self sustainability
• · Donations to assist in research

Volunteers traveling to Argentina can offset the carbon emissions produced from their flight by donating money to organizations fighting climate change. You can check out the website of the airline that you flew with and see if they have their own donation set up where you can offset your carbon emissions. Or volunteers can check out Climate Care, another worldwide organization that is fighting Global warming.

Everyone can do their part in protecting our planet and its inhabitants by helping to stop global warming.

Check out our Volunteer programs in Argentina!

Last week Haiti was hit by a earthquake that spread disaster throughout the entire country. Millions of residents have been affected by this earthquake and the country is in dire need of help.

If you have ever thought of donating to a good cause, helping those who need it, or volunteering abroad, now is your chance.

Please look at the information below and find out where you can help!

Donate to UNICEF: DONATE NOW!

Donate to CARE: DONATE NOW!

Donate to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: DONATE NOW!

Donate to Save the Children: DONATE NOW!

Donate to Red Cross: DONATE NOW!

Donate to Habitat for Humanity: DONATE NOW!

Donate to Direct Relief: DONATE NOW!

Donate to International Rescue Committee: DONATE NOW!

Haiti is in desperate need of help and any amount helps! Please check out Google.com for more information or simply search Haiti in your search engine and find out where you can help!

We all knew it was coming, but finally, here is it: The Reciprocity Fee in Argentina

As of December 28th, 2009, a new reciprocity fee is being charged to more than 22 countries around the world, including Americans, Canadians, and Australians entering into Argentina

The Argentine government has recently implemented a reciprocity fee to the nationals of those countries who charge Argentine citizens to get a visa to enter into their countries.  The reciprocity fee will be collected at the Buenos Aires International Airport prior to clearing immigrations. The fee can be paid with United States Dollars, Argentine Pesos, Credit Card, or traveller’s checks. 

The Argentine Government has set each fee to an equal amount of what Argentines must pay when requesting a visa to travel to these countries.

United States    $131 USD

Australia            $100 USD

Canada               $70 USD

For Americans and Australians, the fee lasts for the life of the passport. For Canadians, the fee is valid for only one entry.

Opinions? If you are traveling to Argentina to volunteer in Buenos Aires, this new cost may seem like a steep fee to charge to foreigners coming in and out of country.  On the other hand, the Argentine government feels that it is only fair to charge other countries what they charge Argentine citizens when coming to their country. And, in reality, for most foreign currencies, this is a fairly reasonable fee and will not falter the decision to travel to Argentina or not. What do you think?

Let us know what you think about this new fee!

If you are interested in volunteer in Buenos Aires, Contact Us today!

Happy New Year! It is now 2010, a new year with new opportunities, new dreams, and new goals.

So what are you going to do with it?

Teach English in Argentina

Teach English in Buenos Aires to both children and adults who are looking to improve their English skills for personal, education, and professional reasons.

Helping the Homeless

Lend your time, skills, and abilities to those residents of Buenos Aires, both adults and children, who are homeless and in need of daily assistance. 

Working in a slum in Buenos Aires

Encourage education, assist in daily activities, take care of children, and more in local impoverished neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires.

Youth Outreach

Work with local children in Buenos Aires who need help with their school work, conducting routine activities, playing sports and games, and promoting health and safety.

Argentina Medical and Health Care

Assist in the promotion of health and safety, hygiene, medical procedures, and medical research in Buenos Aires.

Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

Work in local construction projects (eco-construction, gardens, irrigation), recycling projects, as well as promote the importance of natural resources and self sustainability. 

Volunteer in Buenos Aires in 2010 ! Check out our Programs Here or Contact Us Today!

So you are volunteering in Argentina for the Christmas and New Year Holidays and you want to send your family and friends something special… You may be asking yourself ‘How do you send packages and/or letters out of Argentina?”

Guide to the Post Office in Buenos Aires

The main post office (Correo Central) is located at Avenida Sarmiento 151, in downtown Buenos Aires. This enormous and beautifully constructed building is from the late 1800’s, and is nine stories high and features marble floors, stained glass windows, bronze sculptures, and one 4 storey high domed ceiling. Definitely worth the visit whether you are mailing something or not!

There are also post offices located throughout the entire city, as well as some Locotorios offer postal services as well.

Post services are open from 10am-8pm Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 1pm.

Airmail is the quickest way to mail letters or packages. In Spanish, “correo aéro”

o Australia: Allow 15 days for regular airmail home. Postcards/aerogrammes and letters up to 20g cost AR$4. Packages up to 0.5kg AR$22.25, up to 2kg AR$80.25.

o Canada: Allow 12 days for regular airmail home. Postcards/aerogrammes and letters up to 20g cost AR$4. Packages up to 0.5kg AR$19.75, up to 2kg AR$71.25.

o UK: Allow 15 days for regular airmail home. Postcards/aerogrammes and letters up to 20g cost AR$4. Packages up to 0.5kg AR$22.25, up to 2kg AR$80.25.

o US: Allow 12 days for regular airmail home. Postcards/aerogrammes and letters up to 20g cost AR$4. Packages up to 0.5kg AR$19.75, up to 2kg AR$71.25.

(This information was taken from: www.letsgo.com)

Surface mail is the slowest way to send packages, however it is a good and affordable way to send large packages that you don’t mind waiting one or two months to receive.

Happy Holidays!

Volunteering in Buenos Aires for the holidays? Check out our activities and workshops in Argentina!

Volunteer in Buenos Aires with Expanish! Book Now!

Are you thinking about volunteering in Buenos Aires? Volunteer today!

In today’s working world, employers are looking for people that are smart, quick, fast learners, adaptable, and willing to learn. Who has all these talents? Volunteers are considered some of the best employees in the world due to their past experiences and their desire for success in the future.

Find Out Why Volunteer Make Great Employees!

Maturity

Those who have traveled and volunteered abroad are more likely to have a higher maturity level as they have been obligated to deal with new, different, and sometimes difficult situations and have had to get through them in a positive manner. Volunteers often have a high understanding and respect of different situations, people, and cultures, leading them to be more mature in all environments.

Fast Learners

Volunteers are expected to adapt to different cultures, languages, way of life, traditions, and settings, and usually are forced to do so in a very short amount of time. Volunteers are often more open to learning new skills and abilities because they have had to do so in the past, including finding various solutions to challenges that they are faced with.

Language skills

Volunteers are often expected to speak more than one language, and have at least a small knowledge of the local language. In today’s diverse workplace, languages are considered to be very valuable.

Flexibility

Volunteers are placed in situations that can change from moment to moment and they must adapt to these changes with an open, positive, and easy-going manner. Those who have volunteered are living examples of the ‘go with the flow’ attitude.

Creativity

Volunteers use creativity everyday in their volunteer placement whether they are thinking of new activities to play with children, organizing community meetings, helping a wounded animal, or building eco-friendly residential homes. Every situation requires a creative mind.

Interested in improving your future? Check out our Volunteer programs in Buenos Aires today!

Are you looking to come abroad to Argentina and volunteer in Buenos Aires this December? The holiday season is the perfect time for volunteers to come and spend time with those who don’t have family or friends during this special time.

Volunteer Opportunities during the Holiday Season

Children’s Shelter

There are various children shelter’s in Buenos Aires that need the special help of volunteers during the holiday season when the children only have one another and no family to celebrate with. Volunteers will have the opportunity to spend the 24^th and/or the 25^th with the children, enjoying Christmas meals, activities and games, singing songs or reading Christmas stories, and even sometimes exchanging small gifts.

Contact Us for more information regarding volunteering in Buenos Aires at a Children’s Shelter.

Community Development

Volunteers can volunteer at a local community centre in Buenos Aires. The community centre is home to a ‘soup kitchen’, a library, medical clinic, children’s daycare, and daytime centre for the elderly. This centre works all year round to provide the basic needs to locals in the community in order to improve their overall quality of life.

Contact Us for more information regarding volunteering in Buenos Aires in a community centre.

Find our more about volunteering in Buenos Aires with Expanish!

Sign up to volunteer today!