By Jose
Besos Con Mate
I stepped into my first day on the job and I was welcomed by a kiss. “What was that?!”
La Base is a foundation that loans out funds to other cooperatives in Argentina, while supporting self-management in co-ops, socialist-esque values, and promoting diversity. Naturally, when I first walked in I brought my best “corporate esque” behavior and was ready to stretch my hand for a firm handshake. Rather, I was met by a kiss to my cheek from everyone. As time went on, I found that this welcome kiss is a sign of respect and a way that brings people together out of their personal bubble.
My day to day work at La Base consisted of translating internal documents such as annual reports, organizing their digital library, going to cooperative meetings, and helping out with analysis on future loan deals on Excel, but none of these things were the most important thing of my work day. The most important thing of the work day is Mate.
Mate is a drink that consists of warm water, yerba, and good vibes. During the day, we would pass this drink around our desktops, conference tables, and anywhere else you can imagine. This drink brought us to collaborate on important projects, but also got us to laugh on the slow days.
After Hours
Outside of interning, I made friends on the soccer field, at social events, while working out, and on my runs in los Bosques De Palermo with international students/locals. We did everything from “Make Your Own Pizza” night, to finding out how late boliches “begin” in Buenos Aires, to having our very own asado. I also went on trips to Tigre, La Plata, La Boca, and the market in San Telmo with all my friends. I even went to an underground Cactus Jack event, a River Plate home game, and a Kendrick Lamar concert!
“Time” and “Alone” were two terms that I got to know well in Buenos Aires. When I’m not out and about with friends or interning, what do I do? I’ve always felt busy during high school, so to have a hole of time in my life felt odd and unsettling. I can’t just lay in bed and scroll on Instagram Reels, or go out to boliches every night (even though it sounds amazing). I found myself lost in this hole of time until I started reading.
I bought a famous Argentine book called “El Aleph” by the author Juan Carlos Borges. I would make some Mate, lay a towel in the middle of the park and let the short stories alter my reality. This peace of sipping on Mate and letting every Spanish word flow through my brain is second to none.
Bariloche
My final adventure in Argentina was a spontaneous trip to Bariloche with all of my friends I had made in Buenos Aires. Our plan was to hike El Cerro Catedral, in the heart of Patagonia. We had no ropes, no anchor, just vibes. My “smart” self thought hiking in white air max 90s was a brilliant idea! We set out on a 7 hour hike to the top of the Catedral.
As you could’ve predicted my shoes’ bubble popped and once we hit the snow I was like an uncoordinated toddler trying to walk. This didn’t take away the fact of the beautiful peaks that we were conquering. We crept on all fours with the crunchy snow that crackled every time we stepped and our burning hands from gripping to the freezing snow or random rocks we could find for hours. At one point I stuck my foot in the snow and half my leg got trapped!
We reached the top at around 17:00. The silence and peace up there compensated for our pain on the way up. “We did this. This is perfect.” I genuinely felt like I could live up there for the rest of my life, but like all beautiful things it must come to an end.
With the sun coming down really quickly, we decided that sliding down a mountain was the best option. The snow melting into water and penetrating our pants was not very pleasant, but it is better than walking down a steep mountain and slipping to an early after-life! At one point, we reached a steep portion and we slid out of control for 10 feet. Going down this mountain, I never felt more alive because it reminded me of the beautiful balance of life and death.
Argentina fue un placer, hasta luego Boludo!
