A Thank You gift for Your Buenos Aires Homestay Family


    A gift from Send Love BA is the best way to say "Thank You" to a great homestay host in Buenos Aires! With sweet customized packages, easy online ordering and personalized attention we ensure that the gift you send to your home stay host will leave them feeling appreciated and missing their foreign "child". 
    At the end of your study abroad program in Buenos Aires you are stressed, sad and rushed to check everything off of your to do list. You still need to buy souvenirs in San Telmo for your Mom and get your brother an Argentine soccer jersey. Your bags are packed and you give one more hug to your homestay mom. It seems like only yesterday that you arrived in Buenos Aires, making awkward introductions and stumbling over your Spanish. You can't believe that 5 months have passed so quickly. The question is, how can you express your gratitude for this family that hosted you?  You could  send something from the back home, but you know it's both costly and risky. You can take them out to dinner, but you know they would never let you pay for the whole fam. Even better? You could order something for them once you are home that is both cost efficient, practical and full of sweetness. You can share with them a bit of your culture. Anyone who has been in Buenos Aires knows that porteƱos love sweets and what better gift than delicious fresh baked favorites like brownies, cupcakes and banana bread. Remember all the kind things they did for you and send love! 

Packing list for study abroad students and visitors to Buenos Aires:

Sometimes the biggest challenge in moving or traveling to a foreign country is deciding what clothes are worth stuffing in your over-sized backpack. Buenos Aires is tricky to pack for. Unlike other Latin American countries where the weather is balmy and tropical all year long Buenos Aires has 4 very different seasons; Cold, Colder, Warm and Hot. The cold in Buenos Aires doesn't involve snow but somehow the humid coldness gets under your skin and settles into your bones and the hot is sweltering.
The all year daytime style in Argentine is pretty casual. For both travelers and students in Buenos Aires, think jeans and sweaters during the day for the cold months and shorts and tank tops during the hot ones. Also, don't forget that seasons in Argentina are opposite to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere for example our winter is their summer. However, for all seasons prepare for rain. Rain storms will rumble throughout the city for a few hours and disappear before dinner or pound down all day. Make sure to check the weather before you start your day to see what you have in store.



Summer (December 21st-March 21st): Daytime attire is pretty simple jeans, t-shirts, tank tops and comfortable walking shoes. It's an urban city and people love trendy gladiator sandals or Havianas during the day. At night women don't get too glammed up to hit the bars and clubs but often throw a colorful flower in their hair, a stylish dress and some opt for heels but don't feel obligated because chances are you might tower over a large percentage of the population. The nights are pretty humid so a safe bet is to stay in dresses and skirts. On weekends people flock to their beach houses in Mar del Plata or nearby Uruguay to soak in the sun, so pack your swimsuit, but word to the wise, prepare to sweat.

Fall (March 21st-June 21st): Fall is warm during the days but the temperatures drop sporadically and get chilly at night. We suggest keeping a sweater on you at all times in case of weather changes. Bring comfortable clothes during the day and a light sweater for the night. Dust off your Levi jeans and curl up in your favorite zip up when it gets chilly.

Winter (June 21st-September 21st): Winter is very cold and very wet. This is the time to rock an authentic Argentine leather jacket, some new boots or the super popular Converse sneakers. We suggest lots of layers if you don't want to pack a large coat. Or opt for a basic peacoat to pair with your thick scarf, jeans, heavy socks and boots that are ideal for this chilly season.

Spring (September 21st-December 21st): Spring is the light at the end of the tunnel after winter. The birds are chirping, flowers blooming and the sun is shining but it can still get cold, refreshing but cold. Long sleeve shirts, pants and light jackets are highly recommended (layers work best). Spring in Buenos Aires is still rather chilly and it's still appropriate to sport a leather jacket and fashionable scarf. People start moving outdoors again so pack running clothes to run around the beautiful Rosedal garden where the roses should be in full bloom.

Whether you are studying abroad in Buenos Aires or traveling to Argentina we hope this information helps! For more great info on visiting Buenos Aires check out BA Cultural Concierge.

Sick in Buenos Aires? Info about Hospitals, Health Insurance and Emergencies

Sick in Buenos Aires? Here's the news on hospitals, health insurance and emergencies.

Going to see a doctor in Buenos Aires is very easy. The best hospitals with world class docs are Hospital Aleman and Swiss Medical. The hospitals are centrally located in Palermo and Recoleta with smaller locations all over the city. If you need to see a doctor urgently - no matter what specialty- you should go to the emergency room called "LA GUARDIA."

Once you enter, you'll see a security guard or reception desk. Tell them that you are sick and be specific if you can. If you don't know how to explain how you feel just say, "Me siento enferma y necesito ver un doctor." Some of the receptionists might speak English and you can surely request an English speaking doctor, "Necesito un doctor que hable ingles," You'll need to get in line to pay for your visit ($125-150 pesos) and then take a seat. You can pay with pesos or a credit card. The doctors will call you in order of gravity of your situation.

The guardia at Hospital Aleman is located on Beruti street between Pueyrredon and Ecuador and the guardia at Swiss Medical is located at Pueyrredon and Santa Fe. A taxi ride is the best way to travel if you are ill, but if you are devoted to the subway, the closest stop to both hospitals is the Pueyrredon on the D line.

For more information on affordable local health insurance and hospital stays check out Madi's Hospitals and Health Insurance article at http://baculturalconcierge.com/?p=139