Life in Buenos Aires was a whirlwind. Known by many as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is a culture capitol, teeming with life and energy. The capitol of Argentina, Buenos Aires represents a political powerhouse, while, as the second largest city in South America and the wealthiest in the southern hemisphere, Buenos Aires serves as a commercial capitol for the entire region.
Located on the eastern shore of Rio de la Plata River, the city’s skyline marks one of the most beautiful and promising panorama’s for South America. Diving into this vibrant city, one can find a chic, but affordable urban lifestyle. From $2 fine Argentine wine to $10-$15 famous Argentine steak dinners, Moyer was able to live an elegant, but incredibly inexpensive lifestyle. “Life here was much more affordable than any European study abroad program, but included all the amenities and comforts,” explained Moyer.
Socially, Moyer immersed herself in the local scene. Her enthusiasm to embrace the Spanish language enabled her to escape the ex-pat lifestyle to enjoy a true Argentine experience. Similar to the nightlife of Europe, Moyer found herself sticking to this weekend routine: “Dinner from 10-11, bars until 2-2:30AM, then hit the clubs at 3-7AM… Buenos Aires by day is gorgeous, but you understand the real culture by experience its liveliness at night.”
Through her energy and charm, Moyer found herself integrated into an Argentine crew. Her friends took her in as family, inviting her to Friday night family dinners, to extravagant 2-part weddings that were “livelier than Bar Mitzvahs with give-aways!” She made some of her closest friends, many of whom have already visited her in the United States.
“At the University of Buenos Aires, the American students and Argentine students inter-dated and became friends,” Moyer explained. Studying in South America, how could a student leave without a Latin lover? Thus, friends of Moyer were not surprised to hear about her romance with Diego; what was more peculiar was his full name: Diego Goldstein.
“Over 250,000 Jews live in Argentina today, most of whom live in Buenos Aires,” explained Moyer. “It has the 4th largest Jewish population of any country in the world.”
Living in Buenos Aires, her host mother was Jewish and introduced her into the Jewish culture of Argentina. With a thriving history, the Jews of Argentina have long played a significant role in the development of the country. Currently, about 80% are Ashkenazi, living in 5 major areas of Buenos Aires, but Moyer explained she explored a Sephardic and Orthodox district as well. “The Jewish community was very easy to find—both secular and religious.”
Though the community has faced discrimination throughout different periods of Argentina’s history, the community has been particularly established in Buenos Aires from as early at the 1860s. With over 300,000 Jewish inhabitants as early as the 1930s, early Zionist movements even considered Argentina as a location for a Jewish state.
This combination of exotic Latin American culture with the Jewish identity characterized a striking part of Moyer’s experience in Buenos Aires. To learn more about Emily’s experience in Buenos Aires, the Jewish community there, or her study abroad program, feel free to contact Emily at emoyer@wisc.edu.
