In the Beginning

When I got off the plane in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I had a cab waiting to take me to my hostel. Once in the cab the driver began to speak to me in Spanish. However, after noticing my difficulty in communicating he thought he'd do me a favor and speak in English.

"How long will you be here?" he asked.

"Tres meses," I said, still trying to continue in my pursuit to speak Spanish.

"Oh, so you will become quiet a Porteña." he responded.

A Porteño is a person who grew up and lives near a harbor. Buenos Aires is right off the harbor and thus many people who are from here call themselves Porteños.

Over these "tres meses" I will strive to meet many people, to speak the language and to become como una Porteño.