Ron Johnson , 49
Learning Spanish & Youth Outreach - Buenos Aires

Youth Outreach Project Buenos Aires

In total, how long were you away from home?
12 weeks (though only 6 weeks in Bs As)

What was your motivation to take a gap break?
I had just retired from the police and wanted to take a break from the UK. I had started learning Spanish but not speaking it continually meant that I struggled in keeping up. I thought the best way to learn would be to immerse myself in a Spanish speaking culture. As I was going to Brazil for the first part of my gap break, I thought Argentina would be a very good place to learn.

How did you feel before you joined the programme?
I felt excited and looking forward to the experience, along with meeting new people.

How did Gap Year For Grown Ups compare with your expectations?
I didn't really know what to expect so can't compare.

What was the accommodation like?
The accommodation was very good. The hostess and her family were friendly and she was an excellent cook and was also a teacher at the language school where I was studying.

What did you think of the programme / did your project and destination meet your expectations?
I enjoyed the programme and the destination was far beyond my wildest expectations on a positive note.

What was the most memorable moment of your trip? Any anecdotes?
I have several memorable moments from my trip, including the awesome experience of watching River Plate v Boca Juniors (football) at the River Plate stadium. When the home team scored and their fans were celebrating, the entire stadium moved slightly from side to side!

Getting to grips with Buenos Aires transport system was interesting, especially on the buses (collectivos) where you have to have exact change. Finding that everyday was a real challenge as coins were in short supply. However, I solved this problem by walking everywhere, since the weather was generally good and it was a sheer joy to walk through such a beautiful city.

A friend and I went to a small confeteria (bakery where they make lots of little biscuits, cakes etc) and all he wanted was some croissants for breakfast. However he was so intent on impressing the girl with his Spanish that she encouraged him to buy lots of different biscuits, cakes and came out with a huge bag of goodies!!

What do you feel you accomplished during your programme?
I learned and understood Spanish much better than if I had been at classes in the UK. I experienced a wonderful city and culture, made many friends from many countries and appreciated how friendly Argentinians are.

What advice could you offer to someone considering this programme?
Just enjoy a fantastic city in Buenos Aires. Be prepared for a few challenges, like scrounging about for change for the bus! Most people don't speak English so learning Spanish or Castellano is important but nevertheless they are very helpful and forgiving. Because of the poor financial situation in Argentina, all banks have a withdrawal limit of 300pesos (currently about £45) per transaction and in some places, per day so be prepared for a lot of bank exchange and withdrawal charges on your account. Then again the cost of living is very cheap so unless you're going wild with spending, this amount should keep a person going for a few days. The beer, Quilmes, is awful but the wine is excellent, especially ‘Saint Felician Malbec'