Don't Cry for Me Argentina

It’s hard to believe that the first month of our Summer Immersion has come to an end. From the glaciers of Patagonia, to the waterfalls of Iguazu, Argentina has been amazing. Two weeks ago we all flew to Mendoza on one of the few Lauder sponsored (paid for) trips during the immersion. It is a beautiful city nestled high in the Andes. We spent a day at the base of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres. We were fortunate enough to get hit by a large snow storm, so our day’s activities included making a snow ball or two. We then spent a day visiting some wineries. As a non-wine drinker, I know very little about wine. Despite this, I found the visits very enjoyable as I learned more about the challenges and opportunities that wineries face globally and in Argentina.

The following weekend, my wife came out to visit, which was a blast. We spent a long weekend visiting Colonia (Uruguay) and Iguazu Falls (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay). We also spent a few days in Buenos Aires visiting the sites, taking Tango lessons, and shopping. My time with her was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Argentina.





Having come from a family that loves Argentina (my father and two of my brothers have lived in Argentina at different times), I had a lot of preconceptions of what Argentina was like and I thoroughly enjoyed finally getting to spend some time there to develop my own understanding of the country. It is true that Argentine beef is among the best in the world, although I also discovered it to be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to get a steak cooked medium-rare. The beauty and diversity of the country is remarkable with arctic oceans, glacial lakes, dense jungles, and arid altiplanos. The European influence in Argentina is undeniable, from the beautiful architectural design of the city, to the ethnic traits of Argentines themselves. They are proud to call themselves Europeans, wait I mean South Americans (or maybe a little bit of both). I’ve loved my time in Argentina and feel like I’m taking a little piece of it with me as I leave.