Hi there,
Happy New Year! 🎉 I have a theory: as long as you keep saying "Happy New Year" to people, it feels like it’s still the first week of January—a magical buffer period where New Year’s resolutions don’t quite count yet. I like to extend this warm-up phase until my birthday on January 25th. That’s when the new year officially begins.
I’m writing to you from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I’ll be living for the next four months. If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know this isn’t my first time here—I spent four months in Buenos Aires at the end of 2023, too.
This semester marks the final chapter of my Minerva journey. I had the choice to spend it in San Francisco or return to Buenos Aires. The decision was easy.
Buenos Aires is by far my favorite city out of all the ones I’ve lived in during my four years with Minerva (shoutout to San Francisco, Seoul, Hyderabad, London, and Berlin). But Buenos Aires? It’s different. I’ve connected with this city on a much deeper level:
I speak Spanish fluently, which makes forming connections so much easier.
My partner is Argentinian, and his family lives here, so I know a thing or two about Argentinians.
When I last was here I did the best internship of my life at La Nacion (one of Argentina’s biggest newspapers)
Because of these experiences, I feel far less like a tourist here than in any of the other cities I’ve lived in.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I LOVE being a tourist.
Tourism often gets a bad rap, associated with long lines, over-commercialized experiences, and shallow consumerism. But if you redefine tourism as exploring a new place to genuinely learn about its culture, food, and people—what’s not to love?
The thing is, doing it right takes time. You can’t truly know a city in five days. Honestly, even four months—the length of a Minerva semester—barely scratches the surface. That’s why I’m such a fan of returning to places.
There’s something magical about seeing a place for the second time. Sure, experiencing something new for the first time is exciting, but recognizing it when you come back? That’s a different kind of joy.
This time, driving into the city from the airport, I felt giddy. Familiar streets, buildings, landmarks—they all hold pieces of memories I’d stored away.
It reminded me of how deep engagement works in learning, too. The more time and effort you invest in truly understanding something, the more meaningful—and joyful—that experience becomes.
So, as you plan your vacations this year, consider revisiting a place you’ve already been. Seeing it with fresh eyes, building on what you already know, and deepening your connection—that’s where the magic happens.
Hope you have a great day,
Emma
!Feliz año, y diviértete en Argentina!