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Mente ArgentinaThe Buenos Aires journal

From the Mente community

Why Study Tango in Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina – Molly, UK

Molly explains why she combined tango and intensive Spanish in Buenos Aires, bringing a love of travel and a desire to feel at home in another culture.

Molly from the U.K. joined us in 2020 for our Tango Program. She also participated in our Intensive Spanish Program. Here is her story… When I turned 14, I visited Peru on a school exchange program, including various touristic expeditions. Following this, I maintained a long-distance relationship with a Bolivian student and upon turning 18, I moved to love with my boyfriend in La Paz, Bolivia. Through teaching English full-time, I eventually secured a residential visa. I loved truly living there and as a result I much prefer the feeling of ‘moving to’ new countries, rather than just travelling to them with a suitcase. IMG_6669 In the summer of 2014, I returned to England to commence my undergraduate degree in London. Here, I started learning Argentine tango, and later salsa and bachata. In 2017 I went to Cuba for a month to top-up my Spanish and dance salsa and bachata. Unfortunately, dancing was then on pause because I was undertaking intensive courses to convert to law and qualify as a barrister. Now that I have obtained pupillage beginning in September 2020, I want to put my hobbies front and centre stage in my life. IMG_6671 I am quite an adventurous and independent person, although I much prefer going on adventures in good company than alone. I am deeply fond of Latin America, from the food and dancing to the culture and social values. Mi suegra in Bolivia was a Peruvian Chef. Her family also came from Tarija, meaning they had a slight Argentine accent that I ultimately absorbed. I feel a part of me remains in Latin America since departing Bolivia. I enjoy socialising in the context of my hobbies: good food, good coffee,a nd social dancing. Nevertheless, I also value my own space to recharge ad have an evening in my room to myself. I strike a balance. I do not drink in excess and never really liked the clubbing and drinking culture at university. However, forgive me if I hog the karaoke machine a little too much or tell stories with extra drama! I do burlesque every week- I like to be on stage. IMG_6670 I am extremely liberal; I’m a feminist in the ‘I can do whatever I want, and I’ll do it just to prove it!’ way, not the proselytising way. I want to improve my Spanish and dancing. However, my ultimate goal was to feel I lived in Buenos Aires for a while and, if only for a short time, I danced to my heart’s galore!