Steak, wine and tango – a heady mix under any circumstances. All the more enjoyable under a warm sun, in the lush green environs or beautiful Argentina.

I’ve been living in Argentina for 7 weeks now, helping out the local team here as the projects get more popular and busy, and it’s great.

A typical asada

The first few weeks in a new place are always the best time for me to spot what may be strange or different for volunteers coming here fresh, before it all becomes second nature to me, but really, it’s not too hard to adjust to life here. The families I’ve met are all so friendly and the city of Córdoba has a very European feel – just the right balance between historical buildings and modern bars. Many volunteers live and work in smaller towns around Córdoba city, as I do, which is nice as life in the little towns is tranquil, but the city is only an hour away if you fancy a night out. I went out last Saturday and Argentineans really know how to party! People never get to clubs until 2 am and usually carry on until 6 or 7 in the morning. As I staggered out about 5am (obviously not hardcore enough!) there was a queue of people waiting go in and get started!

Family parties are something else I’ve been enjoying, in the form of asadas - huge bonfires with all the delcious steak you can eat, plus other treats such as empanadas (similar to Cornish pasties) and icecream – dulce de leche-flavoured of course: I’m sure that stuff runs through people’s veins here.

Volunteers can have a great time here and it’s not all parties! More and more projects are being added – there’s now dentistry here, for example – and more and more volunteers are heeding the call of this charming southern country that enjoys the height of summer when things are chilly in the Northern hemisphere. There’s a really good group of volunteers at the moment, and more coming soon. I’m happy I have the chance to live and work here and experience Argentine culture first hand: it’s a rich blend of European and Latin American culture that many people fall in love with, including me.