It has officially been one week of living abroad in Mendoza, Argentina. Despite the short amount of time, I strangely feel right at home and as though I have been here for two months rather than two weeks.

Last weekend our group went horseback riding in the mountains to experience the life of the historical gauchos. We drove two hours from our homes on a road parallel to the mountains, and then turned down a narrow dirt road that eventually led us to a tiny cottage right below the snow-covered Andes.

It was significantly colder out there, but the tiny house had a fire going and hot coffee ready for us to enjoy. Three men, who live this gaucho lifestyle, greeted us and offered us breakfast, which consisted of fried dough and alfajores, which are my new favorite caramel cookies. Like a little ski cottage, the house was decorated with paintings of horses and gauchos, with cozy seats and a bar with a huge selection of Malbec wines.

Living the gaucho lifestyle was incredible. We cooked empanadas, made our own bread, and then ate steak, bruschetta, salad, and fresh vegetables. To burn off all the food, we mounted our horses and rode off toward the mountains. I’d like to think that I “rode off,” but I actually moved at a snail’s pace behind the group toward the mountains, as my horse was definitely lagging. We rode up and down hills, passed other horses, and looked at the vast, open land ahead of us.

Sometimes I walk up to the top of my neighborhood, which is essentially a 90-degree walk up a huge hill. From the top, however, I can see the entire city on one side, and the stunning mountain range on the other. I could sit up there forever, admiring the buildings and thriving urban life and then the open, untouched, beautiful lands.

When I’m not horseback riding, though, I can be found with my classmates at a café after class, sipping vanilla lattes and doing some local shopping. It’s winter here, yet the 70-degree and sunny weather makes going into the city after school all the better. My day ends with a bus ride back home, where I enjoy delicious home-cooked Italian meals and fresh vegetables from the market. When the weather cools down in the evening, I take a nice walk before heading back home to finish up some work. Then my next day begins and still I feel like I’m on a really, really cool (and unreal) vacation.