Pergamino

On arrival in Buenos Aires, the St Mary's DSG sports tour group quickly became accustomed to their busy schedule. The Tour which consisted of 38 students and 6 members of staff departed for Pergamino shortly after their 9 hour flight from South Africa.

This was second "only girls" tour group from Pretoria, South Africa. The Multi disciplined sports tour, mainly hockey, basketball, squash and tennis would receive a warm welcome from Club Gymnasia in Pergamino. There the girls would encounter their first cultural exchange by meeting their host families. As greetings were exchanged, the girls realized that they would have to work on their Spanish!!

The next morning the girls woke up to find many new cultural customs. Breakfast was lived with a lot of curiosity and would certainly be the topic discussion that day. This would be their first encounter with Dulce de Leche! The tourists adjusted to their new surroundings quickly as they prepared for their matches the following day!

Hockey and Tennis would begin the tour, and would also give tem the opportunity to "feel" what sports were all about in Argentina! The Basketball team prepared for their matches in the Club Stadium, and later played 2 matches that day. Amongst the lay-ups and dribbling you could find a strong support base for the South Africans! Traditional war cries were chanted by the tour group! It seemed that the Argentines would receive a South African Flavour! This international fixture would be followed by a Premier Division Playoff match.

The following day the Hockey side would encounter two matches, and the Tennis players experienced a clinic held by Club Gymnasia. Lunch followed shortly afterwards and was enjoyed with newly made friends.

On the final day in Pergamino the tour group would also engage in one of their favourite activities... Shopping! The TCEF team would have a daunting task of stopping traffic, keeping track of the girls, and translating many enquiries! The GAP students certainly had their work cut out for them!

Departing from Pergamino would not be easy! A farewell Fiesta was held at the club on the final night, as the girls could say their goodbyes. Nonetheless the community of Pergamino did a fantastic job! Ricardo and Chocolate should be recommended for organising host families and matches. Many memories and new found customs would be kept with students of DSG. 

The tour group looked forward to meeting their new host families in San Jorge in Santa Fe Province.

Text: Izak van der Walt - TCEF GAP Student 2005