It’s the start of 2025, and I’m sitting in Resistencia reflecting on how, almost a decade ago, I first left home for a foreign exchange in a city in Argentina I’d never even heard of. During those five months, living with a host family and attending school, I built so many meaningful relationships—none more special than the bond I formed with my host family. Even when I left, I knew they’d forever be my “second family” and that I’d return to see them again and again. Now, almost ten years later, I’m back for the third time, and I know without a doubt it won’t be the last. This trip has stirred up a flood of memories and emotions as I see how much the city, my host family, and I have grown and changed since my first visit. Here’s a look at some of the places—both familiar and new—that we visited this trip, along with some of my thoughts and memories along with them.

Sarmiento Shopping

The shopping mall of Resistencia! When it first opened in April 2016, it was the place to be—and honestly, it still is. For my host family, trips to the mall are a regular outing, whether it’s to browse the stores, catch a movie, enjoy a merienda at one of the cafés, or grab a meal at the food court. Back in 2016, it was a huge deal, especially with the arrival of McDonald’s—the first one in Resistencia—which always had a long line. During my exchange, everything about the mall felt so new and exciting that we found a reason to go almost every other day. This trip, we didn’t visit quite as often, but we definitely made a few stops. Picking up alfajores at Havanna and eating at the same pasta spot in the food court brought back that familiar feeling, almost like nothing had changed since I left.

Serafin Café

Serafín: somewhere new. This trendy restaurant and café has quickly become a must-visit spot in Resistencia. According to Nai, they serve the best coffee in town, along with plenty of delicious options to eat. When Dylan, Nai, and I went, it was the perfect day to sit outside on the patio, enjoying the peaceful outdoor atmosphere while still soaking in the lively energy of a popular café. It sparked a conversation about how much Resistencia has changed in recent years. Now, the city is full of cool, new restaurants and cafés—quite the contrast to 2016, when the mall was the main place to go.

Lucciano’s

We cheated on our OG ice cream shop, Cremolatti, and Lucciano’s has officially become our new go-to in town. Lucciano’s is a gelato chain that started in Buenos Aires and has since expanded worldwide. I actually remembered the brand from having their gelato while traveling in Italy and had assumed it was Italian—turns out, it’s 100% Argentinian (thanks to Nai for setting me straight!). And I can confirm it’s fantastic gelato. Over the few weeks we were there, Nai and I repeatedly found ourselves ordering a kilo of chocolate and pistachio… which never lasted long and inevitably sent us back to Lucciano’s for more.

Hipermercado Libertad

Okay, maybe this one isn’t exactly a must-visit in Resistencia, but it’s a place I was nostalgically happy to return to. It’s basically a mall-meets-superstore situation—probably the closest thing to Costco I’ve seen here. As you might guess, it’s the go-to spot for grocery stock-ups. While it’s been renovated to feel a bit nicer, it still has that same familiar vibe. That said, there are definitely more products available now than there used to be.

Back in 2016, I brought a container of Skippy peanut butter for my host family to try (and let’s be real, also for myself because peanut butter was nearly impossible to find here). These days, you can find a few different brands across the country, which feels like progress. Though, it’s mostly the natural kinds—none of the ultra-creamy, sugary stuff (the good stuff) like we have back home.

Kaizen

Continuing to test the theory that Resistencia’s food scene has leveled up—and I think it’s holding true. We tried Kaizen, a sushi place that’s one of my host mom’s favorites, and I can see why. The restaurant is beautiful, with a solid selection of sushi rolls and tasty drinks. Whatever wasabi they used was good stuff—much stronger and more flavorful than what I’ve had elsewhere. I didn’t mind it though; it’s sometimes nice to get a bit of heat since Argentinian cuisine tends to be on the milder side lol. Though Resistencia isn’t someplace you’d expect to find good sushi, it’s a good spot! I’m sure if I had stayed in town any longer we would’ve gone again.

Emilio’s

A classic dinner spot and a regular restaurant for the family, this pizza place spills out onto the sidewalk and onto the grassy median in the middle of the two-way street, making it a lively Resistencia dining experience. Eating there brought back memories of grabbing pizza on late school nights after hip-hop classes or squash practice back in 2016. (Yes, I did both, and no, I wasn’t good at either.)

There’s always something interesting to see when dining on the street, and this time we ended the meal with flowers from a seller walking by—a sweet little ending to the night.

El Aljibe de Mendez

My last dinner in Resistencia, and it definitely wasn’t least. Another newer spot with a cool outdoor patio! It was anything but cool when we went.. still 90°F late in the evening, but with a fan propped up nearby and some cold mint lemonade, we were perfectly happy enjoying the colorful patio lighting.

I sat with my host mom and host sister, chatting about the trip and all the latest happenings. Snacking on a mixed dip platter, I was happy to be trying somewhere new and making new memories with the same people I love. I’ve enjoyed so many familiar places this trip, and the new ones have added something different… and somewhere to reminisce about the next time I’m in Resistencia.