After a long day of traveling, it was a relief to finally feel the jolt of rubber tires on the tarmac in Buenos Aires. Day one has been overcast with spotty showers, not unlike many of the days I’ve become accustomed to in Pittsburgh. The city doesn’t have the imposing skyline of a city like a New York or a Chicago, but riding through the tight packed neighborhoods riddled with ivy, futbol courts, and graffiti, it is evident this is a city overrun with passionate energy derived from the will of its people. One of the pieces that grabbed my eye the most was a blue and white graffiti script reading “Peronismo x La Ciudad”. It was a sobering reminder of the cities tumultuous political past and unrelenting passion for its ideals. I was not expecting politics to be as pervasive of a topic as it has appeared. Based on presentations from before we left, politics were supposedly a touchy subject from which citizens preferred to stay away. Even just waiting in the airport, our group found ourselves in a deep conversation with a physician who had worked both in the States and in Argentina. In his opinion, the governmental health system was beyond repair in Argentina, and he wasn’t afraid to voice his disapproval. I am very curious to see how the Ministry of Health’s opinion on the matter differs.

The city itself has definitely shown the European influence that I have come to expect. The streets are winding and tightly packed. Store fronts advertise everything from tile to law services, all lined up one after another in an efficient array that creates a self contained community inside of the big city. Nonetheless, you don’t have to look far to find how globalization has changed this once quaint neighborhood. One block away there is a Starbucks Coffee, another block in the other direction you find a Nike store. The city comes together to create a living fusion between old and new that creates an almost indescribable feel to the city. It is both fast-paced, but relaxed. It is cutting edge, yet still historic. It is simply unlike anything you can find in America simply because this dichotomy cannot exist in such a newly built society. It is something that comes from an evolving city, a city that almost seems to breathe and talk, inviting you to learn more about the stories behind its weathered sidewalks and narrow alleyways. It’s only one day in, and my fascination is already almost too much to bear.