Lynnea and me!!!!!
This beautiful day in Argentina began with a good sleep. Today was really the only day we did not have to be ready in the lobby at 8am, so I made sure to take advantage of it. I slept in until 9am and it was pure bliss. I ate the hotel breakfast of course, so I was fueled up for the day. My meal consisted of bread with peach jam and cheese, various fruit, and a strawberry yogurt. We took the bus to Museo Evita, a museum about Evita Perón, a very important figure in Argentina’s history. We got to the museum a few minutes before it opened, so we enjoyed some sunshine and took photos next to the beautiful gate. Before I came to Argentina, I thought the weather would be so hot and humid from being in South America, but it is actually colder than my hometown in Pennsylvania. It is crazy to think I am actually on the other side of the world right now.
The opening of the Museo Evita.
A pretty room in Museo Evita.
We entered the museum and luckily our tour guide spoke English. She was very informative about Evita Peron’s life and all that she did. I learned about her a little in my AP Spanish class in high school, but I did not know that she never actually held office. Apart from being educated, Evita was more of an artistic person. She was most popular on the radio and even appeared as an actress and model. As she married Juan Perón and began to enter the spotlight in a different aspect, she did so much good for the country of Argentina. She created a foundation that helped the unserved population. Even the museum was an original location of a house that was provided to women and their children who needed shelter while they were in the city.
My gal pals. Elise, Me, Maria (R to L).
The Perón family did a lot for the beginning and structure of healthcare in Argentina. Perón was the person who truly began the Obras Sociales. He gave power to the unions, which was in favor of the workers in the country. This was the reason he was put into prison and taken out of it. Perón was supported by the people of Argentina and the Obras Sociales is an entire sector of the Argentine healthcare system. Evita furthered the education of nursing and created further access to healthcare for everyone. Perón also strengthened the public sector of healthcare, allowing everyone to have access. Peronism officially began on October 17th, 1945. This began the shift in Argentina’s history and the structure of government control as well as its healthcare connections.
Video of Evita’s funeral.
We then enjoyed a great lunch at Museo Evita. I ordered the chicken and it had a side of green mashed up things. I am not exactly sure what the mash contained, but I believe it was a blend of vegetables and it was delicious. My chicken was cooked to perfection and contained some sort of sauce to keep it moist. We all enjoyed some creme brulee and got back onto the bus for our next destination.
My view at lunch.
My delicious lunch!
Our final official stop of the day was Parque de la Memoria. Within this park, there was a very impactful monument that had all the names of those who disappeared over the years in Argentina. The victims were mainly younger men who spoke out against the government and were randomly taken from their homes, tortured, and killed. It was heartbreaking to see, but moments like this definitely put into perspective the horrors of the world. This was also the first time we went to see the La Plata River, which you can not even see the other side (which is Uruguay) due to its grand size. We did have to deal with a very late bus and our overall falling behind of the schedule, but eventually returned to the hotel. This Thursday, our groups are presenting on our sector of Argentina’s healthcare. My group is focusing on the Obras Sociales, the social insurance sector of healthcare. It is very complicated, but it is a great learning experience for us. Tomorrow is another busy day, but I look forward to it.
The memorial at Parque de la Memoria.
THE obras sociales group.
Me and the bus that we travel in <3.