I can’t believe I’m typing the final blog post of this trip! Today was our last full day in Buenos Aires, but it still hasn’t hit me that we’re leaving tomorrow. I’ve learned and grown so much during this two week program. I figured for the last post, I’d add some of my favorite pictures with my new friends (who I now feel like I’ve known for years!) and summarize the last two days.
Yesterday, we went to visit the office of a health insurance and wellness center and an art museum. At the clinic, we learned about Medifé, a private insurance in Argentina. This was a lot different than what I was expecting. The office was very lively, and there was even a band practicing in a room. Everyone was very welcoming, and they also served us a nice lunch- which was a nice surprise. Later on in the day, I really enjoyed visiting the art museum, Malba. Malba is home to amazing Latin American art, and I was surprised to see there even was a painting by Andy Warhol in the museum!
A piece of art in the museum.
Throughout my time here, I learned an immense amount about the Argentinian healthcare system. I have a great understanding of the different sectors and how their roles are important to the overall health of Argentina as a whole. I also learned that the dialect here is quite different than Spain, which was seen in the trouble I sometimes faced speaking to locals. I have even more motivation now to continue learning Spanish!
There are way too many fun memories to recount, but I’ll name a few. The ranch was probably my favorite day of the whole trip. It was so cool trying archery, eating all the amazing food that was prepared, and doing outdoor activities all day! Going out to dinner every night was also so much fun. I tried Vietnamese food for the first time here, and I can’t believe I’ve went nineteen years without trying it before! The steak here is unmatched, and I will miss it greatly. I’ll also miss “medialunas”, which are croissants. These croissants had an amazing sugary glaze on it, and I think I ate two every day here. I loved visiting the smaller neighborhoods and shopping in the small shops. The boat ride to Tigre was also a great experience! I will greatly miss having dessert after every meal. I think the US should start doing that!
Overall, this trip was such an incredible experience. I’m so glad I went out of my comfort zone and traveled over 5000 miles away with people I barely knew- and some I now think of as great friends. Exploring Buenos Aires the last two weeks has given me a new perspective of the world. It’s very different from the United States, in some good and bad ways. This is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. Whether it was sitting through the hours of lectures, walking over a mile to get McDonalds, or the late nights out, I wouldn’t change anything about my time in Argentina. Thank you to my friends and family who read these blog posts, that’s all from me, see you so soon!
