Today was our first full day in Buenos Aires, after landing at about 6:00 pm last night. We had a 10 hour delay and had to sleep in the Atlanta airport which wasn’t ideal, however I have had some great first impressions of the city.
To cover what I have done in the first 24 hours, I had a very nice dinner consisting of Argentinian chorizo, steak, and a fruit cup after landing. The host group, IES, provided us with this delicious meal as well as some beautiful views of the city. Afterwards, we went and looked at the Torre Monumental, which is a clock tower in the city that represents independence. This was a great adventure to bond with the group after arriving. This morning we woke up to exchange money at the casa de cambio (exchange house) before embarking on today’s journey. We started off with another great lunch consisting of local salads before going to Universidad de Austral, which is the top University in Argentina. Here we had 2 great lectures from Gabriel Novack (Director at Swiss Medical Group) and Luis Jimenez (retired National Minister of Health). Professor Novack described the structure of the Argentinian health care system while comparing it to our system in America, and Dr. Jimenez covered what the Minister of Health does on a daily basis, as well as some upcoming plans that they want to implement. After the lectures, we went back to the IES building and learned tango! We had about an hour and a half long session with 2 professionals who dance in competition and got to dance with each other as well to practice. This was probably my favorite part of today.
Some fun facts about today were that we got to see what was the widest highway in the world (16 lanes each side!) before they added a metro line running through the middle and that uber is illegal in Argentina (better call a taxi!).
My first impressions of Argentina were immediate and striking. The city, much to my surprise, was full of activity, far busier and larger than I had anticipated. There were towering buildings overhead everywhere, much larger than anything I expected. What also surprised me was the absence of wasted space; every inch seemed to be utilized to its fullest potential, which definitely added to the energy of the city. However, It wasn’t just the physical aspects of the city that I was in awe of. Argentina was full of culture, one that I could feel in every corner I explored. From the vibrant street shops full of food, to the sound of music, which felt so authentic and created fantastic vibes. What left the greatest impression on me, however, was the people. Despite the city life, there was a noticeable sense of camaraderie among residents, allowing for genuine connections, which could result from the slower pace of life.
As I walked through the streets of Buenos Aires, enjoying the sun, sounds, and feelings, I couldn’t help but think about what journeys lie ahead. I am very grateful for this experience and even more excited to see what is to come.