Today was a more relaxed and peaceful day which contrasts with the strike surrounding us. We began the day by walking to IES offices and having a group discussion with Professor Martsolf. He gave us a recap on what he had learned so far regarding the healthcare system and cleared some misunderstandings. After the group discussion, we ate some delicious empanadas provided by the IES coordinators. I ate one filled with meat and another filled with ham and cheese covered in sugar. Afterwards, we were given free time for the remainder of the day. At first, we thought it would be difficult to navigate around the city due to the protests. We were notified that strikes were happening due to President Milei’s new policies. The main area that protests would be occurring is in the Plaza de Mayo where the president’s office was located. As a result, we were warned that most public transportation would be closed off and stores would shut down for the day. However, to our surprise, some taxis and stores still remained open. We ceased the opportunity to explore the city of Buenos Aires.
A couple of my friends and I made a collective decision to explore the Japanese Gardens and Chinatown of Buenos Aires. First, we went to the Japanese Gardens where the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. There were so many flowers and some gift shops where we could pick up Japanese snacks and trinkets. It was such a scenery change in contrast to all the hospitals we have previously visited. Then, we took a taxi to Barrio Chino which was filled with so many shops and restaurants. We ate at a Chinese restaurant where we chose different ingredients that would be made into a soup for us. To end off the day, we visited the stores where we picked small souvenirs and Asian snacks. I learned that the influx of Asian populations was due to several waves of immigration in the twentieth century. Through these towns and attractions, they can form a community preserving their cultural heritage. Overall, it was an exciting day and I am so glad I was able to explore different communities.
