Today we visited Hospital Paroissien and the University of La Mantanza, right outside the city of Buenos Aires. We had a very interesting experience in the hospital – the facility was the worst we’ve visited by far. Everything was run down, dirty, and not at all sanitary enough for a hospital. The organization was strange too – the area for prisoners was right next to orthopedics – the combination seemed very wrong. It was jarring to see the quality of the building and see sights like bloody beds and the unkempt patient rooms. However, the people in the hospital still seemed kind and dedicated to their work.

After that we went to the university, which had a very different vibe despite being in the same town. It was like a typical small town college campus, with very well kept streets and buildings. Unlike Pitt’s campus, which is very integrated into the city and has on campus dorms, Montanza has neither of these things. The campus is very private, with security gates to enter the campus and has no dorms for their students. Everyone commutes by bus, bike, or by walking. In addition Montanza also is a completely free university, and you only need to pass an entrance exam to attend the school. The thought of free school for everyone is foreign in the States, especially considering the fact that most undergrad programs here are at least five years long.

Another difference I found weird was the organization inside the buildings. Everything was nice, but the layouts were open spaced and gave me similar vibes to a public library or high school instead of a college. At Pitt, buildings make efficient use of the limited city space to maximize rooms. Montanza, located in a suburban area within the Buenos Aires province, has much more space to work with. They had wide avenues winding through the center of campus that Pitt doesn’t have, and inside the buildings there was a similar feel. 

We also learned that the school does not have direct connections with any businesses to aid their graduating undergrads. Although it is a fairly large university, they don’t have as many external resources. Today was enlightening to see more of life outside the city, and the standards for schooling in Argentina.