Today, we had a late start so fortunately we were all able to sleep in. It was a much more relaxed day with only two museum visits. In the morning, a group of us decided to visit La Boca again and look around the shops. There were so many stands with various souvenirs and the place looked very lively. I decided on buying a few things for my family including keychains and even a maté. After a morning full of shopping, we headed over to our first museum visit.

We got a guided tour of the Immigration Museum and learned about immigration patterns. The museum used to be a hotel where immigrants would stay. During the late 1800s to 1900s, Argentina attracted mass waves of immigration, especially from Europe. Consequently, many Argentinians come from European descent. The tour guide mentioned how Argentinians typically refer to themselves as Argentinians rather than their grandparents’ birthplace. The rooms were confined and immigrants had to sleep on leather bunk beds because they were easier to clean. Women and children would stay on the top floor separate from the men. For the most part, they stayed in these facilities until they had a stable living situation and job. A similarity I found between Argentina and the U.S was how typically they immigrate in order to improve their economic situation and in search for better opportunities. I also noticed how in Argentina it is much easier to become a citizen than in the U.S. The guide mentioned how Argentina’s constitution states that immigration is a human right, thus everyone has guaranteed entry. 

Then, we visited the Museo Etnográfico, a museum full of lots of artifacts and culture from mainly Argentina. One exhibit that specifically caught my attention was large wings used in catholic tradition and dancing. The guide told us about how the intricate designs were usually not seen because of the sun’s bright reflection. To end our evening, we were able to have dinner and meet with two Pitt alumni. We had good conversations with them and heard about their personal experiences at Pitt and their role in Argentinian Healthcare. Tomorrow, we have our group presentation and I’m excited to see how much we have learned since the beginning of the trip.