Submitted by Margaret Costello on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…
This week was the first week of our program and it has already been such a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. One of the first things that we did was go to the Plaza de Mayo and see the Casa Rosada and the Catedral Metropolitana. The Casa Rosada is the executive office for the president of Argentina, similar to the White House in the United States. The house was painted pink because it was a mix of the two colors, red and white, that represented each of the opposing political parties in Argentina, symbolizing unity. This really stuck out to me because I loved what the color of the building stands for, especially because in class my professor continues to say that Argentina is very polarized politically. Although there is a lot of political tension, the house and Buenos Aires still stands as a symbol of oneness. I noticed the same theme in a movie that we watched in class called Fresa y Chocolate. The film is based in Cuba around the time of the Revolution and focuses on two men who become friends despite all of their differing social and political views and opinions. The two men learn to love and respect each other, even though one supports the revolution and the other is against it. These two examples of tolerance, respect and unity is something that I really appreciate about the history of South America.
Another experience during this week that I am very grateful for is the friendship of the girls I live with not only our friendship with each other, but also with our host mom, her granddaughter and grandson. When I thought about coming to Argentina, I was very excited imagining all the new connections I would make with other students in this amazing city. I also imagined becoming very close with my host mom and learning about the differences and similarities between our two lives. My expectations have already been wildly exceeded, but something I did not even think about was making friends with an Argentinian my age. Sofia, our host mom’s granddaughter, and I have already made a connection that I believe will last a lifetime. Before coming here, I could not even imagine how lucky I would be to make such an amazing friend from a completely different part of the world. Sofia has taught us so much about her life and, although there are some big differences, in the end we are very similar. She has taught us and showed us many different things about Argentina and her day to day life that you can not learn just by taking a class. I am so grateful for the many experiences I have had in only this first week and I am very excited for what is to come next, as well as to continue our adventures with Sofia.