Update

It's been a long week of Spanish classes, a history seminar on Argentina, homework and visits.

Some highlights:

-Finding hilarious Rosh Hashana postcards at the fair at Plaza Armenia. My favorite was of a man drinking mate out of a shofar, the ram's horn blown on the holiday, which said: "Mate amargo. Año dulce. Shaná Tová." (Translation- Bitter mate, sweet year, happy holiday!)

-Watching a DVD clip of Eva Perón speaking. Her voice is really powerful and entrancing. No wonder people love her. Also, it is interesting to see how she is remembered amongst people of different classes. While my family is not wealthy, Elvira is a lawyer and the house has wifi. She does not care for Eva Perón. Jamila's family, a little more working class, adores her. Obviously, it's not a universal truism, but we had to ask our families how they felt about The Peróns and the answers really differed depending on our neighborhoods, education and class of our families.

-Moving up a level in Spanish. It feels much more appropriate!

-Getting my laundry washed, dried and folded for 8 pesos ($2USD).

-Learning some hand gestures to accompany my Castellano.

-Eating as many vegetables as possible at dinner! In Argentina, the food is good, but it doesn't have the spice that I love. More than anything, I am currently craving some Mexican food. I am looking forward to checking out California Burritos, a small chain.

-This isn't a highlight, but should be noted- today I went to Mansión Seré, a clandestine prison site outside of the Capital Federal used during the terrorism of the state of the 1970s and 80s. We learned a little more about the history of the period, but the prison was demolished, leaving only the outlining bricks. I wanted the experience to be more moving, more profound. I hope to go to a memorial or monument somewhere in the city and maybe there I can feel a better sense of the scope of this genocide. Note: Before I came to Argentina, I had heard this period referred to as the "Dirty War." However, my professor explained that a war often implies equal fighting on both sides, and a more appropriate term used now is "terrorism of the state."

-Playing with Rocío, the granddaughter of Elvira. She is two and I can hardly understand her but she is so cute! Her family calls her "terremoto."

Also, Jamila found this and I find it quite relevant: http://glimpse.org/stories/view/top-5-things-not-to-do-after-returning-from-abroad/

That's all for now. I will keep posting.

Emily