¿Una semana? ¿En serio?

Our classes began on Tuesday with our first seminars in field study and Spanish. The purpose of the field study seminar is to prepare us for our independent study project (ISP) which we conduct during May. I have a few ideas: comparative study of the governments in the Southern Cone, social integration of Jews in BA, conflicts between indigenous cultures and the government, disparities in economic development… I really have no idea what I’m doing. The language seminars are divided into three classes based on speaking ability. I was placed in a lower class but I think it had to do with my interview. My biggest problem is comprehension. I’ve only experienced classroom Spanish and this is my first time with “real-life” Spanish. The accent is still difficult but I am slowly remembering the language.

We also had a week of lectures about the political history of Argentina which included a visit to the Plaza de Mayo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Mayo). The military dictatorships of the mid-1970s kidnapped 30,000 young people who were suspected dissenters of the government. Their mothers formed a movement called Madres de la Plaza de Mayo and have marched every Thursday for over 30 years demanding justice for their missing sons and daughters. Our group arrived late so we missed the march but we visited la Universidad de Las Madres, a college specializing in human rights education. One mother talked with our group about her involvement in Las Madres. Her daughter was one of the disappeared and she has marched every Thursday since. I couldn’t imagine living in fear during that time. The strength of these mothers to defy the military and protest every week…. it’s amazing.

Every morning I take the Subte (subway) to IDES. Sometimes I leave my house early so I can walk around the neighborhood before class. The city is quiet at 9am and doesn’t awake until mid-morning. Sometimes my curiosity can get me a tad lost but the people of Buenos Aires are kind and always help me find my way.

Along with exploring the city on foot, I’m indulging in new foods. Monica feeds me a healthy diet of vegetables, rice, and fish. She doesn’t cook much meat which is unusual for an Argentine family. Since she and Rafael are Italian, we eat lots of pasta. Her lasagna is much different from Debbie’s, though; she includes much more cheese and spinach and doesn’t use meat. Breakfast is small and I usually have café con leche (coffee with milk) and toast with cheese and fig marmalade spreads. SIT gives us a stipend of 20 pesos/day for lunch so we venture off to find new restaurants to try. There is a good Arabic place with shwarma and falafel as well as parrillas that serve carne asado, the beef of Argentina.

There are a surprising number of Beloit connections here. Annie and I went out on Thursday to meet our group when we saw our friend Noah from Beloit across the plaza. He was meeting our friend Erin; they are on the same abroad program. We all hung out for awhile and noted the chic-ness of everyone here. That might not be a word. Last night I saw our friends again and met a girl who had studied abroad with another Beloiter last semester.

Take care and I miss you all! Keep me updated with the goings-on of the States! Con amor, Erin