About half of my time in Argentina has passed, and I have to say this was the best week yet. I started off my week with a weekend trip to the famous Iguazu Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. Pictures does not do this beautiful place justice. Immediately, I imagined that this place was the real-life version of the set of Avatar. I assume everyone has seen that movie, but if you haven't, it is known worldwide for the most beautiful CGI. We only visited the Argentinian side, but there was still so much to do and see. We started off the day with a remarkable boat ride through the waterfalls. It was an extraordinary experience; we got to see the waterfalls from only meters away, and we even rode into the falls! After getting drenched in water, we walked through the scenic trails, ending off the day by visiting the Devil's Throat. Standing right in front of the immense waterfalls was a surreal experience, and I don't think any sight would beat this trip. On top of beautiful scenes, we encountered so many different animals. I loved watching all of the monkeys sneak around to steal food from the other visitors!
After the most exhilarating weekend, we returned to the busy hustle of Buenos Aires. We found a nearby park with basketball courts, and stopped by to play some pick up. It was a lot of fun, and seeing two different cultures join together for a simple sport was so heartwarming. No matter what language is spoken, basketball can unite even the most different of us. We made some really good friends and even shared mate around! This was my first time drinking mate in Argentina, and we all shared a good laugh when I burnt my tongue on the first sip. Our new friends also spent hours teaching us Argentine slang (Che boludo) and futbol team chants. I love how friendly all Argentines are, and how willing they are to talk to new people.
I also went on my first field trip for my Sport and Culture of Contemporary Argentina class. We first visited the enormous River Plate stadium, and I was a bit overwhelmed with how influential the club was. The fans, or hinchas, are so passionate about their team, and it was so electrifying to witness it first-hand. After a quick tour of everything River, we walked a mere two blocks away to visit ESMA, one of the most prominent locations of torture during the horrific military dictatorship of Argentina. It was shocking to see how while everyone in Argentina was celebrating winning the World Cup in 1978, there were also people getting brutally tortured right down the street. I've done a lot of research about this period of Argentine history for a political science research project, but there is nothing as impactful as seeing parts of history in person. I'm glad our program is making efforts to educate people about such a significant part of history.
Some of the not so great parts of the week included my first two exams, one for physics and one for my culture class. However, it was great to get them out of the way and enjoy the rest of the week. No matter how important school is, I love making the most of my time in Buenos Aires to explore the city, experience the culture, and meet new people! See you all next week for another Wu Wednesday.
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