All the three week students arrived Sunday, so our group is finally complete:
That's all of us in front of La Casa Rosada (you can think of it like the Argentine White House). A somewhat taboo subject as a result of it's divisive, polarizing nature, Argentine politics are growing increasingly fascinating to me. With out a doubt, the politics of the nation lean toward the Socialist side of the spectrum, but what really fascinates me are the politics of appearance. Walking through the Bicentennial Hall of Female Patriots it was fascinating to look at the evolution of the appearance of female politicians starting with Eva Perón and continuing through La Presidente Christina of today. In terms of policy, Argentina has recently passed some legislation that has "pissed off the church". One recent law that really sticks in my mind is the law that legalized gay marriage. This simple fact brings up some interesting questions about the difference between a LEDC and a MEDC. America, which economically speaking is undeniably more developed, has yet to provide free education, free medical care and equal marriage whereas Argentina guarantees the right to an education, medical care, and marriage. What then defines a "first world" or "third world" nation? Americans can look down from our place on the list of world super powers and decide that we are better or more developed than our fellow nations, yet its clear that we still have a ways to go socially. A perfect example of our ethnocentrism: while walking through the San Telmo Feria, my group encountered two Americans who had decided while traveling through Argentina that, for Latin food, Argentine cuisine was not spicy enough. Inspired by their travels, they decided to make and market their own brand of hot sauce (yes, our group is featured in the June 20 post. I didn't buy any but two of the other girls did). Personally, I find this utterly ridiculous but a perfect example of Americans deciding that our way is better. It makes my blood boil that we decide so often that America is the "greatest" nation and that it is our "God given" duty to Westernize/Americanize other cultures.
On a more positive food related note, on June 20 my group got to experience real Argentine Asado (BBQ) in one of the most vibrant and photogenic neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: La Boca...
La Boca evolved as an immigrant neighborhood and it's eclectic, colorful nature is born of that history. The multi-colored houses were painted/colored with left over materials from the ships that brought those immigrants to Argentina with the promise of a new, better life. Admittedly, La Boca's history is tainted with the sad stories that often accompany immigrant neighborhoods, but nowadays it is equal parts vibrant cultural center and blue collar, working class neighborhood. As the home of the Boca stadium, football fanatics are just as common as the tango dancers that line the streets of their art's birthplace.
More to the point, the Asado was fantastic. Slow cooked for three hours over coals (not fire), the meat was tender and delicious. There's really no way to describe it other than to say you absolutely have to try it. I'll leave y'all with a few pictures of the Asado to further entice...
(I want you all to be proud of the fact that I figured out the alignment issue with the pictures!)
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