Read more from the students who participated in the first Art and Politics in Argentina and Uruguay Program!
"Three things most valuable about this program: 1) Learning about Argentine history and how it relates to the culture, specifically the Dirty War and the Peron years. 2) Going to the different museums, especially MALBA, in which we were able to see Latin American art as a whole, seeing the tango show, AMIA, and travelling was very helpful and important. 3) Going to the ranch was very interesting to see the lives of the gauchos that we read about in class. It was fun at the ranch to ride the horses and see the tango show, see how the men and women dressed, and ride in a wagon."
"I think that this experience was very rich. Being able to have the Spanish classes in the morning was very helpful and, following, the history class. It was very important that we went to ESMA because although you couldn’t see the tortures with the naked eye, you could envision them in your mind. I loved having the apartment because Brooklyn College students don’t have the opportunity to room and board on campus. The food (steak, chicken, fish, sausage, empanadas) was awesome! I would definitely want to come back to Argentina. My experience at the church was awesome! The people were so loving and kind to me. I had a lot of fun with them. My experience made me forget about New York City."
"Most valuable to me: 1) Travelling around Buenos Aires, the ESMA, the museums, the street art all gave a real feel for Argentina. 2) Location was great and essential to our impression of Buenos Aires, the people, their culture and way of life. 3) professor’s supplementary readings and lectures really clarified the political, literary and artistic scope of Argentine history. Also, very organized and efficient, which was great."
"Overall, fantastic program. Just the right amount of time to have an enriching ane educational experience while still being able to soak in some local culture on our own time. Rooms and food were great. Roommates also really nice."
"Most valuable to me: 1) The tour at MALBA. I enjoyed the museum but I don’t think I would have gotten the full effect of it if it hadn’t been for the guide. She was great at explaining the meaning of the pieces and helped me appreciate some work I might not have otherwise. 2) ESMA. It was a day with a lot of impact. The tour and being able to see a place that we read about helped me to connect and feel and gain a deeper understanding of Argentina, its history, culture and people. 3) Tango lessons. It was just a fun night. Dancing and learning with Argentines and watching some old pros during the milonga. We were completely immersed in the culture and I loved every minute of it."
"Most valuable to me: 1) The activities were clutch. Being foreign to this new country we aren’t always certain what would be the best places to visit to get a sense of the nation. Having someone as experienced with the country, with all of these amazing contacts, gave me a unique and fulfilling experience. Had I come here alone I wouldn’t feel the same way. 2) The accommodations were wonderful and important. The rooms are beautiful and the fact that we are so close by gives us an opportunity to discuss what we have seen and felt. 3) The trips away from Buenos Aires to Uruguay and Montevideo were a nice change of pace. Uruguay is a small nation that I had hardly given any thought to. After visiting it, speaking with the people and attending a murga, I came out with a much better sense of the country and people. It turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the trip." (Steven Perchikov, Hunter College, January 2008)
"The three things I found most valuable: 1) Seeing the world that we read about in Borges, Ocampo, Casares and Cortázar in living color. This includes going to Tigre and going to the pampas. I’m an English major and there’s nothing better than being able to see literature come to life. 2) Getting to see the way people lead their daily life in Latin America has been very valuable and important (and special) for me. Whether it’s watching people drink mate, seeing people on their morning and evening commutes, talking to people at bars, speaking with waiters, watching porteños tango, all of that made me feel that I’ve seen a part of the world different and yet relevant to my own, and that people are the same no matter where you go. 3) Communicating in a language that is not my own. The experience of getting around in Argentina with the Spanish I do know (and I do know enough to hold a general conversation) has increased my interest in doing more studying and work in Latin America, has encouraged me to become fluent in Spanish (this experience has made me like the language even more), and has also humbled me. It’s very difficult to deal with people who think you’re stupid or get annoyed because you can’t express yourself. It is also a wonderful experience to express yourself successfully in another tongue, which is just one of the reasons I found our experience at the murga in Uruguay so amazing. There’s a lot more than three things: travelling by myself, living with strangers, learning about a different nation’s history and trying new foods—every single bit of the program has been important and wonderful." (Nicole Lebenson, Brooklyn College, January 2008)
"The most amazing moments came from our excursions to various sites of Argentine history. To see the horrors of ESMA and the beautiful and exotic Tigre brought contrasting dimensions to my wonderful experience. Probably some of the most meaningful of my life. Another valuable experience would be the chance to taste Patagonian lamb, Argentine beef, chivitos, and a million other indigenous food and drinks. Many of my program highlights occurred while dining on some of the most delicious food this country has to offer. One such highlight would be the wonderful dish I had in San Telmo, during a fair, seated next to a big window with a wonderful view of the denizens of Buenos Aires hustling and bustling, with a live band in the square playing Carlos Gardel’s best hits. The combination of arts, politics, and history really added context to my experience, making it vastly richer in the process. My view of Argentina was constantly changing as I learned more of its rich and sometimes sordid history." (Jalal Moeen, Brooklyn College, January 2008)
