Global Hotspots of the Early Modern World: Buenos Aires

Argentina Study Abroad

1: Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project

For my STEP signature project, I took part in a study abroad program in Argentina during May 2017. I completed this program through the Office of International Affairs which ran a course named Global Hotspots of the Early Modern World: Buenos Aires. During the trip we visited historical and cultural sites in the city of Buenos Aires as well as Salta province and connected the knowledge we had gathered to that we had gained in the classroom. The class focused on the history of trade through the region of Buenos Aires, how the city became to be a global hotspot, and how the trade routes influenced migration through the region and all of Argentina.

2: What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

The trip really opened my eyes to things I take for granted in the world. Living in the US we take a lot of standards, regulations, and individual respect for laws for granted. One example of that would be how traffic in the US and the various other countries I have visited prior follow the rules of the road strictly and with a greater deal of respect for the law. This is not to say that traffic in Buenos Aires is unruly and lacks laws, but rather bending the rules is seen as acceptable when trying to advance along the road faster than your peers. For example, lines on the road become ignored, turn signals not used, and drivers seek opportunities to cut one another off. Here I learned that not every rule set into law is as rigid around the world as it is where I am used to, but it is important to not take for granted certain privileges and standards.

Further to the point of differences between Argentina and the other countries I have visited, not all differences are negative. In Argentina graffiti is more common, even at times referred to as a national sport. The interesting development here is that in most parts of the world, graffiti is seen as a destructive act that should be prohibited, whereas in Argentina, the culture and government tolerate such acts. It is common to see graffiti with messages relating to social issues the country faces, as well as, reminders of history. Homeowners at times even hire artists to paint beautiful mural on their homes because they know that artists won’t dare destroy another artists work. Another interesting find was that Argentina has a stronger social system for its citizens and residents than compared to the United States. In Argentina, public education is free, and healthcare is free in government hospitals. This even as Argentina struggles with fierce competition in international markets and high inflation rates.

3: What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

Most of the knowledge that I gained during this program was purely through observation and in class lectures. In class, we discussed the history of Buenos Aires and all of Argentina, and how the country was formed through trade throughout South America and across to European markets. This gave interesting insight in how Spanish colonies were run, developed to be self-sustaining and self-governing. With time we built on this knowledge by learning how the politics of the nation and trade developed Argentina into what it is today.

In addition to class time, the program was heavily based on experience based learning. After each class period and on any day of the week, we had field trips to important historical locations and museums. Among the museums and locations which we visited the following were my favorite: El Zanjon de Granados, ESMA, the gaucho ranches, and the Salta Province mountain ranges. El Zanjon de Granados I particularly enjoyed since it illustrated the common architecture the city had during the beginnings of Buenos Aires, how the rich lived, and later on how poor immigrants started their lives in Argentina (Tenements).

The ESMA museum, located in the city center of Buenos Aires, gave a very interesting perspective to Argentinian history. ESMA was a former military mechanical school, which during the military junta (dictatorship) of the 1970’s was used as a black site where political dissidents were tortured and propaganda was printed. There were about 400 other sites in including ESMA with similar functions spread around Argentina. The museum revealed a sad fact of the world we live in; it wasn’t very long ago we (humanity) committed crimes against our own citizens. What was truly eye opening wasn’t only that these acts took place under the military dictatorship, the peak period in which political dissidents were kidnapped took place when Argentina hosted the 1978 World Cup. But on a positive note, this dark moment of history has instilled a strong sense of activism among Argentinians that I think the world can learn from.

4: Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

The change in my world view is significant to me personally since it impacts my assumptions and understanding of other South American countries. The first-hand experience truly showed me the passion and values instilled in the Argentine society. I see this as a very valuable asset professionally. The ability to connect with individual and understand their needs by understanding their culture is important in the engineering field as your work is of direct impact of the surrounding communities. As a future civil engineer, I believe this fundamental understanding of culture is a key aspect to the overall design process.

One thought on “Global Hotspots of the Early Modern World: Buenos Aires

  1. Petar – Thank you for your post. I believe an experience such as this is life changing. Hearing how your assumptions have changed help you view the world in a different light. After reading your post, I hope you can continue to instil what you have learned in and beyond the classroom.

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