First Impressions

Mar. 3 - 8th
We left SFO with no problems. In fact it seemed like luck was on our side as the plane was mostly empty and we got to spread out. Some how, I got a 1st class ticket which I didn´t argue. Propblems started in Atlanta when two of us didn´t get seats for our flight to Buenos Aires. We ended up missing the flight and had to stay in Atlanta for the night. Not a bad deal actually since Delta gave us all $400 vouchers for our trouble so I think I´ll be able to go to Colombia after Argentina, works out perfectly.

We hit the ground running after we arrived. Our first full day here was full of touring the city and we went to our first rotary meeting. It was a small intimate group of people. The meeting was really focused around getting to know us. The funny thing is that we had a presentation for the meeting, but turns out that we had to talk without our presentation. We all did fine it was just funny that our first presentation was completely different than we had imagined.

The following day we toured the city with two Rotarian's that were hilarious. The Argentinians have a great sense of humor and was laughing all day long.

I haven´t had the chance as of yet to learn specifically about the different businesses of Argentina, which will happen in the upcoming weeks, but I have been getting lessons about the political and economic situation here from my host family.

The father, Carlos, and I have talked from 9pm to 3am for the last two nights. It´s actually more like he talks and I listen. He is a lawyer and has many different views especially about the US. It´s really interesting hearing what he has to say. For example, he talks about the US being the most powerful nation in the world and how we say we stand for rights and freedom of each individual, but yet we have prisons like Guantanamo where we hold people for years without the right for a trial. It´s true, we try to lead by example, but we don´t see how hypocritical we are sometimes. Although, we do a lot of good which he didn´t mention.

I´m definitely learning about the different perspectives people have of the US. It´s disheartening, but at the same time inspiring because there is so much to be done. I´m taking notes all the time.

Till the next time.

KF