Wednesday (Day 6): Today was spent exploring the area of Congreso! My first stop was the National Congress Building/Palace; they offer free guided tours in English every day at 1 PM. During the tour, I met 3 other Americans, including one from my home state of Texas! Visiting the Congress building was an awesome opportunity to learn more about the Argentinian government. I saw the rooms where the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies (like the House of Representatives in the United States) convene; these rooms were masterfully designed and resembled opera houses. The interior of the building was adorned with painted glass windows, marbles sourced from all across Europe, huge chandeliers, and multiple domes. I also learned from our tour guide that Argentina has a law mandating that 50% of the ballots in a legislative vote must be comprised of women. There was even a pink room named after Eva Peron to celebrate female politicians!
Next, I walked a few minutes from the Congress Building to the Madres de La Plaza de Mayo. This organization was established during the military dictatorship by the mothers who had their children forcibly taken and disappeared by the government. I had the chance to freely explore the association’s space, where various art pieces commemorated the work of the mothers, alongside reports submitted by members in hopes of finding their missing loved ones. The ceiling was covered by the symbolic white headscarves that represented the association’s demand for answers regarding the fate of their forcibly taken children. This experience not only helped me contextualize the political landscape relevant to my research but also left me feeling empowered as a woman. Witnessing the incredible work of this community in response to unimaginable tragedies and loss and knowing that laws exist to ensure women have a voice in political bodies made me feel immensely proud and hopeful. I am constantly amazed by the remarkable women in the world around me that are enacting meaningful and lasting changes!
Finally, I participated in a guided tour of Palacio Barolo, a majestic palace built around a century ago and inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. Similar to Dante’s work, the palace is divided into 3 sections representing hell, purgatory, and heaven. As we ascended through “purgatory,” the decorative elements on the walls gradually diminished, symbolizing the rejection of material possessions during one’s ascension. From the balcony and lighthouse in “heaven,” I enjoyed a mesmerizing view of the entire city. As a student of Classics, it was fascinating to witness the enduring significance of classical literature in South America and today’s international culture.
Thursday (Day 7): Today I had 3 interviews for my research project. In the morning, I interviewed with two psychologists from Fundacion Aiglé. This foundation is a local NGO that is dedicated to providing mental health care and advancing mental health education in Buenos Aires. The first psychologist I interviewed with specializes in neonatal trauma – this was a field that I previously knew nothing about. So, I learned so much from our conversation about this topic, her professional experiences, and her views on trauma. Next, I interviewed with another psychologist who sees a lot of patients who have suffered from traumatic incidents. Listening to her insights on psychotraumatology and hearing her professional journey was an incredible learning opportunity!
In the afternoon, I interviewed with another local psychologist who runs his own private practice. Even though he is not specialized in trauma, he had so much knowledge to share with me about the mental health landscape in Argentina! As I spend the time to review these interviews in-depth and hopefully conduct more, I will write a blog post where I can share more about the themes that I gathered here in Buenos Aires. But for now, these are my first impressions!
Thanks for reading 💙