Día 18: Evita! Evita!

Let me just start this by saying: no, there was no knife gang at school today- no worries! In fact, I heard from a few of my classmates who walked past the supposed "knife gang" yesterday that the group of guys actually didn't have a knife. Hmm, who knows, but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

Today ISA held a mini-excursion at el Museo de Evita: the Evita Perón Museum! Evita (Eva) Perón is one of Argentina's biggest popular culture icons, as well as beloved celebrity. Evita was the second wife of President Juan Perón, and served as the First Lady from 1946 until her death in 1952. Evita was one of the first women to actively participate in political affairs, although she never officially held any political position. Only in her late 20s- early 30s, Evita worked hard to support labor rights, women's suffrage, and poverty. Evita died at age 33, a result of cervical cancer. After her death, her body went missing for 16 years after a political coup in Argentina, but was later found in Italy buried under a false name (yikes, politics!). Her final resting place is in the Recoleta Cemetery, here in Buenos Aires. Evita is a household name here; if you don't know Eva, you are not Argentinian. To quote the tour guide, "Love her or hate her, you can't escape her!"

Evita! Evita!

"The reason of my life"

I learned a lot at the museum, including the fact that voting (for president) is mandatory for everyone 18 and above in Argentina. Voting day always takes place on a Sunday, and there are major fines if you don't vote. The only exception is that if you are over 250 miles away from your area of residency, you can possibly be excused from the election. But if not, you better be there to vote! I talked with an ISA coordinator about this, and she thinks it is so strange we have the option to vote or not in the United States. We take our freedom for granted so much!

After the museum tour, my friend Anna and I walked around Palermo, window shopping in the many cute, chic boutiques in the area. We stopped at a local pastry shop, Las Familias, where I bought a REAL alfajor. The alfajores I have eaten before have been amazing, but nothing compares to the real thing. It's like the difference between a Little Debbie cupcake and a cupcake from a real bakery. WOW. To start, this alfajor was almost the size of my head; enormous! Anna doubted that I would be able to eat it all, but she obviously doesn't know me well enough! Haha! It was incredible; there was no way I could not not finish it! Every last bite was worth it!

Super Alfajor: A dream come true.

For dinner tonight, Freddy made little steaks and potatoes. I feel a little fruit and veggie deprived here, as well as dairy. The meals in my host home are great, but if it wasn't for the bananas and yogurt I buy on my own for lunch, I literally would be without fruits and dairy. I have not had a glass of milk the whole time here, except for in the submarino hot chocolate! Haha, oh well, I think I can make it a few more weeks! Anywho, I have an oral presentation in class tomorrow, so I need to finish preparing for that. Hasta luego! :)