Oscar says an Argentine’s quality of life is directly correlated with the years of education he or she has had.
Fortunately, an Argentine education is free.
Unfortunately, nothing else is.
For students to take advantage of education, they must first have clothing, books, pencils, paper, homes, and food in their stomachs. But they don't. And so they cannot afford free education.
And so they set up kioscos and pollajerias next to other kioscos and pollajerias – because that’s all they know to do.
Maté flows through the very veins of Argentines. Like a secret potion, it is carefully concocted as hot water is poured into tazas tightly packed with shredded mate leaves. And almost as if in a sacred ritual of hospitality and solidarity, the cup of maté is passed around for each person to sip heartily from a metal bombilla fashioned with a strainer.
It was a day for careful exploration of the cities and a chance to enjoy the cafe's as well as the small kiosks that opened for business. First was Cafe Paris, a small cafe that, true to its name, is modeled after those in France. Displays of colorful pastries line the cafe and coffee or tea is served in delicate tazas. Service is slow, yet personal, as the waiters take many moments to speak with the turistas and explain with glee their nation's pastries and delicacies.Rollito con dulce de leche y crema fresca
Un pastel de manzana's
Among today's purchases was a cake of crema fresca y fruta to be brought as a gift to those at the bank tomorrow. Tomorrow marks our first day of work and hopefully our first chance to meet with the clients.
Wish us luck!
Argentina’s present state of recovery and recuperation is apparent in its every aspect. Argentina has always had a strong culture, with its people speaking in “che’s,” and predominantly in “vosotros,” almost in a state of defiance to the rest of the Spanish-speaking nations. In the words of our dear gray and grisly bearded Roberto, one of our many loving hosts here, the Argentinians are a passionate people. And if anything at all, they are passionate of their country. However, beneath the passion lies sadness that is brought to life each night in the sorrowful and solemn dance of the Argentine tango. Long inhibited by political and economic unrest, Argentina is just barely beginning to emerge from its burdens and reinstate its nationalistic pride that had formerly only prevailed by tongue through the “che’s,” and “vosotros” in their language. And it’s readily apparent. 
The governmental buildings of La Plata that lie in disrepair and have revolutionary graffiti emblazoned on their white walls are slowly being renovated and repaired by construction workers. I do not deny – the slum neighborhoods consisting of ill-constructed shanties and lean-to’s clumsily constructed of rusting metal and planks of wood amidst piles of junk and trash are still very much a reality. However, they now stand in the shadows of high-rise apartment buildings and government sponsored and subsidized cookie-cutter houses where children and their families can move into, away from the illness, rats, pests, and trash that they had formerly lived amongst. And all this change in the looks of the country is supported by real and substantive change in the government and economy. Microfinance institutions such as that of our very own Grameen Bank are effectively working towards empowering the impoverished to bring themselves out of poverty. And Pinky says the political system is good. “The president is good. But Argentina’s a hard country to rule,” he says. Elections are today, and the people are indeed excited, because they know that they now live in a true democracy - And for a people that has just recently begun to experience true democracy, it is priceless.
In this state of recuperation, you see traces of Argentina fiercely holding onto its past as renovation projects are often conducted such that the familiar characteristics of the old architecture remain. The renowned cathedral of La Plata still stands as it did when it was first commissioned and constructed, just as the old Catholic faith still pervades in this country.
La Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción de La Plata
However, there are also those cases in which the old is torn down to construct buildings that are reminiscent of the 19th and 20th century architectural style of norteamericano. Even this passionate country is not immune to the lure of the red and yellow double arches of the McDonalds.
