Poly GIP Argentina 2023

Mostly presents for family and friends (or so we were told) See you soon, Mi Buenos Aires Querido!

Graduating from IAG (Saya’s delighted while Sra. Levin plays “Pomp and Circumstance” on a borrowed phone -hers had been stolen 😈, luckily it was the only “casualty” during the trip-) Another proud graduate (guess how many empanadas did Olivia have?!  Nope, more!) Ryan also made it, YES! So well deserved, Chef Laura! Two tall chefs. Way to go, Austin! Bright cutting boards in the background and an even brighter smile in Addie’s face! Second graduation of the day, “Tango Porteño”

Aren't our kids wonderful? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LLbhm9vYCQfY3EOwsmxL4QF5X9AC8fvx/view?usp=sharing

Not only empanadas... Also "rogelitas", dulce de leche and merengue dessert: Hard at work: Fighting back tears (but SO worth it!): Our chefs:

Caminito (La Boca) Colorful, in spite of the drizzle 🌦 Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires’ famous Opera House) Soccer by the Obelisco two days before the World Cup started...  More iconic than this? It does not exist! Human foosball

“Buenos Aires is like a cooler version of NYC. There is the same bustling energy and activity throughout the city, but Buenos Aires is more spacious, has more beautiful old architecture mixed with modern new buildings, and it frankly just smells better (NYC is just always filled with the smell of cigarettes, and I can't stand it). I loved walking around the city and seeing the different sites I researched during class these past 2 years. I finally got to see the obelisk, the casa rosada, the plaza de mayo, recoleta, and so much more. I adored the area around recoleta because it was filled with all of these little vendors that sold goods ranging from stuffed bread and empanadas to leather belts to artwork to homemade jewelry to maté and bombillas. All in all, my experience in Buenos Aires has been quite incredible and I am excited for what is still to come." Rory Obelisco:   Casa Rosada:   Somos ARGENTINOS:   Nos gusta el fútbol (we’re inside a giant football)   Primera cena en

  Today was our 8th day in Argentina and we left Córdoba on our way to Buenos Aires.  The departure was an incredible mix of emotions for the students from both schools.     In just one week together the host families in Córdoba and our students formed an inspiring bond that was displayed with 100’s of hugs, pictures and tears in the middle of the airport!  The host families also showered our students with gifts and home made food for the short journey to Buenos Aires.     Patricia, Gretel and I have not stopped smiling all day - Córdoba was truly a special opportunity for our students!   During one of our group chats after dinner tonight, the students talked about being home sick...  for Córdoba! Testimonials: Arriving to the airport in Cordoba to board the flight to Buenos Aires was one of the hardest things I've had to do. In such a short time, my homestay family had become like a real family, and all of the Argentinian kids my friends. I was overwhelmed (to the point of tears)

Hola! I am currently very sad typing this out because it was our last day:( today, we had a very educational and cultural day, going to a detention center and a new museum. The museum was a little weird but I actually enjoyed it very much!! Since the students’ school ends early on fridays, I enjoyed a lunch with Niki’s sister, brother, and brother’s girlfriend! I am writing this after temple, which was an amazing experience that was different for me, someone who has never been to a service. I am so so sad to be leaving. Olivia   Our last full day in Córdoba was super eventful. The two museum tours gave as an even more in depth view of the history of Argentina, with one of the museums focusing on how Argentina hosting the World Cup in the 1978 covered up all the negative actions that the government made regarding dictatorship. Also, watching the vocal performances in a Jewish temple was truly a memorable experience that I have wanted to do for a long time. Kian   Today we visited the De

  The art that we saw yesterday was very moving. We were able to connect what we learned from La Perla and our conversation about sexual violence to the paintings by Carlos Alonso. His soft pastel and pencil drawings depict graphic scenes from the violent dictatorship especially between women/children and their abusers. Saya, Addie, Jojo & Austin   Yesterday, we went to the  Museum, where we saw an exhibit entitled "Manos Anónimas" by Carlos Alonso. Alonso's work in this exhibit was inspired by his daughter, who was kidnapped during the Dictatirship and was one of the "desaparecidos." Each piece reflected his grief and anger at the inequality and injustice faced by women at the hands of the Argentine soldiers during the dictatorship. Many of us were very moved by the paintings, which depicted graphic scenes of mostly naked women being sexually harrassed and abused by inhumanly large, often monstrous looking "anonymous" hands. Some of the other work

Today we took the students to visit the famous local and beloved figure, Father Mariano Oberlin. On the way, we reviewed why we were visiting and why Father Mariano was such an influential and important person in Cordoba. Father Mariano is the son of “uno de los desaparecidos”, his father was one of the many who were abducted, tortured, and went missing during the Dirty War. He was later compensated by the government for being a son of the missing, “indemnizacion de la Nacion.” He used that money to buy a large lot where he now hosts teenagers affect by drug abuse in the community. Our students were able to not only see his church, but also his community. When we arrived to the church, we were met not only by the deeply gracious Father Mariano himself, but also by a flurry of activity from the local tv news station and newspaper. Channel 10 news quickly went live and interviewed Jojo and Ryan, who were excellent ambassadors for not just Poly, but the U.S.  We then went to Father Marian

El miércoles 6 de junio visitamos al Padre Mariano Oberlin en su Parroquia de Barrio Müller. Este hombre inteligente, generoso y sensible, ayuda a rescatar a jóvenes de las garras del “paco”, una droga barata, altamente adictiva y muchas veces fatal. ¿Cómo los ayuda? Brindándoles amor y la posibilidad de aprender un oficio.  Abajo: paneles de botellas recicladas para construir casas económicas y duraderas (apoyados sobre la casa ya finalizada)   Poly trajo desde Pasadena 11 lap tops en muy buen estado, y las donó para ayudar al Padre Mariano en su misión. Un canal de televisión y el periódico local cubrieron el evento y los chicos de Poly hablaron con elocuencia y emoción frente a las cámaras... ¡En español! ¡La Tele!   ¡El periódico! http://m.lavoz.com.ar/ciudadanos/la-obra-de-mariano-oberlin-desde-la-mirada-de-alumnos-estadounidenses Conjuntamente con los “muchachos del Padre Mariano”, plantamos árboles frutales cerca de las casitas recién erigidas (y otras en construcción)   Y para