Drew International Seminar-Argentina 2006-2007

Friday, January 12, 2007

January 5, 2007

Seth Gorenstein and Brian Kelly

Our First day in Buenos Aires


In the morning, after waking up early for breakfast, we visited AMIA, the Jewish aid organization. There we learned about the difficulties the Jewish community faced in Buenos Aires. We also explored the neighborhood around AMIA while waiting for our appointment. After being shown around AMIA, we returned to the hotel, and found a place to change our money. We went to a small cafe around the corner from the hotel for lunch, and then returned to our rooms to settle in. Later in the afternoon, we went to IES for an orientation. It covered general policies, the trip itinerary, and the cell phones everyone on the trip had to buy. That night, we split up for dinner. One group of people went to a steakhouse in the neighborhood Palermo Hollywood, and another to a pizza restaurant a few blocks from the hotel, while my group ate at a cafe a block from the hotel, near a park. After dinner, we went back to the hotel to continue settling into our rooms and to get ready for another full day. - Brian

Simply entering AMIA was an experience in itself. First, all of our passports were confiscated by Professor Ortuzar-Young per inspection by AMIA security. We then waited alongside the building as we were admitted one at a time. Security was stringent...I noticed white road barriars flanked the building´s entrance. My request for a photo of the building was denied by one of the two armed guards. A man with a ear piece waited stoicly and admitted one of us every few minutes. And watching each of the Drew students disappear into the unassuming building only upped the level of anxiety. Once I was finally admitted, I went through a metal detector, and then entered the complex´s open foyer. Despite Buenos Aires´ vocal and prominent Jewish community, the amount of security at AMIA made sense because of the deadly 1994 bombing that wiped out the original complex and claimed 88 lives. To stand in the beautiful new complex and to experience the tight security firsthand made me feel the aftershocks of the bombing--something that I had only read before--much more real. - Seth

1 Comments:

  • At 9:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Enjoyed reading this. Keep the blogs coming!

     

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