After an amazing two weeks spent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I can confidently say my life will forever be changed by this experience. The Plus3 program, while shorter than most study abroad programs, still managed to pack in countless learning opportunities, both in terms of academics and life lessons. I’m writing this two days after getting back, but truthfully, I think it will take much longer to fully reflect on everything that I learned and experienced. I hope, though, that by doing this blog post, I can convey at least partially how incredibly impactful my trip to Buenos Aires really was.

The Plus3 program is set up a little differently from other study abroad programs. Because it was only two weeks long, we had a much busier schedule than someone studying abroad for an entire semester. I don’t think this was necessarily a bad thing, though, as I don’t think I felt bored once during the whole trip, and I still managed gain a significant amount of knowledge. Our program in particular focused on comparing the Argentine and American health care systems, so we spent a lot of time visiting hospitals and meeting with people who worked in the healthcare sector. Our schedule each day generally consisted of two or three lectures from prominent figures in the Argentine healthcare system and then some sort of cultural activity, such as a museum visit or walking tour, if time allowed. Some of the notable people we met with included the former national minister of health, a current provincial minister of health, several hospital directors, and union leaders among others. We talked about the nuances of the system, which is very convoluted and fragmented, and how it was similar and different from our system in the US. I am very grateful to have not only met with these people, but to actually have had active discussions with them about the healthcare system. We also visited several hospitals, both public and private, and saw the massive differences between the two sectors. Being able to see the facilities and talk with staff was something that very few people will ever get to do. These were truly once in a life time experiences that were much more informative about Argentina than any online or text source would ever be. Beyond academic visits, we also had the opportunity to participate in many cultural activities. Some of my favorites included the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, Museo Etnográfico, and Cemetario de la Recoleta. We also visited many of the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires such as San Telmo, la Boca, Palermo, and Recoleta, all of which had unique characteristics and charm. The city was beautiful beyond belief. It was unlike any city I had experienced before in the sense that at almost every corner, you could turn and feel like you were in an entirely different country, whether that be Italy, Spain, or Germany. Getting to explore the various shops and restaurants while interacting with locals was one of the highlights of the trip for me.

With such a busy and constantly changing schedule, adaptability was something that I was worried about going into the program. In the past I’ve struggled with change, and I didn’t know how such a rapid shift in location and culture would affect my ability to be in the moment during the trip. However, I found that I was very quickly able to get into the swing of things. What once would have been an anxiety inducing nightmare was something that I could fully embrace and enjoy. This was probably the most important thing I learned on the trip, that I am much more capable of doing difficult things than I ever thought I could be. I was surprised at how fast I was able to branch outside of my comfort zone, exploring the city and talking to people I never would have before. My fear about the unknown vanished and I was filled with excitement about all of the opportunities I had to grow. This is a skill that not only affects me personally, but also my career in healthcare as well. I very much plan on incorporating it into this aspect of my life. In terms of knowledge gained about healthcare, I learned an incredible amount. Being able to talk to the people I mentioned before and visit hospitals was very informative about healthcare policy, financing, philosophy, and more. I plan on going into healthcare administration at some point in my life, and what I learned during this program will provide me with a rich knowledge base.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have participated in Plus3 Argentina this year, and I am also incredibly thankful for the Martinson Elevate Award which made this all possible. I will never forget my time in Buenos Aires, and I am so excited to find out where my newfound knowledge will take me.