(A vocation day post from Brooke’s visits in Santa Rosa – photos to come!)

Our group settled first into Santa Rosa within the providence of the La Pampa. Santa Rosa is a community of approximately 200,000 inhabitants and a downtown about the size of downtown Boise. I was welcomed into Patricia Jensens’ a Rotarian who has been with the Santa Rosa club for little more than a year, her and her dog Miglonga made my stay very special.

Alejandro (see photo below) was the first Rotarian who met with me, he was fabulous at introducing me to the transit system in Santa Rosa. The system is ran similar to the system in Boise. The local government accepts bids from multiple contractors and the contractor provides the buses, service and drivers. The local government determines the route and the length of service. The service is a fixed route service with designated stops, however, as a pedestrian you would have no idea where the stops were, as they are not clearly marked, unless you come across a covered shelter, other than that the community members just knew where to go get on the bus. The bus serves majority of low income, elderly and seniors.

I observed the following items as being a continued issues for the service in Santa Rosa.
*Majority of the service is on dirt roads and the local municipality has not upgraded those roads to accommodate buses. The continued use of the buses on the dirt roads are creating a very large expense for maintenance. In addition, the ADA ramps on the buses when deployed on the dirt make it difficult for the bus, when a chair is wheeled onto the ramp the weight of the chair causes the bus to tilt and eventually the ramps break.
*
Service is not delivered where it should be, for instance before the municipality serves particular low-income housing, they insist on a route from other low-income areas with connection to the casino.
* Lack of signage identifying the bus stops.

I would say I am very impressed with their inter-city buses system. You can board very luxury buses allowing you to get all over Argentina. The buses are double decker with about 50 seats, they are either leather (see photo below) or cloth and fold all the way back with a footstool. They serve large meals and to top it off, a whiskey night cap! The buses are driven by two drivers and the driver have their own private sleeping chambers, in an 18 hour trip they stop only twice! And if you really do not like the person your sitting next to, you can just pull your curtain and tune them out. We can really learn from their inter-city busing, impressive!

A special thank you to all my guides who took me around Santa Rosa to check out their transit system, Esteban, Alejandro and Patricia and a special appreciation to the General Manager of Grupo Plaza Ing. Roberto Lopez & Coordinator Operativo Jorge Fontanazza. Thank you for all your hospitality!

– Brooke Green

In the week I have been in Argentina I have learned that:

1. The love for animals and dogs is clear and universal, and that dogs do not care what language I am speaking as long as I give them food and pet them!
2. My habit of using my hands when I speak has significantly increased my ability to be understood.
3. Music can help start any conversation
4. Just smiling speaks volumes
5. Facebook and skype make saying good bye easier and Google translate is awesome!

I have also learned that:
6. The gunshots I think I hear outside are actually very loud backfires from motorcycles and there is no street war taking place.
7. Kicking my host families soccer ball into the pond will not win my brownie points (not to mention my host father sat and waited in hopes that it would float back). 8. Allowing someone else to plan your day, food, and sleep schedule certainly makes life extremely easy!
9. Buying a hairdryer in the country is quite the elaborate process (blog to follow regarding the purchase of the hairdryer). 10. Stop signs do not exist and you have to have 100% trust in the other driver that they actually will stop
11. We will never go hungry!
12. Sleep is overrated
13. My english is getting worse
14. Lastly, Rotarians are the most loving, kind people and they open not only their homes but hearts to our friendship and I am internally grateful for their hospitality! – Brooke Green

Our Idaho Group Study Exchange Team made the news paper in Trenque Lauquen today.  The article announces our arrival and the goals of our team. 

We toured the local cheese factory in the city of Trenque Lauquen, Argentina where they make cream cheese. They process 150,000 liters of milk every day.

There is nothing quite so humbling as trying to showcase your skillset in another language.

As a former journalist and current public relations professional, I was extremely excited to learn how Argentines communicate ideas, opinions, passions, news, information and influence.

But to do that, I would have to embrace the fact that my communication skills in this country are, ahem, subpar to say the least! But, it’s the effort that counts, right? 🙂

I had been hearing about the amazing street art, public art and graffiti throughout the country before I had arrived. In Santa Rosa on Sunday, we got our first glimpse of how Argentines use stencil-graffiti to communicate their opinions on socio-political issues (Photo #1 is protesting a new law passed in the country, Photo #2 is a rallying cry for justice for a murdered woman).

On Monday, our team had our vocational visits. I had asked to visit with news outlets and PR/marketing agencies. I got to experience all of them thanks to my host Alberto Mansilla (also an amazing Tango bandoneon/accordion player!)

Our first stop was at a local media company which published the local paper – La Arena and also was home to the news radio station 99.5. (Photo #3 shows the head of the company with Alberto on the right)

Once I saw the red light flash ‘En El Aire’ I realized I wasn’t just there to observe, they planned to interview me live on the air. Needless to say, my charm and hand gesticulations did nothing to help me on the radio. As we tell our PR clients back in Idaho – ALWAYS be prepared for any question. Apparently, even in Spanish 🙂 (Photo #4 showcases my flaming red face post-interview)

Photos 5-8 are of the La Arena newsroom, which was so similar to newsrooms I’ve worked in in the U.S – from the assignment board, to the rows of computers (with mate instead of coffee!)

I even got a glimpse of the private side of the media business. Alberto’s son (Photo #9) had been an advertising designer at La Arena before striking out on his own as a marketing/advertising graphic designer. Love to meet entrepreneurs in the creative industry.

The final part of my vocation day was at the television station ‘Canal 3’ which was described as ‘Government Television’. Upon touring it – I believe it was more equivalent to our Public TV stations.

I don’t know why I was so surprised at how similar the technology, and the personalities, were between Argentine TV folks and those I’ve been lucky enough to work with. The production crews were sassy & creative (see Photo #12 & the proud display of the Evita t-shirt), and the same balance of old technology and new was seen everywhere.

It has just been four days here – but I’m already amazed by the experiences we’ve packed in. If I’ve learned anything thus far, it is that a smile, a ‘que bueno’ and a kiss on the cheek go a long way in communicating goodwill and friendship – no matter what language you can, or can’t, speak.
– Jess

Early this morning Dr. Jose Benavidez, a general surgeon, picked me up and took me to the main hospital of Santa Rosa La Pampa.  My Spanish language skills are almost non-existent and the language barrier was thick.  However, everyone I met was very kind and willing to try and communicate.  I observed two tonsillectomies and one laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder surgery).  Later I met Dr. Stella Lanari, another general surgeon who happened to speak English very well and we discussed surgeries and healthcare systems in our countries.  Due to lack of funds, the biggest difference I noticed was that their hospital uses much older and much less technology than we do.  They also reuse many supplies that would otherwise be thrown away in Idaho.  I am so grateful I got to visit!  I really enjoyed myself.  The pictures I have included:

1) The parking lot

2) The older section of the hospital

3) Tonsil surgery on a little boy

4) Carina Tamalet, RN washing instruments…our sterilization techniques are a bit more rigorous than in Santa Rosa.

5) Specimens (an appendix) to be sent to pathology)

6) Charting is about one paragraph.  My required charting in Idaho takes up several pages. 

7) Stella, myself, and an anesthesia technician.