Whenever I told people that I would be studying in Argentina, I almost always got the same reaction.  A new rendition of Madonna’s portrayal as Eva Peron. And yet, not many people could tell me who Eva Peron actually was outside of her political position.  So let me start at the beginning, with her story.

Eva started her life born into a poor family in Argentina.  She had four siblings, and after her father’s young death, she was raised by her mother. When she got older, Eva became an actress, and then first lady of Argentina.  She became an inspiration to the people, a figure who fought for women’s rights and the rights of the poor.  She created a foundation, the Eva Peron Foundation. She was a person born of the people, and willing to fight for those same people.  

I believe this quote is important, as she is thought by many to be an angel, but my spanish professor Thomas said it best, “She was a revolutionary.”  and her words continued to echo that same truth.

“I know that you will pick up my name and carry it to victory as a banner”

Eva Peron

Unfortunately, her death came quickly at the age of 44 due to cervical cancer.  But the reality is, her death may have come but her legacy lives on. This is why she is known as Evita Immortal.

It was during my tour of Museo Evita that the topic of her popularity came up, and this truly impressed me.  I learned that she was not the most popular in the richer communities, which had me questioning why a center for her foundation would have been placed in Palermo, one of the richer areas of Buenos Aires.  She did this to promote a combining of the two classes, and to this day her museum still stands in Palermo. She also wanted to not just give to those in poverty, but bring them up.  She spoke out, saying, “Charity separates the rich from the poor, aid raises the needy and sets him on the same level with the rich.”

I believe that a lot of the human rights movements and aid present today in Argentina is largely due to Eva Peron.  For example, the bandana’s used to symbolize support for issues such as women’s rights, separation of church and state, and abortion laws.  Eva Peron put much of this in motion. Evita Immortal will have a lasting legacy on the country of Buenos Aires.

The tension between the socioeconomic classes are still present, nevertheless, just as Eva stood strong against those who would go against her, so do the people of the lower class. The museum still stands, the fight for equality still struggles on, and the Peronists and Peronistas continue to carry her name, Eva Peron, to victory as a banner.

Quiero compartir una historia con vos. Durante 2019, yo fui a Argentina y estuvé en la ciudad de Buenos Aires.  Durante de primera semana, todo podía pensar es “La ciudad es mas grande” y “no puedo estar aqui” y yo estuvé enferma.  Pero en la segunda semana, cosas mejoraron.

En mi tiempo libre, cuando no estudiaba, vi la ciudad y conocí muchas personas.  Durante de segunda semana, el grupo y yo fuimos a un concierto con la Orquestra Nacional.  Tambien, visité San Telmo y regresé a Recoleta. Cuando estaba en la residencia, las otras personas fueron muy simpaticas.  Una noche, jugué Poker con ellos. Otra noche, Gee dio un bowl y un tenedor para mi cena. Otra noche, jugamos pool y ping pong. Mi equipo fue Kierran para un partido y Gabi para otra partido.  Por ping pong, vencí a Christian lo cual fue un choque para ellos. Cuando era niña, jugaba poker y ping pong muchisimo con mis primos.

Una semana, el grupo y yo vimos la parque de memoria.  Luchas de calles estuve una frase popular de la parque. En una cuarto, hubo un pelicula sobre el terrorismo.  La pelicula me soprendio muchisimo. Yo necesité un momento despues del fin de la pelicula. Durante mi tiempo en la parque, estuvé muy ansioso porque mi madre tuvió que mirar su medico para un lugar en su pulmón.  Pero, cuando regresé la residencia, yo llamé y ella y yo hablamos y el lugar esta bien ahora.