Due to its deep virtue, the Jesuits made the creation of novice establishments have fundamental importance, for the continuity of the vocational and educational project in the different places where they were set up.

With the habitual so always right geopolitical intuition, when they chose Cordoba at seat of the maximum school, they logically thought about the novice establishment, which was inaugurated in 1608, whith a simple construction where only the chapel that was private or domestic predominated.

The present Domestic Chapel, started to be built in 1643 t replace a precarious construction. Its walls are made out of cut stones, the vault is a series of wooden semicircular ribs separated by closed spaces with a shell of tacuara canes tied with leather straps, on which stretched and glued pieces of leather covered with animal gelatin and plaster were stuck. Then a colorful ornamentation with plant motifs, the litanies and the Virgin of Mercy receiving the members of the Company talk about the private use of the site. Over the vault a gable roof covered with tiles protects this incredible work.

Not less impressive is the carved, gold-colored and colorful-painted altarpiece made of Paraguayan cedar, enriched with solomonic columns that provide more majesty to this chapel which had to reduce its dimensions when the University nationalized.

Today, it belongs to the priests ‘residence and it stands as a real treasure, summary of a Jesuitic architecture that was pragmatic par excellence. It’s a must to meet her.

Thursday, March 24, don’t expect to go to work, to class, or shopping- it’s a national holiday, and a big one at that.  Known as el Día de la Memoria, the Day of Memory, it’s not your run-of-the-mill recognition of some old battle.  In fact, pretty much anyone over the age of 30 can remember the reasons all too well.

After Juan Perón came back to Argentina in 1973 for his third term as president, he only survived one year of his term, leaving his second wife, Isabel Perón, in charge as the President of the nation after his death (she had run with him as his vice president).  During her presidency, the military used a secret police force, called the AAA or Triple A, to hunt down, kidnap, torture and kill those who were seen as “subversives:” social activists, student organizations and workers’ unions, progressive academics, etc.  As the military became more unsatisfied with her government, the progressive sector of society was attacked more and more.  Guerilla groups like the ERP and the Montoneros fought back against the armed forces, kidnapping multinational executives for large ransoms that were used to distribute food, clothing, educational materials, and medical supplies to slums and poor families.

On March 24, 1976, the three branches of the armed forces (air force, navy and army) took the government by force.  The guerilla groups were the prefect excuse for the military dictatorship to declare a “war against terrorism” and to kidnap, torture, and execute anyone they felt opposed to their agenda. They established secret detention centers where “subversive” citizens were taken after being abducted where they were tortured extensively and often killed.  These people, the desaparecidos, the “disappeared,” are estimated to be around 30,000 people, not including those confirmed dead and those who survived the torture and were later released.  Family members spent weeks, months, and years trying in vain to get any kind of information about their disappeared loved ones from the government.

Among strict laws including mandated dress codes (no miniskirts or women in pants), hairstyles (men had to have short hair), appropriate reading materials and political parties (the Communist Party as well as student and worker unions and organizations were declared subversive and illegal), the right to organize or meet in public was also totally prohibited.  After running into each other over and over in government offices while trying to locate their children, some mothers decided to get together to demand information about their kidnapped children.  Since more than 2 people speaking in public was declared a meeting and therefore illegal, the mothers began marching on Thursdays, walking in groups of just two people, around the Plaza de Mayo, holding photos and signs about their missing children:  they became the famous Madres de la Plaza de Mayo.   These women were essentially the only group who, out of desperation, fear and love, stood up to this brutal dictatorship to demand information about their missing children.  Several of the mothers themselves were disappeared after joining the marches, including two of the three founding mothers, tricked into a secret military ambush by the priest at a church that claimed to be helping them.

Even now, more than 30 years after it began, tens of thousands of victims remain disappeared. Despite investigative truth commissions, exposure and investigation of secret detention centers, and trials of the leaders of the military junta, most of the 30,000 disappeared remain that way.  Mass graves have been found and some bodies identified, but the majority remains missing.

Over 100 children born to disappeared pregnant women have been recovered from military families who “adopted” them after birth, thanks to the Abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo.  This group is made up of women who were part of the Madres, but whose children were pregnant or when disappeared.  These women demanded to know what happened to their grandchildren.  Since the dictatorship ended, it has come to light that pregnant women were systemically kept alive till giving birth and then murdered, and then their babies were given to families of military personnel or those who were friendly with the dictatorship.   The Abuelas, along with the support of the Kirchner presidents, created a national DNA database of those looking for grandchildren and those who feel they may have been adopted, and have successfully found 100 of these stolen children.  Some of them, now in their thirties, have taken their adoptive parents to court, while others stay in contact with them after being reunited with their real families.

Others have fought hard against this truth coming out, the most famous being the children of Ernestina de Noble, the millionaire media mogul and owner of the Clarín Group, who acquired several of her lucrative businesses through cozy contacts with the dictatorship, as well as, likely, her children.  The government’s strong support and pursuit of this high profile case, as well their investigations of the means through which the Clarín Group acquired their assets (in particular, Papel Prensa), explains why the Clarín newspapers, TV channels, radio stations and more have engaged so furiously in a public feud with the Kirchners, active supporters of human rights who maintain conflicting business interests with Clarín.   If you are supplementing your Spanish learning by reading local newspapers, you’re likely to have come across some of this.  Recently, the courts ruled that the children must submit DNA samples to be compared with the national database to determine if it matches a searching grandmother.

The march on Thursday, March 24 will bring together people from all factions of life, all ages, and all parts of the country.  All kinds of social organizations, political groups, human rights supporters and friends and families of those who were disappeared come together to remember the atrocities that took place and to fight for justice, human rights, and the truth.  However, it’s not a solemn, depressing event: It is both an event in honor of the victims and a celebration of them, of life, memory, human rights, and the truth.  You’ll see lots of families, artists, political groups, students, workers’ unions, and more marching, celebrating, making music, chanting, and waving flags and banners of all sorts.  It is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of this country.  There are endless signs and banners to decipher and many people are willing and eager to speak to you about their personal reasons for attending the march.  If nothing else, it’s a spectacular site to see some many people coming together with such passion, and one you’re sure to always remember.

The tradition shows that a lot of love stories start with the blessing of the spouses in front of the altar and the statement “…until death do us apart”, but not all of them; because some end up as they should have started… No white trousseau, no great pomp and ceremony, two hearts full of love join for ever on a scene that was not romantic at all. The Prison of the old customs of Santa Fe marked the beginning of this incredible love story on March 31^st 1835.

He, a well-known 44 year-old leader, mistaken by his condition of political prisoner; she, 23 years younger and completely in love promised eternal love to each other beyond the prejudice that meant celebrating a wedding in jail, between a Military man, Gral. Jose Maria Paz and his own niece, Margarita Weid.

Onece the marriage was consummated, she made sure that the prison transformed in a home was peaceful to be able to keep it morally; he didn’t stop admiring his wife’s temperament which didn’t fall in the adversity of destiny. The birth of their first child found themselves in Lujan prison, where they stayed for several years before leaving to the exile. First Colonia and then Rio de Janeiro were the lands that gave shelter to so much suffering and desolation for the shortages and miscarriages that the Paz-Weid had to bear supported by the deep love they had.  Margarita was very deteriorated and closed her eyes to this life after giving birth to the eighth child there in Brazil in 1847. He went back with his children and died in 1854 in the country he loved.

At present, this love story with so many setbacks and woes takes comfort in the eternal rest: Death joined them forever. They both rest in a splendid mausoleum designed by Ernesto de la Carcova, placed in the portico of the Church that saw them grow, the Cathedral of Cordoba.

Around the world Argentina is known for its beef and tango, but few realize the quality of its wine, especially in the Cuyo region in northwestern Argentina. The perfect combination of growing conditions of high altitude, strong sunlight and protection from the Andes means that most of the vineyards and the wine industry are located around the Mendoza province.

Every year, from January to March, in various locations of the province, begins the wine festival called Vendimia. It is a time of celebration for the harvest of the area’s unique grape, the Malbec, which is used to make the savory Malbec wine, a red variety with a robust, yet fruity taste. The celebrations include folkloric festivals, religious ceremonies to bless the grapes, crowning of the Reina Nacional de la Vendimia, sports events and a lot of wine and merriment throughout the festivities.

For Vendimia, the peaceful city of Mendoza becomes a crowded mixture of parades and street fairs where the wine is king and the province’s capital dances with pride. Each region in the Mendoza province is represented in the festivities and selects a princess to compete for the harvest queen - la Reina de Vendimia.

The chosen beauties ride atop lavish floats from each region in a parade that travels through the city’s downtown area. The float’s participants proudly boast their season’s best varieties by giving away wine samples and full bottles to the crowd. The Harvest Queen is chosen Saturday night during a grand light show of music and dancing held inside a large Greek-style amphitheater in Plaza San Martin.

When darkness falls, the city’s plazas come alive as booths of handicrafts, wine and European gastronomy are erected downtown. Local and visiting artists sell their high-quality wares, ranging from bright pottery, jewellery, leather goods, hand-carved mate gourds, knitted and woven textiles and more.

If you can’t make it to Mendoza for Vendimia, a fun way to experience the area’s wine culture it to rent a bike and spend the day visiting some of the local wineries in the area, see the lush vineyards and sample some excellent wines right from the barrels. You will not be disappointed!

CHIMICHURRI (Sauce):

Parsley, 2 cups, minced.

Garlic cloves, 2, diced.

Oregano (dried), 1/4 tsp.

Red pepper flakes 1 pinch.

Cumin seeds 3/4 tsp.

Paprika 1/4 tsp.

Salt 1/2 tsp to taste.

Black pepper 1/2 tsp to taste.

Bay leaf ½.                                               SANDWICH:

Olive oil 2 Tbsps.                        *Argentinean Chorizo, as many as you and your guests want to eat.

Canola oil 1/4 cup.                              * French rolls, as many chorizos you have.

Balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsps.

White distilled vinegar 1/2 cup.

Method:

1. In a glass bowl combine the minced parsley and diced garlic.
2. Add the oregano, red pepper flakes, cumin seeds, paprika, bay leaf, and salt & pepper.
3. Add the olive oil and canola oil and mix with a spoon.
4. Add the balsamic vinegar and white vinegar and mix again.
5. Taste. Adjust mixture by adding more of the oils, vinegars and salt & pepper. For the best results let the mixture stand for 2 hours at room temperature.
6. If you are using a gas grill set the temperature to medium. If you are using a charcoal barbeque get the coals to the point that white ash is showing and the coals are glowing and are spread out in an even layer.
7. Poke holes in the chorizo and place on the grill. Grill for 8 to 10 minutes per side.
8. Slice the French roll on one side to open up. Place on the grill to toast.
9. Place a chorizo inside of the roll. Spoon the chimichurri over the chorizo.

My trip to Argentina with Projects Abroad revived my boring life and opened a door to a whole new world. I volunteered in equine therapy at the Fundacion Cordobesa de Equinoterapia for 2 months. I am an occupational therapist and I love horses, so it was only a logical choice that I chose equine therapy. I could not have chosen any better. Veronica, the owner of the equine therapy centre, is a very extraordinary and dedicated therapist.  It was an honour to have worked with her. The place was well equipped with good karma all around. The pretty big ponies (I call them horses) Negra, Toro (actually a horse), Chocolate, Milton, and Estrellita were awesome to volunteers and children. Estrellita was the star of the show, hard working and patient. Children were in love with her. In equine therapy you have to expect to get pretty dusty. Wear comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. Sometimes you ride ponies for a short time, so riding boots or chaps are a plus. I spent lots of time and money trying to find the perfect riding boots in Cordoba, so if you are prepared, you may eliminate that headache; Although Veronica has some protective gear at the equine therapy place. She always made sure that volunteers wore a helmet and a vest for protection. Veronica wanted everybody to have a great and safe time! My volunteering co-workers were awesome! Aurore, Leonie, Kate, Sandrine, Damien, Hersha, and Mieke. What a great team!! Teamwork is a biggie in this setting. Putting on saddles and taking them off, cleaning horses and the area, assisting children, warming up horses, and cleaning up after stormy winds. We took pride in making the place look nice and tidy. Veronica in turn fed us dulce de leche and bread. She always made us feel like part of the family. I miss the farm with its fresh air, greenery, horses and dogs. It always was a great place to work and a great way to balance out the busy city life.

Cordoba has lots to offer culturally, educationally and commercially. I doubled my luggage due to my productive shopping; it’s a great place to buy leather goods. I lived with a great family right in the heart of the city. Alicia Fernandez and her daughters were super friendly and always interested in my well-being. It was nice to know that they really cared about me. I loved Alicia's light and healthy cooking. The food, especially the Argentinean meat, was unbelievably delicious. Night life in Cordoba offers a chance to go out with other volunteers and meet locals. I took tango lessons in Cordoba, and danced in La Boca when I visited Buenos Aires. I felt pretty well prepared even after just a few classes. The Spanish classes with Susan Revol from Projects Abroad were very helpful and jump started my passion for Spanish aka Castellano. I still have lots to learn and I am excited about it. I cannot wait to return to Cordoba and visit with my new friends, study Castellano and explore surrounding South American countries. I had a chance to see lots of beautiful places in Argentina. I have travelled to the Iguazu Falls, Mendoza, Salta, Bariloche, and Buenos Aires, just to mention a few places that I have visited while with Projects Abroad. What an amazing country and people!! I am excited to return to South America one day and continue my adventure. Thank you to the amazing Projects Abroad team in Cordoba. Thank you a bunch!!

The last words I said to my mum as I left to board a plane for my first trip (longer than a week) away from my parents to Córdoba Argentina, this place on the other side of the world, as she was crying and hugging me was “Don’t worry I’ll be seeing you at Christmas”, little did I know then that I would extend my two month trip to three and not only miss Christmas in England but also new year!

 I took this trip to Argentina in order to gain some work experience because I really want to work in international development, for charities and NGO’s. I took courses on Latin America and learnt how many countries, especially Argentina are not seen as “poor” so don’t get as much aid as places such as Africa. Actually the people who need the aid are still just as poor, and so I wanted to help here because I know how it is needed but forgotten, I said this to Ines my host ‘mum’ when she and her husband Jean asked me why I chose to volunteer in the first place and why South America, specifically Argentina.   Argentina actually gave me a lot more than just work experience and the feeling that I had accomplished something in my aim to give aid somewhere in the world, and help just a fraction of the people who need it. It also gave me an experience that I will never forget, because here I also gained a family.

My host here was Ines...you probably all know her because she works for Projects Abroad, others of you know her because you were here when I was and heard my stories about my host family and said things to me like “we’re jealous of you” or “I wish my host was like that”. The thing was, Ines wasn’t just my host, in fact calling Ines and Jean my host family, and her parents and brothers for that matter, is not right, because they are forever now my family, yes I still have my parents here and my sister but now I just gained a brother and older sister forever, when I speak of them I say “my family in Argentina”.   I spent most of my time here either playing in the garden with Ines’ dogs, helping  in her clothes shop (for all of you who don’t know she owns a boutique close to the market on Belgrano),  helping Jean with his vegetable garden (he is a chef- another bonus!!) or being pushed in the pool fully clothed by Ines (she ended up in with me every time). I enjoyed every minute of my time with Ines and Jean, we even did a weekend trip to Buenos Aires, with poor Jean driving the full 10 hour trip whilst Ines and I slept! Here I got to experience a Buenos Aires that was worlds apart from the one I took with my volunteer friends, I met their friends, was shown the important sights, went shopping for stock for the boutique around an area of Buenos Aires tourist probably don’t even know exists, and even went to Temaikèn a bioparque- way better than a zoo! With my host family I spent the holidays of Navidad y Año Nuevo con mi familia and I loved it, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend it although my mum was not quite as impressed when I told her instead of going to church at Christmas I went to a Casino...my first one!!!

My weekday afternoons were spent at Residencia Eva Peron, a children’s home for children from 0-10 years old, when I was there the highest number of children was 13 and lowest 7 around Christmas time. For Christmas I asked my parents to please tell my family that instead of buying me Christmas presents that I will open a month late, could they please give me the money so that I could spend it on presents for the children. This is what I did, we had 7 children and everyone got their own special present as well as group toys and a towel each for summer camp. Although at times it could be hard working at the orphanage, I didn’t let it phase me, I knew those children had had a hard life so far, most had been abused and all mistreated in some way. However for all the tantrums and violent reactions to silly things, these children were the most wonderful and precious gifts, and I hope to have even the tiniest influence on their lives. One thing that will have an effect and the children will probably never forget is “Derecho al Verano” in Santa Catalina, translating as “right to a summer” a summer camp programme ensuring all children get the right to a summer holiday. Here the children were free to be children, but in a safe environment where they could play for hours in fields or walk to the animals and watch the sheep herd, horses run, or just go searching for things only a child can conjure in their imaginations (like when we found a horse skeleton and the boys were convinced it was a “dinosaurio”). At Santa Catalina we also played sports games with the kids, and went swimming every day to the river which they all loved!! I even made friends with two local girls from Córdoba who I stayed friends with and went out with in the city on our return.

I also made friends with a group of volunteers from all over, we had Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Australians, and even a couple from Bermuda!  With these new friends I not only spent days and evenings hanging out or at socials, but with some I travelled visiting other parts of the country such as Las Cataratas del Iguazu, Buenos Aires (for my 2^nd time) and horse riding in la Cumbre. With  other volunteers for a social we also visited Mar Chiquita,  a huge salt lake also home to flamingo birds who go there to breed. These trips were each amazing, but seeing Iguazu was just breathtakingly beautiful, when I saw the photos I thought it was beautiful, but no photo could ever do that place justice, it was phenomenal!

Those were my experiences of Argentina, when I left I really didn’t want to leave, and right now all I want to do is return. Yes I missed my family back home in fact the first thing I did was run and hug my mum when I walked from the airport arrivals, and my first words back to her as she started crying all over again were “I realised I told you I’d be home for Christmas and then I didn’t come back”.

A few months ago Projects Abroad started up a new project related to the suffering of the street dogs – Animal Care. Since then we have started to receive volunteers and change, thanks to their help, the lives of many of the dogs living in the shelter Revivir of Villa Allende. Like many shelters, conditions here are terrible and much help is needed.

On the last Sunday of February we organised a mini Dirty Day and took 16 puppies from the refuge to a popular aircrafts fair that is organized every weekend in downtown Cordoba. We found in just 3h new caring families for 9 puppies!

We would like to thank all the volunteers who participated that day and put all their heart into their task of finding a new home for these puppies! Gracias!

End of February we were 18 volunteers to go trekking to Quebrada del Condorito Nacional Park - a wildlife reserve in Cordoba province that gives the name to a deep ravine. From its high edges visitors can observe the andino condors at the same level. This specie, typical of the Mountain chain, has a population that in the last decade shows an important declination because of its slaughter. This huge bird is more than ten feet wide with its wings extended!

We had a beautiful day in the fresh air walking in rolling upland grasslands to the Quebrada, picnicking all together and making new friends. At the end of the day we all went home tired from our long walk but happy to have discovered one of wonders of Cordoba province.