Sister Cities!

Hola, hola!

I am so excited to share about what I have been up to the past couple of weeks because it has been full of truly unique experiences that are different from anything I’ve done since being here! This week, the city of Mendoza hosted a group that came here to represent Sister Cities of Nashville and I had the honor of accompanying them on behalf of the city. 

To provide a bit of background, Nashville and Mendoza were named “sister cities” in 2009 in support of President Eisenhower’s initiatives to create formal, long-term partnerships between U.S. communities and international cities in order to foster cultural, educational, and economic relationships. The connection between these two cities runs deep, and it is because of this connection that I am living here today. 

Here are a couple of  highlights from my week with them:

City Hall Visit & Tour

Because of my work with the Mayor’s office, I had the privilege of welcoming this group from Nashville to our City Hall, where I work, and give them a tour while sharing about the history of Mendoza and its global importance. The city of Mendoza has received the title “International Capital of Wine” and has also been named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 historic destinations in the world, making its roots in tourism run deep. So, being able to represent this city to a group from Nashville was such an incredible experience. 

I was also able to help host them at one of the city’s Integrated Community Centers in a rural, under-resourced neighborhood to share about the social impact projects being hosted by the city, some of which I have had the opportunity to work on and support during my time here.

Vendimia Celebrations

This week also happened to be a very special week in Mendoza because we are celebrating Vendimia, which is the wine harvest festival that takes place the first week of March. As the second largest harvest festival in the world, Vendimia features vibrant, city-wide cultural events including parades, the blessing of the fruits, and a grand theatrical show that culminates with the crowning of the National Harvest Queen. The city celebrates all week long with wine tastings and delicious local cuisine that embody the heart of Mendoza. 

Celebrating such an important event and being able to share the deep roots of Mendoza’s culture with a group from Nashville was such an honor, but also an important reminder for me of all the reasons I fell in love with this city and its culture. I was experiencing some of these celebrations for the first time, but also watching others experience them for the first time in a culture that they haven’t gotten to know yet. It showed a new perspective that made me feel so grateful for the opportunity I have here.

I am so thankful for the opportunity I was given to host this group in Mendoza and feel so honored to have been entrusted with such an important role in their introduction to the beauty of this city. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity!

With love, Sarah