Hola!
It's true! I am here. I am officially living and breathing Buenos Aires (not always so clean) air! I forgot just how much I love this city. There are huge parks, free exercise classes in the park each morning (envision 50 men and women of all ages swiveling their hips to Latin tunes at 8:30 am!!), fruit, veggie, and bread markets on every corner, and - best of all - my best friend, Rene, is currently living here, as well.
I have been staying with Rene in her beautiful, spacious, and sunny apartment since I arrived last Wednesday. I am fortunate to have a place to lay my head while I look for my own apartment. Apartment hunting here is much more frustrating than I imagined and rent is MUCH MUCH more than one would think. Most places run around $800. Which is a lot when I think that I lived in a gorgeous 2 bedroom furnished apartment in Ecuador for $250/month. But Im not in Ecuador anymore, so I suppose it is time to change my mindset!
So what exactly have I been up to my first week here? Well, I have been quite busy meeting people, looking at apartments, working on getting everything in order for the university, and reorienting myself here in the city. It turns out that 2 years away is more than enough time to forget how to use the buses, subway, and simply get from one place to another without walking in circles (and, yes, I have done that). For example, yesterday I had an interview at the university (i.e. VERY important meeting). I left one hour early for what should have been a twenty minute walk/bus ride. I had prepared my travel route by looking up how to get from point A (Rene's apartment) to Point B (the uni). Unfortunately, the directions I was given were mildly incorrect. And, in this case, even a small miscalculation was enough to leave me walking in circles as I asked one person after another how to get to the bus stop. Finally, after what should have been a 3 minute walk turned into a 15 minute walk, I boarded the 160 bus. Being unsure of which stop was mine, I got off too early and turned a 5 minute walk into a 15 minute run. I arrived winded at 11:01am with what I hoped was a valid reason ("You see, I left early, had directions, and well...life happened.") I was not sure I would be forgiven, but what other choice did I have at this point?! However, it turns out that I was number 10 in line for my "11 AM" interview, so no need to be forgiven after all - phew! i waited to speak to someone, got the information I needed, gave my best, and was off with hopes that an acceptance letter would arrive in my hotmail inbox today. Still no letter, but Argentinians do not start working until well after 10am, so I am not concerned just yet.
In addition to getting lost (and found), I have attended a meeting on world affairs, belly danced with some of Rene's Argentinian and American friends, eaten tons of fresh fruits and veggies, shimmied my hips in the park, walked until I nearly dropped, attended Rene's going away party at an Argentinian friend's house with a group of her co-workers, and have even gone furniture shopping to find a new bed for a friend.
It is still somewhat unclear as to when I actually will be attending my first class - Argentinians are big fans of giving info on a last-minute basis, but from what I understand classes will begin the week of April 4th. So I have a week and a half more to meet new people, catch up with old friends that I met during my earlier travels in the country, and explore the neighborhoods and transportation system!!
For now, I am telling myself to have faith that everything will come together. And 98.75% of me is positive it will!
Stay tuned...
VIVA!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Time to Fly and Flourish as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Buenos Aires!
Hi All,
I cannot believe it has been over a year since I last wrote! That's not to say that exciting and interesting things have not occurred over the last year - 2 trips to Ecuador, 5 months and many adventures working in the gorgeous mountains of Western North Carolina,and a fantastic trip to Spain with my dad and stepmom, Susan. I am one extremely blessed and beyond grateful chic! However, it is to say that I have simply been lazy about writing. But what better time than the beginning of a new and exciting adventure back to my beloved Argentina!
For those of you who are new to my blog, I spent nearly 12 months traveling on my own throughout South America. I had the amazing opportunity to visit Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. I saw some of the most beautiful places, met incredibly friendly and inviting people, and, best of all, was able to fully immerse myself in the Latino culture. It was a dream adventure!
And now, once again, I have found myself fortunate and blessed to be heading back to what I believe has to be one of the most amazing countries on the planet - Argentina. What other country has jungle, mountains, salt flats, ocean, glaciers, huge spans of primitive land where species have lived undisturbed for centuries?! It's beautiful, the people are friendly, and the food is DELICIOUS! I cannot wait for my daily cup of tea, morning croissant and - this is big for me - a little red meat. I have not eaten red meat in aver 15 years, but what better place to bring it back into my diet than Argentina?!
I have been granted a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and will be studying Psychology and Nutrition for one academic year at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. Having had the opportunity to spend a good bit of time there in 2008 and 2009, I am fairly familiar with the city which is tremendous in helping calm my pre-travel jitters. (I swear, no matter how much I move and travel, I never fail to get nervous - ok, downright frightened - prior to the move/trip. I will also have the wonderful chance to meet and work with Rotarians in Buenos Aires. My club, the Rotary Club Libertador Recoleta, works with a Community Food Pantry that provides food to over 900 people each week. They recently worked with the organization to purchase and install two ovens to teach bread-making classes. They are now working diligently to find a sponsor or Rotary Club to help raise $5000 to purchase another oven to bake pastries. Perhaps my own Rotary Club in Ridgeland, MS or other clubs in my district will be able to help!
I leave in exactly 6 days and 6 hours - but who's counting?! I will miss my family, my friends, my dad and stepmom's amazing comfy, cozy, bright and sunny house, and especially my daily 6:30 am walks with Hobbes, my sweet partially blind and totally deaf 13.5 year old Golden Retriever and Murphy, my sometimes sweet, often grumpy, but always lovable 11 year old Yorkie. I love them all so dearly and cant wait for visitors...if only I could take Hobbes with me! (And Susan!)
I plan to update this as often as possible so anyone reading this can come along on what is sure to be one wild adventure!
Stay posted and keep in touch!
VIVA!
Cameron
I cannot believe it has been over a year since I last wrote! That's not to say that exciting and interesting things have not occurred over the last year - 2 trips to Ecuador, 5 months and many adventures working in the gorgeous mountains of Western North Carolina,and a fantastic trip to Spain with my dad and stepmom, Susan. I am one extremely blessed and beyond grateful chic! However, it is to say that I have simply been lazy about writing. But what better time than the beginning of a new and exciting adventure back to my beloved Argentina!
For those of you who are new to my blog, I spent nearly 12 months traveling on my own throughout South America. I had the amazing opportunity to visit Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. I saw some of the most beautiful places, met incredibly friendly and inviting people, and, best of all, was able to fully immerse myself in the Latino culture. It was a dream adventure!
And now, once again, I have found myself fortunate and blessed to be heading back to what I believe has to be one of the most amazing countries on the planet - Argentina. What other country has jungle, mountains, salt flats, ocean, glaciers, huge spans of primitive land where species have lived undisturbed for centuries?! It's beautiful, the people are friendly, and the food is DELICIOUS! I cannot wait for my daily cup of tea, morning croissant and - this is big for me - a little red meat. I have not eaten red meat in aver 15 years, but what better place to bring it back into my diet than Argentina?!
I have been granted a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and will be studying Psychology and Nutrition for one academic year at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. Having had the opportunity to spend a good bit of time there in 2008 and 2009, I am fairly familiar with the city which is tremendous in helping calm my pre-travel jitters. (I swear, no matter how much I move and travel, I never fail to get nervous - ok, downright frightened - prior to the move/trip. I will also have the wonderful chance to meet and work with Rotarians in Buenos Aires. My club, the Rotary Club Libertador Recoleta, works with a Community Food Pantry that provides food to over 900 people each week. They recently worked with the organization to purchase and install two ovens to teach bread-making classes. They are now working diligently to find a sponsor or Rotary Club to help raise $5000 to purchase another oven to bake pastries. Perhaps my own Rotary Club in Ridgeland, MS or other clubs in my district will be able to help!
I leave in exactly 6 days and 6 hours - but who's counting?! I will miss my family, my friends, my dad and stepmom's amazing comfy, cozy, bright and sunny house, and especially my daily 6:30 am walks with Hobbes, my sweet partially blind and totally deaf 13.5 year old Golden Retriever and Murphy, my sometimes sweet, often grumpy, but always lovable 11 year old Yorkie. I love them all so dearly and cant wait for visitors...if only I could take Hobbes with me! (And Susan!)
I plan to update this as often as possible so anyone reading this can come along on what is sure to be one wild adventure!
Stay posted and keep in touch!
VIVA!
Cameron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
