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