Buenas tardes!
So it's been nearly a month since I have written and soooooooo much has happened since I last blogged.
My most exciting and memorable adventure of late was an absolutely amazing trip to the montanas of Peru (my 4th time there). I am in loooooooove with the area - the fresh air, the green-covered mountains, the sun and clear blue sky days. Oohhhhhhh so much to love:). Oh, and best of all, was getting to meet up with both Vera and an old friend from my previous travels - Jose - who is from the area and works as a biking/trekking guide - who knows the area like (maybe even better than) the back of his hand. Traveling with these two was SUCH a treat:).
I arrived on Friday afternoon where I was met at the airport by Jose, and I was quickly jolted into the reality of the extreme altitude change (sea level to 10000+ feet) when we found ourselves hauling ourselves and our backpacks straight up a steep flight of stairs to the hostel Vera had reserved for the three of us. Vera left to hike 72 kms to Machu Pichu the Monday before and would be joining us upon her return from such a triumph later that night. And what a freakin' treat to be there when she came stumbling through the door at midnight exhausted, covered in 5 days of dirt, but with the biggest, proudest smile one could imagine!
The three of us spent the next two days exploring Cusco and nearby ruins before parting ways with Vera (she was heading onto Lake Titicaca which I had already been to on a previous trip, so we headed South to the ginormous, bustling city of Arequipa). I wont say much about that as I 1) hated the city - sure, it had its pretty parts, but I was dying for a tiny, middle-of-nowhere place; 2) was treated worse than I have ever been in my entire life by a waitress who blatantly ignored Jose and I while serving others (I have been fighting to accept it, but in that moment, I now truly believe the two of us were victims of racism); and 3) we spent most of the day engaging in what I am referring to as "turismo medico" as Jose got violently ill thanks to bad mayo and we spent the day getting to know the city via its many hospitales y clinicas y laboratorios. The fun had is truly indescribable.
But once we got over the attitude and the ill-chillness, we were back on a bus and off to the teeny tiny town of Chivay. And it was absolutely fab. A middle-of-nowhere town at the Southern tip of the deepest canyon in the world. We rented bikes and biked through even teenier, tinier towns at 3600 meters. (Ok, so Im bragging here, but I cant help myself - I climbed some pretty gnarly hills at this altitude without hopping off my bike while poor Jose (who lives at this altitude, mind you) had to hop off and walk various times. I may be small, but I am mighty!!...hehe) We soaked in thermal pools and ate fresh avocado and cheese sandwiches at the local market each morning. It was positively delightful.
But after three days of peace and tranquility, we were back aboard a bus for the 18 hour trip back to Cuzco. At one point on the return trip, I was convinced it was my time to pass to the afterlife as the bus died while trucking uphill. DIED. The bus driver pulled the emergency break and left us there while he went to see what might be done. He decided the best route was to take off the emergency break and try to get the bus to crank back up (the logic I still fail to understand). WELL, such an experiment involves leaving the bus to ROLL FREELY down a steep mountain road. Personally, I would have had us all get off. I mean, if the bus must roll to its ruin, at least save the lives of the 60 people aboard. Such was not the thinking of the driver, however. So we 60 poor people were left to roll back again and again and again (3 times - I counted as I put my head between my legs holding onto my seat - as if that would save me - telling myself that "if this was my time to go, so be it.") and FINALLY the bus cranked and just like the Little Engine That Could we "think we can(ned)" our way up the hill. As I noted at the beginning, my trip was fabulous; however, that does not mean to say that not so delightful things did not happen!
Upon returning to Cuzco, I spent my final day hiking around a lake and eating cake in another middle of nowhere town and then going out to dance until the wee hours of the night with the locals - such a relief to be able to START dancing at 10 pm (as opposed to 2 am here in Buenos Aires). And after a day of being completely alone in the middle of nowhere, I was swiftly whisked back into my current home city of 12 million people - talk about shell-shock!
Now it's back to BA, back to school, back to teaching English classes, and back to Rotary activities. Last Saturday, I visited a home for homeless children with psychiatric disorders where my club donates funds for various activities and will begin volunteering there soon. This week I have two presentations at two different clubs. So it's been busy busy busy.
And Im sooooo excited as my mom is coming to visit to celebrate her 60th birthday!! SHe gets in on Saturday and we will be celebrating at a folkloric show with 15 great friends of mine from some 5 different countries:)! Then the two of us will be off to Uruguay for a few days. Momma Barnes is becoming quite the world traveler! Hasta la proxima...
VIVA!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Slumbering Around or How I Moved for the 4th Time in 4 Months
Buenas tardes queridos!
Sooo...Im sitting here not entirely sure what to write about. It's been a couple of weeks, so SOMETHING of note must have occurred. Thinking....thinking....thinking...
Oh, of course! ... I finished the semester, moved for the FOURTH time, and attended a good old-fashioned slumber party with 4 of my closest friends - complete with funfetti cake w/ pink frosting (imported form the States), nail-painting, fortune-telling, staying up until dawn:), and sharing one giant king-sized bed. Yes, yes, I know one is supposed to outgrow this by the time she reaches her teens, but what is wrong with one night of reliving one's childhood?! We cooked delightful treats, ate too much, and told silly stories. And Martine painted my nails. So for the first time in perhaps 2 years, I have preeeeeetty nails! It was a truly, wonderful night of childish antics (minus the cooking. I did NOT cook as a child...nor, come to think of it, did I really do so that night as I contributed with a salad - hey, so Ill never be Betty Crocker:)!).
The semester ended smoothly. I look forward to being able to make better informed choices as far as classes and professors next semester. Cant say I was blown away by all of my classes. Alright, I suppose I was actually blown away by my one class where my professor showed up approximately half of the time. Not THAT'S dedication, folks!
And moving went well. I was horribly reluctant to leave my adorable, tiny, sunny studio. I was so comfortable there. I had actually UNPACKED my things (this is a big deal if you have ever lived with or near me in any other locale...Ive lived out of my trunk and/or bag for weeks (even months) on end on more than a few occasions). So repacking and unpacking - two of my least favorite activities - was not a thrilling experience. I stuffed my things haphazardly into 6 bags wondering how in the world my things expanded from fitting into the two bags I arrived with and lugged them and my plant Esmeralda 7 blocks away to my new abode. And, in true Cameron fashion, I did not unpack for 3 days. In fact, the first night I slept in my sleeping bag. Ok, please do not judge. To my credit (not to say I even need a legitimate excuse to have done this), I got home at 2 am thinking my bed had been made by the owner prior to me moving in. It certainly LOOKED made. The comforter was in place, the pillows were covered. So I stumbled in at 2 am exhausted, pulled up the comforter fully prepared to snuggle inside and fall fast asleep, only to discover there were NO sheets. Granted, I did quickly find sheets in the closet, but making my bed at 2 am was simply not an option (not that making my bed at any moment is an exciting option). So, without further ado, I whipped out my sleeping bag, stuffed it underneath the comforter, crawled in, zipped up, and was quickly off to dreamland. I claim I was missing the NOC way of life so much so that I decided to reenact my mountain nights. You believe me, right?! Anyway, within three days, I had unpacked everything and fallen absolutely head-over-heels in love with my new place. It's FABULOUS. I cant speak highly enough of the place. Big, spacious, sunny, comfy, clean, gorgeous view of the city form the 13th floor, AND has a combination washer/dryer IN the apartment (this is simply unheard of). And to show my appreciation for my access to such fancy technology, I washed 3 loads of laundry within the first 2 days (that is, after I emailed the former tenant asking how to use the thing - the icons make no sense to the foreign eye:$). Considering I do an average of one load every 2 weeks, this was another miraculous achievement on my part.
I am now spending my break teaching English classes, taking random dance classes (hip hop, house, reggaeton, tango, etc), biking around the city with friends, researching, and visiting Rotary clubs. I will be leaving the insanity of the city for a week to tromp in the mountains outside of Cusco, Peru with my friends Vera and Jose. Then back to Argentina to prepare for visits from my mom and Kilby. And then it's back to school I go. So much excitement to look forward to:)! Hasta la proxima...
VIVA!
Sooo...Im sitting here not entirely sure what to write about. It's been a couple of weeks, so SOMETHING of note must have occurred. Thinking....thinking....thinking...
Oh, of course! ... I finished the semester, moved for the FOURTH time, and attended a good old-fashioned slumber party with 4 of my closest friends - complete with funfetti cake w/ pink frosting (imported form the States), nail-painting, fortune-telling, staying up until dawn:), and sharing one giant king-sized bed. Yes, yes, I know one is supposed to outgrow this by the time she reaches her teens, but what is wrong with one night of reliving one's childhood?! We cooked delightful treats, ate too much, and told silly stories. And Martine painted my nails. So for the first time in perhaps 2 years, I have preeeeeetty nails! It was a truly, wonderful night of childish antics (minus the cooking. I did NOT cook as a child...nor, come to think of it, did I really do so that night as I contributed with a salad - hey, so Ill never be Betty Crocker:)!).
The semester ended smoothly. I look forward to being able to make better informed choices as far as classes and professors next semester. Cant say I was blown away by all of my classes. Alright, I suppose I was actually blown away by my one class where my professor showed up approximately half of the time. Not THAT'S dedication, folks!
And moving went well. I was horribly reluctant to leave my adorable, tiny, sunny studio. I was so comfortable there. I had actually UNPACKED my things (this is a big deal if you have ever lived with or near me in any other locale...Ive lived out of my trunk and/or bag for weeks (even months) on end on more than a few occasions). So repacking and unpacking - two of my least favorite activities - was not a thrilling experience. I stuffed my things haphazardly into 6 bags wondering how in the world my things expanded from fitting into the two bags I arrived with and lugged them and my plant Esmeralda 7 blocks away to my new abode. And, in true Cameron fashion, I did not unpack for 3 days. In fact, the first night I slept in my sleeping bag. Ok, please do not judge. To my credit (not to say I even need a legitimate excuse to have done this), I got home at 2 am thinking my bed had been made by the owner prior to me moving in. It certainly LOOKED made. The comforter was in place, the pillows were covered. So I stumbled in at 2 am exhausted, pulled up the comforter fully prepared to snuggle inside and fall fast asleep, only to discover there were NO sheets. Granted, I did quickly find sheets in the closet, but making my bed at 2 am was simply not an option (not that making my bed at any moment is an exciting option). So, without further ado, I whipped out my sleeping bag, stuffed it underneath the comforter, crawled in, zipped up, and was quickly off to dreamland. I claim I was missing the NOC way of life so much so that I decided to reenact my mountain nights. You believe me, right?! Anyway, within three days, I had unpacked everything and fallen absolutely head-over-heels in love with my new place. It's FABULOUS. I cant speak highly enough of the place. Big, spacious, sunny, comfy, clean, gorgeous view of the city form the 13th floor, AND has a combination washer/dryer IN the apartment (this is simply unheard of). And to show my appreciation for my access to such fancy technology, I washed 3 loads of laundry within the first 2 days (that is, after I emailed the former tenant asking how to use the thing - the icons make no sense to the foreign eye:$). Considering I do an average of one load every 2 weeks, this was another miraculous achievement on my part.
I am now spending my break teaching English classes, taking random dance classes (hip hop, house, reggaeton, tango, etc), biking around the city with friends, researching, and visiting Rotary clubs. I will be leaving the insanity of the city for a week to tromp in the mountains outside of Cusco, Peru with my friends Vera and Jose. Then back to Argentina to prepare for visits from my mom and Kilby. And then it's back to school I go. So much excitement to look forward to:)! Hasta la proxima...
VIVA!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Stepmomma Comes to BA - An Ode to an Amazing Woman!
Buenas tardes!
It another gorgeous yet coooooold day here in Buenos Aires. However, I am not complaining in the least, as this is apparently the dead of their winter. And with lows in the uppers 30s and highs in the lower 50s, I am a happy camper:). NO below freezing temps for days or even weeks on end, you say?! YIPEEEEEEE!! And I take special care not to speak of the winter temps here in negative light, especially since my family back home in MS is baking like a Thanksgiving turkey in 100+ degree temps - ouch!
So my most recent adventures of note happened just over a week ago when my stepmom, Susan Fontenot - whom Vera has dubbed "the stemom of the century" (and she does NOT exaggerate), came to visit. She was only here for a mere 4.5 days, but a short visit is better than no visit at all, so I soaked up her love and energy from the moment I found her plopped down on top of her bags in the middle of the airport lobby to the moment I bid her adieu as she was whisked off in a taxi through the harrowing city traffic en route to the airport.
This woman is AMAZING. I am beyond blessed to have her as a stepmom. I dont know how we Taylor's got so lucky!! And, lucky for me, she was super happy to chillax during her time here. No pressure to see everything there is to see and do all there is to do in her short visit. We wandered through cute neighborhoods, went to a museum, saw a tango show, visited the Sunday artisan market in San Telmo, and saw a SPECTACULAR cirque du soleil like show that no words can do justice - imagine people flying through the air, swimming in a giant pool of water above your head and then being enclosed in a giant plastic bubble while the performers jumped on the bouncy surface over our heads - craaaaazy!
But beyond the necessary things one must check off her list when in BA, we spent most of our time eating tasty salads in adorable sidewalk cafes, taking daily siestas, drinking tea and coffee, and meeting my many wonderful friends of whom have more or less become my family here;).
And, of course, as Susan is also known as Calamity Jane, there were a few..hmmm...mishaps?! Day 1, I arrived bright and early to find Susan had just fallen head first into the tub when the support handle she was using to help her climb in came unattached from the wall. Thank God her first priority was to protect her head. However, this came at the expense of her shoulder and wrist. I was HORRIFIED when I found her. Luckily, she's tough as nails and came away relatively unscathed and was able to shake off the minor pains. However, not 15 minutes later, she proceeded to shock herself while trying to plug in her Ipad. Not once, not twice, but FOUR times!! The pain from the first three shocks evidently wasnt enough to discourage this woman from charging her computer. She was determined to be able to play scrabble!! We finally got her out of the room of terror around noon and I was, quite frankly, afraid to let her return to sleep that night. Thankfully, the worst thing that happened from there on out included waking up ravenous in the middle of the night and having to try to ask the non-English speaking night watchman to please give her some bread and nearly freezing to death as her heat did not work with 35 degree temps outside. Minor inconveniences, really...
As my diet here typically consists of rice, lentils, salad, oatmeal, and fruit, I was excited to have the opportunity to explore the culinary world of BA. We discovered so many delightfully cute cafes that too much of my budget has since been dedicated to cafe con leche and muffins or some other tasty pastry.
And Susan discovered - and opened my own eyes to - just how much PDA occurs in this city. People LOVE to kiss in public. Kiss while standing in line waiting for the bus; stop and kiss mid-stride when you are directly behind them and, as a result, proceed to knock yourself face first into the kissing couple; kissing on the bus; kissing while getting off of the bus; kissing sitting on each other's laps on a plastic folding chair while on the job at the sidewalk flower kiosk on one of the main streets. You get the idea. People love to kiss. Dont get me wrong. Im all for being affectionate. It had simply never been brought to my attention just how out-of-the-ordinarily affectionate Argentinian couples are. So if PDA isnt your thing, I would not recommend dating an Argentinian!
My friends adored her - and who wouldnt?! She adored them. And I adored her visit;). Hasta la proxima, stepmommy mia! I love you to the moon and back!!
VIVA!
It another gorgeous yet coooooold day here in Buenos Aires. However, I am not complaining in the least, as this is apparently the dead of their winter. And with lows in the uppers 30s and highs in the lower 50s, I am a happy camper:). NO below freezing temps for days or even weeks on end, you say?! YIPEEEEEEE!! And I take special care not to speak of the winter temps here in negative light, especially since my family back home in MS is baking like a Thanksgiving turkey in 100+ degree temps - ouch!
So my most recent adventures of note happened just over a week ago when my stepmom, Susan Fontenot - whom Vera has dubbed "the stemom of the century" (and she does NOT exaggerate), came to visit. She was only here for a mere 4.5 days, but a short visit is better than no visit at all, so I soaked up her love and energy from the moment I found her plopped down on top of her bags in the middle of the airport lobby to the moment I bid her adieu as she was whisked off in a taxi through the harrowing city traffic en route to the airport.
This woman is AMAZING. I am beyond blessed to have her as a stepmom. I dont know how we Taylor's got so lucky!! And, lucky for me, she was super happy to chillax during her time here. No pressure to see everything there is to see and do all there is to do in her short visit. We wandered through cute neighborhoods, went to a museum, saw a tango show, visited the Sunday artisan market in San Telmo, and saw a SPECTACULAR cirque du soleil like show that no words can do justice - imagine people flying through the air, swimming in a giant pool of water above your head and then being enclosed in a giant plastic bubble while the performers jumped on the bouncy surface over our heads - craaaaazy!
But beyond the necessary things one must check off her list when in BA, we spent most of our time eating tasty salads in adorable sidewalk cafes, taking daily siestas, drinking tea and coffee, and meeting my many wonderful friends of whom have more or less become my family here;).
And, of course, as Susan is also known as Calamity Jane, there were a few..hmmm...mishaps?! Day 1, I arrived bright and early to find Susan had just fallen head first into the tub when the support handle she was using to help her climb in came unattached from the wall. Thank God her first priority was to protect her head. However, this came at the expense of her shoulder and wrist. I was HORRIFIED when I found her. Luckily, she's tough as nails and came away relatively unscathed and was able to shake off the minor pains. However, not 15 minutes later, she proceeded to shock herself while trying to plug in her Ipad. Not once, not twice, but FOUR times!! The pain from the first three shocks evidently wasnt enough to discourage this woman from charging her computer. She was determined to be able to play scrabble!! We finally got her out of the room of terror around noon and I was, quite frankly, afraid to let her return to sleep that night. Thankfully, the worst thing that happened from there on out included waking up ravenous in the middle of the night and having to try to ask the non-English speaking night watchman to please give her some bread and nearly freezing to death as her heat did not work with 35 degree temps outside. Minor inconveniences, really...
As my diet here typically consists of rice, lentils, salad, oatmeal, and fruit, I was excited to have the opportunity to explore the culinary world of BA. We discovered so many delightfully cute cafes that too much of my budget has since been dedicated to cafe con leche and muffins or some other tasty pastry.
And Susan discovered - and opened my own eyes to - just how much PDA occurs in this city. People LOVE to kiss in public. Kiss while standing in line waiting for the bus; stop and kiss mid-stride when you are directly behind them and, as a result, proceed to knock yourself face first into the kissing couple; kissing on the bus; kissing while getting off of the bus; kissing sitting on each other's laps on a plastic folding chair while on the job at the sidewalk flower kiosk on one of the main streets. You get the idea. People love to kiss. Dont get me wrong. Im all for being affectionate. It had simply never been brought to my attention just how out-of-the-ordinarily affectionate Argentinian couples are. So if PDA isnt your thing, I would not recommend dating an Argentinian!
My friends adored her - and who wouldnt?! She adored them. And I adored her visit;). Hasta la proxima, stepmommy mia! I love you to the moon and back!!
VIVA!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Clarification - Life is FAR Rosier than it is Rocky!!
Buenos dias!
It is a sunny and gorgeous blue sky day here in Buenos Aires...yet at 37 degrees Fahrenheit, I am finding it difficult to find the ganas to leave!
I would like to CLARIFY my reasons behind my last post. I got a number of responses that made me realize, in hindsight, that it did indeed come across as if my life here is one big heap of unhappiness. Which is very much NOT the case. Not at all!! I meant it as a rant AND to show that even the life as a scholarship-funded, international-living, Spanish-speaking adventurer is not always as glamorous as it may seem. Just wanted to put it out there as a reality check that no matter where we are or what we are doing, there are challenges.
Soooo...I wrote about a number of recent challenges. But evidently listing them one after another in one blog post did not come across as intended. I had a few people write me to tell me God loves me, one really good friend write a long letter of concern for my mental health and happiness, a stranger tell me to keep my head up as life would get better (life is great - I promise you!!), and my dad shaking his head wondering, "Why, oh why, is my daughter spending a year of her life in Argentina if she is experiencing such misery?" So, from now on, I will limit my quejas (complaints) to at most one per post.
AND if you look back at my post - some things are mildly amusing...I mean WHO get their ipod run over? And how many times does one have to get on the wrong bus before she learns to ASK where exactly the bus goes BEFORE boarding? Also, as angry as the taxi driver who nearly mowed me down made me at the time, it is evidence that life here is NEVER dull. One must always be on guard. Cross the street with caution, sure. But here in Latin America, confidence weighs much more than caution!
So I hope this clears up any concerns you may have had about my life here. It is challenging, no doubt! But what doesnt kill you - or cause you to run home in a heap of tears (ok, so yes, that has happened a few times) - makes you stronger, right?!
VIVA!
It is a sunny and gorgeous blue sky day here in Buenos Aires...yet at 37 degrees Fahrenheit, I am finding it difficult to find the ganas to leave!
I would like to CLARIFY my reasons behind my last post. I got a number of responses that made me realize, in hindsight, that it did indeed come across as if my life here is one big heap of unhappiness. Which is very much NOT the case. Not at all!! I meant it as a rant AND to show that even the life as a scholarship-funded, international-living, Spanish-speaking adventurer is not always as glamorous as it may seem. Just wanted to put it out there as a reality check that no matter where we are or what we are doing, there are challenges.
Soooo...I wrote about a number of recent challenges. But evidently listing them one after another in one blog post did not come across as intended. I had a few people write me to tell me God loves me, one really good friend write a long letter of concern for my mental health and happiness, a stranger tell me to keep my head up as life would get better (life is great - I promise you!!), and my dad shaking his head wondering, "Why, oh why, is my daughter spending a year of her life in Argentina if she is experiencing such misery?" So, from now on, I will limit my quejas (complaints) to at most one per post.
AND if you look back at my post - some things are mildly amusing...I mean WHO get their ipod run over? And how many times does one have to get on the wrong bus before she learns to ASK where exactly the bus goes BEFORE boarding? Also, as angry as the taxi driver who nearly mowed me down made me at the time, it is evidence that life here is NEVER dull. One must always be on guard. Cross the street with caution, sure. But here in Latin America, confidence weighs much more than caution!
So I hope this clears up any concerns you may have had about my life here. It is challenging, no doubt! But what doesnt kill you - or cause you to run home in a heap of tears (ok, so yes, that has happened a few times) - makes you stronger, right?!
VIVA!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Quejas - It's Not All Rainbows and Roses
Buenas tardes!
So it's true that when I write, I try to highlight the funny, interesting, silly, and exciting things that happen in my life. Thus, I realize it often comes across that life is one big party here in the Southern Hemisphere. Well, the truth? It's not. There are many many things that are really challenging, really not fun, not funny, and sometimes downright depressing. Not that I am writing this to depress anyone out there, just think it's time I make it clear that, no matter where you live or what you are doing, life is not necessarily glamorous. Of course, it is sooooo easy to look back and laugh and make it SEEM glamorous, so maybe even this post will come across as funny!
In the past few weeks, I have had many tough and trying moments. It can be a very lonely existence being a foreigner in a huge city. I almost think it is worse being in a big city than being somewhere small. There are 12 MILLION people around me, yet not one person to talk to. People are so busy with their own lives, caught up in the what, when, where, how of their daily lives and often already have a pretty stable life here with their own home, friends, and family, so are not exactly in the market for more friends. And my classmates? let's just say, while I love Argentina and I know there are some amazing Argentinians out there, I have yet to meet many of them here in Buenos Aires. Yes, it's true, I have LOTS of very wonderful friends. But they, too, have their own respective lives. We once discussed the fact that if for some reason we were to get sick or hurt or pass out and somehow be unable to get to a phone, we could not really say how much time would pass before someone would come looking for us. Vera, Andrea, Kate, and I are in contact via gchat daily, so Im pretty sure that at this point, it would not be more than a day or so. But think about it. And if you think too long, it's kind of sad. We band together and look out for each other, but we dont live close and we do not interact on a daily basis unless we make a specific plan to see each other. Of course, you dont have to live alone in a foreign country for this to happen, but it does increase your chances.
A volcano in Chile erupted on June 4th sending ash into the air - so much so that the towns of Bariloche and Villa La Angostura in southern Argentina have been declared disaster areas having lost power and access to clean water due to being blanketed in the ash carried across the country by the wind. The ash closed down the Buenos Aires airport - some 2000 kms away - and was even carried so far by the wind that it closed down airports in Australia and New Zealand. Can you even imagine? People's entire existences have been destroyed, these towns whose primary source of income is tourism have been devastated as we are in the height of ski season here. Bariloche and Villa La Angostura are two of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life and it breaks my heart to imagine the whole area covered with piles of thick ash. Please keep the people of this area in your thoughts. Mother nature is one powerful powerful force!!
I witnessed a very intense fight between two female teams at a soccer game last weekend. It makes me sad when something that people love so much can lead to such hate and brutality.
I was nearly run over by a taxi driver when walking home from school the other day. There is no such thing as pedestrians having the right of way here. It's more of a "cross at your own risk" type mentality. I was crossing the street as a taxi was coming towards me. The taxi was a good distance off and I am a very fast walker - believe me, my short little legs can burn some rubber! It was a wide street, so even IF I had not made it all the way across, the driver could have EASILY pulled to the right side of the street. But no, not this guy. Not only did he speed up, he sped right towards me. Right towards my side of the street. I was in such disbelief that I nearly stopped in the street (no more than 4 feet from the curb, mind you), but realized that this guy was NOT joking, he intended to hit me. Why? What the heck did he gain by doing that? I was so angry. I wanted to yell at him and ask him why mess with someone who has done NOTHING to inconvenience him. Why go out of your way to scare the shit (pardon my language) and quite possibly injure me. Reminds me of when rednecks would chase me down while biking the back roads of North Carolina. I had to tell myself that I gain nothing by remaining angry with him and hope that karma bites him in the butt someday. Grrr....NOT an easy task;(!
I went salsa dancing with two friends, Vera and Sandra, last week and downright sucked. I mean, Im not sure one could have been worse or that I could have felt more defeated. Im not going to say Im a good dancer, but I know the basics. Or at least, I thought I did. But this "beginner" class was not for the faint of heart. Evidently, beginner here means - you were born listening to salsa music, danced before you walked (not sure how that is possible, but it must be), and can think and do 4 things at once. None of which pertain to me. Even Sandra, who is Colombian and dances salsa as if it is as normal and simple as walking, was struggling. After an hour of being told "76,74,72 complicado, follow the rhythm, dance on the beat, listen to the music, twirl, spin, twist, up, down, over, arm up, down, swivel the hip, etc, etc, etc," my head was spinning, my heart was pounding, and my ego was buried 6 feet under. I am not sure anyone can convince me to return to a class. I think I will just stick to dancing at clubs with guys who know how to lead and living in a cloud believing I do know how to dance! Next style...hip hop...cant imagine THAT will go any better! But life is all about the experiences, right?!
The other day, I got on the wrong bus. Well, it was the RIGHT bus number, but the WRONG bus route. Who knew? Why not just have different numbered buses for different routes. How are you supposed to know? Evidently, you are supposed to have a sixth sense that tells you whether the bus goes to YOUR destination or the same numbered bus' OTHER destination. Well, needless to say, my bus did NOT go where I intended to go. Upon discovering I messed up (at which point I was the only person left on the bus and the driver told me we were at the end of his route), I had to walk across an empty park in dreary weather to stand in a relatively abandoned area in the middle of nowhere waiting for "my" bus. One that comes VERY infrequently. It came, I went, I got over it. Until 3 hours later when I had to return and the same thing happened. Except this time, it was dark. Hopefully, Ive learned my lesson...
And, the best (or worst) story yet...my Ipod was RUN OVER:(!!! Yes, run over. As in fell in the street and 3 taxis drove right over it. And all I could do was stand on the side of the road and watch as my most loyal companion during the hours and hours I spend each week walking, waiting, and sitting on buses was crushed into oblivion. It was entirely my fault. Ive learned my lesson. It was an expensive and depressing lesson. What did I learn, exactly? Do NOT under ANY circumstances, cross the street on a yellow light. I ran, the ipod slipped and fell on the ground, the light turned green, the traffic moved, and I stood in disbelief as I watched the tragedy unfold. So rather than run out into traffic to save my ipod, I decided my life wasnt worth hours of boredom or whatever money I would have to spend to replace it. This time it was my ipod, next time it could be me.I just stood there kicking myself and trying not to cry. I have not crossed on a yellow light since.
Ok, enough rocks, now for some rainbows and roses. Susan is coming to visit!!! No lo puedo creer!! 40 hours and she'll be here!!! I have gotten to go on some beautiful bike rides through the parks on the free city bikes. I have been exploring the ciudad and seeing so many cute areas and neighborhoods - I love how there is always something new to explore! I visited the ecological reserve with my friend Michelle and took some deep breaths of clean fresh air while listening to the birds chirp. Vera, Sabina, and I escaped the city for a few days to visit Rosario which was a nice break, but mainly served to make me SO happy to live in BA. There is something truly magical about this place that no other city can live up to. I discovered an amazing middle eastern restaurant and ate something other than bread and rice for the first time in three months. There is no doubt, I am blessed. But sometimes,the grass can still be greener elsewhere. VIVA!
So it's true that when I write, I try to highlight the funny, interesting, silly, and exciting things that happen in my life. Thus, I realize it often comes across that life is one big party here in the Southern Hemisphere. Well, the truth? It's not. There are many many things that are really challenging, really not fun, not funny, and sometimes downright depressing. Not that I am writing this to depress anyone out there, just think it's time I make it clear that, no matter where you live or what you are doing, life is not necessarily glamorous. Of course, it is sooooo easy to look back and laugh and make it SEEM glamorous, so maybe even this post will come across as funny!
In the past few weeks, I have had many tough and trying moments. It can be a very lonely existence being a foreigner in a huge city. I almost think it is worse being in a big city than being somewhere small. There are 12 MILLION people around me, yet not one person to talk to. People are so busy with their own lives, caught up in the what, when, where, how of their daily lives and often already have a pretty stable life here with their own home, friends, and family, so are not exactly in the market for more friends. And my classmates? let's just say, while I love Argentina and I know there are some amazing Argentinians out there, I have yet to meet many of them here in Buenos Aires. Yes, it's true, I have LOTS of very wonderful friends. But they, too, have their own respective lives. We once discussed the fact that if for some reason we were to get sick or hurt or pass out and somehow be unable to get to a phone, we could not really say how much time would pass before someone would come looking for us. Vera, Andrea, Kate, and I are in contact via gchat daily, so Im pretty sure that at this point, it would not be more than a day or so. But think about it. And if you think too long, it's kind of sad. We band together and look out for each other, but we dont live close and we do not interact on a daily basis unless we make a specific plan to see each other. Of course, you dont have to live alone in a foreign country for this to happen, but it does increase your chances.
A volcano in Chile erupted on June 4th sending ash into the air - so much so that the towns of Bariloche and Villa La Angostura in southern Argentina have been declared disaster areas having lost power and access to clean water due to being blanketed in the ash carried across the country by the wind. The ash closed down the Buenos Aires airport - some 2000 kms away - and was even carried so far by the wind that it closed down airports in Australia and New Zealand. Can you even imagine? People's entire existences have been destroyed, these towns whose primary source of income is tourism have been devastated as we are in the height of ski season here. Bariloche and Villa La Angostura are two of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life and it breaks my heart to imagine the whole area covered with piles of thick ash. Please keep the people of this area in your thoughts. Mother nature is one powerful powerful force!!
I witnessed a very intense fight between two female teams at a soccer game last weekend. It makes me sad when something that people love so much can lead to such hate and brutality.
I was nearly run over by a taxi driver when walking home from school the other day. There is no such thing as pedestrians having the right of way here. It's more of a "cross at your own risk" type mentality. I was crossing the street as a taxi was coming towards me. The taxi was a good distance off and I am a very fast walker - believe me, my short little legs can burn some rubber! It was a wide street, so even IF I had not made it all the way across, the driver could have EASILY pulled to the right side of the street. But no, not this guy. Not only did he speed up, he sped right towards me. Right towards my side of the street. I was in such disbelief that I nearly stopped in the street (no more than 4 feet from the curb, mind you), but realized that this guy was NOT joking, he intended to hit me. Why? What the heck did he gain by doing that? I was so angry. I wanted to yell at him and ask him why mess with someone who has done NOTHING to inconvenience him. Why go out of your way to scare the shit (pardon my language) and quite possibly injure me. Reminds me of when rednecks would chase me down while biking the back roads of North Carolina. I had to tell myself that I gain nothing by remaining angry with him and hope that karma bites him in the butt someday. Grrr....NOT an easy task;(!
I went salsa dancing with two friends, Vera and Sandra, last week and downright sucked. I mean, Im not sure one could have been worse or that I could have felt more defeated. Im not going to say Im a good dancer, but I know the basics. Or at least, I thought I did. But this "beginner" class was not for the faint of heart. Evidently, beginner here means - you were born listening to salsa music, danced before you walked (not sure how that is possible, but it must be), and can think and do 4 things at once. None of which pertain to me. Even Sandra, who is Colombian and dances salsa as if it is as normal and simple as walking, was struggling. After an hour of being told "76,74,72 complicado, follow the rhythm, dance on the beat, listen to the music, twirl, spin, twist, up, down, over, arm up, down, swivel the hip, etc, etc, etc," my head was spinning, my heart was pounding, and my ego was buried 6 feet under. I am not sure anyone can convince me to return to a class. I think I will just stick to dancing at clubs with guys who know how to lead and living in a cloud believing I do know how to dance! Next style...hip hop...cant imagine THAT will go any better! But life is all about the experiences, right?!
The other day, I got on the wrong bus. Well, it was the RIGHT bus number, but the WRONG bus route. Who knew? Why not just have different numbered buses for different routes. How are you supposed to know? Evidently, you are supposed to have a sixth sense that tells you whether the bus goes to YOUR destination or the same numbered bus' OTHER destination. Well, needless to say, my bus did NOT go where I intended to go. Upon discovering I messed up (at which point I was the only person left on the bus and the driver told me we were at the end of his route), I had to walk across an empty park in dreary weather to stand in a relatively abandoned area in the middle of nowhere waiting for "my" bus. One that comes VERY infrequently. It came, I went, I got over it. Until 3 hours later when I had to return and the same thing happened. Except this time, it was dark. Hopefully, Ive learned my lesson...
And, the best (or worst) story yet...my Ipod was RUN OVER:(!!! Yes, run over. As in fell in the street and 3 taxis drove right over it. And all I could do was stand on the side of the road and watch as my most loyal companion during the hours and hours I spend each week walking, waiting, and sitting on buses was crushed into oblivion. It was entirely my fault. Ive learned my lesson. It was an expensive and depressing lesson. What did I learn, exactly? Do NOT under ANY circumstances, cross the street on a yellow light. I ran, the ipod slipped and fell on the ground, the light turned green, the traffic moved, and I stood in disbelief as I watched the tragedy unfold. So rather than run out into traffic to save my ipod, I decided my life wasnt worth hours of boredom or whatever money I would have to spend to replace it. This time it was my ipod, next time it could be me.I just stood there kicking myself and trying not to cry. I have not crossed on a yellow light since.
Ok, enough rocks, now for some rainbows and roses. Susan is coming to visit!!! No lo puedo creer!! 40 hours and she'll be here!!! I have gotten to go on some beautiful bike rides through the parks on the free city bikes. I have been exploring the ciudad and seeing so many cute areas and neighborhoods - I love how there is always something new to explore! I visited the ecological reserve with my friend Michelle and took some deep breaths of clean fresh air while listening to the birds chirp. Vera, Sabina, and I escaped the city for a few days to visit Rosario which was a nice break, but mainly served to make me SO happy to live in BA. There is something truly magical about this place that no other city can live up to. I discovered an amazing middle eastern restaurant and ate something other than bread and rice for the first time in three months. There is no doubt, I am blessed. But sometimes,the grass can still be greener elsewhere. VIVA!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Signs You Have Crossed the Language DIvide...
A recent conversation inspired me to share a quick story about life here...
You know you are in language limbo when...
1) You start telling people you are studying in the "Faculty" of Psychology (Facultad de Psicologia) and cant for the life of you remember how we say it in English (Answer: Department).
2) You start responding to questions about your age with, "I HAVE 27 years."
3) Or telling people that your "direction" (address) is Salguero 1675.
4) Or ask your friend where she ate "arabian food." You know that is not what we say in English, but you cant think of anything other than the direct Spanish translation for comida arabe.
5) What is your name? "I am called Cameron."
6) A fellow gringa (not mentioning any names) calls you to invite you out. She asks, "Do you have the WILLS (another direct translation of tienes ganas) to go to dinner?" And then waits for an answer as if nothing said was unusual.
7) And my favorite occurred just a few minutes ago while discussing my negative reaction to mate, a strong tea, and my attempt to calm my shakiness by eating bread and drinking a gallon of water. Enjoy!...
Barring any shame, I am pasting the actual "intellectual" conversation had between a fellow Rotary scholar and myself here in Argentina:
vera: oh man u and your little tricks in alimentacion
do we say diet? is that the best word in eng?
me: i was just about to ask you if "alimentacion" is a word!
Vera: hahahahah
me: it would be alimentaTion if it is
but i dont think it exists
Vera: i donno, what is it in eng--diet right?
i mean we dont have another word
me: diet i guess
Any others Im forgetting? I know there are plenty more...VIVA!
You know you are in language limbo when...
1) You start telling people you are studying in the "Faculty" of Psychology (Facultad de Psicologia) and cant for the life of you remember how we say it in English (Answer: Department).
2) You start responding to questions about your age with, "I HAVE 27 years."
3) Or telling people that your "direction" (address) is Salguero 1675.
4) Or ask your friend where she ate "arabian food." You know that is not what we say in English, but you cant think of anything other than the direct Spanish translation for comida arabe.
5) What is your name? "I am called Cameron."
6) A fellow gringa (not mentioning any names) calls you to invite you out. She asks, "Do you have the WILLS (another direct translation of tienes ganas) to go to dinner?" And then waits for an answer as if nothing said was unusual.
7) And my favorite occurred just a few minutes ago while discussing my negative reaction to mate, a strong tea, and my attempt to calm my shakiness by eating bread and drinking a gallon of water. Enjoy!...
Barring any shame, I am pasting the actual "intellectual" conversation had between a fellow Rotary scholar and myself here in Argentina:
vera: oh man u and your little tricks in alimentacion
do we say diet? is that the best word in eng?
me: i was just about to ask you if "alimentacion" is a word!
Vera: hahahahah
me: it would be alimentaTion if it is
but i dont think it exists
Vera: i donno, what is it in eng--diet right?
i mean we dont have another word
me: diet i guess
Any others Im forgetting? I know there are plenty more...VIVA!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Birds of a Foreign Feather Flock Together
Buenas Tardes,
Soooo, I may not be Ecuadorian or Colombian, but I AM a foreigner here in Argentina (shocking, I know), and being so gives me special status in the latino world. I have become - in my opinion - latina by association! WOOHOO! (Dont worry, Poppa T...Once a Southerner, ALWAYS a Southerner. Im now simply a bicultural Southerner;)!)
Why do I claim this, you may ask? Well, while I have quite a few fabulous American friends, the majority of my non-gringo acquaintances are either from Colombia or Ecuador. Im not entirely sure why, but Im happy as a ham to have met and connected with them. Ok, so maybe I do kind of know why. Day 1 in one of my psych classes, we all had to introduce ourselves: Name, Occupation, Country of origen, etc. One girl, Andrea, stated she was from Ecuador. Oh man, did my ears perk up. For those that do not know, I lived and studied in Ecuador my Junior year of college and have since returned THREE times (not to mention dated three Ecuadorians!). So, being desperate to meet ANYONE, my first thought was, "I MUST talk to this girl." As soon as class ended, I followed (ok, ran after) her to introduce myself. And, in spite of my slightly overbearing attempt to convince her she would want to be my friend, we got in touch via facebook and were soon spending lots of time together "studying," chatting, eating, and attending horse races (more on that later). Within one week of meeting me, she even accompanied me to the hospital during a moment of ill chill desperation!
Then, the friends just kept acomin'. I met David, the cousin of an Ecuadorian friend, who introduced me to his Colombian classmates one night. Then the Colombians invited me to go out where I then met more Colombian guys and gals. And Andrea (the Ecuadorian) introduced me to her Ecuadorian friends. THEN, I introduced Andrea to my Colombian friends, and everyone to my American friends, and now we are one big circular smorgasbord of cultures. I have exactly three Argentinian friends, although I have met and spoken to many many more. I would LOVE to expand that circle, but turns out it is far harder to make friends with people that are not foreigners than it is with those of us who have come from far far away to try to make a life for ourselves here. I suppose we are all new, more or less alone, and open to (ok, sometimes I would go so far as to say desperate) to make new friends! All in all, I feel extremely blessed to have made the friends I have and to be learning so much about different cultures and cooking tasty ethnic foods, not to mention spending tons of time speaking Spanish! VIVA!
Over the past few weeks, we birds of a foreign feather (and sometimes on my own) have biked through the city on the free bikes residents (yes, that's me!) have access to, gone for long runs on gorgeous Fall mornings through the park, seen a real live horse race (just like in the movies!), eaten yummy Chinese food in Chinatown, made Colombian arepas (cheese-stuffed corn cakes) and hot chocolate, danced the night away to amazing salsa music, climbed a tower made up of 30,000 books, and spent lots of time reading and catching up with people in cute cute cafes - oh how I LOVE Argentina's cafe culture;). Oh, and I have been attending classes and studying, of course!
I think that is all for now. Im off to begin my next adventure (i.e. clean my apartment and take a shower!).
VIVA!!
Soooo, I may not be Ecuadorian or Colombian, but I AM a foreigner here in Argentina (shocking, I know), and being so gives me special status in the latino world. I have become - in my opinion - latina by association! WOOHOO! (Dont worry, Poppa T...Once a Southerner, ALWAYS a Southerner. Im now simply a bicultural Southerner;)!)
Why do I claim this, you may ask? Well, while I have quite a few fabulous American friends, the majority of my non-gringo acquaintances are either from Colombia or Ecuador. Im not entirely sure why, but Im happy as a ham to have met and connected with them. Ok, so maybe I do kind of know why. Day 1 in one of my psych classes, we all had to introduce ourselves: Name, Occupation, Country of origen, etc. One girl, Andrea, stated she was from Ecuador. Oh man, did my ears perk up. For those that do not know, I lived and studied in Ecuador my Junior year of college and have since returned THREE times (not to mention dated three Ecuadorians!). So, being desperate to meet ANYONE, my first thought was, "I MUST talk to this girl." As soon as class ended, I followed (ok, ran after) her to introduce myself. And, in spite of my slightly overbearing attempt to convince her she would want to be my friend, we got in touch via facebook and were soon spending lots of time together "studying," chatting, eating, and attending horse races (more on that later). Within one week of meeting me, she even accompanied me to the hospital during a moment of ill chill desperation!
Then, the friends just kept acomin'. I met David, the cousin of an Ecuadorian friend, who introduced me to his Colombian classmates one night. Then the Colombians invited me to go out where I then met more Colombian guys and gals. And Andrea (the Ecuadorian) introduced me to her Ecuadorian friends. THEN, I introduced Andrea to my Colombian friends, and everyone to my American friends, and now we are one big circular smorgasbord of cultures. I have exactly three Argentinian friends, although I have met and spoken to many many more. I would LOVE to expand that circle, but turns out it is far harder to make friends with people that are not foreigners than it is with those of us who have come from far far away to try to make a life for ourselves here. I suppose we are all new, more or less alone, and open to (ok, sometimes I would go so far as to say desperate) to make new friends! All in all, I feel extremely blessed to have made the friends I have and to be learning so much about different cultures and cooking tasty ethnic foods, not to mention spending tons of time speaking Spanish! VIVA!
Over the past few weeks, we birds of a foreign feather (and sometimes on my own) have biked through the city on the free bikes residents (yes, that's me!) have access to, gone for long runs on gorgeous Fall mornings through the park, seen a real live horse race (just like in the movies!), eaten yummy Chinese food in Chinatown, made Colombian arepas (cheese-stuffed corn cakes) and hot chocolate, danced the night away to amazing salsa music, climbed a tower made up of 30,000 books, and spent lots of time reading and catching up with people in cute cute cafes - oh how I LOVE Argentina's cafe culture;). Oh, and I have been attending classes and studying, of course!
I think that is all for now. Im off to begin my next adventure (i.e. clean my apartment and take a shower!).
VIVA!!
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