A dedication to the people who made my trip unforgettable

My time here is dwindling faster than the speed of light. It feels like YESTERDAY that I arrived at the Road house, scared, nervous, innocent and fresh to this wonderful city. Now, with exactly one week and 7 hours left of my "independent journey" to South America I couldn't feel more content, satisfied, happy, grown, experienced and changed by my last 6 months here.

It has been such an incredible trip. To describe this trip in two words I would say it has been a "roller coaster". There have been many ups and downs. There have been ups of having great places to live...to being homeless, to being overwhelmed with not finding a job, to finding an incredible job that offered me free Spanish classes. I have made INCREDIBLE friends and seen many of them go, I have realized how important my friendships here are...and realized that no matter where you are in the world you will always find people like you, people who can change your life for the better...and people who will love you and accept you for all that you are even in such a short amount of time. A few shout outs to my most special and loyal friends that have shared this journey with me: (Tash, Byron and Mego...you three were featured in my previous posts....so you wont be featured here, I still love you)

Leigh: You have been with me on every SINGLE step of this entire journey. I know I haven't written much about you in my blogs, but it's mostly because I feel like you are my other half(really though). We have shared the most incredible, guttural laughs that make me cry...(NUMEROUS times). You helped me find my own confidence with singing and reopened my passion for music and learning the guittar. You have helped me take life a LOT LESS serious than how I normally take it. Like Tash once said "you're just REALLY COOOL". She couldn't be more dead on. You are. I love you so much and know that these 6 months living in the exact same room is just the beginning to a life long friendship. I will miss my shadow next week. I am excited to see the next route you take. You are someone that will try most anything under the sun and that's what is so amazing about you. You don't really have fear..of anything, it's not common to meet someone like that. People who don't have fear lead interesting lives that the rest of us can sometimes get jealous of because we wish we could have that "undying sense of adventure". You beat to your own drum and people love you for that. STAY YOU!
LEIGH!!!


Jessica: Well well well, JESS! You are one of the most interesting cats I have met on this journey. You are adorable to me. There are so many faces to you...you can be so California...at the same time that you're very hipster, New York and Argentine. It's not easy to pull-off all those great things, but you do it with such grace and uniqueness. I think you have an INCREDIBLE future ahead of you, I know many times, upon our deeeeeeeep deepeset of all deeep talks we have shared, you've confided in me that you don't know what's next, what you want to do or where you want to go. All I have to say is enjoy the ride...(and you do!). "It's not the destination that matters, it's the journey of getting there that counts"(my quote to you!). You have an electricity about you and attract all different walks of life...it's an immaculate quality to have because it means, no matter what, you will never be alone. People just LIKE you...and that will continue wherever you go. You're a silent leader missy...keep at it! Remember me when 15 years down the road...you HAVE accomplished all the things you had set out to do- I wouldn't put it past you that one day you will be fluent in Spanish, have written a script, designed your own clothing line, and traveled to Spain! Good luck!
JESS!!


Fer:jajaja WELL my friend, without you...I would have never joined a band, never got into every VIP bar/boliche/club, never learned the "argentine ways" never seen Victoria, or parts of Tigre, never known how much to tip an Argentine waiter, never got a 500 song cd with Cumbia, Reggaeton, etc...never driven in a car in BsAs, and the list goes on. I want to thank you SOOO much for being my manager, for helping me and my friends out in every single way possible. You have been a very good friend to me, always looking out for the best of everyone and you did it so happily. I can't WAIT for you to visit DC...just so I can return the favor. I will miss you dearly...but now that you have a BB, I am not worried cause we will be in constant contact all the time. Unless you become too important to talk to your "favorite American girl!" I will miss you Fer, thanks again for being my "best Argentine friend". Who would have thought that night at Kika when I asked that you be my "argentine friend" we would have turned out this close? Funny how life works out!
Fer

Tash, Fer and I


Jake:Hm, I guess I will start with a THANK YOU! Thank you for still being my friend even after the endless amount of times I have sketched out. No matter what, you are always consistent in your word and that is a great quality to have in a friend! I am going to miss seeing your reaction when I am acting obnoxious on the dance floor, and when I say outlandish things. I will miss my Montana country boy, but I am so excited that in the near future you will be my number one fan when I am up on that stage singing country. It's not common to find someone who shares your absolute favorite song..and movie!(I won't write what that is...haha). I hope your future trips are unforgettable and that you take a million pics. I can't wait to see all the places you get to travel to and I can't wait to hear how amazing you are in Spanish. Your patience and observatory nature will get you far...I always admired both qualities about you and your ability to concentrate so well!
Jake-the gentle giant on the left


Ian/yan: Aww, my first Aussie friend! Of course, you know I will miss your accent and your emphasis on "NEVER, and EVER". I will skype you just so I can hear you say that to me. It was so amazing getting to know you at the road house..and then living with you on Posadas street. It was nice having a strong man around to do the handy work. Without you we would never have had that incredible tv, and those tasty dinners you always made! I am so excited to hear what you do in the next year. It seems this was a trip you took randomly to learn Spanish, but that you were open to see where it would lead you. I think those are the most exciting of trips. You have to be a flexible person to move across the world to start a new life...to learn a foreign language and you're doing great my friend. I will definitely miss going out with you and having you boost my confidence left and right...we were good for each other in that aspect! I look forward to your trip to America...I will make SURE we get that convertible, blast Elvis and travel from east coast to west coast. I will miss you Ian ....good luck in your Frisbee future ;)
IAN!!

Gabe:Gabe, you were my reminder of home while I was miles away. Something about your obnoxious language and your southern accent...just touched my heart. Getting to know you at the road house was so much fun...especially when we had the push-up contest( I think I won...but was sore for about three days). I loved your "whatever, do whatever" attitude, it made the things we did awesome because you were so easy going. I don't know how long you plan to stay here, but I hope we see each other in the USA. You're a nature man...and I can't wait to hear the next big adventure you take. I always envied that trip you took with just your backpack, camera and a map. I think it takes a lot of confidence and courage to embark on such an adventure alone, it seems like it definitely had an impact on you in a positive way. I am sorry for not always following through with our hang out sessions(I owe you and Jake). I hope you forgive me and know that I care deeply for you ;)
from left, Gabe, Ian

Jess, Alex, Tash

TO all the others, ALEX: you are the most adorable little Danish girl! You are mature beyond your years and too beautiful for words. You are the most endearing, selfless, caring and energetic girl I know- so glad we had that month together, JACQUES-my other amazing danish friend. I AM THRILLED we met, you are the most hilarious, fun, entertaining and all around fun-loving person. You made Argentina, the Road house...and the week you lived on our couch unforgettable. I MISS YOU ALREADY! JESSILYN- thank you for always meeting me for coffee, for planning that toga party with me...and for just being there when I needed you. I also owe you for letting me use your backpack for that week in Bariloche! Can't wait to char in the US of A!

To everyone else I have met, THANKS! I have had a great time! I have one week left...I am soaking it in as much as I can...going to as many cafe's, museums, markets as possible. Until next time...chau!

mi ultima mes

Three weeks left. I can't believe this trip is almost over. It flew. I honestly think I blinked too long and time fast-forwarded or something...it is playing tricks on me.

It seems to be an illusion these days. It's hard to describe my last 5 months. It's basically a dream to me. For those of you who have spent a significant time away from home, in a foreign place, you know what I am talking about. You know how difficult it is to grasp the changes you have gone through, to grasp the new things, languages, people, places and experiences you have met, seen and had. It's scary to think this chapter in my life will end. But like everything it will end and I'll have to move on. The things I have seen here and the friends I have grown to love will be mere images in my head- memories of a life past. It is comforting to know I can play them over and over in my head, but it is unsettling that talking about my experience will die young upon my return. Most people, save my loving mom and dad, will only be interested in SOME details. After awhile, they will tire of hearing all I have to say as I will grow weary of trying to explain all I have done. This is the single most difficult part of traveling.

Many people have told me over these months how "brave" I was to move here, how "proud" they are of me. I respect that and I am flattered, however, I can confidently say, moving to a foreign country alone doesn't compare to the fear of coming home to a life I used to live with the people who know me the best. It's a good scary though...it's a fear that I will lose the lessons I have learned here or that people won't understand how I am different.

This is more of an emo blog post, but it's important for me to write about the effects travel has on a person. It's such a strong sensation. I guess Miriam Beard said it the best when she mentioned that "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on deep and permanent in the ideas of living.” I couldn't have put it better myself. There is something to understand about removing oneself from all things familiar- you lose a sense of reality, yet gain a whole new perspective of what REALLY matters to you. When you step into a new culture, everything is different- EVERYTHING. All at once you are taking in different and exciting sensations. Certain things stick, or become heightened to your senses-whether that be the food, language, people, culture, art, way of life, music etc.You have a selective understanding of where you are. Each person takes in significant "sensations" and notices them in a heightened form. The rest fades into the background, we aren't entirely conscious this is happening because we are so enthralled by our new stimuli.

It's hard to describe, but having no black berry, knowing FEW people, not understanding things due to the language and culture difference, causes me to become unaware of so much and MORE aware of other things. It makes traveling peaceful in a way. Similar to the way people who are deaf live. Without the noise of traffic or sirens, talking or construction...life is quiet and a little bit more serene(so some have said). When I stepped off that airplane back in February, I left behind my entire life. I left what I knew was cool(the styles, the people, the lingo, movies) I left my social circle, knowing what bars were fun, how to get places, the language, the comfort of walking to my g-ma's house, or calling a friend. I left EVERYTHING. All I had with me was me...and my curiosity to learn.

When we arrive back to our home, our old way of life hits us like a ton of bricks. We step out of the terminal...and the stimuli is 700 times stronger. We are attacked by all that we DO know...EVERYTHING. Music, language- (and not just the language, but knowing where people are from due to their accents),food, what restaurants we like, what shampoo we know is good, ...I can go on and on. We just step back into a world where we are AWARE of it all..and almost know too much to the point that unimportant things begin to matter again.

The point is, that life is beautiful and a little more peaceful when we travel...we walk through life a little lighter, see things happier and in a whole different way. We take in the good stimuli that we want to take in while we can easily ignore all the other realities, because we are either unaware of them or just uninterested. When we arrive back home, everything we knew and had control of for our entire lives comes back so quickly that it slaps us the head.

This is what make travel so enthralling. I don't know how to end this blog because I could go on and on with trying to peg what travel actually "is" or "does" to a person. If I could accomplish that...then I would out-do the "great" historians, teachers and writers of the past who STILL haven't fully defined travel. It's one of life's mysteries..like "love"!

I guess the way I would like to end this blog post is to give you my advice: If you have not traveled in your life, or you're too scared to do it, PLEASE force yourself. Don't think about it any more. Just do it. I promise it will be for the better. It changes your life in a way...that is incredible! For all my readers, and those who actually give a shit about my random blog posts...if there is something you are pondering right now, stop and decide "yes"! I hope this post is the answer you were looking for...the answer is YES!

:)

until next time...
besos!

Simply Argentine

I have continued my list of things that are normal and special to Argentina, but may be strange, different or even weird to an expat. For those of you who read my blog religiously(THANK YOU, and I LOVE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT), this is an addition to the other post(Ponete las pilas...) about random Argentine ways- remember the packs of dogs, men who kiss men?).

1. SUGAR: My favorite thing, besides cafe's, are the sweet shops, or Panaderia's. They are all over the place in this city and always stocked up with delicacy's such as wheel bread, dulce de leche everything, mini, medium and large alfajores(Yes I will bring some back!), and every other yummy thing you can imagine with sugar dripping all over it. It actually boggles my mind how a country as a whole could be so thin, when every single thing served is pure sugar. For breakfast at the hostels, they give you white(non nutritional bread, fresh of course) and dulce de leche to dip it in. They serve cafe con leche"(full fat milk) and real sugar to add to it. It's my paradise...Rose, you would die. So yes, The sugar is almost as popular as futbol in this country. EVERYTHING has sugar in it....including the people! They are always as dulce as can be!

2. FRUIT: Fruteria's are another amazing thing about Buenos Aires. The fruit stands on street corners, down tiny streets, and in hidden plaza's are so beautiful and tempting. It looks like the forbidden fruit from the bible because the perfectly red apples, fresh grapes, and impeccably ripe peaches look so fresh and delicious and are dirt CHEAP. It almost seems like a trick of some sort...

3. KIOSCO DE REVISTAS/DIARIOS: These are newspaper and magazine stands that overflow all over the streets and underground in the subtes. These stands are bizarre to me. First of all, they have them at almost every single block- okay, that's fine because people need to read the newspapers, but it's a little much because they take up a lot of space on the already too thin sidewalks. It creates such a traffic jam and you must push others to try and pass by. The strangest and most comical thing about the kiosco de revistas is that they sell porn magazines. I must see about ten huge boobed, HUGE assed, naked women on magazine covers every day. Not only are these porn magazines visible to everyone on the street, but they are displayed at the bottom of the rack at eye level for little children....totally inappropriate and strange, yet hilarious.

4. BANCOS: The banks all over the city have a personality of their own. Some are extremely popular while others are forgotten about and overlooked(poor thing...no pun intended). On any given weekday around 2-4 there is an insanely long line coming from the bank entrances. Every single attractive businessman and woman stand in line to get cash, and to exchange paper money for monedas(the most desired money(coins)in the city used for the colectivo/bus). I still don't fully understand why it is so important to do these things at the exact same time every day, but who am I to judge, I speak their language like a five year old and am probably missing out on a thousand other things.I am just a random foreigner trying to make a living in the city...and who knows, I bet there is a much easier way to live it. FIZX THIS

5. RADIO TAXI: Well, I got jipped my first hour in South America going from the aeroport to the Road house. I have since learned that it is NOT necessary to tip taxi drivers, one should only round up to the next peso. This is the most exciting thing to me! In DC, I think I tip taxi drivers 20% like I do for waiters...I'm an idiot...It is totally unnecessary to tip a taxi driver this much. I love riding in Taxi's here because they usually play fabulous reggaeton music, drive crazy fast and it's a great way to practice my Spanish! Aint no complaints here, DC is strange...not B.A!

6. THE F WORD: The F word is an obsession here. It is used extremely vulgarly because Argentine's just like to say it all the TIME! In the bars, I think I hear it more than I hear anything else. Its the most spoken word in Buenos Aires in my opinion.

7. TIENDAS/LOCALES: aka "stores" are all over the place making this city a hot spot of temptation for me. I go shopping almost every day because there are boutiques everywhere. The funny thing is, and I learned this in an awkward way...most boutiques are locked until you knock, or ring the bell. Everyone must ring the bell and only then the store clerk buzzes you in. Very strange, but I guess it's a great way to be safe.

8. HAND GESTURES: There are MANY hand gestures used when an Argentine speaks. At times I thought I was seeing Spanish sign language being used, only to realize they were just using hand gestures for emphasis. I wish I could show you some of the hand signs because they look to be vulgar, but are not of the sort.

9. STREET LIGHTS: The street lights change from green to yellow to red and then from red to yellow to green. I love it because I always know when the light is about to change to say "go" or "stop"!

10. GARAGES/ ESTACIONES: I think the mayor of NYC should take note of the parking situation here in B.A. Whoever thought to have garages underneath apartment buildings was a genius. Cars drive up onto the sidewalks and then HUGE garage doors open up and the cars park underneath the buildings saving SO much room on the streets. There is an OBNOXIOUSLY loud beeping noise and flashing red or green light right outside the garage door that goes off when a car is about to enter or exit onto the sidewalk. Many times I have almost been hit because I had my Ipod in and didn't hear it. Thank goodness for aware drivers...

11. LAUNDROMAT: I love the laundry system here. One must bring their clothes to the Laundromat, the clerks take your clothes, wash them, fold them PERFECTLY and then charge you about AR$20 for two loads. It's incredible, and the smell, although VERY strong, is quite fresh.

This is all for now. There are many many more things to talk about, but I will save it for my next post!

Chau!

Cupa Mundial

What an experience to have been in BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA at the time of the Copa Mundial(WORLD CUP). Never did I realize just how much futbol could mean to an entire country, until I came here. It is seriously a way of life in Argentina. Sure, people say that about American football in the United States, but I don't think it compares. Yes, America has the Superbowl, and that is a HUGE deal. According to Wikipedia



"The day on which the Super Bowl is played is now considered a de facto American national holiday...called Super Bowl Sunday. It is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day. And in most years, the Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast. "(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl).

I can honestly saw I love Superbowl Sunday!I am not a huge fan of any particular team, but I love the aura of the sport. I like to watch the commercials, I like to watch my boyfriends/guyfriends/brother/dad/cousins get SO out of control excited for it, I like the junk food we eat. I also love dressing in a jersey for whatever team I've decided to cheer for and scream as the players run around the field in tight pants. Yes, all great fun, it's VERY AMERICA to me and I love it.

FIFA is a whole different world. Here is a little world cup 101 for those who may not understand...



" * The tournament takes place for one whole month. 64 total matches will be played between the dates of June 11th and July 11th, , 2010.
* The World Cup features 32 countries that have qualified through other tournaments with all other countries of the World.
* The players must play for the country where they were born or have citizenship. If players have citizenship in multiple countries, those players always play for the country where they were raised.
* The World Cup starts with the teams divided into 8 groups for round-robin action named after the first 8 letters of the alphabet.
* Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a tie. Goal differential and total goals scored are used to break ties in the standings.
* The top two teams in each group will advance to the elimination rounds.
* In the past 18 World Cups, only seven countries have won since 1930. All previous winners have qualified this year: reigning champion Italy, Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany and Uruguay"(©2010 Kidzworld).



Argentina futbol is a different story than American football, or even American soccer. The pride, honor, passion, feeling, support, hope, dedication, excitement, spirit...and the list goes on..is indescribable here. Argentina has won TWO world cups, one in 1978 and the other in 1986(the year I was born and the time of Diego Maradona). If you do not know who Maradona is or would like more information on why this date is basically engraved in EVERYTHING and is seen EVERYWHERE in Buenos Aires, please visit Wikipedia "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Maradona#1986_World_Cup"



I feel so lucky to have been here for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Although the games were being played worlds away in South Africa, I felt like I was in medias res being here in Argentina. The country took these games beyond seriously. There was an actual holiday given out by almost every company on the first game day. Two English classes that I teach were canceled, and one Spanish class was postponed until after the game. Restaurants that didn't have TV's, and shoe and clothing stores were all closed until after the games, even certain buses didn't run. It was seriously a GHOST TOWN here on game days...the streets were evacuated and the stores barren(except for fallen pieces of blue and white confetti from people's apartment windows). The hot spots to be were a.in ones own home, b.in a cafe c. at San Martin Plaza(there was a HUGE out-door movie screen and lots of tents with World cup history, information pamphlets etc). I never made it to San Martin for a game(I tried, but it was pouring rain so I hit a bar to finish watching). Strangely, the only people in the bar were elderly people and two 12 year old boys eating pizza...

That's the thing that fascinated me. In America, tailgating is the best thing about sporting events. Drinking...is the biggest part of sport fans. We Americans like to wake up EARLY to start our pregame for our perspective sports game. I have been to numerous tailgates where I got very drunk very early on...and had a hard time concentrating on the rest of the game. I am sure you have ALL been in this position a time or two. Well, it is different in Argentina. I was a little shocked and confused at the first game, but I soon caught on. We had many failed attempts at finding the hot spot with young fun fans. Our first problem was that we were looking in bars(didn't know that would be so foreign here..?). Almost every bar was either closed or empty. The cafe's on the other hand...

Cafe's are the place to be if you want the true Copa Mundial experience. This is where all the DIE-HARD fans reside. They are dressed to the nines in everything blue and white. They have funny hats, scarves, face paint, loud annoying horns, and they are all drinking Mate or coffees. Needless to say, I watched the second game in a packed cafe. It was AWESOME! Walking down the streets at half time or in between plays is also an experience in and of itself. Fans, cafe owners, construction men, you name it...have their car radios on, mini TV's in their kiosks, cell phones ringing, etc. Whenever Argentina would score I think South Africa could hear us from the streets of BA! It was incredible.

Today was a sad day however. Thankfully it was beautiful one. Seeing Argentina lose was not what we were expecting...and the looks on the players and Maradona's face were devastating. Although we lost a good game and a FABULOUS 2010 world cup, the people of Argentina kept smiling, cheering and carrying on. There is such an energy about this country, something very special about the people and their passion. I just hope that when I leave here in 4.5 weeks I take with me all that Argentina has given me. I hope to bring at least SOME of the energy, lessons, language and culture and I hope to share it with others just like Argentina has shared it with me!

VIVA ARGENTINA!