After two weeks of being back in the states, my travels through South America already feel like a blur. I have been taking my free time to reflect on the last five months of my life and think about what I have learned from traveling and now appreciate after being gone for so long.
The first thing my mom discovered the day I returned home was lice in my now extremely long hair. I needed a hair cut to help make the process of removing the lice easier, but of course no hair salon would cut my hair. My head had been itchy for the past couple months, but I thought that I mainly had dry skin due to the water and that my skin had been very dry the entire time I had been gone. But no, I had lice. Most likely I had gotten it from one of the hostels I had stayed in. Of course, my mom. dad, and brother all had to help me remove every louse from my hair and wash everything in my suitcase. Even if I had realized I had lice in Argentina, I don’t think anyone would have taken the time to single handedly pick each individual nit from my hair. I am very lucky to have a family who cares enough to do such a task.
I have seen a few friends since I have been back. It’s hard sharing some of the stories I think are funny with them and my because they have no way of fully understand each situation if they haven’t been to Argentina. They say most people experience a kind of reverse culture shock coming back to the U.S. after being in a foreign country for so long. I don’t know if it’s so much culture shock that I have because I don’t feel that I suffered from it too terribly while I was in Argentina. I think my sleep pattern has definitely been significantly affected. I was used to staying out until 7 in the morning then waking up at 11 or 12. Especially being at home where I do not have a whole lot to do during the day, it is very hard trying to wake myself up before 11 or go to bed before 2.
I visited a friend from Cofc this past weekend in Oxford, Ohio where Miami University is located. We went to a bar to see a band and of course got carded and X’s on our hands for being under 21. I got so used to being able to go into any bar or club without an id or being able to order a glass of wine at dinner if I wanted it, it’s going to be aggravating that I can’t even walk into a bar under 21 once I am back in Charleston. We also went to a Mexican restaurant, I was able to actually speak Spanish to the waiter now. I was pretty excited.
In general, it has been weird coming back and not ordering in Spanish in restaurants anymore or just not hearing the language at all. I find myself saying certain words in Spanish all the time like bueno, gracias, lindo, and claro. (Probably some of the most used words by the Americans in Argentina). I have been attempting to teach my family a little bit since I have been home. They’re learning…
What I gained from Argentina…
Patience! Accepting the fact that going to the post office will be at least 1 and a half hours. For example, getting a number, waiting for them to call my name, showing my passport, and then receiving a number like 565,321. Then going to another room and having to listen to that number over a loud speaker with hundreds of other people talking. In Spanish this number is quinientos sesenta y cinco mil tres cientos veinte y uno. This number is read extremely fast and some times read in this way or read by individual digits and very difficult to understand over the only sometimes functional loud speaker. After thinking I might have heard my number, I go to another room where I tell them I heard my number and the 15 people sorting through packages take another 20 minutes to search for my package. Then having to take the enormous package on the subway crammed in with hundreds of other people on an extremely hot day.
Developing patience forced me to have to relax more than usual. The semester before I left for Argentina, I was always worried about school, SIFE, or the thousand other things I had on my mind. Being immersed in a more relaxed lifestyle where people aren’t always in a hurry to have something done or be busy all the time helped me calm down and truly live in the moment. I home hoping to stay this way when I return to Charleston in a few weeks.
Overall, I feel like my Spanish improved immensely. I notice myself randomly thinking of words in Spanish and trying to think in Spanish every now in then. I think I became much wiser with traveling and learning how to really plan trips on my own and that I will probably never take a 40 hour bus ride ever again!.
After having several hours of free time, I had lots of time to think about my life and what I want to accomplish in the future. I feel like now I really know who I am and how to not let other people get in the way of something I want to do. I really enjoyed some of the things I did on my own in Buenos Aires. Whenever I did not feel like waiting for someone to go do something, I would just go on my own and find somewhere in the city to explore. It gave me a sense of independence that I could find my way around that huge city without getting lost or even feel afraid.
Things I forgot to mention that I think were funny about Argentina…
People smoking in the University of Belgrano underneath the no smoking sign
Justo a Tiempo, the ridiculous game show I watched with Virginia and Vicente. One of the games in the show consisted of the contestants sitting in movie theater seats that moved violently while they had to keep popcorn bowls on their head. Whoever kept the most amount of popcorn in their bowl and the end won. Also, Homer Simpson would randomly appear and dance throughout the show.
The transvestites on TV. in the clubs and also in the park at night. There is a huge park in Palermo where all the transvestite prostitutes go at night to get picked up by clients. Charlie took Lizzy and I there after our tour of the city and there was literally a huge line of cars checking them out. We actually were told that a lot of straight men go there to pick them up…
The one man band on the subway one day. He had an amp, microphone, and electric guitar on the subway!! It was like a live concert. A guy in a business suit even got up and took over and played a song and sang.
Buenos Aires is probably one of the few places that you will get pooped on by a pigeon and step in dog poop in the same day.
On my last day in Buenos Aires I attempted to try on jeans. I assumed a 27 would fit since the jeans I was wearing were a 26. They were way too small and the girl working at the store offered to bring me another size and asked me the size I had tried on. I told her a 27 and she laughed at me and said that was the biggest size they had! (A 27 is a size 4 U.S.) How are normal people supposed to find clothes in that city?
A way of hitting on someone is asking them if they’re pregnant.
There are many more that will have to be composed into a novel later in my life.
The future…
I recently was elected president of SIFE for the upcoming year. I am hoping to stay in contact with a similar organization my friends are members of in Argentina and do a project with Argentine students.
The summer Olympics are in Brazil in 2016. I hope to have paid of some debt and have some extra cash to return to South America by then. Brazil is one of the many places I wasn’t able to go to. Jared, Lizzy, Rachael, and I hope to travel there together in 2016
I am hoping to find an internship for this coming summer in a Spanish speaking country, ideally Costa Rica or Spain.
I am really looking forward to spending the next year and a half in Charleston and cannot wait to see my friends when I return in a couple of weeks.
One day I would like to write a book about my travels, but I think I need to focus on graduating from college first.
The present…
Today is my mom’s 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Mom! I love you and am so happy to be home with you again. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I thank all of you who have been following my blog and hope you have enjoyed it. : )
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Final Days!
Its been awhile since I have written. I havent had the desire to be online as much lately, just trying to enjoy my last days in the city!
The last time I wrote was Thanksgiving. It was weird spending Thanksgiving without the family and only talking to the entire extended family through Skype. That night I went to dinner at an American restaurant called Kansas. We ate on Argentine time, which ended up being around midnight. The food was good, but not the same as home. I had a good time though with Allison, my friend Barbara, and then we saw some other guys there from ISA who sat with us and had drinks while we ate. I had plans to go out after but was so full and tired from dinner that we all decided just to go home and go to bed.
The last week seems like a blur to me! I spent most of last weekend doing my Christmas shopping in Recoleta and San Telmo. I got some great gifts for my family and friends that I cannot wait to give them. On Monday night, I got a call from Franco (Liz's Argentine boyfriend) at 7:00 to come to his house at 8:30 for a surprise going away party he was having for Liz. Apparently he had texted me earlier in the day but I didnt get it. Anyways...the party was really nice. His two other sisters, brother, and mom were there with their boyfriends/girlfriends. We had a great dinner. Liz was really surprised and happy about the party.
Liz left on Tuesday and it was really sad to see her leave. It was really weird because once she left I was pretty much the only one of my American friends left. I felt kinda sad but like being on my own to explore and do things I couldn't always do with a group of people.
On Wednesday Brenda and I went to MicroCentro again and had lunch at the smoothie bar, Pura Vida. We then went to a mall called Galeria Pacifica which is absolutely beautiful and very upscale. There is an art center called el Centro Cultural de Borges. There wasnt much there but a small art exhibit because the main exhibit wasnt opening until the following day. The center also has a lot of plays and tango shows which arent playing until after I leave. One thing I would have liked to do more of was see more shows while I was here. Those kinds of things are difficult on a college student budget though.
Thursday was probably one of the most interesting days I have spent in Buenos Aires. The taxista (cab driver), Charlie who drives for ISA drove Lizzy, Emily, and I to the airport before going to Peru and told us he would take us around one day to show us parts of the city we probably would never see on our own. Thursday he drove Lizzy (Griffin's roommate) and I through the provinces surrounding Buenos Aires.
Charlie had amazing stories to tell us. He was originally born in Scotland. After his father died when he was 10, his mother bought boat tickets for him and his 9 other brothers and sisters to go to the U.S. The boat stopped in Argentina, they got off to see BSAS and ended up staying for the rest of their lives. He grew up in Argentina, and when he was 18 he went back to Scotland and joined the Royal British Marines and fought in the Vietnam War. After his time in the war, he played professional rugby in South Africa and Argentina for several years when he said he was tired of showering several times a day. He is now married to an Argentine woman, has two daughters, teaches English, and does city tours for fun.
Throughout the entire day, Charlie drove us through the outer provinces of Buenos Aires. He took us to his boat club in Martinez where he keeps his sail boat, and we met the chef of the restaurant at the club who has traveled all around the world and now prepares Argentine dishes but with a flare of all the different countries she had been to. We didn’t get to eat but the food looked delicious. We also drove through beautiful residential neighborhoods of San Isidro, Olivos, and several others. It was great to see things I wouldn’t have seen on my own before I left. Charlie was also extremely funny and told us some amazing stories.
One of the most touching of his stories was about his time in the Vietnam War. For just under a year, he was stationed in Thailand. He lived in a small village where he lived at a house that he paid less than 60 USD a month and received two meals along with his living. The house he rented actually had previously belonged to the parents of two young teenage girls but had died and now the home belonged to the government. The girls who lived in the house offered all of their services to Charlie. One night, he said the girls tried to bathe him and offered him more services than what would be considered the norm. Charlie was so disgusted but was told by a local that that was normal in their village. It turns out the girls had been raped several times by any man on the street, and they were just 13 years old. Charlie lived with the girls, treated them with respect, and taught them English. At the end of his 11 months, because he had saved so much money he was able to buy the house for just $3000. He gave the house to the girls and opened a bank account for the two girls to get an education. He also threatened all the men in the village that if they ever laid a hand on either of the girls again, he would kill them. Charlie said that now the girls both have a college education and are married with children. This was just one of the incredible stories Charlie told us!
After a full day of seeing the city, we went to a parilla and had really good meat and appetizers for only $25 for the three of us. That night, we went to Club Niceto that I had planned to go to on Thanksgiving. It was so much fun. It was a gay club with some pretty ridiculous transvestites but had some really awesome break dancers mid way through the night. They were so entertaining, like some stuff I had seen at dance competitions in high school. They also interacted with the crowd and had people come up on stage and do flips over them while they were laying down. I had a great time!
Friday was my last meal with Virginia and Vicente, which although I will miss them I am glad to no longer have to eat Virginia’s food. I also enlarged a picture of Machu Picchu for them and framed it. They loved it because they were never able to go to Machu Picchu. That night, I went out dancing for Brenda’s friend Lao’s birthday. The club played a great mix of music that was really fun to dance to.
On Saturday I said goodbye to Jessica who was leaving that night to go back to California. It was really sad saying goodbye to her and all my friends from the west coast. It will be hard to visit each other. But one of the coolest things about study abroad is that I have met people all over the U.S., Argentina, Europe, and Australia. I hope to see them all again some day. Later in the day I moved out of Virginia and Vicente’s to stay in Griffin’s with Emily (who is no longer able to stay with her host family) for the last two nights. It was really sad! Virginia and I both cried. I guess I wasn’t expecting her to be upset because I figured she was used to having students come and go for 13 years. I must have made more of an impression than I thought. I’m really going to miss my host family!
Yesterday, Emily, Lizzy’s friend Tim, and I went to a barrio called Barracas which is an artsy up and coming part of the city. An artist painted murals on all the houses on this one street. They streets were also lined with colored tiles. It was really neat and I got lots of really cool pictures. Afterwards, we walked to San Telmo where I got a few last minute gifts and also met up with Francisco and two of his friends. We walked around and had coffee and he helped me pick out new sunglasses because sadly I somehow lost my antique ones I had bought in midst of my stressful trip back to Buenos Aires from Chile. It was sad to say goodbye to Francisco because it will be even more difficult to see him if he moves back to Panama.
Last night was Emily’s 21st birthday at midnight, which is about all I can say without making my parents worry. We went to a club called Amerika which was really fun, and don’t worry Mom and Dad we all took care of Emily. I will be making my flight back to the U.S. tonight at 11. That’s all I have for now! Its going to be hard to leave her and say goodbye to Brenda and everyone at ISA today, but I am looking forward to a month relaxing at home with the family and then returning to Charleston in January.
It has been a life changing journey throughout South America, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to travel with so little responsibility. The next time I return here, it will most likely only be for a short vacation and possibly to work. But who knows what can happen in a year and a half. I should have some more to write about in the airport tonight and upon my arrival in the States. That’s all for now!
The last time I wrote was Thanksgiving. It was weird spending Thanksgiving without the family and only talking to the entire extended family through Skype. That night I went to dinner at an American restaurant called Kansas. We ate on Argentine time, which ended up being around midnight. The food was good, but not the same as home. I had a good time though with Allison, my friend Barbara, and then we saw some other guys there from ISA who sat with us and had drinks while we ate. I had plans to go out after but was so full and tired from dinner that we all decided just to go home and go to bed.
The last week seems like a blur to me! I spent most of last weekend doing my Christmas shopping in Recoleta and San Telmo. I got some great gifts for my family and friends that I cannot wait to give them. On Monday night, I got a call from Franco (Liz's Argentine boyfriend) at 7:00 to come to his house at 8:30 for a surprise going away party he was having for Liz. Apparently he had texted me earlier in the day but I didnt get it. Anyways...the party was really nice. His two other sisters, brother, and mom were there with their boyfriends/girlfriends. We had a great dinner. Liz was really surprised and happy about the party.
Liz left on Tuesday and it was really sad to see her leave. It was really weird because once she left I was pretty much the only one of my American friends left. I felt kinda sad but like being on my own to explore and do things I couldn't always do with a group of people.
On Wednesday Brenda and I went to MicroCentro again and had lunch at the smoothie bar, Pura Vida. We then went to a mall called Galeria Pacifica which is absolutely beautiful and very upscale. There is an art center called el Centro Cultural de Borges. There wasnt much there but a small art exhibit because the main exhibit wasnt opening until the following day. The center also has a lot of plays and tango shows which arent playing until after I leave. One thing I would have liked to do more of was see more shows while I was here. Those kinds of things are difficult on a college student budget though.
Thursday was probably one of the most interesting days I have spent in Buenos Aires. The taxista (cab driver), Charlie who drives for ISA drove Lizzy, Emily, and I to the airport before going to Peru and told us he would take us around one day to show us parts of the city we probably would never see on our own. Thursday he drove Lizzy (Griffin's roommate) and I through the provinces surrounding Buenos Aires.
Charlie had amazing stories to tell us. He was originally born in Scotland. After his father died when he was 10, his mother bought boat tickets for him and his 9 other brothers and sisters to go to the U.S. The boat stopped in Argentina, they got off to see BSAS and ended up staying for the rest of their lives. He grew up in Argentina, and when he was 18 he went back to Scotland and joined the Royal British Marines and fought in the Vietnam War. After his time in the war, he played professional rugby in South Africa and Argentina for several years when he said he was tired of showering several times a day. He is now married to an Argentine woman, has two daughters, teaches English, and does city tours for fun.
Throughout the entire day, Charlie drove us through the outer provinces of Buenos Aires. He took us to his boat club in Martinez where he keeps his sail boat, and we met the chef of the restaurant at the club who has traveled all around the world and now prepares Argentine dishes but with a flare of all the different countries she had been to. We didn’t get to eat but the food looked delicious. We also drove through beautiful residential neighborhoods of San Isidro, Olivos, and several others. It was great to see things I wouldn’t have seen on my own before I left. Charlie was also extremely funny and told us some amazing stories.
One of the most touching of his stories was about his time in the Vietnam War. For just under a year, he was stationed in Thailand. He lived in a small village where he lived at a house that he paid less than 60 USD a month and received two meals along with his living. The house he rented actually had previously belonged to the parents of two young teenage girls but had died and now the home belonged to the government. The girls who lived in the house offered all of their services to Charlie. One night, he said the girls tried to bathe him and offered him more services than what would be considered the norm. Charlie was so disgusted but was told by a local that that was normal in their village. It turns out the girls had been raped several times by any man on the street, and they were just 13 years old. Charlie lived with the girls, treated them with respect, and taught them English. At the end of his 11 months, because he had saved so much money he was able to buy the house for just $3000. He gave the house to the girls and opened a bank account for the two girls to get an education. He also threatened all the men in the village that if they ever laid a hand on either of the girls again, he would kill them. Charlie said that now the girls both have a college education and are married with children. This was just one of the incredible stories Charlie told us!
After a full day of seeing the city, we went to a parilla and had really good meat and appetizers for only $25 for the three of us. That night, we went to Club Niceto that I had planned to go to on Thanksgiving. It was so much fun. It was a gay club with some pretty ridiculous transvestites but had some really awesome break dancers mid way through the night. They were so entertaining, like some stuff I had seen at dance competitions in high school. They also interacted with the crowd and had people come up on stage and do flips over them while they were laying down. I had a great time!
Friday was my last meal with Virginia and Vicente, which although I will miss them I am glad to no longer have to eat Virginia’s food. I also enlarged a picture of Machu Picchu for them and framed it. They loved it because they were never able to go to Machu Picchu. That night, I went out dancing for Brenda’s friend Lao’s birthday. The club played a great mix of music that was really fun to dance to.
On Saturday I said goodbye to Jessica who was leaving that night to go back to California. It was really sad saying goodbye to her and all my friends from the west coast. It will be hard to visit each other. But one of the coolest things about study abroad is that I have met people all over the U.S., Argentina, Europe, and Australia. I hope to see them all again some day. Later in the day I moved out of Virginia and Vicente’s to stay in Griffin’s with Emily (who is no longer able to stay with her host family) for the last two nights. It was really sad! Virginia and I both cried. I guess I wasn’t expecting her to be upset because I figured she was used to having students come and go for 13 years. I must have made more of an impression than I thought. I’m really going to miss my host family!
Yesterday, Emily, Lizzy’s friend Tim, and I went to a barrio called Barracas which is an artsy up and coming part of the city. An artist painted murals on all the houses on this one street. They streets were also lined with colored tiles. It was really neat and I got lots of really cool pictures. Afterwards, we walked to San Telmo where I got a few last minute gifts and also met up with Francisco and two of his friends. We walked around and had coffee and he helped me pick out new sunglasses because sadly I somehow lost my antique ones I had bought in midst of my stressful trip back to Buenos Aires from Chile. It was sad to say goodbye to Francisco because it will be even more difficult to see him if he moves back to Panama.
Last night was Emily’s 21st birthday at midnight, which is about all I can say without making my parents worry. We went to a club called Amerika which was really fun, and don’t worry Mom and Dad we all took care of Emily. I will be making my flight back to the U.S. tonight at 11. That’s all I have for now! Its going to be hard to leave her and say goodbye to Brenda and everyone at ISA today, but I am looking forward to a month relaxing at home with the family and then returning to Charleston in January.
It has been a life changing journey throughout South America, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to travel with so little responsibility. The next time I return here, it will most likely only be for a short vacation and possibly to work. But who knows what can happen in a year and a half. I should have some more to write about in the airport tonight and upon my arrival in the States. That’s all for now!
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