Learning: Days 15-16

Darn, I totally meant to blog yesterday. I was having a day full of pensiveness on the prevalence and permanence of mortality...and didn't make it a priority to blog. Oh well. Next time I am so inspired, I shall endeavor to share my thoughts.

Best part of yesterday: walking into two completely different stores on two separate occasions just in time to hear my favorite Venezuelan man singing my favorite Spanish song. :)

Worst part of yesterday: staying up too late. Enough said.

Best part of today: being ready for the Migraciones interview tomorrow, with all of the documents--finally! After this I may begin working soon.

Worst part of today: realizing how I cannot handle over two weeks without a gym. It's killing me slowly.
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More good things that have happened lately: call with boyfriend last night, TWO functional (as in, no longer losing water out the faucets) sinks, clean apartment, wifi connection continues to work without any issues, safe ride home from Bajo Flores last night to my apartment after sunset. :)


Today I slept in, as a result of said late night, and then dawdled around for breakfast and more playing of the guitar.
Before long, it was two in the afternoon, and time to leave for Ingeniero Butty, the street on which Globant's office building resides. I got the last two necessary documents, and headed to Florida to spend some time browsing shops. I found the perfumey thing I had been wanting, and saw a street performer dressed (spitting image) as Captain Jack Sparrow. I still do not understand the store Falabella, by the way. It's like four or five floors of nothing I would ever need. Thoroughly confused by this...
Then I came back home, had some snacks, washed some clothes, and talked to some friends on facebook. Cannot wait for a daily routine that gives me people to talk to face to face so I can remove myself from a permanent state of being "online".
Today was really quite droll, I have to say. Tomorrow will make up for it, I hope. The meeting with Migraciones is in the morning, then in the afternoon (at about five) I'm going into one of the villas again to help with the music class, and then hanging out with friends tomorrow night. They may be coming to hang out at my apartment--how cool and grown-up is that. :)

So, here's to a better tomorrow. It's almost Friday, everyone! Whooopee! (:

I Have Skype Now: Day 14

Best part of the day: Getting an anticipated email update from a best friend, and other social networking communications. I love that technology is totally on my side here, permitting me to stay in touch with whosoever I desire.

Worst part of the day: Not making it to the cemetery here in Recoleta today. Why didn't I? Isn't it funny how with empty, agenda-less days it is so much harder to get anything done? I feel as though I already resign myself to underachieving when I awake past ten in the morning, and don't have set goals for the day. New goal: set more goals. :)
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I had the opportunity to sleep in today, which was very nice and much needed. Then I made breakfast, where I am working on remembering how long I like my boiled eggs cooked for; is it seven minutes after the water boils, or including boiling time? Do I keep the eggs in the water from the very start? Then there's the whole issue of moving the poor devils directly from fridge to boiling water, then they crack, then the water's all goopey... anyway. Not what you came to this site to read tonight. :)
After breakfeast, I began playing my guitar again. I think my fingers are callusing nicely. Guitar is a nice activity for many reasons, and one of them is the possibility of facebook chatting in between songs or verses. So I keep from being lonely between the two activities.

Then, all of a sudden, I had a realization while I was playing.

I am VERY done with what I'll call merely "subsistence cooking". Subsistence cooking: making a mix-n-match "meal" out of the fridge/pantry contents and expecting it to work long-term. SO, in efforts against enabling this laziness any longer, I hopped on epicurious.com to find some recipes, or at least ideas for possible food  combinations. I picked a dish to make each day for this week and next, and a shopping list that goes along with them. Today's masterpiece was a garbanzo bean (aka chickpea) salad, with parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. I made rice to go with it, for I felt it was not substantial enough on its own. It was scrumptious! And more importantly, it tasted of success. Of taking a step towards managing things better. Of making the decision to grab this bull by the horns, and completely learn how to live independently. And of lemons whose equal I have never tasted.

Also, it continues to be a hige bonus that while the rice, pasta, meats that I don't buy/eat, and other meal ingredients cost the same or more as in the States, the best part--the fresh fruit and veg--remains cheap.

Before I made dinner, however, I had gone for a walk around town. I was tired of the apartment, and went to see if I could find a gym at which to get a membership, or maybe a cafe to scope out some afternoon. I found several of both. Now I just have to eenie-meenie-miney-moe it. That can be done.

After dinner, I was able to SKYPE my family. Huzzah! This has been our struggle, because the BlackBerry tablet that I have with me does not exactly support (software-wise) the Skype. It is the most common app used by friends and family of mine, though, so I was missing out. Now I am capable--woohoo! So, skype me. All you skypers. Yeah.

I played my sister and dad songs on the guitar I've been learning. It was fun just to share that with them. And now, I'm at bedtime. Nothing tomorrow, again, so I think it's time to visit the cemetery, and maybe see if the roses have bloomed in the Palermo rose garden. Goals. :)

Sweet Breads, Music, and Friends: Day 13

Best part of the day: My new friend F.
        Tonight I hung out with F, one of the congregation at La Mision; one of the youth to whom the Zs minister. We walked around Recoleta, had ice cream, and then played some guitar and shared favorite musicians, bands, songs. His English is impeccable. His smile is stellarly friendly. And he's Colombian, from Bogota, so we had much to talk about!
Worst part of the day: Waiting at the doctor's office for my pre-occupational examination.
        This morning, really early, I had to go to ESMINSA to get a checkup that is (in Argentina) mandatory before obtaining a job. They really don't mess around--blood test, blood pressure, visual, am-I-pregnant scan...all of it. But I then got a whole day free, so I started by treating myself to sweetbreads from a panaderia I passed on the way home. The photo's up on Facebook.
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For those who would like the full version of the blog, keep reading. It's free. For those whose attention spans cannot muster strength for it, I am not at all offended. :)

So, after the appointment this morning, I came home at around eight thirty or nine o'clock with the sweetbread, and enjoyed myself thoroughly while eating it. Then I opened my guitar case, and then before I knew it it was one in the afternoon. How nice to have a day to chill after a fastpaced weekend. Don't get me wrong--I loved both sides of the coin. It's just that one offsets the other ideally. So I played guitar, and facebooked. Very relaxing. Then I decided I should eat something, and then I felt lazy. I'd been sedentary basically all day, so I deemed it time to make an excursion to discover the park in Palermo. I had heard much about it, and I had about two hours to spare, so I set off.
There was some sort of accident or fire today on the next street over, it seems. All day I kept hearing sirens, and I walked past, seeing a crowd and several fire engines and police cars. Hope people are okay; I still have no idea what happened.
When I got to the Plaza Alemania, I decided I wanted to keep walking. The marvelous sunlight, Spring breeze, and Spring smell were intoxicating. Eventually I found a big ol' tree stump--the kind perfect for just sitting--and just sat. I listened to my iPod, sent some emails, and relaxed.
Soon I headed home, to get showered and get the apartment tidied up before I hung out with F. I made myself some popcorn, and it tasted delectable.
When F came and rang the bell for my apartment, he said he couldn't recognize my voice, that it sounded like a child's. He's right; I really do have a purely childish voice sometimes. Anyway, the porter wished me well, and we were off. Then the "Best of the day" listed above occurred, and as I played guitar and sang, and listened to him play, and heard his stories and shared mine, I got a sense of how truly God does orchestrate each human relationship for our benefit. He is using F and I as encouragements to one another, as we are both far from family, on our own. Plus, we're both crazy, so that keeps life fun. (:

I'm off to bed soon. Can't forget to close the shutters. Goodnight!

Whirlwind Weekend: Days 10-12

I know. It's day twelve, and I seem to have skipped days ten and eleven. But I think that that really means I lived days ten and eleven to their saturation point, to the utmost they could be. I believe I did.

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Friday was an early morning with an agenda. I got up, ate something, and got on the subte. There was some fuss and shouting and police about some man in the subway, and I saw him run away. No idea what happened. I had a train to catch. So I went to the Comisaria I needed to--a government office that had DMV vibes--and got my Argentine criminal record. Spoiler: it's blank. Cool. Then I realized, at about 8:15 that this had taken way less time than I had expected, so I had hours to kill before I went to meet with the people at the office to touch base and keep things rolling. So, I meandered, tried to find a subte charge card place, and then went home. There were still dishes that needed cleaning, and a guitar to be played. Before I knew it it was time for heading to the city center for the meeting at the office. I made it in time, and was soon in conversation with J, who is the main aid I have in the process of coming to work at the company. I got to see the job offer all written out--a salary, 20 hours per week expected, and such. What a sweet deal! I can actually pay off part of this trip! So, that was successful. Plus she helped walk me through the online "get your appointment with immigrations" process. Friday, 30 September. I'm going to rock domes. But, I'm distracting everyone. Ahem.
Next, I raced to meet the translator, for my passport and US criminal record to get translated and legalized. I met F right outside the translators' association, and we quickly realized I'd forgotten to send a scan of the apostille* to translate. OOPS.

*Note: for those who have never, or not yet at least, had to go through the process of preparing to live in a foreign country that has ratified the Hague Agreement, here's what an apostille is. It's a certificate that validates a document that has been notarized in your country of origin. So, my criminal record, or birth certificate, say, is only valid if it has the attached apostille of the state wherein the document was created.

So, he was very agreeable--and as his wife had informed me by email "he is very flexible...we are quite tolerant! We practice meditation a lot, striving to be calm at all times, and cheerful". I love Argentine openness and conversationalism. :) Anyhow, the document was soon finished, between spurts of chatter about Jane Eyre and the Victorian view of self-sacrifice, how the Queen in chess is the true position of Woman, and how the Argentine economy is quite possibly the fault of the rich. We got the documents all legalized, and headed out the door. We were both in need of fuel, and I had to get to an ATM to pay him, so we wound up having lunch at a pizza parlor. What a neat place it is: all gaudy red-and-white everything, including the tile walls, and the pizza is prepared in a kitchen with a large window, and the dextrous pizza cutter/server is a marvel to watch. Then we left the restaurant just in time to watch the parade of picketers, proceeding through the city. F informed me that the picketers in Argentina are quite unique; they never cause damage to and car or whatever in their path, because they understand that they are part of the city system, the same one in which these bus drivers find themselves. Like the Circle of Life, I suppose.
By this point in the day, I was utterly wiped. I had spent my so-far eight waking hours walking hither and thither, and not stopping to eat or drink or pee, and always headed on to the next thing.

I went back to the apartment and crashed. After, that is, spending half an hour social networking, trying to invite/convince a friend of a Mexican friend to come to the church with me. She's here in BA studying cosmetology. Neat!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

I woke up after a very brief doze, and went to the Z's, for tomorrow was the big concert I was headed to along with Mr. Z. and youth from the church. So, this way I could sleep over and leave at the crack of dawn with them to get in line (it being free). Met the Z children and Mr. Z. at their dance class/soccer practice pickup time, and went home for the evening. One of the church's youth, E, came over, and she, Mrs. Z. and I had dinner and a fascinating, long conversation about dating/marriage relationships and friendships, and the line between them. I enjoyed it very much.

Then, I went to bed. By that point it was post-midnight, and we were going to leave at six. Lovely.


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Yawn. It's still dark. Grab the coffee, grab the clothes. Guess the order should be reversed. Thought process vague at this hour. Get in the car, awakening now. driving with Mr. Z. to pick up E and R (parents of one of the youth) and J (one of the youth, he's closer to my age than most of them).
We were on our way to El Unico Estadio de La Plata: The Only Stadium of/in La Plata. Makes me laugh every time; and the thing is, it's not the only one. That made some people a bit angry, I'll bet.
Anywho, soon we were in the right area, and had to find the rest of the youth who'd gone the night before, and the seven of whom had spent Friday night in a tent for two. A chilly, cramped night of little sleep for all.
They had held a place in line for us all, starting when they woke up that morning, for they were staying for the second night of the Super Clasico as well because they could, and it was free, and they were with their friends. :)  And so began an excessively long day of waiting in line. This was about eight o'clock in the morning, and the show was in exactly twelve hours.
Amidst several feuds of who was cutting in line (very Argentine, I am told), conversations about English words for things or meanings of English words, and shared potty-runs, I really felt like I was making great strides to getting to know the youth. They are hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoy them and their group dynamic. There were nine of us there, altogether: two of them were boys, the remainder chicas. I had a "choripan" for lunch, and that is a very flavorful sausage on a bun-like bread. Yum. Somebody passed out cold in the line at one point--I'm beginning to realize how much stronger the sun beams here, especially in a crowded place where walking about and leaving to buy things is discouraged--but he revived and was carried off in an ambulance.
Eventually, we entered the stadium (at about 5 or 6; my phone was beyond dead battery-wise, so I could not tell time), and could SIT. I got to have a long, wonderfully amusing and delightful conversation with J about most everything. Then there were a couple bathroom breaks as well, which in and of themselves took up basically forty-five minutes each run. Lines for women's bathrooms...sigh.
Then, at eight o'clock, the show commenced. It was incredibly thrilling to see the entire--ENTIRE--stadium filled with teens and young adults, filling the ground level and the stadium seating, ready and waiting to worship God and hear the Word together. There were several bands, several short speeches, and Dante Gebel's speech/sermon at the end. Powerful night.
We left the stadium before it ended, so as to get out of there before the throng, so that we would be home before two in the morning. We all had church the next day. In the car, we got warm, drank mate, and dozed. Pretty soon we were back in Bajo Flores, dropping people off, and then Mr. Z. and I got out of the car, into the house, and to sleep.

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I awoke to someone sitting on the couch on which I was sleeping. It was the oldest Z kid, I, who came down for his Sunday morning television.
After eating breakfast, getting dressed, and giving the elder Z daughter the desired french braids, I joined the family in the car for the drive to church. The service went very well, and even though the sermon ran long, everyone was in good spirits. I love the time Argentines dedicate to greeting one another, and conversing about how life is going. That's what always comes after the service is over. I love talking with the youth, children, and adults alike, and getting hugs and cheek-kisses from all.
By this point, I was pretty hungry, and A (he's from Paraguay, and in his late twenties) was not helping, talking about this Paraguayan yucca/egg/cheese/cumin dish that I now really want to try. The Zs suggested we go to lunch, and another girl here for a Pepperdine program in BA came along. McDonalds, as per the kids' request.
Then, the Pepperdine student and I rode the subte home together, for she lives in a neighborhood very nearby mine. Upon returning home, I finally had time to charge my phone, do some laundry by hand in the tub (hands are dry tonight!), and eat dinner. Now I sit here on my couch, soon to converse with family.

I'm really loving it here. I'm looking forward to a very productive week, maybe with some tourism on the side. I'll keep you up to date. I hope your week is off to a great start, dear reader! Chau.

It's the Little Things: Day 9

Little things make the day.

Things like the excellent choice of glasses frames I saw on a young schoolgirl today, and like the cool invisibility of sitting on my balcony in the frigid night air this evening. Things like finding a capo for my guitar at a music store on Florida with a lovely older salesman who knows his stuff about music. Things like taking shelter in a bookstore when rain threatens. Things like having just enough cash to get to your friends' house, where you are safe from cash needs. Things like having just enough cash for all you must do tomorrow after the day's purchases, and like getting every article of clothing--every sock--back from the laundromat to whom you hesitatingly entrusted your dearest sweatshirt and leggings. Things like having time to practice guitar. Things like having a family to talk to, and like having the technology to extend conversations internationally. Things like conversation and email and phone and people who genuinely care. Things like living blessed in Buenos Aires.

Observations: Day 8.5

Yesterday, I sent postcards, spent time outside in the sun, and went to the Flores area to help with a music class in one of the villas, and then attend a Bible study at the church again. I spent the night with the Zs. I feel much better.

Now, I would like to post some of my observations of the trip so far, rather than just rattle off the activities that fill each day. Here goes.

Getting on the subte at the Carabobo station, the train is mostly empty at this hour; a few older men, a few young women, maybe some middle-age businessmen, and definitely no school children, for it's school time. If I'm lucky, it is one of the old trains--those that are not yet out of commission, from decades long past. The all-wood interior is softly lit by overhead lamps of an antique sort of style, a refreshing distinction from the fluorescent ocular horror of subte hallways and newer trains. I board the train car, and watch the handhold rings that have supported decades of people rock gently back and forth. As I ride from one end of the A line to the other, I look forward to the unidentifiable smell that accosts my nose at about Castro Barrios, or a little bit sooner. It is a warm, welcoming, woody scent, almost sauna-like but drier. I don't know if anybody else even notices it. I certainly have no idea what's causing it. Maybe it is best to just enjoy it.

Eventually, it is time to get off at Peru, and hop on the D line home. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven stops later on a new train. The uglier ones, sans-character. The main activities of passengers: sleep, listen to iPod, look at one another. What an amusement to watch people watch other people, knowing that you yourself are most likely meanwhile being watched.

Walk the four blocks home, one straight shot on Agüero. Pull out the keys, but not too prematurely--don't want to flash the fact that soon I'll be a bit distracted opening a door, prime time for those inclined to rob me. Successfully and quickly open the door, walk through, make sure it shuts well. Bien cerrada, okay, going up. I take the stairs, for a bit more movement. Besides, it's only two flights. Unlock the front door--two separate locks and keys--and open the door. By now I know to expect no one else there; a transformation that occurred very quickly, thankfully. The space is mine, for better or for worse. 

Open the curtains, pull up the shutters, let some natural light in. The same in my bedroom, the other bedroom. Ahhh. Open the balcony doors, sit there. The air is fresh and, today, cool. I should clear the table, it's a mess. I should switch my clothes from the first bedroom to the other--I switched to the one with the better-but-smaller mattress. I should go get cash.

But for the moment, I am content to sit here; just myself and the city sounds, and my guitar within an arm's reach.

Lazy Day: Day 7

The adrenaline on which I seem to have been running thus far finally blew today.

I woke up feeling dreadfully nauseous at 3 am, and couldn't shake it enough to get real sleep until about 8. It was, I would bet, a combination of factors--like new water, new body clock, new germs, same old not-enough-sleep. :)

Anyhow, fortunately, today was a entirely blank day. I was not to miss out on any immigrations progress. I stayed in the apartment for some sleep in the morning, and had some trippy dreams. Then I eventually went on a grocery shopping walk for fresh air, milk, bananas, and crackers. Then, lay upon my blanket on the apartment floor and watched a Bones episode (with this internet, it took twice as long) and ate some food. Soon it was dinner time, and then early bedtime prep.
Terribly unfortunately, it is the last night of winter, and everyone is celebrating the coming of spring tonight. I was invited to have pizza with the porter Walter and his family, but best lie low tonight. How sad.

Tomorrow shall be better, though. I hope to get laundry washed and postcards sent. And to enjoy SPRING!

I Really Live Here--Even the Police Say So: Day 6

I was awakened rather, well, abruptly to the sound of my buzzer. I ran down the stairs to prove that I live here, and received my certification of address validation. In my jammies. Then, turned around and laughed at myself with the porter. Good morning, world. :)
I made an egg and toast for beakfast (because I can, because I have groceries). Enjoyed that. Then I suddenly had an entire day free, because it had earlier been blocked off for the police to come validate the address. So I called Mrs. Z, and decided I could easily spare the time to babysit while she got groceries and took a daughter to the doctor. So I hopped on the now-familiar subway and arrived in time for the dregs of an Uno game.
With two Z kids, I watched Thumbelina. Then I was bombarded wth stencilled masterpieces that now adorn my once-lonely, boring apartment wall.
Shortly after the Z parents returned, I headed home, wanting to evade public transport in the dark. I made dinner (pasta, carrots, zapatillo, olive oil, oregano), ate it, washed dishes, and decided I wanted coffee.
So, at 10:00 at night, I headed up Aguero. Got a cafe cortado (mostly espresso-strength coffee with a little frothy milk blended in), and it came with the customary tiny glass of club soda AND a few spoonfuls of vanilla gelato. Mmm. perfect.
Walked home without an issue, and am now headed for much-needed sleep! Chau chau.

Blessings: Day 5

Today was filled to the brim with blessings.

Woke up and prepared for church. Left for church, navigated the subway through my first line transfer. Found the next transfer led to an "interrupted" line. BLESSING: found a friend, don't even know her name, who got diverted as well, heading the same way. Figured out the right bus and stop together. BLESSING: Arrived at the church. BLESSING: Had friends with whom I could sit. Sang and worshipped in Spanish. BLESSING: Marycela invited me to lunch with a family of friends in a villa nearby. Had my first experience in a villa (like Barrio Egipto in Bogota, for those of you who know it). BLESSING: Had a shopping buddy for my first grocery shopping trip. BLESSING: Real food for dinner. BLESSING: Called Mom. BLESSING: Played guitar. BLESSING: Chatted with friends back home.

BLESSING: Sleep.

On My Own: Day 4

This morning I spent with the Zs, and then made my way to the main street in their neck of the woods for shopping. I found what I needed--a low-cost black purse that I really like--and continued to the subway station to get closer into the city. I was getting near desperate for postcards and an adaptor. The plugs here look like this:

/    \       instead of     |     |

Bought it from a street vendor on Florida, seven pesos. Works just fine.

When I got back to my apartment at about two, I had lunch, chatted with sisters, Dad, and boyfriend. Then I napped a much-needed nap. :)

I also had budget figuring to do. Since I have been at the Z's every night so far, I've always had dinner--the major meal--there, or at least with them at McDonald's, like last night. (By the way, I am of the opinion that Argentine McD's meat beats out any US meat. Yep, having everything be organic is a very good thing.) So, I have not really had to concern myself with groceries until now. And now it is concerning, what with a quick view of my fridge and counter.

Approaching dinner time an hour ago, I realized I have no butter. No eggs. No can opener for the chick peas. I don't even have olive oil yet. Goal for tomorrow: GROCERIES. Needless to say, dinner was interesting: frozen peas (warmed up), fresh potato from the produce shop three doors down (microwaved, because the oven looks like it was here before civilization, and doesn't close), and a glass of milk. I am totally okay with that for the moment, but it will have to change. :)

Today as I went about my business, even my landlady checked in on me. I am well taken care of, friends. Her explanation was that I'm the youngest renter she and her sister have ever had, and, well, I completely believe her! How cool to be a record setter, and to have this whole opportunity. I love it.

I think I'll play guitar for a bit, and then tuck in for the night. Buenas noches!

Success: Day 3

Today began, once again, with a return trip from the Z's. This time, however I drove with Mr. Z., who had to go to the pedestrian street Florida in the city center. I tagged along, and then picked up the subway home.

The mission this morning was dual part: first, to start the process of address validation by talking to the police; second, to start the process for obtaining a criminal record for all my heinous activities in my ten-day history in Argentina. The porter drew me a map to the police office I needed for the first document, and from there they directed me to another office for the second document. So, I hopped on the subway and found my way to the right place.

I must here interrupt myself, and say that Argentines have to be some of the sweetest strangers ever. By that, I mean to say that whenever I have approached anyone for help--police/security guards, fellow pedestrians, receptionists/counter workers at businesses--and smiled my hopeless, try-to-see-me-as-cute-and-in-need-of-assistance-please smile, they direct me with a smile of their own (and directions). Works a peach.

Entonces, I went back home to rest my feet. More like my ankle. There was a storm (apparently with hail) predicted for today, so the combination of lots of distance walking and pending storm was a bit painful. I had lunch: yummy crackers and fontina cheese, a freshfreshfresh avocado, a strawberry yogurt (here the yogurt's like the potential offspring of yogurt and jello in texture), and yerba mate. Spanish lesson: it's pronounced jair-bah mah-tay. It's the typical Argentine warm drink, like green tea on steroids. Mega delicioso.

Next, where did I end up? Adivina donde--guess where. The Z's!! There was a meeting of the youth of the church, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Z. work faithfully and compatibly and passionately. What a pleasure to hear their conversations together from the kitchen, while I browsed Facebook. Gotta love Argentine body clocks; they're still here, hanging around and filling every open space with laughter. I should go enjoy that.

Hola to all my friends back home, and back...in places other than home.

Feelin' Groovy: Day 2

Oh, wow, folks--it is so great to be here! Wasn't there a Hemingway quote about things in the nighttime seeming more hard-boiled than in the morning light? He was very right. I still love Buenos Aires, and am no longer as daunted by the process of Migraciones. I'm here to delight in this, learn anything/everything that I can, and make friends. I did those things all day.

I returned to my apartment this morning via subway, first public transit solo. It was a thrill! Almost got sidetracked at one point, but I decided to ask for help, and soon I was back on the straight and narrow. Or, the Subte line D. Whatever you choose to call it. :)
Upon arrival at my stop, I bought a guidebook and made a friend (the vendor). I then went to the apartment, and got cleaned up. How nice a clean change of clothes can feel after thirty-something hours and airplane smells. Then I set to work moving in--put the hanging clothes on the hangers, socks in the drawer, lotions and potions in the cabinets, my mate and bombilla in the kitchen with my teas. Rabbit trail: the teas I decided to bring with me are organic turmeric/ginger and my Shakespeare's English breakfast. So, anyway, I moved in. The apartment feels homey. This is good.
Pretty soon I realized I need food. Most humans do. So I went on a meandering, exploratory initial grocery run and felt successful. Then there was the matter of setting up the Argentine cell phone, and finding an office for obtaining certain documents. Did both.
My guitar made it! Miraculously, without any doubt in my mind. Somehow it got left behind in Dallas an extra day, but they brought it to my apartment! I was overjoyed. When I called the porter/building monitor up for directions to the office, he caught sight of the guitar, tuned it right up, and we played back and forth for a while. That led to an afternoon of conversation at my table about Argentine Spanish, Argentine history, mate, and of much laughter upon each hearing the other pronounce words in our respective non-native tongues.
Seems I can't spend three meals a day alone, so I find myself back at the Z's house tonight. I took the subway (solo again) to the nearest stop, and from thence successfully found a bus in the right direction and figured out paying, and arrived at their house unscathed. Boo yeah. :)
Loved being present for bedtime--I got to sing the kids my "Jesus Anna" song. What a gift.
I talked with family after the kids went to bed, and that was nice. Technology WORKS, sometimes! Hurrah.
Again, it's late. My bed awaits. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday, fans. I'm sure I miss you. (:

A Brain-dump Update: Day 1

FLIGHT:  Almost missed the connection, lost a guitar for a while. It'll show up soon...ish. Loved the vegetarian meals (kudos Mom for planning ahead)! Had an empty seat for a neighbor--meaning actual sleep possible. Three whole hours. Woke up once at 3:40 to peer out my window into a STUNNINGLY stellar sky; really, stellar, because Orion shone brightly, tilted south where I was headed, as if dancing and marking the way to Buenos Aires. Woke up around 6:00 to peer out and see the silent majesty of the (Andes?) mountains, uninterrupted by humanity. Landed, got suitcase, told them where to send my guitar, experienced massive inefficiency in customs lines. Such is the traveling life. :)

APARTMENT: is fantastic. Mom, you were right--I have access to both bedrooms. (I owe you a postcard.) Anyone want to visit? Signed my first lease papers ever. Felt quite unique for my first solo-living experience to be in a foreign, Spanish-speaking country. Put my teas in the kitchen, my suitcase in the bedroom, learned to lock the door and close the shutters.

THE AFTERNOON: Spent with Mr. Z., Mrs. Z., and their three (wonderful) kids. Was greeted as if I were a queen--they call me "Anna de Jesus", "the Jesus Anna", because I sang them/introduced to them my favorite calming Fernando Ortega song for when I have trouble sleeping. :) Colored, was smothered in blankets, drank coffee, talked about life, received glorious hugs left and right.

THE EVENING: Went with Mrs. Z. to Bible study at La Mision (church). Listened, met cool people, felt welcomed, went to dinner. Pizza. Met some of their friends from church. Laughed. Rode the bus and walked down dark, unpopulated streets at night. Reminded self not in Wheaton anymore. :)

THE NOW: Can a person feel daunted? Grammatically, I mean. Exhaustion ain't conducive to real good grammer. ;) Anyhow, that's me--daunted. Love Buenos Aires, don't entirely understand the immigrations process the company has laid out for me for the internship. Worst case, I work a lot more than I planned with the family and the church. Need to relinquish control. Need to have trust. NEED TO SLEEP. Ciao.

Nearly There

It is Sunday night, my penultimate eve in Wheaton before the adventure commences.

For the most part, I am packed to a satisfactory degree. How does one really ever know all that will be needed in the next three months? That's where faith enters in, I suppose. I've packed socks and outfits, tea and granola bars, and the extra duffel bag packed to accommodate the purchases that will undoubtedly occur. :)

I was blessed by the opportunity last week to see my Philadelphia family before I leave. I made the full drive out there solo, in one long day. The resulting sensation of success was fantastic--plus I got two whole days with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. Not to mention a visit to Eastern, where I spent a lovely afternoon with friends and future schoolmates, enjoying the beautiful campus once again.

I had a brief lapse into teariness tonight--just suddenly blindsided by the bigness of what I am soon to be attempting. But as a friend told me then, sometimes I just don't get it. Three months against the backdrop of a lifetime? Nothing. In the end, I bet I'll wish it could have been much longer.