SO this is my first blog post. I have been here in Buenos Aires, Argentina for three weeks already, so I have already done and experienced more than I could possibly document here, but I will share the highlights so far.
Well, there are many many highlights, but most recently was last night (Wednesday).. This time of year summer is just ending in Argentina. Typically this means that the weather is 70 or 80 degrees and sunny, but with days here and there where it rains so hard that the streets flood and no one comes out of their houses. In the three weeks I have been here it has been warm, sunny and beautiful every single day and every single night.. until last night. Last night was St. Patrick’s and, just like the US, the people here celebrate this holiday in the bars, so me and the 11 other students in by study abroad program had plans to go out to an Irish Pub. Maybe around 6 or 7, the rain started. Minutes later, the rain had increased 10 fold along with wind, lightening and very loud thunder. At that time I was hoping it would calm down in a few hours, in time for my walk to the ‘subte’ (main public transportation-underground subway). Nine thirty came around and it was coming down as hard as ever. I was not upset at all, but excited for another experience and open to whatever was about to happen next. So I opened my umbrella and walked out the door. Well, I have never walked in such aggressive weather conditions in my life! After almost losing grip on my umbrella, I held it down with two hands and hoped it wouldn’t blow away. Like I was told, many part of the street were flooded halfway up my calf and I thoroughly enjoyed attempting to avoid the biggest puddles by stepping in puddles that filled my flats with water all the same. But the main reason this 9 block walk is one of my highlights so far is that there was no one else on the streets with me. It was the first time I could walk down the street at my own pace and without the constant anxiety over judging whether the person that is about to pass me has the intention of robbing me. This seems like a very sad thing to base my experiences on, but for me who has never lived in a city or had much experience in a city at all, this already justified fear is amplified and has been a pretty constant part of everyday life here for me the last two weeks since I started walking everywhere on my own..
Another experience I’ve had here- someone has also already tried to rob me on the street. Warning of crime and robbery is the first thing that just about everyone says to foreigners here once they discover you are not from Argentina. In Buenos Aires, it is something everyone, not just foreigners, has to constantly be aware of on every street and every hour of the day. This happened to me on that same 9 block walk home from the subte after classes one day of my first week here. I was walking the main street home, which has four lanes of traffic, on the side opposite that which intersects other streets- mistake number 1. I was wearing my backpack on my back- mistake number 2. I was trying to avoid eye contact with the guys that passed by, since it is unavoidable that very nearly every guy here calls out to every girl that they pass- mistake number 3. I was wearing my gold Baha’i necklace that I never ever take off- (big) mistake number 4. SO, I was stranded on that side of the street with no other place to walk and I saw two young boys, maybe 13 years old, ahead walking in my direction. So I tried to avoid eye contact by looking down and ignoring them. Before I knew it (it happened unbelievably fast), one of the boys had launched himself at me with intention of grabbing my necklace, and ran. Luckily, my chain is very strong and somehow did not break. Nothing was taken but I was a bit shaken and am now very attentive (possibly boarder line paranoid) every time I leave the house. The strongest testament to this common occurrence was my host-stay mom’s reaction when I shared with her the story- “Welcome to Argentina”.
ANYWAYS, as I walked down the flooded streets with puddles in my shoes I was smiling from ear to ear and left so liberated, without any stress. I didn’t even realize how much stress built up from walking in the city until it wasn’t there. It was wonderful and the best way to start a fun night out in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, classes today were a bit difficult to get through on so little sleep, but I’M IN BUENOS AIRES! I have no regrets and can fairly say I have lived up every moment of the last 2 weeks to their fullest.
Wow, so there is just an unlimited amount of things to share and I have already been writing for a while. Well, I will try and catch everyone up little by little. Overall, I could not be happier. I am in love with the people here, the language, the city and the passion and energy that are everywhere. I love the social nature of life, staying out late and dancing all night and I love the importance that is put on family and the value of friendship and the abundance of artistic expression. I love the sponenteaity of events and the random friends and family that show up at the house just to say hi, catch up and drink yerba mate at random hours. I love the yerba mate, the asado and the flan, as well as the many Celiac options that the US is still lacking. There is so much life and energy here that it is like a constant adrenaline rush. And besides all that, I love learning about Argentina’s amazing complex history and seeing its manifestations everywhere. And I love the 11 other students who are sharing all of this with me, a very diverse and amazing group! Okay, this is all I have time for for now- almost time to break the fast.
Espero que se disfruten de mis experiencias en este blog! Amor a todos mis amigos y familia.
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