I have decided to post just one last time to conclude my study abroad blog. This is going to be a blog of reflection and I feel like I should warn you ahead of time that it might get a little mushy.
After many hours of travel, I finally made it back to the states and back to Illinois. I'm not sure what I was expecting..but what I experienced wasn't it. Maybe 2 months isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, however I feel like a changed person and I guess I expected everyone else to have changed as well.
I found out quickly that people, good or bad, were exactly the same. I also expected things to be so much easier, and they were not. For example, I found myself speaking english, but at the same time thinking random words in spanish and barely catching myself before saying them out loud. So it actually took me longer to speak in english at first since I had to go back and translate the word from spanish to english. So very complicated! Also, I was so excited to drive again..only to get home and find out that my battery in my car had completely died and I will have to pay $160 for a new one if I want to drive again. I looked to public transportation in the meantime, but had no idea where to begin..where the bus stops are, where they take me, how to carry everything from WalMart that I needed to buy again..It was like I had to start all over!
On the other hand, I was very glad to see familiar faces. Andrew gave me the biggest hug ever and it made me feel very welcomed..Dexter went crazy of course..Beef had no idea what to think..and my family gave me sweet hugs as well and were all happy to see me.
Reverse culture shock really does exist..you find yourself comparing everything all over again and wondering if it is you or everything else that has changed. It is confusing and an adventure, but that is part of the fun (and the addiction) of travel.
I will conclude this blog by thanking each and every one of you that have been keeping up with my adventures and misfortunes this summer and for all the encouragement that was sent my way. I could not have done it without you! Hopefully this blog has served some kind of purpose, if not only to help me remember that crazy summer I once spent in Argentina.
Cuidate!--take care!
xoxoxo
Allie
Friday, July 27, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wow..
Time flies. I thought I knew the meaning of that expression but I definitely didn't. It is now after midnight and although I went out last night and only got like 3 hours of sleep in total, I am still unable to fall asleep. Every day it gets closer to my flight home and every day I want time to slow down. There are still so many things I want to do here and so many people I want to spend more time with. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely can't wait to be home and see my family, friends, and Andrew. I can't wait to drive again and stop being lost all the time, to have my own food in the fridge and do my own laundry. I can't wait to lay out and get tan and go swimming in the heat. I can't wait to straighten my hair again! I even can't wait to go to Walmart and Shop N Save and Old Navy. I can't wait to hug everyone and tell them all about my time here. I can't wait to be back at work again and see all my friends there.
In spite of all of these things I'm excited to do, I still cry when I think about saying goodbye to Beatriz (my mom here), all my friends from class, the random people from all over the world that I've met while going out, the amazing Argentine friends I've made that I only speak spanish with. Even the portero (doorman) that I say hi to every day and who always asks me if I'm cold and laughs when I say no. I'm going to miss seeing thousands of dogs every day and laughing at them pooping on the sidewalk. I'm going to miss having a hard boiled egg and gluten free toast and tea for breakfast every day. I'm going to miss having dinner and wine with Beatriz every night and the crazy amount of pumpkin and dulce de leche I have consumed. I'm even going to miss going out at 11pm and staying out until 2 pm the next day and never EVER getting enough sleep.
My experience here has been absolutely incredible and equally indescribable. I seriously hope I never forget the times I've had here and the people I've met. I know I have to come back and visit someday and I will. This week holds a presentation, tons of homework, a written exam, and an oral exam for me. Then Friday I leave to go home. Wow. That's all I can say.
xoxox
allie
In spite of all of these things I'm excited to do, I still cry when I think about saying goodbye to Beatriz (my mom here), all my friends from class, the random people from all over the world that I've met while going out, the amazing Argentine friends I've made that I only speak spanish with. Even the portero (doorman) that I say hi to every day and who always asks me if I'm cold and laughs when I say no. I'm going to miss seeing thousands of dogs every day and laughing at them pooping on the sidewalk. I'm going to miss having a hard boiled egg and gluten free toast and tea for breakfast every day. I'm going to miss having dinner and wine with Beatriz every night and the crazy amount of pumpkin and dulce de leche I have consumed. I'm even going to miss going out at 11pm and staying out until 2 pm the next day and never EVER getting enough sleep.
My experience here has been absolutely incredible and equally indescribable. I seriously hope I never forget the times I've had here and the people I've met. I know I have to come back and visit someday and I will. This week holds a presentation, tons of homework, a written exam, and an oral exam for me. Then Friday I leave to go home. Wow. That's all I can say.
xoxox
allie
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Less than 2 weeks!
Yesterday marked the month and a half period that I've been here, meaning I officially today have less than 2 weeks left in Buenos. Luckily today was around 50 degrees and sunny, so I went running and doubled my distance. It felt really great!
This past week I celebrated 4th of July with a pub crawl and met a bunch of new people. There were people from here, England, Columbia, the US, and so many more places. It was entertaining because you never know who speaks english and who doesn't, so I just spoke spanish to everyone only to find out 5 minutes into the conversation that the person was from the US. Monday is Argentina's Independence day so we get the day off from school and there's another pub crawl going on. Some people get really drunk and some people don't drink at all but it's a good time meeting people and walking around in a giant group no matter what your level of intoxication :)
Later on today I'll be going to the Recoleta market to check out some interesting touristy things and just to be outside since it is so gorgeous. I have no idea how I'm going to handle the 100+ degree weather back home when I'm so used to wearing jeans, a coat, and scarves but I'm sure I'll be happy to be in the sun again since most days here are so gray and it is a big deal when the sun comes out.
Next week I'm planning on going on a graffiti tour with some friends from school and also to this amazing zoo where you can actually pet lions and tigers..I could not be more excited!! Pictures to come, of course :)
Did anyone get to watch fireworks or were they all cancelled because of the drought? I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you very soon!
chau!
xoxo
Allie
This past week I celebrated 4th of July with a pub crawl and met a bunch of new people. There were people from here, England, Columbia, the US, and so many more places. It was entertaining because you never know who speaks english and who doesn't, so I just spoke spanish to everyone only to find out 5 minutes into the conversation that the person was from the US. Monday is Argentina's Independence day so we get the day off from school and there's another pub crawl going on. Some people get really drunk and some people don't drink at all but it's a good time meeting people and walking around in a giant group no matter what your level of intoxication :)
Later on today I'll be going to the Recoleta market to check out some interesting touristy things and just to be outside since it is so gorgeous. I have no idea how I'm going to handle the 100+ degree weather back home when I'm so used to wearing jeans, a coat, and scarves but I'm sure I'll be happy to be in the sun again since most days here are so gray and it is a big deal when the sun comes out.
Next week I'm planning on going on a graffiti tour with some friends from school and also to this amazing zoo where you can actually pet lions and tigers..I could not be more excited!! Pictures to come, of course :)
Did anyone get to watch fireworks or were they all cancelled because of the drought? I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you very soon!
chau!
xoxo
Allie
Monday, July 2, 2012
La Iglesia
The good news: I finally found a non-catholic church here in Buenos!
The bad news: I only have 2 more Sundays left here.
It is absolutely incredible to pray in another language and to hear people worship in another language and be able to understand it. I mean, you know that God is everywhere always, but it is unbelievable to actually experience it for yourself. Before Sunday, I guess I kind of imagined God was just in my head and heart here and He was everywhere because He was always with me. I was so very wrong and I am so very glad for it. In a country where the clubs don't really get going until 3am, you do not expect to have such an experience as I did yesterday. There were the nicest people singing and praising and I could understand more or less everything that was going on. I even recognized the songs that they sung. If anyone is planning on studying abroad here and would like to attend a protestant church, please let me know! It takes about an hour to get there from my apartment in Belgrano, but that's only because public transportation takes about 5 times longer than normal transportation. However, it is SO worth it :D I'll definitely be going back the next 2 Sundays. It is so powerful.
So lately I've been feeding my spiritual self with prayer and church, my intellectual self with spanish, and my physical self with running. Needless to say, things are going well. I can't believe it's already July and I only have 2 more weeks here. I'm really going to miss this place and all its challenges. Nothing like feeling nostalgic at the end of studying abroad...I'd love to come back and visit my host mom someday though, because she is such a kind soul and I can't imagine never seeing her again. This week I'll be doing homework and studying for my midterm on Friday and hopefully running although today's weather was super cold and completely gray. Let's pray for nice weather my last 2 weeks before I return to the inferno that is Illinois right now!
Happy July!
xoxoxo
Allie
The bad news: I only have 2 more Sundays left here.
It is absolutely incredible to pray in another language and to hear people worship in another language and be able to understand it. I mean, you know that God is everywhere always, but it is unbelievable to actually experience it for yourself. Before Sunday, I guess I kind of imagined God was just in my head and heart here and He was everywhere because He was always with me. I was so very wrong and I am so very glad for it. In a country where the clubs don't really get going until 3am, you do not expect to have such an experience as I did yesterday. There were the nicest people singing and praising and I could understand more or less everything that was going on. I even recognized the songs that they sung. If anyone is planning on studying abroad here and would like to attend a protestant church, please let me know! It takes about an hour to get there from my apartment in Belgrano, but that's only because public transportation takes about 5 times longer than normal transportation. However, it is SO worth it :D I'll definitely be going back the next 2 Sundays. It is so powerful.
So lately I've been feeding my spiritual self with prayer and church, my intellectual self with spanish, and my physical self with running. Needless to say, things are going well. I can't believe it's already July and I only have 2 more weeks here. I'm really going to miss this place and all its challenges. Nothing like feeling nostalgic at the end of studying abroad...I'd love to come back and visit my host mom someday though, because she is such a kind soul and I can't imagine never seeing her again. This week I'll be doing homework and studying for my midterm on Friday and hopefully running although today's weather was super cold and completely gray. Let's pray for nice weather my last 2 weeks before I return to the inferno that is Illinois right now!
Happy July!
xoxoxo
Allie
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