Sunday, 25 February 2007
So the home stay has definitely proven to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done.
During my orientation, the home stay director commented that culture shock takes on many forms, such as unhealthy eating habits, or just a constant feeling if exhaustion because everything is harder. She said the something so basic that we would do without even thinking back home, like going to the store and buying batteries, is much harder. And she was right: I don't even know where I would buy batteries, so good thing i don't need them. Some light shopping yesterday proved very difficult, as I was only able to get like 3 things from my 10 item list. After 4 hours.
I've never been homesick before, and I don't really know what to do with myself to make it better. I found an exhibit on New York art and I can't wait to check it out. My gift to my home stay family was a book of New York photographs and i can't stop reading it over and over.
Even with all this, there are some definitely cool things about my home stay situation. I live with a woman named Monica, who is a psychoanalyst, and also a Jazz singer and plays guitar (what a wacky combination!) Her boyfriend, Rafael, is always over and plays the saxophone. They perform together in a Bossa Nova band and my first night with them they gave me a mini concert. I have my own room and toilet, and the apartment is on the top floor of the building, so we have direct access to the terrace/roof.
However, Monica and I don't really talk. When we do, I feel like she's already disappointed in me. She hardly ever smiles or laughs, and when she does it looks sort of strained. I think I'll have a lot of freedom, no curfew or anything like that, but also, with independence comes little assistance. She seems overly protective about things like me taking the subway (something I feel confident doing on my own) but then only points me in the general direction of a place with wireless (something I have no idea how to find out on my own.) For the first few days at least, I wish I had a really friendly host mom, who would take me by the hand if I needed it and show me the neighborhood. We'll see what it's like in time.
My classes begin on Monday, and I already have an intimidating amount of homework.
With the purchase of a cell phone my social life will be more in my hands, and hopefully the other students with host siblings can share some of their built in social circles.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Buenos Aires, Here we come.
Friday, 23 February 2007
I'm standing at the threshold of my program. Orientation is over, we had our first introductory class on Friday, and then all of us in the program went our separate ways as we were picked up by our home stay families.
The last two days of orientation were in BsAs. All the students in my program ventured out into the BsAs's nightlife together, not yet burdened with homework, and feeling rather liberated by not having to procure proper age identification or a cover charge at most places.
One of our orientation activities had been splitting into groups and exploring an individual barrio of the city. My group of three went to Puerto Madera, the port part of the town on the River Plate. This is where the city has its origins, and the entire country really. The west side has been renovated, with the old red brick buildings being turned into restaurants and offices. The east side of the river has also been fully developed, although it was during the economic crisis that foreign investors swept in to take advantage of the unbelievably low cost of building high rises in BA. The strip is home to giant corporate buildings like Telecom, Nextel, LG, and more. It's also home to luxury hotels and residential high rises (las torres) which are the most expensive in all of Latin America. I'll probably make my way out there again, possibly to spend an evening at BuddaBar, Asia de Cuba, or Opera Bay (an after-work dance club designed to look like the Sydney Opera House) or at the large Nature Reserve located on the other side of the high rises.
Our last night before moving in with our home stay families we went to a Parilla, where I finally got to try some Argentine steak. As promised, it was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I don't think I can ever go back to being a vegetarian again.
(I repented my meat eating ways to the veggie gods the next day by going to a vegetarian restaurant named Krishna, with mirrors and an eclectic mix of music, ranging from Hare Krishna chanting to Prince's Purple Rain.)
We then wandered around until we found some outdoor bars. It was nice to see so many people out so late on a Thursday night, live music and cool beer reminding us that it is, indeed, summer here.
After a week of spending so much time with each other, it was going to be strange to be separated and scattered throughout the city. I was definitely feeling nervous. I am going to have a whole weekend without any obligations (exciting but daunting) with a family who I will have trouble communicating with.
I'm standing at the threshold of my program. Orientation is over, we had our first introductory class on Friday, and then all of us in the program went our separate ways as we were picked up by our home stay families.
The last two days of orientation were in BsAs. All the students in my program ventured out into the BsAs's nightlife together, not yet burdened with homework, and feeling rather liberated by not having to procure proper age identification or a cover charge at most places.
One of our orientation activities had been splitting into groups and exploring an individual barrio of the city. My group of three went to Puerto Madera, the port part of the town on the River Plate. This is where the city has its origins, and the entire country really. The west side has been renovated, with the old red brick buildings being turned into restaurants and offices. The east side of the river has also been fully developed, although it was during the economic crisis that foreign investors swept in to take advantage of the unbelievably low cost of building high rises in BA. The strip is home to giant corporate buildings like Telecom, Nextel, LG, and more. It's also home to luxury hotels and residential high rises (las torres) which are the most expensive in all of Latin America. I'll probably make my way out there again, possibly to spend an evening at BuddaBar, Asia de Cuba, or Opera Bay (an after-work dance club designed to look like the Sydney Opera House) or at the large Nature Reserve located on the other side of the high rises.
Our last night before moving in with our home stay families we went to a Parilla, where I finally got to try some Argentine steak. As promised, it was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I don't think I can ever go back to being a vegetarian again.
(I repented my meat eating ways to the veggie gods the next day by going to a vegetarian restaurant named Krishna, with mirrors and an eclectic mix of music, ranging from Hare Krishna chanting to Prince's Purple Rain.)
We then wandered around until we found some outdoor bars. It was nice to see so many people out so late on a Thursday night, live music and cool beer reminding us that it is, indeed, summer here.
After a week of spending so much time with each other, it was going to be strange to be separated and scattered throughout the city. I was definitely feeling nervous. I am going to have a whole weekend without any obligations (exciting but daunting) with a family who I will have trouble communicating with.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
ARGENTINA!
Groggy and tired, the group flight kids met up with solo travelers, most of who have been traveling round South America for the past 6 weeks. Already accustomed to the language, they started speaking Spanish to us and there was some awkward tension as it sunk in that the program was starting and we would have to give up speaking in English. My hives got worse.
We all hopped on a mini bus and headed out to a hotel out in the campo. The two girls I'm rooming with here for two nights are great, one is from nyc and the other is from Minnesota. They're both very chill and smart, and not at all overly peppy. Most of the people in the program seem really cool, and I'm excited to get acquainted with everyone.
After the “welcome to Argentina” lecture and going over our schedule for orientation as well as for the entire 15 week program, i started feeling comfortable. We eat 4 meals a day since dinner is VERY late, sometimes as late as midnight. I realized that it was okay that I didn't already know everything, that i would neither be too smart nor too ignorant in this program, and that while it would be challenging, it would also be incredibly educational. And fun. At the end of the day, every student received a gift from our directors. We opened them up together to find that we were all given silver mates and bombillas with our names engraved on them.
I'm getting the sense that this will be somewhat of a life changing (or at least influencing) experience. I'm already imagining minor changes I hope to incorporate into my life back in new york: speaking Spanish with neighbors, slowing down my pace, shopping for local produce, drinking mate constantly.
My hives have all but disappeared, and hopefully they were just scary signals of stress.
The People in My Program
While we're all of a similar sort (the type who would want to study regional integration in lain America) we are a pretty diverse bunch. We come from Caracas, Laguna Beach, Berkeley, Connecticut, Madison, Wisconsin, you get the drift. I'm one of four New Yorkers here.
But we still all know the lyrics to Redemption Song.
I am very impressed with everyone here. Everyone seems so enthusiastic and genuine, and it's nice to feel separate from the superficial focuses very prevalent in New York. We're all starting to speak Spanish a lot more with one another, which is very nice as we're eager to help each other out.
And yeah, maybe all of us knowing the words to Bob Marley is a bit cliché, but hey, it's a good song.
“deja que el mundo te cambie, y podrás combiar el mundo”
This place is crawling with the cutest kittens! And fleas. Fleas everywhere. In the grass, in the kitten, on the dog. Not so yay.
We all hopped on a mini bus and headed out to a hotel out in the campo. The two girls I'm rooming with here for two nights are great, one is from nyc and the other is from Minnesota. They're both very chill and smart, and not at all overly peppy. Most of the people in the program seem really cool, and I'm excited to get acquainted with everyone.
After the “welcome to Argentina” lecture and going over our schedule for orientation as well as for the entire 15 week program, i started feeling comfortable. We eat 4 meals a day since dinner is VERY late, sometimes as late as midnight. I realized that it was okay that I didn't already know everything, that i would neither be too smart nor too ignorant in this program, and that while it would be challenging, it would also be incredibly educational. And fun. At the end of the day, every student received a gift from our directors. We opened them up together to find that we were all given silver mates and bombillas with our names engraved on them.
I'm getting the sense that this will be somewhat of a life changing (or at least influencing) experience. I'm already imagining minor changes I hope to incorporate into my life back in new york: speaking Spanish with neighbors, slowing down my pace, shopping for local produce, drinking mate constantly.
My hives have all but disappeared, and hopefully they were just scary signals of stress.
The People in My Program
While we're all of a similar sort (the type who would want to study regional integration in lain America) we are a pretty diverse bunch. We come from Caracas, Laguna Beach, Berkeley, Connecticut, Madison, Wisconsin, you get the drift. I'm one of four New Yorkers here.
But we still all know the lyrics to Redemption Song.
I am very impressed with everyone here. Everyone seems so enthusiastic and genuine, and it's nice to feel separate from the superficial focuses very prevalent in New York. We're all starting to speak Spanish a lot more with one another, which is very nice as we're eager to help each other out.
And yeah, maybe all of us knowing the words to Bob Marley is a bit cliché, but hey, it's a good song.
“deja que el mundo te cambie, y podrás combiar el mundo”
This place is crawling with the cutest kittens! And fleas. Fleas everywhere. In the grass, in the kitten, on the dog. Not so yay.
Mis primeras impresiones
leaving arriving/ and adventure in transit
My last day in new york was rough. I packed it to the brim, from a too-filling brunch to buying random necessities to hopping around the city to meet friends to say goodbye. My original plan was to get everything i needed done and then head over to the ding dong and dance and say goodbyes there. Fate would not have it so, and instead I started packing around midnight and spent much of the evening wondering if these weird itchy bumps mysteriously manifesting all over my body were hives.
I had decided to take a cab instead of dueling with the train or super shuttle in the pre-dawn hours. It was SO worth it, and I think I'll just add it to transportation costs from now on. My 5 am boarding saw me weeping my final goodbye, and I barely made it through security in a straight line with all the saltwater in my eyes. I knew I was headed for an adventure, but I would miss all those who wouldn't be adventuring with me.
I arrived in Miami 10 hours before my flight for Buenos Aires. Happily, I got to enjoy Jenna Smith's company on her last day in Ft Lauderdale. We went to the beach and Josh's Green Market, where I bought super tasty mini sweet peppers.
I vowed to shop at local green markets this summer in nyc. After checking out her digs, I drove back to the airport.
SIT kids are really easy to spot. We're all 20 year old pack mules carrying massive hiking backpacks and traveling alone. We banded together at the gate, where i realized that most people hadn't started their papers either. We got started on the plane: I paraphrased my guidebook and common knowledge and was done before the first meal was served. I don't know what took me so long to get started!
My last day in new york was rough. I packed it to the brim, from a too-filling brunch to buying random necessities to hopping around the city to meet friends to say goodbye. My original plan was to get everything i needed done and then head over to the ding dong and dance and say goodbyes there. Fate would not have it so, and instead I started packing around midnight and spent much of the evening wondering if these weird itchy bumps mysteriously manifesting all over my body were hives.
I had decided to take a cab instead of dueling with the train or super shuttle in the pre-dawn hours. It was SO worth it, and I think I'll just add it to transportation costs from now on. My 5 am boarding saw me weeping my final goodbye, and I barely made it through security in a straight line with all the saltwater in my eyes. I knew I was headed for an adventure, but I would miss all those who wouldn't be adventuring with me.
I arrived in Miami 10 hours before my flight for Buenos Aires. Happily, I got to enjoy Jenna Smith's company on her last day in Ft Lauderdale. We went to the beach and Josh's Green Market, where I bought super tasty mini sweet peppers.
SIT kids are really easy to spot. We're all 20 year old pack mules carrying massive hiking backpacks and traveling alone. We banded together at the gate, where i realized that most people hadn't started their papers either. We got started on the plane: I paraphrased my guidebook and common knowledge and was done before the first meal was served. I don't know what took me so long to get started!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Preparations, 2 days to go. 108 before I come back.
My semester has been quite funky so far. My program doesn't start until late February, just over a month after the one at Columbia started.
I had so many plans for this month! During the day I was going to be depleting my financial aid award by working at the Computer Lab full time so that I would have some funds while abroad as I can't legally work in Argentina. In the evenings, I planned on reading the 7 required books, writing my 2 papers due the first day of orientation, improving my Spanish, and you know, generally being quite fruitful and productive.
What actually happened, you ask?
Well, at least one factor went according to plan. I worked at the computer lab 9-5 most weekdays, but then promptly got almost zero work done. Instead, I've actually seen some of nyc. And slept. And I have no idea what else I must have done, but that time is gone forever.
My boss had warned me of this, by tactfully offering that "she never got as much work done as she hoped to when she had time off." Because not only (and maybe even more importantly) did I have homework to do, I had real life stuff to do. Too much of it I left to the last minute. Today, my last scheduled day of work, I had to take off to tackle an intimidating to do list. For other procrastinating travelers, here's some tips to save you the trouble. Let's check back in 3 months and see which mattered the most.
Missions Impossible:
Get Malaria preventative meds - one needs a consultation and then the Rx filled. When I told the lady scheduling my consultation at the Interchurch Center (the place the missionaries all get their vaccinations) that I was leaving on Sunday, she LAUGHED at me. I rationalized that I could get them in Argentina if I really felt the need to. Also, I was advised by someone who traveled to India last summer that it only made her hallucinate and she stopped taking it.
Get a World Health Organization immunization card (the WHO Yellow Card)- i had packed mine somewhere and no one seems to have them on hand. I might have been able to get mine shipped to me several weeks before hand. Instead, I went to Health Services and had to transcribe my immunizations from my entire medical history file.
Buy Travel Insurance for my laptop - If I feel like it will be worth it in Argentina, I will buy it there. But right now, I'm mostly willing to take the risk rather than fork out 1/5 of the price to get it insured. In England.
Mission Accomplished:
Mail late valentines (important, leave family something to remember you by)
Mail books I sold online (important, leave less for your friends to remember you by)
***Sort out banking issues (you may have to pay a monthly fee if you don't maintain a minimum balance/have enough activity like direct deposit or bill paying on the account.) You can open up a free e-savings account at citibank, which automatically opens up a FREE checking account for you. With the 4.75 interest you'll be earning on the big chunk of money which will hopefully last you at least the semester, you'll be cancelling out some of the interest on your student loan)***
Get a job and housing lined up for the summer - I'm still in the process of applying to different places, but I feel like I've had enough of a head start to leave feeling comfortable. Housing is all set too. Hurrah.
Missions Pending:
I'm off to buy some last needed things, like gifts for my homestay family, a tape recorder for my first few lectures and interviews later on. Maybe pajama pants, because it gets cold.
Just in case, I've established some contacts in BsAs. Barnard put me in touch with an Alum, My aunt's best friend's daughter lives there and speaks only Spanish and Polish, but doesn't have any friends yet so she actually wants to hang out with me. And finally, my step-uncle's former nanny's parents live there, and like practicing English.
It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork if you just ask around.
I had so many plans for this month! During the day I was going to be depleting my financial aid award by working at the Computer Lab full time so that I would have some funds while abroad as I can't legally work in Argentina. In the evenings, I planned on reading the 7 required books, writing my 2 papers due the first day of orientation, improving my Spanish, and you know, generally being quite fruitful and productive.
What actually happened, you ask?
Well, at least one factor went according to plan. I worked at the computer lab 9-5 most weekdays, but then promptly got almost zero work done. Instead, I've actually seen some of nyc. And slept. And I have no idea what else I must have done, but that time is gone forever.
My boss had warned me of this, by tactfully offering that "she never got as much work done as she hoped to when she had time off." Because not only (and maybe even more importantly) did I have homework to do, I had real life stuff to do. Too much of it I left to the last minute. Today, my last scheduled day of work, I had to take off to tackle an intimidating to do list. For other procrastinating travelers, here's some tips to save you the trouble. Let's check back in 3 months and see which mattered the most.
Missions Impossible:
Get Malaria preventative meds - one needs a consultation and then the Rx filled. When I told the lady scheduling my consultation at the Interchurch Center (the place the missionaries all get their vaccinations) that I was leaving on Sunday, she LAUGHED at me. I rationalized that I could get them in Argentina if I really felt the need to. Also, I was advised by someone who traveled to India last summer that it only made her hallucinate and she stopped taking it.
Get a World Health Organization immunization card (the WHO Yellow Card)- i had packed mine somewhere and no one seems to have them on hand. I might have been able to get mine shipped to me several weeks before hand. Instead, I went to Health Services and had to transcribe my immunizations from my entire medical history file.
Buy Travel Insurance for my laptop - If I feel like it will be worth it in Argentina, I will buy it there. But right now, I'm mostly willing to take the risk rather than fork out 1/5 of the price to get it insured. In England.
Mission Accomplished:
Mail late valentines (important, leave family something to remember you by)
Mail books I sold online (important, leave less for your friends to remember you by)
***Sort out banking issues (you may have to pay a monthly fee if you don't maintain a minimum balance/have enough activity like direct deposit or bill paying on the account.) You can open up a free e-savings account at citibank, which automatically opens up a FREE checking account for you. With the 4.75 interest you'll be earning on the big chunk of money which will hopefully last you at least the semester, you'll be cancelling out some of the interest on your student loan)***
Get a job and housing lined up for the summer - I'm still in the process of applying to different places, but I feel like I've had enough of a head start to leave feeling comfortable. Housing is all set too. Hurrah.
Missions Pending:
I'm off to buy some last needed things, like gifts for my homestay family, a tape recorder for my first few lectures and interviews later on. Maybe pajama pants, because it gets cold.
Just in case, I've established some contacts in BsAs. Barnard put me in touch with an Alum, My aunt's best friend's daughter lives there and speaks only Spanish and Polish, but doesn't have any friends yet so she actually wants to hang out with me. And finally, my step-uncle's former nanny's parents live there, and like practicing English.
It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork if you just ask around.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Preparation
I've stopped freaking out by now, but mostly because I'm starting to accept the fact that there's no humanly possible way for me to get done everything i need to do AND feel like I have a chance to see the people I care about before I leave. Instead, I'm trying to think more practically about how I need to prepare for the journey there, the journeys I'm going to take while I'm there, and what tools and resources I will need to try and get through the first few weeks of being totally clueless about economics, Argentine politics, and of course, Spanish. (i actually listen to that podcast)
Here is my itinerary for the trip, as of now:
February 19 Arrive in Buenos Aires
February 19-23 Orientation in Buenos Aires
February 24-March 11 Regional Integration, History Seminar, Intensive Spanish Language Study and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
March 12-16 Uruguay
March 19- 23 Rural homestay (Argentina, Santa Fe province)
March 24 – April 6 Regional Integration, Economics Seminar and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
April 7 – 13 Porto Alegre (Brazil)
April 14 – 20 Paraguay
April 21 – May 2 Regional Integration, Social Change seminar and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
May 3 – 30 Independent Study Project
May 31 – June 2 Evaluation and ISP presentations in Buenos Aires
June 3 End of Program
I've already got a widget countdown telling me how many days i have until I come back to New York. I am somewhat shocked by my own reluctance to leave and travel and learn. Maybe it's the winter talking? That can't be it, I'm about to rush to summertime and tango!
Here is my itinerary for the trip, as of now:
February 19 Arrive in Buenos Aires
February 19-23 Orientation in Buenos Aires
February 24-March 11 Regional Integration, History Seminar, Intensive Spanish Language Study and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
March 12-16 Uruguay
March 19- 23 Rural homestay (Argentina, Santa Fe province)
March 24 – April 6 Regional Integration, Economics Seminar and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
April 7 – 13 Porto Alegre (Brazil)
April 14 – 20 Paraguay
April 21 – May 2 Regional Integration, Social Change seminar and concurrent home stay in Buenos Aires
May 3 – 30 Independent Study Project
May 31 – June 2 Evaluation and ISP presentations in Buenos Aires
June 3 End of Program
I've already got a widget countdown telling me how many days i have until I come back to New York. I am somewhat shocked by my own reluctance to leave and travel and learn. Maybe it's the winter talking? That can't be it, I'm about to rush to summertime and tango!
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