The End of a Chapter

As of right now, I'm sitting in EZE. I've bought all my souvenirs, I've said all my goodbyes. I've packed all my things, I've finished all my school work and exams.


So I guess this is really over?


Like I've said, I will never forget this experience. A lot of people have asked me "So how will it be when you get back? Overall, how was the trip?"

I mean…. It's been awesome (can you really fit 4 months into a couple of words?!). But how will this trip affect me when I get back? Honestly, I don't know. I don't know when I'll know. I'm curious to see the lasting legacy of my trip abroad when I return home. I feel like it'll be one of those things where months or years from now I think: "Hmm, that's probably why I went to Argentina" or "Wow I understand this experience so much more now because of (insert situation here)".

I want to take the opportunity again to thank everyone in CEA and all of the beautiful people I met. Thank you to Joao, the artist, for showing me your work. Thank you to Nahuel, for teaching me something new every day and touching my heart so much. Thank you to Rachel for being an incredible roommate, we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to Graciela for being an amazing mother to me here in Buenos Aires. Thank you Andrea, for being so welcoming (and Jack, for introducing me to such a great gal). Thank you to Scott, for being an incredible friend for me and always listening.

Gracias a todos. I really love all of you so, so much. I know for some of us this is goodbye forever, but I hope that for most of us it's just a "see you later". For whatever it may be, I wish you all the best in all your endeavors.

______________________________________________________________

This chapter of my life has come to a close. Now I look forward to finishing my last semester at Texas A&M University, and moving to Denver in May.

For the longest time, being a kid in a working class family with a single-mother, I always dreamed and fantasized about how amazing life would be when I was older, how all the hardships I had to endure as a child would some how become "worth it" later on. I remember thinking through all the crap and hardship, "When will it finally be MY time?!".

I've realized this semester, I'm living it. This is my time, and I look forward to seeing what else is in store.

Con un fuerte abrazo,
Julietta Anna

My final days...

It really seems like just yesterday this girl from the suburbs landed in Buenos Aires. I cannot believe that the semester has flown by so quickly. I've been trying to keep my days filled with activities in order to get as much out of this city as I possibly can with the little time I have left.

Many things had surprised me about Buenos Aires, and the people who call this place home. For starters, I imagined living in a tiny apartment and sharing my room with Rachel. To my surprise Graciela has a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom apartment, and for the first time in my life I had a room to myself (it was a little strange a times I'll admit). Also having a mother who is a cleaning lady, I never thought I'd be on the other side. My mom has a maid who comes and helps clean once a week, it was really awkward and uncomfortable for me at first because I was used to being the help not having the help. Honestly, I'm still not used to it.

What surprised me the most though, are the people who live here. Buenos Aires is not just a city of Argentines, but of migrants from all over the world. I encountered so many other languages and cultures in my time here, and had the chance to not only learn about Argentine culture but culture in Colombia, Germany, France, New Zealand, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, and so many other places. One of the things I love most about the Argentines is how much they take advantage of their political voice. In the States, talking about politics is almost always to be avoided. Here in Argentina, it's inevitable. But here's the catch, everyone has an opinion, and most the time (like 90%) it's an educated opinion. That's one big aspect of the culture I wish I could take back with me to the U.S.

In my last couple weeks I got to really experience what spring is like in the city of fair winds. The flowers are bright and vibrant, there is always a light breeze, and the weather just calls for you to be outside. I honestly can't even count how many parks I've just sat and laid in. Last week I had the opportunity to even learn some basic steps of the Argentine Tango!

This city is also always full of surprises. For instance, last Saturday I had plans to go on a graffiti tour. It was one of the top things of my list of things to do before I left BsAs. I left my house with about 45 minutes to get there when I only really needed 20-30. As I got onto the bus, A FREAKING FIGHT BROKE OUT ON MY BUS! A FIGHT! Imagine just sitting down, minding your own business, daydreaming out the window and I hear these two men getting in a yelling fight. From what I could gather (since I wasn't paying attention to what was going on) Male #1 tried robbing Male #2's girlfriend. And Male #2 was not happy about that. Their yelling match got so intense they started pushing one another, it eventually got bad enough that my bus driver pulled the bus over and kicked all 3 of them off the bus. Then while I was on the bus I realized I took the wrong #39 (this one bus # has 3 different routes, and I almost always pick the wrong one) and was left about 15 blocks away from where my tour was supposed to begin. Because of the slight altercation on my bus, I had 10 min to walk 15 blocks. I literally RAN all the way there, and just barely missed my tour. Bummed, I began to walk back to another bus stop because I knew some friends were going to have bottomless mimosas in the same neighborhood. When I got on that bus, I ran into 4 kids who live at the Residencia! How crazy! Honestly I was still so phased by my original bus ride, I didn't even care to freak out over the fact we just randomly ran into each other- I had to tell someone my story.

Tomorrow will be my last day in the city. I will wake up, go to class, and then by the end of the day I'll be headed in a taxi on my way to the airport. It still doesn't even feel real that it's all coming to an end.

You will always have a special place in my heart Buenos Aires.

Thanksgiving Break in BsAs

Since my school CEA hands out transcripts through a university back in the States, I get the same time off as everyone back in the States. CEA gave us a whole week off for Thanksgiving and I had the opportunity to get to know this wonderful city a little more intimately. We also have a new roommate in our house from Germany named Marcus, and I got to show him around a bit as well.

This past week I...

Strolled through Bond Street

Enjoyed dessert at El Ateneo 

Went to La Boca for souvenir shopping!

Celebrated Mama's 63rd birthday!

Went to a free Bossa Nova concert in Recoleta

went to the MALBA

@ MALBA

Went to see the flower!

Celebrated Thanksgiving with my BA family!

Went to the Ecological Reserve

With some rain at the beginning of the week, it really put a damper on my plan of doing nothing besides lay in various parks...But rain is good, so I enjoyed some more so peaceful days in the city of fair winds. I only have 2 weeks left!!! It's all so surreal.