Saying Goodbye to Buenos Aires

As I sit in the airport, I ponder my time in Buenos Aires. It has been an exciting three months. I was told I am the model international intern for Connect 123, I came to Argentina with limited Spanish, and leave with a proficiency that let me live for three months in a Spanish speaking house, have meaningful conversations with my roommates, and the confidence to ask questions and give answers in Spanish. I leave with the understanding that I have become “really good” at Spanish, as my professors, roommates, Brazilian friends and random Argentines have told me. Exciting. I also added value to my Spanish School through my marketing skills and I leave knowing that they have a 10% student increase for this winter (our summer) due to my hard work. And I made the most of my nights and weekends. I learned to eat medalunas and cake for breakfast with coffee, enjoy maté (and share), eat lunch when I got hungry, and have dinner at 10pm. I made valuable friendships with foreigners and locals, made it a priority to enjoy my evenings, had the discipline to practice yoga, alone in my room 4 days a week and make it to Spanish class every day at 9am after being out till 3am every evening. I even walked about every square inch of this city and can give restaurant and sightseeing recommendations. Heck, I even somewhat figured out the Guia-T (or Buenos Aires bus guide), a major feat, mind you. Yes, I leave Buenos Aires feeling good and fulfilled and a little more sure about myself and my wants and needs from life.

Now after three months there are some things I have decided I won’t miss and more that I will; first, I won’t miss the pollution; broken sidewalks and the dog poop; waiting 30 minutes in line to buy my groceries; walking in circles to find the thread store, only to be told they don’t have black and having to walk 15 blocks to find another store (I know have a greater appreciation for the Target’s and Wal-mart’s of the world, I like one stop shopping for things like thread, b-day cards, toiletries, etc), I didn’t like walking all over town to find the sock store or to buy medialunas; hanging all my laundry to dry and the musty smell when it rains while your clothes are air drying (although clothes last longer air dryad, I miss the softness of dried clothes); and the medialunas or cake or alfajores for breakfast, well maybe just a little, but my hips won’t miss the extra fat and carbs.

Some things I will miss; speaking Spanish, world cup fever, my new friends, the beef – it’s the best in the world and so cheap, alfajores – even though they are so fattening, coffee and the cookies that come with it for free, agua con gas without all the added salt – just plain water and bubbles, empanadas, the exchange rate, my street parilla that sold the best steak sandwich in town, the fact that I can wear anything I want and it’s fashionable because I’m  a tourist, Liter beer at a restaurant, gancia baitida (not fernet and coke though), facturas – again bad on the waistline, walking, public transportation….oh man, that’s a lot to miss.

It’s hard not to fall in love with Buenos Aires; however, I am ready to go, it’s time; I’m looking forward to dryer dried clothes, warm weather, the beach, sun, fresh fruits and veggies, oh wait, I am off to England and these things won’t exist for me their either, ah the horrible life I lead, guess I will be another month for these things, I guess I can wait, but I am getting my Sushi and spicy food fix in before I head out, and a bit of sun, I can’t be the whitest person in England! This is the end of my journey in Argentina, but I have decided to keep writing, so look forward to reading about my adventures in the UK! (I am going to change the title page too, so don’t get worried)