Holi-Daze 2008

I have been at home for the past two weeks and must say this Holiday
season was grand. A visit to Chicago for a few days, to re-connect with
some friends, then back here in Georgia where I have spent non-stop
quality time with family.
Moments can be a rather challenging for the Barnes family, with
the lack of my brothers physical presence, but my family never
fails to amaze me at how strong and optimistic they are. Thank
goodness....

Seeing old friends, and learning new lessons has also been
a characteristic of this season. Life in Georgia is home,
and a beautiful foundation, but life for me now is different.
I feel the affects of the individual choices I have made
to travel, adventure, pursue, and live a life that may
look a little different to people. I would not have it any other
way, but there are some things you must let slip to a distance
to continue to move forward. However, I can see that just because
I am a continent away, so many of you are right by my side. Gracias.

UPDATE:

My Brazil job has been canceled. Sadly. Due to the economy
right now, they could not fund the program.
It's all good....
I believe I am going to spend some time working on a farm in Patagonia
to escape the city for the South American summer. No complaints.

Keep in touch.

ash

Atlanta....y despues...BRAZIL!!!

Just a quick little post here.


Heading home on Tuesday and shall be in the United States
until the 3rd of January.

After that....

I AM GOING TO WORK IN BRAZIL FOR ONE MONTH!!
Wahoo!
A friend of someone that I worked with here in Argentina,
has a friend that lives in L.A. doing production but also
runs language camps in Brazil and China.
Concordia Language Villages is the name of the
program.
Check them out.

http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/newsite/.

So, I will be working with them in January, a little
Brazil travel in February...and then....who knows!
Still going to be in South America but may head up
to Peru or a smaller town in Argentina. I love
Buenos Aires...but....ya know. Gotta see this continent if I can!

See you folks soon,

ash



A few pictures from Cordoba...finally up!

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/Cordoba#

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Four girls from four cultural perspectives, that share similar passions, with the desire to be people of the world, apply creativity, and hold an ambitious nature to continue to learn and grow....I am reminded that sometimes, “all good things must come to an end”. We are hugging each other goodbye on a high note, and sending kisses as we all move on to our next planned lesson. Moving forward to other adventures, lessons, and growth…I imagine it would be impossible to stay in our house on Bolivar Street in Buenos Aires, Argentina forever. The four girls in this house, were able to connect and care even through a language barrier. By looking inside and seeing their true heart. One story to tell could take a great deal of energy, or one heavy thought that needed to be shared in the midst of travel....but we wanted to share what we could. I laughed so much with these girls, even when it took everything in me to understand the joke at hand....I guess actions really do speak louder than words.

This morning we said good-bye to Marion with fresh tears that could have only formed two months ago, for that is all the time we have had together. There are certain times in our lives, where individuals come together at the exact right time, with the same thoughts and passions, combined with the same attitude. Just like finding a love, the right timing can also be a catalyst to forming lasting friendships. If we were to all meet another time, maybe one of us would have been in a different place with a different connection. This time though, all four of us...were one.

A challenging aspect of travel, is saying goodbye to some of the people that you shared this experience with. You embrace the hope that your paths will cross again and the knowledge that you know the time you spent was unique and rare. Not just in travel but in life….

Chau chicas, suerte y gracias!


And of course we went out in style! We had a fiesta at our house, and by three in the morning (which is the time a party starts here), we had about fifty people in our house. Wahoo.
Here are some pics of our fiesta.

Despedida de 4 chicas locas!!


http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/DespedidaDe4ChicasLocas#

All Things Sing in Buenos Aires

** Indicates a footnote ☺







Like the man who whistles to work, or waits at the bus-stop and starts singing a song in spanish because he doesn’t feel like holding it in, or the Monday nights at La Bamba de Tiempo where you are surrounded by a pure and passionate musical energy, and finally the birds that sing, not chirp, but literally sing a song at 5 in the morning….I have concluded that all things sing in Buenos Aires. **

This is the most creative, unique, artistic, city combined with a cultural sophistication. Granted, I do live in San Telmo, which is the home of all this. I love walking out on the streets and seeing random instruments just hanging out with their fellow musicians, and then you actually get used to seeing a piano in the street in preparation for a street show, or just a piano in the street for that matter...how great!

As fate would have it, I live with three other girls that share this passion and appreciation for this unique kingdom.
With the four of us, from all over the world, there is never a lack of…people that we meet, or a dull moment to be had.

“Ashley….ashley…..vamos vamos”
“Que paso?!?! Es 430 en la manana! “

(I will say this story in English, because well, its broken in Spanish….lets be honest)

“Ashley….wake up, lets go.” Says, Lisa, my tall, blonde, bold German roommate, with a twinkle in her eye and the knowledge that she knows just how to get me up and at ‘em.
“Ashley….te he he”, follows Marion. A girl from Paris in so many ways with her petite frame, exceptional style, calm sophistication, and pretty brown eyes but contradicted with her love for adventure and other culture outside her own.
“What the heck are you guys doing?”, I say as I lay in my moisture hot room and was fast asleep dreaming of hopefully nothing.

“Ashley….its five in the morning, the sun is about to rise and the light will be so beautiful up on Avenida 9th de Julio to take pictures!”

Are you kidding me, it’s almost five in the morning, I am asleep, this is insane, but wait….they are right!

VAMOS!

“Yay, Ashley….tu es mi mujer favorita!”

I come downstairs to see my other roommate, Flavia from Chile, still studying for her philosophy exam. She looks at me with knowing eyes, that our other two, who were out having fun, now got me out of bed…but as Flavia and I are, we just smiled at eachother in humor.

“I want to come so bad but I am not moving forward in my studies” says flavia, with her short doll-like hair barely rustled from a night of studying.

Another time Flavia.
Bueno.

We venture out to the night that is so familiar to everyone here in Buenos Aires. This city, or the country of Argentina for that matter, lives for the night. It is there center-point, where the colors become more vibrant than the natural day-light could reveal.

“Wow…look at the plaza!”, exclaims Lisa.

The Plaza we live on, usually swamped with artists, people drinking at the café’s, tango dancers, tourists, wondering eyes never to be forgotten here in Buenos Aires, with the exception of a group of guys sitting off the numerous drinks they may have consumed, was completely empty. No chairs out for the restaurants, no artists pondering there next vision…just a few hyper yellow blossoms floating to the ground from a few of the various tress that line the streets of Buenos Aires.











We just snapped to it and started taking pictures. Except for Lisa, who had her little camera stolen at a club here in Buenos Aires. But did this bother her? No….we were on an early morning adventure and these crowded streets had calmed to being ours. There is something so unique about walking in a chaotic city when the streets are almost bare. You feel humbled, mysterious, and at home. Because those streets are now yours…for a few minutes anyways.












First thing we did, was stop to talk to a women who came up to ask us a question. Well, they talked and I held my camera tight for my knowledge that walking these streets with such a toy is probably not the wisest decision. But what can you do?! Be scared to make every move because of the unknown? As we said goodbye to this woman, with her sad story ringing in our ears, we continued to walk in contemplation that travel and strangers bring. But then..









“Listen…listen” Says, Marion. “The bird!”

We stopped to take in her observation and became filled with wonder at what we were listening to. It was a bird that was singing her morning song. SINGING. There was a melody, a rhythm, a poetic composure of notes. Amazing….in the middle of the big city, a bird still finds a way to express herself through a harmonious song in hopes of contacting her family and bringing them comfort.

Vamos!

We must get to the grand avenue before the sun comes up!
Avenida 9th de Julio is the widest avenue in the world with a total of 110 meters across. Rather chaotic during the day but so calm in the dim of night.

“O Ashley….get a picture of the "Cartoneros".
You see cartoneros all over BA in late night and early morning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoneros

And of course this led to Lisa talking to him for a while….I love it.














“O man….you guys!” I say…as my nose and stomach start to recognize the smell of fresh bread being made in the morning.
“We have to stop at the corner and get a postre o pan”
Bueno.
But lets go…hurry.

"Lisa...be careful" I yell in laughter to my roomate who runs to the man
in the truck offering her flowers. And she takes them in delight and he rolls along his way.
















Finally, we made it to the avenue.
People were starting to head to work, Marion ran off with her camera and I just took it all in. With two other girls who appreciated this as much as I did….We observed as the city woke, and people started their days and their lives in a normal manner so different than the travel life that all three of us were living.



























An observation I couldn’t help but overlook was the universal pull that McDonalds has. Here are people waiting at 530 AM for the McDonalds to open. I will say that the McDonalds here serves bread and coffee for breakfast as well as the traditional menu and I have heard that the meat is much better and less processed…but who knows. Que se yo!




























After the sun had come up, and my body started to remember that it was pulled out of bed, my roommates then wanted to go to the ecological reserve to see the skyline.
My eyes started to blur and I had to pass….


But it was just one adventure, of everyday being an adventure, and listing to the songs of Buenos Aires.







** In case this wasn’t known. The typical time to eat in Buenos Aires or Argentina, is dinner at 10-1030 pm. You sit and enjoy for a while and then the night actually starts about 2 am. Most of you know how lame I can be when it comes to this, but I can do it every once in a while. Especially with Lisa slapping me everytime I want to go in early.



More Pictures of nights in BA

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/AdventuresInBA#

Chau Suerte....

Soy de Estados Unidos…to travel or not to travel?

Just a quick little post here.

At the moment I am in the Province of Cordoba. Last night, I arrived in Cordoba city and stayed with a girl I met in Buenos Aires. She is living with two guys from Salta (Northern Argentina) and an artist from Mexico City.
Of course, the conversation around the outside dinner table, right by the asado, with a few cervesas (beers), homemade Limoncello (Chelsea, you would have loved it) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limoncello) from their lemon tree right next to us, was a conversation to remember. As are so many cultural exchanges that take place when you travel.

As an individual from the United States, it has been an interesting time to travel. The way our country is viewed, perceived, embraced, and contemplated is rather different from when I used to travel years ago with my father. Due to various reasons such as politics, the media, and other issues that we may all be aware of, the United States may not be thought of as the same country as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Whether these reasons are justified is not the point…. it’s just the way it is right now. Don’t get me wrong, this country has been MORE than compassionate and kind towards me. However, I can not ignore the observations I have had of other’s international opinions. I have friends from Argentina, Paris, Germany, and Chile around me constantly. My eyes have been opened even more as to how others, may perceive the United States. I won’t get to far into this discussion but we do have to remember that it is almost a trend of the media to report certain political and governmental activities that go on in the United States. And folks, what they see in their media, is different than what our media will let us see

What a monumental experience, to witness such a pivotal presidential election from another country. At first, knowing that all my friends were gathered in Grant Park, in Chicago, was rather heavy. Then a few seconds later I was like, HELLO, I am in another culture, in a great city that is highly active in the conversation of American politics, and I get to see first-hand the response to Obama winning this election. AND, my observations about Argentina and politics is not filtered by the media. It is exactly what I am looking at, in the moment, with no editing.

For all who have asked how Argentina has reacted to Obama winning…. This country loves him, and from what I can see in other international friends, the world embraces Obama with idealistic and positive arms. Que Bueno!!!

So….To travel or not to travel?

This is the thing….I speak the native language of English. And at this moment I am sitting outside, in the hills of Cordoba looking at a full moon and a lake below me, about to teach and hang out with some kids tomorrow. How fortunate and blessed am I that I can see and live in this beautiful country. However, if some of the people I meet down here want to come visit me in the States…they have to go through papers, visas, proof that they are not going to stay in the United States. And I just walked into their beautiful country with two questions that were asked out of routine as opposed to doubt about my intentions. Of course, this could lead to a whole discussion about Argentina and they way they do and don’t do things, but this is a positive post from a spoiled chica from the United States, so we will keep some perspective here. We are so fortunate to be able to experience things like this and then return to our home. Others would LOVE to spend time in the United States but it just isn’t as easy for them. When traveling, we may think that we are doing what so many do….and there is definitely a traveling club that exists within this world. When you meet others in this mentality, there is an instant connection. But don’t forget how lucky we are to have this opportunity. For others would love to fly beyond their limits, but can not, and we are so fortunate to be given a life where our flights are limitless. So if travel is a contemplation, embrace it….suerte!


I will have some pictures from Cordoba up soon.
But right now, check out some pictures from San Telmo, my neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/SanTelmoMyNeighborhoodOnSundays#

Provecho!

Time to throw some observations and details your way.
Let’s combine two of my favorite things. Food and culture.

Even though, I am presently living in a large, diverse, eclectic city, the cuisine of Argentina still maintains a distinct local character. There are many adjustments that must be made while living in another country and one of my favorite explorations is the new cuisine that is presented. This includes your daily routine with food, what to buy at a new grocery store that holds all new products. No more dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, good hummus (ahhhhhh), and basically everything that Trader Joe’s holds. However, HELLO meat, new sauces, fresh organic foods, street markets, unique tastes, cooking together with your roommates and enjoying a long meal with conversation. No rush. And finally…..finding new restaurants within your new kingdom!!!

Food Observations.

1) Argentine Parrilla: Meat is HUGE in Argentina and the best place to find the freshest meat (sorry if you don’t eat meat. The words “fresh” and “meat”, may sounds a little unappetizing) is at a local Parrilla. In Buenos Aires, you have a range of Parrilla’s. From fancy, clean, great décor, top selection of wine to a tiny opening in the concrete wall along your street, that contains a grill, a few beers, and a drunk local Argentine making some conversational connections while flipping fresh meat on his grill. So, a Parrilla, is where the meat is placed on this enormous grill, cooked fresh every day, and in most cases….yes….probably just came off the animal. If you like meat, you would fall in love. Not to mention, you can get a steak here and nice glass of wine
for no more $12….at a nice restaurant. For real folks.

2) Dulce de Leche- My goodness, I have died and gone to sweet heaven! For breakfast, it is very typical to have some sort of croissant, bread, or pastry….but in Argentina, these breads are served with Dulce de Leche. A softer, creamier, and all around fantastic Carmel. I am in the phase of putting this on my apples, crackers, and whatever else it taste good on which is everything (maybe even my finger sometime)

3) Mate: There is a lot of coffee here, espresso style mostly, but there is also a tea called matte that is a HUGE part of traditional Argentina. This tea is a natural energizer but can also be used in a ceremonial manner of friendship. If you are offered matte, it is a compliment that the person would like to share conversation with you. It is proper to take the mate, and drink it all. My first time of being offered Mate, I thought it would be rude to drink all of someone’s tea, so I only took a few sips. Now I know that one should drink the whole thing to show gratitude. To a great deal of Argentines, Mate is just part of their day….all day. This is a picture of how they drink Mate in Argentina.




These are just a few of the most common food observations. I asked my friend Gustavo, why the meat was so good here. In this huge country, the majority of people live in Buenos Aires Province. Yes, more than half the population. Just to note, Buenos Aires city, is different from Buenos Aires, “state”. So, it’s not like I am running around Tokyo or anything, because I live in the center city. So, with all this remaining land and agriculture, the cows here are raised to walk miles every single day, eating grass, and other varieties of fresh energy for their bodies. The result of this, are cows with strong, tender, healthy, non-hormone injected muscles.

This past weekend, I went to a small town by the name of Chascomus to work. Once again, I am reminded of how fortunate I have been to have met Lidia and Gustavo. This weekend consisted of working with some adolescents and on Saturday, a group of young kids joined us. I love working with kids.....buy my goodness. Saturday was insane....Guastavo and I were running around all day with a few seconds between activities, cooking, creating new activities, cleaning, making sure the kids didn't jump in the lagoon, trying to teach them english, and a pause to look at eachother and just start laughing at the chaos. Due to the fact that we all remained positive and light hearted, Saturday was a memorable experience. In two weeks, I will be heading to Cordoba for another weekend with “English In Action” ( and to works with teens again....phew! ). Gustavo is kind enough to let us stay at his hotel, for free…for a whole week. Amazing. Both Lidia and Gustavo are people that I have felt an instant comfort and connection to. They let me ask as many questions about this country as I may please, and love the cultural exchange of all the conversations.



My roommates and I are continuing to enjoy our international house and explorations of this city. Monday night can consist of going to a percussion show in Palermo while Tuesday nights will probably hold an outing to an amazing Tango dance club we have discovered. I love it. The other day, we walked to the market, bought a good steak and sat and ate lunch for about two hours together. Talking in Spanish ( me trying to) and enjoying our food. No rush. I am loving this aspect of the culture.

This is a picture of the girls I live with in BA.




Due to the fact it is about to be summer down here, it has been challenging to find as much work as I would like. However, patience is a HUGE virtue down here. Why? Because, my goodness, I am not in the United States anymore. Everyone takes their time, can be a little inconsistent as far as employment goes, but it all comes together…eventually. For the summer, I am looking at some other options, for I have been told that many English teachers do other things outside the city for the summer then come back in March to teach a new year. While I have this time, working more on the weekends and randomly throughout the week, I believe I am going to invest in an intensive Spanish immersion course. I know when the school year starts here, you don't exactly have a great deal of time for yourself. So, it’s possible I will be home for the holidays, back here for New Years in Mendoza, then wanting to spend time in Patagonia until the new school year starts. We shall see! I am not to worried about it though, because I have fallen in love with where I am at.

More Pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/ChascomusAndAFewFromBuenosAires#

Cultural Observation:
While I was at the camp with the kids today, a little girl about the age of three came running up to me in hysterics. She had lost her parents and was trying to talk through her tears. First of all, there is only so much I can say to her in Spanish. Second, what I can say is probably not the exact accent that she is used to. Anyways, I got some others and we started searching for her parents. It was really interesting how they were found. In Argentina, when a child is lost, you start walking around wherever you are, and proceed to start clapping in a calm consistent manner. Then as others in the crowd hear the clapping, they join in, and soon everyone at the campsite started to clap so that her parents would know she was found. And there you have it…she found her mom and dad. So simple, easy, collective and effective. Below is a picture of us starting to lead her back to her parents.

Cultural Exchange

Let me catch you up on my past week of non-stop living. I have been in Buenos Aires, Argentina for barely over a week, and have already found a place to live, hopped on a bus to San Rafael, Mendoza, worked an English immersion program, and have my next set of travels to Cordoba set up. Wahoo!!

The house I am now living in, is in the barrio called San Telmo, and I am not going to lie folks, it’s a little gritty. However, very local, artistic, interesting, and beautiful. Bolivar Street, right next to Plaza Darrego, is where I will be planting my feet for the next month. As travel does, my comfort is being pushed with the house I am living in. Let’s just say it has vintage character but I am diggin it. Plaza Darrego is surrounded by outdoor café’s, and street performers. It is a great mix of local, and putting on a little bit of a show for tourists. The house wasn’t what I was interested in as much as the girls that live in it (I think that is something a male is supposed to say, but whatever, you know what I am getting at). One girl from Chile, another from France, and finally one from Germany (I always find Germans ridiculously funny, and this girl has NOT let me down). So throwing in an American, we have created a truly international house. The only language spoken in the house is Spanish, for that is our common ground. The girl from Germany knows English, so she offers me a little release once in a while. These girls are well-traveled, culture-hunters, artistic, and I am pretty convinced our house holds some cute ars girls from all over the world. I definitely can think of a few of you guys that would not mind visiting me now:)

At the moment, I am chillin at a café in San Rafael, waiting for my ride to come pick me up. San Rafael is in Mendoza, Argentina, and after a twelve hour bus ride I am maintaining a rather interesting composure and trying to speak Spanish in this foreign town. Why am I here in Mendoza? Well, a language institute in Buenos Aires needed another native speaker for a program they are having with a group of kids. So, I am in Mendoza (wine country), staying at a ranch/hotel, for free because I speak English!!! What?!?! Not to mention, going to be taking the kids rafting and various other activities throughout the weekend. I will let you know how it goes.

I have just returned from my weekend in Mendoza. Can I please pinch myself? So, this past weekend was with a language institute called “English In Action”. The people who ran this program are fantastic. I had no idea what this weekend was going to be composed of, but these past three days were beyond my expectations. Mendoza is absolutely stunning. It is one of the main places that I wanted to go and within the first week, I somehow managed to get hooked up with free transportation, food, and accommodation just to hang out with some great kids from Patagonia. I loved every minute of it. The activities they put me in charge of had a lot to do with creating stories, plays, and skits in English as a way to teach these kids the language. It was an incredibly active weekend and very well organized. Not to mention, soooo fulfilling. Hugh, from London and Ryan from Minnesota were the two other English speakers, and now fellow traveling buddies of mine. It’s good to travel around with two males in South America, ya know? Offers a little comfort.

The ranch/ hotel we stayed at was in the middle of Mendoza, with hardly anything else close by besides a river, mountains, trees, and kind locals. The landscape was rather interesting because the trees and other vegetation were so green, but the mountains had a desert like/ rocky feel to them. It was interesting observing the lush green trees against a desert like mountain. Very cool.

Basically, I was camp counselor in one of the most beautiful and unique atmosphere’s I have ever been in. All the kids were so interested in our culture and loved talking about theirs. Of course, there were a few that I got particularity attached to and have already been exchanging emails with these young, intelligent, eager to learn, ladies. They were wonderful. One girl, would talk to me about how badly she wants to be a poet when she grows up, and I felt it such an honor to hopefully relay some confidence in her to continue to write and pursue.

This all sounds great, and it has been, but I won’t pretend that travel doesn’t offer the challenge of getting through lonely times, various thoughts and people that you revisit in your head. But I love it all, because you walk away with perspective and Argentina has been gracious and accommodating in all the ways I was hoping for. I have felt oddly at home so far. It’s interesting…

Lidia and Gustavo were the two main people running this, “English in Action”, program. Lidia is a 65 year old, young at heart, active lady from Buenos Aires, and Gustavo is a 30-something year old, kind, smiley, great guy from Cordoba. Both of them introduced Argentina to me as holding some incredibly gracious and wonderful people. Another great thing that came from this weekend… Luckily, they loved having me there and have invited me to another weekend program where transportation, food and accommodation will be taken care of….this time it will be in Cordoba!! Wahoo. Somehow, I found a way to get to two of the main places I wanted to go, and staying for free. Unbelievable. Gustavo owns a hotel with his family in Cordoba and has been soooo generous in offering to put, Ryan, Hugh and I up for a few nights. Observation…I love how affectionate everyone is here. Meaning, the guys hug and kiss other guys on the cheek. Showing physical kindness in a refined manner…I love it.

Buenos Aires is a cool city but I hope to leave here within a month. Why? Because, Argentina is a gorgeous country, that holds more local life than this city shows. Come and visit for sure, enjoy salsa shows, a great deal of theatre, art art art, but to REALLY live in Argentina, I don’t know how I could stay in Buenos Aires. It would be like going to a beautiful island and never leaving the hotel. So, I am going to try and figure out how to get work in some other places and soak up this city for the next month. In a perfect world, I could find a job in Bariloche, Patagonia for the summer! How sweet would that be?!?! “Hi, my name is Ashley, I teach english in Patagonia”. AHHHHH!!

Please be sure to check out the picture of Ryan, Hugh and I chillin in San Rafael. Notice the kid in the background making sure these gringos feel welcome. I wouldn’t have this picture any other way. It’s classic.


So, overall, I have been beyond content with my time here and believe to be following the signs that this was the right choice. Honestly, I feel like I have been so fortunate with so many situations thus far. Lidia took me aside and made sure to let me know how she felt that I was just what this program needed. What positive confirmation that I am putting my energy in the right place! According to her, I “… am a clown” and she loves that for the kids. Hey, I will take it!

The first night in Mendoza, I was out by the river with Hugh, Ryan and Gustavo. Just talking, exchanging culture stories, etc. We got into talking about our families, and I felt comfortable to open up about my brother when asked about my siblings. I told Gustavo that I was a little afraid of some of the natural lows that come from living abroad, may be heightened because I miss my brother so much, and he just said, “you know Ashley, I don’t want to sound to…I don’t know….but if that does happen, I really think you choose the right country with the right people that would help you through that”. I just looked at this new stranger/ friend, and responded, “Hmmm…..I think you are right”.


PICTURES!! : http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/MendozaArgentinaEnglishImmersionProgram#

I...Am....Gringa

Here we go!

After a rather sad but confident goodbye with my family, I started making my way towards security in the Atlanta Airport. I have been away from Atlanta for about four years, but as I was saying goodbye to my strong family this time, I felt as though my feet were stapled to the ground. For I am diving into the extreme unknown. Wait though, we are always in the unknown, and people forget that, however this particular unknown does seem a little scarier than most. But, o so exciting! Adventure is calling my name and challenges await. Ahhhh….travel…I have been waiting for you. My mother was watching me like I was launching myself into some deep archaic cave as opposed to a large city. Gotta love her.

First gringa move. After a night of flying and no sleep, I hop in line with all the Argentine men and women in customs. Luckily, a nice young man could see that I was a gringa and informed me I was in the wrong line. Wait maybe I shouldn’t say I am happy that he could tell I was an American. What gave it away? Was it my huge backpack? My infamous head-tilt when I am confused and in awe of my surroundings? Regardless, I am gringa….hear me roar.

As always, I had a great time in my first cab ride. My driver was Eduardo and he was a grand character. He made sure I knew which soccer team to root for, as well as the fact that I need to work on my Spanish (considering the fact that I don't speak Spanish I was ever so grateful for this pointer), slow down when I speak and have fun. As we were driving into the city he decided to blare the song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”. “This is for you Ashley….”, he says. What the…? But I was cracking up at this older Argentine cab driver getting down to such an American teeny-bopper tune. Luckily, a beautiful song came on in Spanish as we entered the center of Buenos Aires. This city truly is Central America meets Spain. I walk one block and feel like I am in Guatemala with the pace of the streets and the unique smell, it reminds me of my first Latin American experiences which took place in Xela, Guatemala. Another block down and I feel like I am about to sit at a little European café in Madrid.

Today has consisted of finding my hotel, running around trying to figure out how to put credit on my SIM card, and being overwhelmed with how NICE everyone is being to this clueless chica. Seriously, people want to help me get set up ? Wow.

O, and let me just say that it is GREAT to have your research done. However, don’t for one second think that you are really going to know what you are walking into. I used to read that BsAs is so loud and chaotic, but coming from Chicago, the fact that I can hear birds out my window is a beautiful thing. People walk slower, and the vibe is so chill. Well, from what I have seen thus far…But I did just find out it's a holiday weekend and the majority of the city is vacationing at the beach or Mendoza.

Tired as heck but can’t sleep, I am about to go meet some people for my first Buenos Aires meal and glass of vino!!! Chau for now folks!

A Hard Place to Leave

Travel Time!

As I acknowledge the deafening call of travel, it's just about time to dive into another culture, language, behavior, array of characters, perspectives, and growth with hopes of embracing a more worldly perspective. However, this time is different. Why? Because, this time I am walking away from Chicago....Chicago! I must be crazy.

Dearest Chicago, The Windy City, Frank Sinatra's Stomping Ground, Chi-town, The White City, My Kind of Town, The City that Works.....Chicagoland,

You have offered me more lessons in three years than I had in the 23 years prior to your presence. Walking into your vibrant chaotic grandness as a girl and leaving a woman. Chicago, YOU are where I grew up. No doubt about that. Offering the best and worst times of my life, and forming a foundation of strength and validity that only your influence could offer.

Thank you for letting me borrow your bone chilling reality followed by an optimistic beauty. For knocking me on my "ars", forcing me to crawl through the harshness until I picked myself up, dusted off my outer layer, and saw the unique nature that only this man-made city can possess. In translation, allowing me to give myself back to myself....with improvement.

Forever I am in debt for the people you gave me. For they have known a part of me that was foreign even to myself. I walk away from you not with my back turned, but with another standard of what I want out of life. To all who still roam those luminous avenues, or have walked through those streets beside me, you are plastered on my heart.


Dance large folks!

Ashley