An acquired taste..

So...5 days into my being in Buenos Aires and I have preliminarily decided (have been numerous times before) that learning to love BsAs (being an "un-native") is like liking bleu cheese - it is an acquired taste. OK, so some people like it right away, and others swear it off right off the bat; while others who are more on the undecisive side from the onset will most likely learn to love it more - it kindda grows on you.

I am a city girl - given but I like the countrysides as well, especially in Argentina. The city is where the life is but sometimes it is also good to seek and quest for some Zen. Sometimes even this city girl needs to hear myself think or at least hear my heartbeat at night and not just feel it.

Well, I digress - back to the acquired taste part of this all. I am an "un-native" and I find that for the first time in my several trips in the past the prospect of completing a home (decor-wise) is putting a very positive energy and spin to my whole taste to the place. I could finally see myself living part in the country and part in the city. And why not? I can have the best of both worlds. I mean it is not a cut here or there - make a choice kindda thing, right? And I like that - it keeps in theme with my positive line of thinking and sustains my positive energy all around.

In the city, I feel like the movement outside keeps me going in the countryside, it is mostly peace and quiet - I mean I like it - please do not get me wrong but after awhile it can get a sane person insane with all that quietness. There are people who live for that _ and I salute them for it but it is just not me to be all ZEN all the (pardon my french here - fr*&kin') time.

I get nervous with the commute from the countryside into BsAs but it is something that I will have to deal with in the near future and I am sure after having driven in the my motherland - is a great preparation to driving here.

BsAs is not Argentina, I found that out this last 5 days. Really after being out of the city for a few days BsAs is alive but I look forward to being a part of both parts Capital Federal and the quaint city 50some odd kilometers north.

And as for that bleu cheese analogy - I like it and I think there is hope for me yet - now if I can only freakin' learn the language I would really be head over heels in love here. But - there is hope...

In the meantime, try the bleu chees - you will surprised what it can do for you.

Ciao, 'til next time.

One foot in front of the other....

It is a Tuesday and first thing tomorrow morning I will get ready to head to Buenos Aires; it is my firm belief that traveling is merely putting one foot in front of the other, literally. Regardless of distance, I believe the mechanics of getting there is this and will always be the same (time travel is for another day). I am looking forward to this trip. It has been months since I was last in Buenos Aires, I even missed all the smoke commotion - oh well. I travel not in search of myself, I am not that deep, but to give myself what I would otherwise not get/find where I was last, point of origin.

I will miss California for a few months, but again I miss everything from the last place (wherever that might have been) I was a few weeks ago. I am easily attached to the people mostly, I can really care less about the geographics but the people I miss terribly. I do not like to leave people behind, I want my whole tribe traveling with me - NOT POSSIBLE!

So here I am with bags packed, passports and all the usual trinkets I travel with - en route to BsAs. My next post will be from there - winter time there now unlike the prospect of summer here in California. Oh well.

I will miss some things I really like to do in California and the freedom to drive in a place where mostly cars 99.999% of the time stay within their lanes. You probably do not have any idea why I am saying this but come to Argentina and you will know what I mean. :-) I for one do not like surprises and basically I am just accepting this as a fact when I am there - terrifying but fact nonetheless. But there are lots of things to do and more to do to occupy my time and attention.

Buenos Aires is a nice big city but the countryside is to die for - that I really look forward to having once again - the silence and the serenity - it beats any loud corner any day.

I will re-acquaint myself with the streets, the language and the faces that I had grown to like and would meet everyday. I like that.

I am not delusional to say that BsAs is the best for me, the language is a real sticky point for me, but I willing to apply myself and learn just to for to say the least better myself. I am not doing for another person, I really would like to know the language.

Some people will ram the idea of perfection down my throat on some threads I have read - but you know if you are happy in any place, I am deliriously happy that you are happy; but please do not tell me how I should feel because only I can tell you what and how I feel about any place, food or people. I like it that most people I have met in BsAs that are english speaking like BsAs but I also like to hear people say how they are unhappy there - it keeps things REAL. And believe me, I like REAL things and especially people that is why when I travel I do not count the 20th step I would take but the step that follow the first, one foot in front of the other - -

Ciao. C U in BsAs.

April 2008

It is the 17th day of April 2008, I love spring in California.

It has been paradise-like here in the last several days. The weather is glorious and just about everything is great. I guess, I see it that way for in a week or so I will be headed to Buenos Aires and will have a second try at making things work for me down there. I like BsAs for all the great thing that it has to offer, and I am excited in learning the language more this time - I am hoping in finding the right teacher for me. I also look forward to being there for my "R" in finally putting the finishing touches to a project long over due ( understatement of the year!).

There is also the fact that I am going to be seeing a dentist there - more affordable than if I had gone to one in the USA. I know that the dentist will be much more inexpensive and with my limited spanish would be able to convey my desire to do some major work on the life long gaps I have in my dental work (it is as bad as it sounds- not wearing those retainers after a major ortho work is a big NO NO!!).

And I am excited to get Medical coverage once again. Needs no explanation there.

And I look forward to finally knowing some of my neighbors; I know some people do not care for knowing their neighbors but I am hoping at least to know a few of them.

I am not intimidated by the prospect of inflation, higher cost of everything - I want to go back with a positive attitude and a frame of mind. I want this to work for me. I like the smell of spring - it spells a lot of promise and I want to be able to make "R" happy with my presence there.

It will be tough but I am willing to try. Things we would do for the ones we love - priceless really.