Classes: They have started but not really; they were supposed to all start by this week but I have only had one actual class. The class, Portuguese, was a ton of fun and I walked out with a huge grin across my face. I understood more of this class than the two other classes I have attended even though the teacher spoke entirely in Portuguese. I know that it is because she was speaking slowly and the vocabulary was really simple but I didn't leave the class with an impending feeling of doom and I felt like I could also accomplish something. Moving on, I am also going to take Social History of Argentina, Drawing I, and my stupid Spanish class.
Climate Differences:I keep forgetting that I technically live in a desert; it is so dry. Yesterday, it rained, and when I say rained I mean there were probably three raindrops that actually hit the ground. With the aridity of Mendoza, there is a lack of green. Everything is kind of brown, crunchy, and dusty. But hey, at least its warm; high 70's in the middle of winter. I'll take it.
Hobbies: I have started drawing again and I love it. I have already spent more money than I should have on art supplies but it is keeping my spirits lifted. My drawings are kind of shitty but that's okay, who am I trying to impress but myself? I wish I could say I have been writing a lot but my time has gone into drawing.
Homesickness: I would be lying if I said I wasn't on an emotional roller coaster; some days I am flying high, other days I have an unnerving feeling of dread. This past week has been mostly on the upswing, I have been keeping busy, forcing myself to say yes to things, planning random trips (like to the orchestra last night), and just trying to exist. Part of what is causing my homesickness is my need to get the most out of every second; the need to always be moving or doing something productive. I have kind of come to terms with my inability to do that here. After having a conversation about it with my mom, I wrote a thing... It is called just be.
what is driving your
existence inhale exhale
swallow scratch you are
in control of this body
gulp
breath relax relax relax
step forward step back
what is your end goal
turn left no i mean
right
focus you are meant for
perfection control focus
control what are you
doing breathe please
my love i am begging
you to breathe
stop thinking
just
be.
Friends: This is kind of a touchy subject; there are a lot of people that I like in my program but I question whether or not we would be friends if we weren't some crazy Americans in Mendoza. It is really difficult to go from the genuine friendships I made over this past year to situational friends. Do not take this as me not loving them to bits, but its just a different kind of friendship. That being said, their motive for doing things is also quite different than mine. I decided early on in this experience that I want this year to be about finding myself; my hobbies, my passions, what I love, what I hate, who I am. That kind of thing, take a lot of doing things alone, which is something I am really bad at, but I am trying.
Food: Argentine food is very delicious but also very repetitive. I eat a ton of Milanesa (essentially a chicken nugget the size of your face), salad that consists of lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded carrots, and empanadas. When I eat something other than these three things, tears come to my eyes, especially if it is a vegetable. Sidebar - I actually did start crying when I saw a cucumber the other day.
Street Harassment: part of me knows I need to just accept the fact that I am going to be stared at, honked at, blow kisses at, winked at, hit on, ect. but I can't. Every time it happens, it drives me insane. I generally respond with the nastiest stink eye I can muster up; I don't know what else to do. Anyone in my audience of three have ideas?
Mail: well, this might come off as me begging for you to take the time out of your day to write me a letter or postcard, but please do. Ever since I was a wee young lass, I have loved getting mail. International postage from the US only costs $1.15. Please. Please. Please. Send it to:
Amelia Tjaden
C/O Carlos Anta
Montevideo 230 10°3(5500) Mendoza, Argentina
All for now - besitos.
Finally got the geotag.
It's for the tourists.
El Mercadito and coconuts that look like lemons.
No comments:
Post a Comment