If you were to bump into an old friend on the street and he/she happened to ask you what’s been new in the past 3 months how would you answer? There are days I can’t believe I’ve been away for three months and just as many when it seems as though I’ve been away much longer. As the semester comes to a close, and with it my study abroad experience, it’s time to try and recall all of the events that have occurred as I come to the reality that one-month from now my entire undergraduate experience will be complete. There are of course the numerous trips to places outside of Buenos Aires but with the many photographs I've taken it would seem a waste to let that compose my fondest memories. Another option is the time spent with the other students on the trip...although some of those are a bit fuzzy so it would be more work to piece those memories together and even then I'd have to seperate the real from the perceived. Even better! My entire home stay experience including the incredible food my host mom prepared or how our conversations always drifted to me trying to defend myself for something ridiculous. I doubt I will ever forget my memories of driving around Buenos Aires with my host sister, not necessarily where we were going but out of sheer amazement we made it there in one piece (Full disclosure: She's an incredibly talented driver given the city environment and disregard for traffic signals/suggestions/laws). Oh well I guess in the next two weeks I'll think of something to remember...
Picture: Scene from Recoleta of the Flower and the University of Buenos Aires Law School.
It occurred to me the other day that I had not made a posting since I returned from Mendoza, a trip I took over two weeks ago. Part of this is because life has been pretty standard for the past two weeks. The weekend trips to exotic places around the region have been replaced by time spent in Buenos Aires as students’ nostalgia for first impressions of the city become stronger. Routines that were at first foreign and difficult are now habitual, having replaced those so common back in the States. As routine as this city has become I still can’t help but do a double take when I see sights such as an army of window washers working thirty stories up, a colectivo with the back door falling off as it goes down the street, and of course the many “Police” officers on the street corner texting and chatting on cell phones.
Picture: English Tower across from Plaza San Martin. The irony is that following the Malvinas Island "hiccup" in 1982 the government constructed a monument to commerate the war right across the street.
As I think about the time I have spent here I can’t help but think of just what an opportunity this was in practical and less practical terms. Being a final semester senior I have had to overcome the difficulties or networking from abroad and keeping an eye on possible job leads. While the idea that hitting the ground once back should be a bit nerve racking I can only be certain of the work I’ve put in this far and be confident that I’ve done all I could and given my best with the circumstances provided. It’s still hard to believe that LVC would “ok” a graduating senior studying abroad considering all the other participants in the program said that would never happen at their schools; possibly with good reason.. With only two weeks left the time is setting in when I’m realizing I can only remember so many memories and acknowledge that many will fade away and become distant memories that will be difficult to know if the events even happened or not.