Where it all happens...

I have arrived to Buenos Aires after a grueling day of uncomfortable travel. It's all good, though, because I am exactly where I am supposed to be!

I will give the highlights so people (*cough*Jonny*cough*) won't zone out:

• My apartment rules, it is beautifully decorated, has an elevator (we're on the 4th floor...I guess it is too taxing to walk 4 floors), big antique keys, and A LOT of storage space...which rules.
• My house mom, Rosario, is such a sweet woman. I gave her the mexi-themed place mats and the San Diego book my mom and I picked out for her. She loved them both, I think she was inspired for some paintings by some of the photographs in the SD book...the pictures kind of made me miss home...no time for that now, though! San Diego will always be waiting for me :)
• My host sister is 19 and is really, really nice. I went with her to vote, really interesting how lax their voting process is. The election right now is for the equivalent of a mayor, so it really wasn't too far fetched or different, but definitely more casual than how the U.S. does it.
• We went to the mall afterwards. The people here are beautiful. It is as though the 1-10 scale is just a little off, the average is not a 5, but a 7. They all have the dark exotic look, too. It is also nice to see they all deeply care about how they present themselves. By that I mean if they look sloppy, it's because that was the style they were actually going for, not because they hadn't done laundry and had no other alternative.
• Some Argentines are trying to bring back the 90's grunge in a real bad way. 
• Their dog, Hunica (pronounced in some weird way that I am sure I will never say correctly), hates me. I will not give up, though. It (he/she?) will like me.

Ok. Time for a nap. So tired. So tired of sleeping upright with some spastic girl twitch in her sleep for 3 hours straight, too. 

Tomorrow is orientation. Should be interesting!

Love,

Annette

P.S. I think I am going to like it here.

Scratch that, I already do. This is a very "Annette" city. :)

¡Bienvenidos!

This is actually happening. I am actually going to Argentina.

Woah.

I assume you are reading this because you are either my 1. Mother and/or my Grandmama or 2. someone who is most likely bored and looking to scope someone elses adventures.  Either way, ¡Bienvenidos a mi blog! Here I will essentially be keeping an online journal (or attempting to, anyway) of my studies adventures in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Words of Caution:
I am not trying to write a concise dictation of my experiences. This is a journal where I will write my thoughts; they may not always be cohesive, but you are reading this at your own risk.
I see it like this: just as my writing takes a lot of tangents, as does my life. Somehow all of those tangents eventually align to make something rather unique and rather fascinating. I do not take the straight path. Perhaps I am ADD or perhaps I just like to smell the roses, either way I seek out--and eventually acquire--the best possible final destination...I take the scenic route or the road less traveled. Whatever. It's cool. It's interesting. You should read it.

So let us begin with a little background:
(If you know me, I might skip this and wait for an actual post...the thing is I can't just jump in, I have to give an appropriate background or else people will have no idea where I am coming from and, well, we all know that would be just Tragic.)

So many people have asked me why I chose Argentina and too be honest, I don't know. I have always been drawn to Argentina and so it just seemed like the natural choice...although, I did consider going to the Galapagos but that would have been a complete 180* on the adventure I am about to embark on...anywhoooo, as I learned more, I realized that there may have been some unseen reason that I was drawn to Arg (aka Argentina...feel free to pronounce it like the pirate "Arghhh!" I feel like that might add some color to my stories...). I am studying Environmental Sciences and Studio Art at Santa Clara University and I would really like to go into Agroecology. [As further background: Agroecology is the ecological/approach to agriculture (so improving the agricultural system to rid it of pesticides and other harmful methods).] Well, Argentina is full of agriculture (they are huge in wines and beef) and I am full of excitement waiting to learn about their agriculture...so there you go, it's a match made in heaven. haha too cheesy, I know, but trust me, my mother is getting a kick out of this (and she is the main reason I am writing this damn thing--so she knows I am still alive without me having to send a consistent stream of emails and/or phone calls).
So anywho, it worked out oh-so nicely that Argentina has exactly what I am looking for in terms of my academic pursuits and it will perfect my spanish. Win!

Right, so that is why I am going to Buenos Aires: Academics, spanish, adventures, and perhaps learning tango from a chiseled Porteño wouldn't hurt, either...
(Side Track: Porteño is what people from Buenos Aires call themselves.)
     (Side Track numero dos: I know I could just say "side note," but I feel that "Side Track" is really more what is happening. I like to be honest, so we will stick to saying Side Track)


okkk so what am I feeling?

Eh I am nervous and excited and in disbelief. My host family seems like they are super cool, which I am stoked on...uhh, I am nervous that I will become sleep deprived. hmm I dont know. How about this, I will write a post when I am en-route to Arg and let you know then, because truthfully, right now I am thinking about the amazing day I will have tomorrow.

I prefer to live life day by day. I will smell the roses that are in bloom, not the ones that are just budding.
(I know, ultra-cheezzzze, but I dig inspirational quotes. Perhapssss I will end my posts with inspirational buddah-ish like this all the time...sucks for everyone with the exception of my mother and my grandmother...and me...soods!)


(plan for tomorrow: wake up, run, hike, mozy or board and brew with Laramee, fletchers cove with larmaee and chloe, yoga, get my nails did, eat something DELICIOUS, paint and shove a bunch of clothes into some big-ass-suit cases, sleep or maybe get a drink. we will see.)