But that's mostly because I've been in Buenos Aires or on a bus for the last week. And I absolutely loved it.
Okay so a full 24 hour day of traveling isn't my favorite, but if the new result is a city I've never been to in a foreign country with Jules and Linda then it's vale la pena (worth it). And Nicole is an amazing traveling buddy and I wouldn't have had as much fun without her.
My second time to Argentina went much more smoothly,I didn't get stuck in the Andes, even though it took hours to cross the border on the way there. So a quick overview, talk to me if you want more details...we explored San Telmo near our hostel, Belgrano, Recoleta, downtown, etc. spent a day in Tigre. Ate plenty of meat and other "Argentine" foods. Drank plenty of wine (we were with Jules). Watched tango in the Plaza (and for a second considered trying before we realized it was out of out league). Ran into old friends and fellow travelers. Made new friends. Had one of my best nights in South America at La Bomba del Tiempo, a live drum show, concert, dance party all wrapped up into one.
And this is what I learned:
1. Never travel with foreign currency unless it is US Dollars. It was ridiculously difficult to find a place to exchange Chilean pesos for Argentine. Funny how they are neighbors but would rather have the USD.
2. I'm not going to beat myself up about my Spanish, because it has been confirmed. Chileans do not annunciate and have poor pronounciation in comparison with most other countries. So if I leave here understanding everyone and keep practicing, and taking classes however much I don't like them, then I will become fluent. It took me a few days to get used to Argentine Castellano, but once I got over the "ll" as a "j" and "vos" not "tu" I could understand them. It isn't that Chileans change verb tenses or sounds of letters. They just see some constants as option and it as unnecessary to pronounce a word in it's entirety. Don't get me wrong, I like mimicking it "gracia" "porfa" "no te precupe" "naa ma" are fun to say. But it can be extremely hard to understand at times when you combine that with incredible quick speech.
3. It's weird seeing friends completely settled and comfortable in a new atmosphere, or more so, it's different seeing them in "their" city and it not being yours as well. But it's good too. It shows that apart we can make our own worlds for ourselves and if our old friendships are strong enough, they won't be any less important in a new setting. And that's comforting to have a secure knowledge of your true friends, especially when there are days where everything here can feel so unsteady or temporary.
4. I'm so happy I picked Valparaiso. I liked Buenos Aires, but at the same time it felt like a large city anywhere. Before going I thought Valpo was heavily influenced by the US. And in some ways it is. But I can't go to a Pizza Hut or McDonalds on every other corner, or go places and expect the store clerk, street vendor, or waiter to speak English. I think Valpo has more character than most cities I've seen. It's smaller, but it's beautiful and unique without trying to be. The hills, the art, and the ocean are all part of everyday life. Yes, there are touristy areas, but the city doesn't appear to cater to tourists. I never expect anyone to speak anything other than Spanish to me, and the city is small enough that a random conversation on the street doesn't have to be sketchy.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
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