Final Thoughts

It has been nearly a week since I left Rosario headed for the States. My travel took me from Rosario, through Buenos Aires, on to DC, and finally to Houston. Only yesterday I returned to Maryville College and started what seems to be a two day move-in for my Senior year. Already I've had friends ask me about my stay in Argentina, and already it has been difficult to give more than a superficial answer that in no way truly characterizes my feelings.

In the end it boils down to this: I loved living in Rosario. I made many great friends and became comfortable with the city. Long conversation, meals for hours, and late nights out with friends all of which I enjoyed. What I wouldn't give now not to feel rushed at a restaurant to order, eat, and get out! I want the inattentive waiter, the meal that takes to long to cook, several refills of beer or wine, and café at the end with a little bit of soda to wash it down with. In Argentina I found people that were more friendly with me after a few minutes than some people I've know for years in the States. And, I must honestly say that I feel more close to the friends I made there in two months than most of the friends I have have here.

Not to be too cliché, but it was in many ways an overwhelming experience. Of course, comparisons have to be made between the U.S. and Argentina. There are many difficult things about Argentina: the government, low pay and high prices, the government, corruption and a lack of ethical thinking, and the government. But perhaps these are things that can be considered and changed, or at least worked around. There is no other place I have visited to which I would rather return more than Rosario. I can't wait for my next Argentine Adventure!

Chau.

And Now the End is Near...

This will be my last post from Argentina, unless of course something extra-spectacular occurs. I have only a few things to say and a couple of pictures to post. Then, once I have returned to the States, I will post one last time to draw this travel blog to a close with all the necessary reflections, etc.

Last weekend was filled with friends and touristy events. Several teachers at ARICANA along with a couple of students took me on the Ciudad de la Rosario ship for a two hour cruise of the Rio Párana. At first the day was a bit overcast, but by the second half of the trip the sky had cleared and it proved to be a gorgeous day. I was able to get several very good shots of the city while on the boat and from the top of the Flag Memorial which we visited after the boat trip.

For the first time perhaps in my life, I stayed out with some friends until about six o'clock in the morning. Now, to a regular US kid that might seem like a very long time to be out around the city but not so for young Argentines. Whereas in the States we may go out around nine or ten and return home around three or four. In Argentina you go out at the earliest around one and often return at six or later. I am told that some people just stay up for the next day instead of bothering to try to sleep. I have to say that, though I enjoy and wish to continue many of the Argentine customs I have become familiar with here, I would prefer to leave this specific custom of sleep deprivation to the Argentines.

Sunday was the celebration of "Children's Day" in which families get together and have large meals. I was invited by the Academic Director at ARICANA to go with her family over to a friends house for a big meal of fiambres, pig cooked in the parilla, typical salads, and wonderful wine. I had a great time and returned in the evening back to my apartment very tired from a busy week and weekend.

Well, as I said, I will post one last time once I am back in the States. The next week will be busy saying goodbye to friends and students at ARICANA, so things should be great. Enjoy the pics.

Chau.

The Joyous Land

I have in fact returned to Rosario, that beautiful city on the Rio Párana. It was quite a laboured decision to return; however, despite the unfortunate circumstances that have led to my removal from and subsequent return to Rosario, I am very glad to be back. It is such a beautiful city with wonderful people, and I feel very comfortable here. I hope to accomplish a few things that I was not able to in my first stint in Rosario: namely, I would like to try the local seafood, visit the top of the Flag Memorial, and find something newly pretentious to bring home for my friends to joke about when I return to school.

I’m also working a little extra at ARICANA, visiting as many classes as possible before I leave. Next week I will also begin with a series of presentations in promotion of a study tour from ARICANA to Maryville College. There are two trips which consist of several weeks of intensive English study at Maryville College and then a week of tourism at Disney World for the younger students and New York/Washington D.C. for the older students. I’m really looking forward to receiving student from Argentina in January and February. It will be my chance to show them some of the hospitality they have shown me during my stay in their country.

Yesterday evening and this morning the institute received a guest speaker, Else Hamayan. She spoke about several issues and methods in teaching English as a second language. I found it very interesting and it has started me thinking on something: one of the objectives of this trip was to taste a bit of the teaching English as a second/foreign language experience--to see if I thought I would like to further pursue such a career. Though I have enjoyed being in the classrooms and even teaching on my own several times, I have to say that I am not as interested in the actual teaching experience as I am simple linguistics--the was in which ideas are presented and perceived in different ways in accordance with the norms of different languages. These aspects are of direct use for my composition of poetry in which I must find new ways to describe complex ideas and be able to understand the composition of the very language in which I am writing in order to use it most effectively and efficiently.

I’ll be around Rosario for another week and a few days. Then on the 16th I will take the long flight back to the States. I’m really looking forward to my senior year at Maryville College, but not necessarily finding a way to pay for it! : )

Chau.