The Beginning of the End
In ten days, I return to the United States after six months abroad in Córdoba, Argentina. That's 171 days in another country, another continent, another culture. Wow. I've spent a lot of time the past few days in a retrospective cloud, and I expect the haze might get hazier in the next week. Needless to say, a lot has happened since I arrived in Córdoba on February 12. Has every day been thrilling? Was every new activity an adventure? Did I spend six months amid the strange, the unknown, the foreign, the exciting, the absolutely-life-altering?
No. I didn't. Of course I tried new things. But I also did a lot of the same old things that I love to do in the States. Before the semester started, I thought that coming to Argentina meant I'd need to reinvent myself completely; that my old lifestyle would stay in the States, and Ally 2.0 would walk off the airplane and collect her luggage at the airport. I was wrong about that, and I couldn't be more glad to be wrong. Here's an honest look at the everyday things I've done to put things in perspective a little bit.
No. I didn't. Of course I tried new things. But I also did a lot of the same old things that I love to do in the States. Before the semester started, I thought that coming to Argentina meant I'd need to reinvent myself completely; that my old lifestyle would stay in the States, and Ally 2.0 would walk off the airplane and collect her luggage at the airport. I was wrong about that, and I couldn't be more glad to be wrong. Here's an honest look at the everyday things I've done to put things in perspective a little bit.
10 Things I Haven't Done in Six Months
- Straightened my hair
- Driven an auto
- Attended Catholic Mass in English
- Used a dishwasher or laundry dryer
- Held my boyfriend's hand
- Used Pandora or Spotify
- Visited with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins
- Played XBox
- Worked a steady job
- Paid with a debit card
Some of the activities are more important than others, but I wanted my list to include a little bit of everything. There are a few things--straightening my hair, playing XBox, and using Pandora--that I haven't paid any attention to in a long time. They are activities that I honestly could live without when I return to the US, and I wouldn't complain or even notice. They are the "cushy" things. Don't be mistaken--there are flatirons and online music services and XBoxes in Argentina, but I never made an effort to access them because, well, they don't Really matter.
And then there are activities that were normal components of my daily life in the States--driving, using a debit card to make purchases, and using dishwashers and dryers. I noticed the absence of these things, and I'm looking forward to enjoying them again.
Finally, there are the Important Things that I've gone six months without--family, physical intimacy with my boyfriend, Mass in my native language, and work. These are staples in my life. These are the bits of fuel that keep Ally up and running, and coping without them was a challenge. It wasn't impossible--but it wasn't easy, either. Perhaps there's a time limit on a study abroad or life abroad, and everyone's time limit is different. If it's true, these are the things that would determine the timer--how long can I make it without my family by my side? How long can our relationship last without holding hands, kissing, and physical presence? These are the make-or-break factors. I've had my desperate moments in Córdoba of tears and frustration brought not by the difficulty of a new culture or different language, but by trying to cope without the Important Things. I can live without straightening my hair or swiping a debit card, but these are my treasures, and I can't wait to come home to them.
And then there are activities that were normal components of my daily life in the States--driving, using a debit card to make purchases, and using dishwashers and dryers. I noticed the absence of these things, and I'm looking forward to enjoying them again.
Finally, there are the Important Things that I've gone six months without--family, physical intimacy with my boyfriend, Mass in my native language, and work. These are staples in my life. These are the bits of fuel that keep Ally up and running, and coping without them was a challenge. It wasn't impossible--but it wasn't easy, either. Perhaps there's a time limit on a study abroad or life abroad, and everyone's time limit is different. If it's true, these are the things that would determine the timer--how long can I make it without my family by my side? How long can our relationship last without holding hands, kissing, and physical presence? These are the make-or-break factors. I've had my desperate moments in Córdoba of tears and frustration brought not by the difficulty of a new culture or different language, but by trying to cope without the Important Things. I can live without straightening my hair or swiping a debit card, but these are my treasures, and I can't wait to come home to them.
10 "Normal" Things I've Done This Semester
1. Worked out
I arrived in Argentine summer, so I took advantage of the warmth and started a fairly steady running routine that lasted until the cold crept in around June. I've been slacking the past few weeks, but that's 100% my fault and has nothing to do with the unavailability of fitness equipment or Gatordade in Argentina.
2. Read books
I like to read, and I was afraid that my time abroad would prevent some Ally/book quality time. I was wrong. I've read more books recreationally in the past six months than in the past two years combined! It turns out being unemployed for half a year frees up a lot of time.
My recent literary conquests include books in English, books in Spanish, and translated books. Reading a book in English is pure release and relaxation; finishing a book in Spanish gives a feeling of supreme accomplishment.. Here's a list of the books I've read:
-La Batalla de la Mente para Jovenes by Joyce Meyer--a Christian book translated from English to Spanish.
-Hablas demasiado by Juan Fernando Andrade--Spanish fiction
-El Disípulo by Juan Carlos Ortiz--a Spanish Christian book
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green--English fiction
-Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson--an English Christian book
-El Principito by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry--French fiction translated into Spanish
-Dios me Ve Perfecto Aunque Todo lo Hago Mal by Adrián Intrieri--a Spanish Christian book
-Boede by Fabián Casas--an anthology of Spanish poetry
-La Ontología del Lenguaje (ongoing read) by Rafael Echeverria--a Spanish nonfiction book about linguistics/ontology.
-Ender's Game (ongoing read) by Orson Scott Card--English fiction
3. Drank milk/juice/coffee/tea/Pepsi & eaten pizza/chips/ice cream
Argentina has its share of distinct foods, but it's also got enough US influence to have Doritos, Starbucks, and Subway. Also, some foods are just universal.
4. Gone to the movies
I've gone to the movies three times this semester; for The Great and Powerful Oz, Iron Man III, and Man of Steel. When I saw Iron Man III, it hadn't been released in the US yet. The down side? Movie tickets are pricy.
5. Cooked
My host families have given me delicious food, and they've also encouraged me to cook for myself. It's not hard to buy (most) ingredients here; it's easier to buy some ingredients here than in the States (verdurerías (vegetable stores), panaderías (bakeries), and carnicerías (butcher shops) are the Walgreens of Córdoba). Yes, Argentina doesn't cater much to peanut butter, maple syrup, or big American breakfasts, but it's been easy for me to find what I need when I get the urge to cook.
6. Gone to Mass and worship services
I've grown in my faith since coming to Argentina, despite the language barrier that existed in the first few months. I still don't understand everything the priest says during Mass, but again, worship is universal.
7. Had a few dates
With my boyfriend, mind you.
I arrived in Argentine summer, so I took advantage of the warmth and started a fairly steady running routine that lasted until the cold crept in around June. I've been slacking the past few weeks, but that's 100% my fault and has nothing to do with the unavailability of fitness equipment or Gatordade in Argentina.
2. Read books
I like to read, and I was afraid that my time abroad would prevent some Ally/book quality time. I was wrong. I've read more books recreationally in the past six months than in the past two years combined! It turns out being unemployed for half a year frees up a lot of time.
My recent literary conquests include books in English, books in Spanish, and translated books. Reading a book in English is pure release and relaxation; finishing a book in Spanish gives a feeling of supreme accomplishment.. Here's a list of the books I've read:
-La Batalla de la Mente para Jovenes by Joyce Meyer--a Christian book translated from English to Spanish.
-Hablas demasiado by Juan Fernando Andrade--Spanish fiction
-El Disípulo by Juan Carlos Ortiz--a Spanish Christian book
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green--English fiction
-Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson--an English Christian book
-El Principito by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry--French fiction translated into Spanish
-Dios me Ve Perfecto Aunque Todo lo Hago Mal by Adrián Intrieri--a Spanish Christian book
-Boede by Fabián Casas--an anthology of Spanish poetry
-La Ontología del Lenguaje (ongoing read) by Rafael Echeverria--a Spanish nonfiction book about linguistics/ontology.
-Ender's Game (ongoing read) by Orson Scott Card--English fiction
3. Drank milk/juice/coffee/tea/Pepsi & eaten pizza/chips/ice cream
Argentina has its share of distinct foods, but it's also got enough US influence to have Doritos, Starbucks, and Subway. Also, some foods are just universal.
4. Gone to the movies
I've gone to the movies three times this semester; for The Great and Powerful Oz, Iron Man III, and Man of Steel. When I saw Iron Man III, it hadn't been released in the US yet. The down side? Movie tickets are pricy.
5. Cooked
My host families have given me delicious food, and they've also encouraged me to cook for myself. It's not hard to buy (most) ingredients here; it's easier to buy some ingredients here than in the States (verdurerías (vegetable stores), panaderías (bakeries), and carnicerías (butcher shops) are the Walgreens of Córdoba). Yes, Argentina doesn't cater much to peanut butter, maple syrup, or big American breakfasts, but it's been easy for me to find what I need when I get the urge to cook.
6. Gone to Mass and worship services
I've grown in my faith since coming to Argentina, despite the language barrier that existed in the first few months. I still don't understand everything the priest says during Mass, but again, worship is universal.
7. Had a few dates
With my boyfriend, mind you.
Have you noticed that the established phrase is "long-distance relationship" and not "long-distance dating?" It's probably because it's really hard to maintain the dating aspect of dating when you can't go on a physical date with your partner. Still, it's possible. Armand and I have combined our ample creativity and had a few wonderfully memorable dates together; once we took our laptops to cafés in our respective cities and Skyped over coffee, once he played his guitar for about two hours straight and I sang along, and we've passed many a night watching Arrested Development together on Netflix. I love Skyping Armand, and he doesn't seem to mind spending time with a pixelated version of me. But I think it's natural for both of us to feel like we're missing out on the dating aspect of being in a relationship sometimes, because all of our real-time activities are limited to what wifi can provide. All that means is that we had to churn up some fresh ideas, which, mind you, is one of the best parts in our relationship right now (Another best part of what we have right now? We'll be together in 11 days and then creative wifi dates can sit in the relationship trophy case, where it probably belongs!).
8. Played table games
I put this on the list to show that everyone plays games. Also, games are a great way to spend time with someone if you're too nervous to talk or if the language barrier seems too daunting. I've played Uno, rummy, Dutch Blitz, truco, checkers, Jenga, and Tabboo, and it just seems like a cool novelty to me that I've made connections with people through games.
9. Texted
What would have happened to my Generation-Y life if I'd suffered a six-month texting drought? I probably would've lost the ability to communicate electronically.
Thank God for TextPlus for Android, which put me a finger tap away from my family and friends in the States, and my dinky local Nokia, which let me text my Argentine cohorts.
10. Had genuine conversations
This was the hardest daily habit to maintain because it's not something I could do on my own, and it's not something that came automatically. Over the course of the past six months, I've developed strong relationships with many people, Argentine and American alike. I've told them my secrets, my fears, and my hopes for the future.
8. Played table games
I put this on the list to show that everyone plays games. Also, games are a great way to spend time with someone if you're too nervous to talk or if the language barrier seems too daunting. I've played Uno, rummy, Dutch Blitz, truco, checkers, Jenga, and Tabboo, and it just seems like a cool novelty to me that I've made connections with people through games.
9. Texted
What would have happened to my Generation-Y life if I'd suffered a six-month texting drought? I probably would've lost the ability to communicate electronically.
Thank God for TextPlus for Android, which put me a finger tap away from my family and friends in the States, and my dinky local Nokia, which let me text my Argentine cohorts.
10. Had genuine conversations
This was the hardest daily habit to maintain because it's not something I could do on my own, and it's not something that came automatically. Over the course of the past six months, I've developed strong relationships with many people, Argentine and American alike. I've told them my secrets, my fears, and my hopes for the future.
10 New Things I've Done
- Used taxis & public transportation
- Eaten a new "weird" food
- Performed live
- Watched an NBA game on TV
- Baked a pie
- Climbed a mountain
- Used a smart phone
- Learned to French braid
- Put a lot of time into an extracurricular activity
- Seen labor strikes
This list mimics the list of things I haven't done with its inclusion of both mundane things and surprising things. Most of these activities are things I could've done in the States (you're probably wondering how I made it 21 years without watching an NBA game, baking a pie, or using a smart phone). Really, the only Argentina-exclusive things on that list are the exotic food and the labor strikes; all the rest are very feasible to experience in the US.
What does it mean that most of the ten things listed above don't impress you? Did the semester fall short of what I was hoping for? Of course not. Were there other new things I did that aren't on the list? Of course. My point is that life abroad is different...but it's also the same in more ways than you'd think. And I'm glad for that. I'm glad to find familiarity abroad, just as I'm glad to explore a new culture. I'm glad that every day in Argentina hasn't been an adrenaline-pumping, life-changing adventure. I don't think I could handle that.
This is my attempt to put my time in Córdoba, Argentina, in perspective; to acknowledge the good and the bad, the surprising and the ordinary, the universal and the culture-specific.
I'm also thinking a lot about how I've changed...because I have changed. But did Argentina change me? After all, I spent such a huge chunk of my time texting and talking and eating pizza--doing the things I've always done. Many of the things I've gone without aren't important parts of my life, and many of the new things I've tried could've easily crossed my path in the US.
People always change in minute ways, finding new hobbies, trying new foods, and making other small changes to their lives. But they do so in a steady, daily routine that is so calm it tends to blend the small changes into its schema. The small changes aren't noticed. When a college student travels to a foreign country for the first time, there is no more daily routine for a long time, and this makes changes extremely apparent. Perhaps, when I come home, if my family and friends mentioned that I've changed, I'll tell them that it's because they haven't seen me every day for the past six months, and my absence from their daily routine makes any of my changes seem exaggerated. I also know that I've changed in other ways that Córdoba is completely responsible for (my Spanish proficiency, for example). It's a mix. Part of me has been affected by Argentina, and part of me has been affected by the progression of life. And that's okay with me.
What does it mean that most of the ten things listed above don't impress you? Did the semester fall short of what I was hoping for? Of course not. Were there other new things I did that aren't on the list? Of course. My point is that life abroad is different...but it's also the same in more ways than you'd think. And I'm glad for that. I'm glad to find familiarity abroad, just as I'm glad to explore a new culture. I'm glad that every day in Argentina hasn't been an adrenaline-pumping, life-changing adventure. I don't think I could handle that.
This is my attempt to put my time in Córdoba, Argentina, in perspective; to acknowledge the good and the bad, the surprising and the ordinary, the universal and the culture-specific.
I'm also thinking a lot about how I've changed...because I have changed. But did Argentina change me? After all, I spent such a huge chunk of my time texting and talking and eating pizza--doing the things I've always done. Many of the things I've gone without aren't important parts of my life, and many of the new things I've tried could've easily crossed my path in the US.
People always change in minute ways, finding new hobbies, trying new foods, and making other small changes to their lives. But they do so in a steady, daily routine that is so calm it tends to blend the small changes into its schema. The small changes aren't noticed. When a college student travels to a foreign country for the first time, there is no more daily routine for a long time, and this makes changes extremely apparent. Perhaps, when I come home, if my family and friends mentioned that I've changed, I'll tell them that it's because they haven't seen me every day for the past six months, and my absence from their daily routine makes any of my changes seem exaggerated. I also know that I've changed in other ways that Córdoba is completely responsible for (my Spanish proficiency, for example). It's a mix. Part of me has been affected by Argentina, and part of me has been affected by the progression of life. And that's okay with me.