Opuestos

The Argentine chapter of my life has come to a close and my Minnesota chapter is beginning. I have been back in the US for a week. My first few days were spent visiting friends and such in Kansas, then I made my way up north to the new house in Duluth, MN. Since my Argentine experience has ended, my blog "Cyndi in Argentina" would be a bit of a lie ... if I start a new one I will let y'all know. Overall my time in BA has taught me a lot of lessons. I believe I learned a lot more because it wasn't exactly what I had wanted or didn't always go my way. I found my second set of parents on the other end of the world, my lovely Argentine and Colombian roommates, some very free and adventurous young adults and grandparents, some great friends from all over the world, my 2 bread bakery men that knew exactly what I would get every day, my favorite security guard at the international office, sprinkle some crazy Argentine men and a few mean people in there as well ... I wouldn't change any of it.



The environments of BA and Duluth are nearly opposites. In BA there is never enough time in the day; always things to do but never enough energy or time to do it. Noise never stops, the city never sleeps, people are everywhere to where you have no minute to yourself, constant awareness of where you are going and if that's the safest route, public transit shared with 10-100+ people, constant awareness of purses, bags, etc., walking everywhere, all that you need within walking distance. In Duluth, my 4 days have ticked by while I have been searching for a holiday job and being the cook and grocery girl. I drive 20 minutes into town in my own car alone feeling like its a waste of gas, rural living, complete dark and quiet at night, deer in our yard several times a day, gas stations called Superamerica, no need to lie about being Canadian just to avoid conflict or extra attention, the most individual time I have had in a long time, a huge comfy bed, lots and lots of time to do what I wish. Surprisingly I have less energy here in MN ... I do less and sleep more ... I still would like to think I am adjusting back to the US culture.

I fear I lost my spicy buds in my time in Argentina. Chipotle was pretty spicy to me ... since then I have been trying to build my tolerance back up. I have a different perspective on food and different dishes after the Argentine cuisine, fresh bakeries and not having a kitchen. My family is celebrating Thanksgiving Argentine style ... that will be fun.

No more meat bites for me. It will take going to another country to let meat touch these jaws again.

After a few days of rusty English grammar and poor word choice, I feel like my brain has flipped the switch back to English. I notice I don't think in Spanish first. I'm working on a place where I can continue practicing. I think I pick up accents pretty easily: my Spanish right now is Argentine tainted, my English adopted a Chicago flavor ... in two months I might be speaking pure Minnesotan ... eh?

Love.