The End: Part II (Last Will and Testament)

[Side note: I wrote most of this post on my last colectivo ride to my Avant-Garde internship. I've been revising and adding to it ever since in order to explain to the most precise degree my experience in Buenos Aires.]

Buenos Aires became real to me. It lasted beyond an escape, a vacation, a visit. I stayed and I lived there.

I immersed myself in my internship, my classes, the language, ultimate, a Latin-European culture. I got lost in translation, I was lonely, I grew independent. I became vulnerable to it all. I shed the shell of temporary times to more permanent perils. I didn't always have excuses or justifications. I didn't live a glamorous life. I didn't live everyday like it was my last because each felt like I was a step toward a seemingly infinite stay. I missed home, I ached, shed tears, spent numerous hours on Skype... I sometimes lived in mediocrity, flew down depression and back up to ecstasy in the matter of a day. I strolled down streets beaming and shook my groove thang on boliche dance floors. I found pure independence blissful at times, I hosted my loved ones, I found a family in Sapukay, Avant-Garde, and my program.

I didn't just thrive and exclude the bad, I experienced it all- the underestimated, emotional pendulum that is studying abroad. I lived a full life in Buenos Aires.

I lived a life in four months (stick with me as I try to explain study abroad via yet another metaphor):
Everything was new, I saw it for the first time. I was young and curious, easily fascinated and intrigued.
I went out often to play, make friends. I learned lessons the hard way, I fended for myself. 
I had a mid-trip crisis full of prolific questions and panic, a sense of helplessness, a loss of direction. 
I became content, aware, and experienced. I balanced work and play, I developed relationships, I gained patience. 
I hammered out my work and retired to one last city escape, Mendoza. 

Then I made this will -of things I refuse to let go, to disappear into the future- to impart on all of you: Those who know me better than I know myself, those who've never met me, my peers, my best friends, my family, those who plan to study in or visit Buenos Aires, those who already live there and are interested in what a gringa thinks. I've laid out my thoughts in this post and blog, the only real possessions I can claim. Take or dismiss what you will without the hassles of an attorney to distribute them accordingly.

I'm signing my name, I've flown back home.

Until next time,

-Anna

The End: Part I (The Great Melt)

Waiting at the colectivo stop with Ian.

I felt my composition -the seemingly stable ice structure- melt while my colectivo drove away from Ian and Diana, my fellow Sapukeños. As I've described earlier, I was numbed from feeling emotion by a mixture of excitement to come home and the surreal nature of leaving a place that grew on me with a chance of never returning.

Hugging it out with Diana and Sabi.

But then I realized why it had been mistakenly easy to pack my bags in anticipation of going home... I didn't realize my experience lied in the people that I shared my time with: my program companions, Carolina, my Avant-Garde bosses, the BA ultimate community in general, and most especially Sapukay.

I could easily wish farewell to my program because I could comfortably say a hello again in Columbia if I made the effort. The following, however, due to the unpredictable nature of life, I can't be so sure. These were the people who welcomed me so quickly, who adopted me and all my 'gringo-ness,' who showed me passion for playing and more importantly bonding as a team, who inspired me with their ambition, who placed trust in a foreign redhead.

My Avant-Garde bosses: Laura and Matías

My ultimate team full of characters, the one and only: Sapukay.

I would like all of them to know just how much I appreciate all their warm welcomings, acceptance, and patience. I'm so grateful for all intentional and subconscious actions made to help my experience develop in the way it did.

I felt the heated ice overwhelming me on that bus, drowning my mind with waves of thoughts that slowly melted down my cheeks.

I lived my trip without regrets, yet it was still difficult to accept this inevitable part to a trip, another benchmark in my life- saying hello and then goodbye, investing and letting go, living fully and moving on eventually.

I realized this great melt meant I was human. I did it. I lived abroad, I had grown attachment despite my having convinced myself I could return to the U.S. at whatever time I chose. I made the trip significant, meaningful, I did something right.

My Muse, Mendoza

Hola vacaciones!

Maddie and I enjoying some mate.

Kylie, Max and I had already said goodbye to work and the structure of our program before hopping on a bus to the land of wine, the Andes and beauty.... and best of all, my dear friend Maddie! Yep, you may remember her initiation to Argentina via a visit to BA way back when in 'Getting Her to First Base.'  It only seemed appropriate that we exchange visits at the conclusion of my trip to balance things out.

Unfortunately Maddie had homework and classes to attend (or dismiss, shhhh) on some days, and that's exactly where the equipo came in! We three took some adventures that would make those Musketeers proud.

We began with a day trip to Maipu to rent bikes, ride through the 'vineyards,' and taste wines. We embarked on our journey with the help of the Maipu Bikes company who supplied us with mountain bikes complete with baskets, a bottle of water and a (pretty unnecessary) glass of wine at the conclusion of our day.

The romantic and peaceful expectations we had of the ride quickly left us as we biked down the congested streets, scared sober the entire way... well, almost. We could not fathom how so many people who recommended this trip to us could gloss over this major detail. But alas, we sucked it up like Musketeers do and hit up three wineries to taste some of the best Malbecs my taste buds have been exposed to.

Stationed before the Andes, pre-tasting.

We made it home safely aside from one wine bottle's casualty on the curbside. We slept well to wake up to our next adventure: horseback riding in a valley overlooking the Andes.

Maddie, Max and Kylie clomping ahead.

Maddie struck gold by finding Cordón del Plata, a fabulous activities agency. It took us out a good hour and a half to an isolated ranch where we hopped on some horses (not so gracefully), spent hours viewing the scenery and soaking up the sun, and then gorging on a parilla. It was the epitome of a perfect day. We were in great company with a fine leader who showed us the life of a desert gaucho (slightly different than the gaucho experience I had before. Potatoes seem to play a much larger role for those in Mendoza).

Inventing my own way to seal carne empanadas.

We deemed it an early night and spent the next day lounging and resting our more-than-busted butt bones. Kylie, Max and I stressfully planned a relaxing trip for our last day (just like the planning contradiction I learned from my time in 'Córdoba'). We spend the rest of the day relaxing in a beautious park where Maddie and her friend joined us to sip up some maté. We proceeded to her, um well, her special friend's house to learn the art of making empanadas.

Finally we relished the last day since we saved the best for then: A trip to thermal pools smack dab in the Andes. We were dropped off in a deserted area shaded by the massive mountains surrounding us. We walked 20 minutes down train tracks (not up a stairway) to eventually find heaven. It was a dream of boiling water, gorgeous weather, feeling warmth, eating well and unwinding after four long months. Oh, and I can't forget caking ourselves with mud, to help our pores of course. 

We may have looked like lava monsters, but boy did it feel good. I began to loosen the screws of my attachment to studying abroad sitting there in the bubbling water. However, I still felt numb so there was only so much reflection I could do.

I'm saving that for the as-of-now liberal summer I have. Although the shock may sneak up on me in the airport, on the plane, on my second plane... who knows. There's plenty an opportunity to realize the great and terrifying last four months I spent here in Argentina. 

The Beginning of the End: Chau to our Mizzou Program

I realize the order of this series does not exactly line up with the priorities I listed in my 'Final' post. My finals are a little backwards now that Kylie, Max and I decided to extend our sur-reality another week in Mendoza. We paid an initial goodbye to our apartments and a more lengthy one to the rest of the program. 

[Context: Kylie and I will do the rest when we return to BA for two more days before our departure back to the U.S. Max will be flying home via Chile.]

Bianca and I got hooked up with an Ivory white apartment overlooking a park on Avenida del Libertador- a major street in BA (meaning at least twelve lanes wide) fortunately stocked with a plethora of bus stops.

The apartment provided a more than great refuge after late nights (synonymous with early mornings), long days of internship work and classes, and unpredictable weather. The doormen were plenty friendly too and helped me practice my Spanish small-talk. I learned polite phrases and tried my hardest to be clever with a limited vocabulary... usually by adding a little bit of sign language in the mix.

But a place is a place, and I wouldn't exactly call my apartment home. It was my study abroad home, sure. But I didn't actually have a family structure that tied me specifically there.

Instead, the program provided my sisters and brother (in addition to my extended family of 'Sapukeños,' of course). We began the program as ducklings, following Carolina around like blind youngin's. Then eventually we grew into it together.

[Preview: I'll touch more on this process of study abroad development during my final post here. Naturally, I'm saving the best for last. How else would I retain the attention of all my dedicated followers? I kid, I kid.]

The last supper with Carolina.

As I anticipated, I didn't cry. I didn't feel final when I hugged Carolina's small frame goodbye. I didn't feel sentimental as I wished a safe travels to Amy, Alyssa and Bianca. I felt like it was just another long weekend of traveling when I packed up all my possessions and left half at Carolina's office. I'm numbed mentally and physically. The time will come when the floodgates will open, but once again- Kylie, Max and I will be staying in Neverland for seven more days before returning to the reality of large, international airports and a full, final goodbye.

The actual beginning at Parque Rosedal.

The Beginning of the End: So Long to Work

My final words on my internship experience in Buenos Aires:

Reenacting my voice-over of M
at the Samsung event.

I thoroughly enjoyed both my internships this semester. I got to develop the exact skills I stated as preference prior to the trip and more. In addition to delving into graphic design, I was fortunate enough to see the process of launching a Website during my time at Artemisa Noticias and the organization of two entire marketing campaigns while at Avant-Garde.

Sitting pretty at the J&J 'Lideres'
event.

I learned so much without attending an overly populated lecture, sitting patiently as a professor demonstrated Adobe programs on a projector, or cracking open a dull textbook. Rather, I got to witness and contribute to all the hard work that went into two campaigns' events of which I also got to attend. I got to meet professional graphic designers, and learned about the blessing and curses of freelance. I collaborated with marketing geniuses (in my opinion) in a new culture under Spanish instruction. I researched like mad and learned an intriguing ideology that realizes a relationship between women and nature that I was more than excited to promote.

I was given two fruitful opportunities and squeezed as much juice from them as I could.

At Avant-Garde with my 'jefes,' Laura and Matías

My portside office (and classroom) for Artemisa Noticias

The Devil in the Jungle

I've just returned from Iguazu, one of the most highly ranked trips during my four-month binge here. I've never seen anything so foreign, so exotic, so mesmerizing before. I'd never been in the jungle, surrounded by diverse greenery, towering trunks and growling water. I look back at the photos I just uploaded and still can't fathom the beauty.

I stuck Iguazu at the top of my 'to-visit' list when I was in research mode before my trip. The picture in the Lonely Planet was like a little portal into my future because I knew I would end up there somehow. And there I visited.

But it wasn't just a visit, it was an adventure. I legitimately felt like Dora as I suited up in cargo shorts, my hiking shoes and long wool socks each day. All I needed was a bowl cut and a talking purple backpack.

We may not have hiked far from the paved path, but it's crazy the experience you gain with incredible natural scenery and activities among it. And it's probably better I didn't get too ambitious, seeing as something in that jungle already didn't get along with my skin... it was a quick turn from a Nick cartoon to an episode of Lost as an irritation slowly grew on my skin throughout the trip. The source looked like bites, but spread like a rash.

I couldn't let it stop me though as we experienced the best of it all! The most daunting, the most astounding, the most inexplicably beautiful, yet sinister natural wonder: The Devil's Throat (dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuuun).

We saved it for the last day. I don't know how, but we dealt with the anticipation, and held out with other activities and the views of San Martín's falls. Finally the day came with dark grey clouds that slowly ate up the sky. It followed us as we walked to the Throat and blew us around. I swear it was as if the Devil were reincarnated right before my eyes and was trying to push me into its throat to swallow me, red headband and all. The wind kept blowing and soon enough, rain fell. We resisted the Devil's attempts to enter his throat or exit his hell (the National Park), instead just standing and staring down the infinitely misting mass of water.

It was the extremely large number of tourists that eventually drove us out. We maneuvered our way through the crowd of ponchos, to the train station, and finally on a bus back to town. We survived.

As for my skin? Well, that may be a different story as I use excessive amounts of itch-relief creme and will myself from touching the inflamed areas. Fortunately it doesn't come close to tainting the unforgettable experiences I had with the Jungle and the Devil this past weekend... all in time for Pascua! Happy Easter!

To Be Continued...

Sorry for the lack of posts once again. I'm in a rush to pack and get ready for my trip to Iguazu this long weekend, splishing and splashing my way North. I pinkey-swear (meaning a more serious dedication than promise or swear) to update you folk when I get back.

Hasta luego.... bébe.

Creeping Clocks

The point has come in the trip where my group has broken out the bucket list as our individual countdowns commence and time ticks. I'm hearing the end tick nearer each day, still a daze, yet dangerously close.. as if I were a ship captain on high alert for a large crocodile in Neverland (which just so happens to perfectly explain Buenos Aires and its seemingly infinite city borders).

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

We've started muttering the dreaded 'final' before certain activities. I'll know the trip is legitimately getting eaten up when I insert 'final' before daily scheduled events and habits.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

But such is life. There are some anticipated finals and some that can't be planned in advance. So, in appreciation of our awareness of the end in this case, we've been making lists, checking them twice, finding out which activities are worthy and nice.

Anna's 'Final' BA List: (in ascending order of importance)

1. Final colectivo ride... my friend and enemy through it all. With ample preparation, colectivos transported me cheaply, quickly and with a story to tell the majority of the time (more to come later).

2. Final shopping ventures, for selfish and gracious reasons... I've done well collecting appropriate souvenirs for those back home (I'll keep it ambiguous) over time and markets, yet still have those few left who prove tough to buy for because I'm too much a perfectionist. As for me, I'm looking to return with a leather sling bag or jacket, several bottles of wine, and of course, unbeatable additions to my wardrobe.

Sanjuanino's empanadas! 

3. Final medialuna, empanada, steak, glass of wine... It'll be hard to part with these now integral parts to my diet. Okay, maybe not the steak so much, but better believe those fluffy pastries and stuffed bites have been the focal point of my cravings by now.

4. Final workday at Avant-Garde... despite the 3 hours of commuting I do each day to reach the office, I've fallen in love with my internship there. Not only have I been assigned creative and meaningful projects, but I've also had the honor of working alongside friendly and hilarious Argentines. The open environment full of conversation, laughs, burning incense and Martín's DJ jams will be sorely missed.

Hold on just one second... (disclaimer:
I am wearing rolled up shorts, not a diaper.)

5. Final ultimate game with Sapukay... as I blogged before, Sapukay is my Argentine family here. Granted I only see them on the weekends, I feel most comfortable spending time on and off the field with them. That last game isn't just going to kick my ass (since work has left me with less time to keep that bodybuilding form of mine), but slap me with the harsh reality... I'm leaving Buenos Aires without guarantee of return, and definitely never in this same situation.

MU J-School in Buenos Aires 2011

6. Final goodbyes to friends, teammates, doormen, colleagues, bosses, professors... this process of salutations includes the aforementioned Avant-Garde-ians and Sapukeños, but also: Carolina (my program's director and class professor), my apartment's numerous doormen who wish me a "Buen día! Ah, que linda!", and Alejandro (the professor who helped us first transition into Buenos Aires and learn its own language that some call Spanish). Each individual has painted my trip with a different color and made it as unique an experience as it has been.

7. Final time together as an 'equipo' in Buenos Aires... these are the last weeks, days, moments before returning to Columbia and loosening the strings that wove us so tightly here. It'll be an unraveling of sorts, soon to create something new, but just as special whether solely based on shared history or given room to weave more intricate connections.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

To Katharine Burkland:
[aka my best friend
 aka my sister from another mother
 aka my other half]

Since I couldn't hand you a physical card myself, I hope this suffices!

I've known you almost my entire life, and definitely all of your (now) twenty years. There are no words to describe the part you play in my theatrical life. You're my balance, my sanity, the right side to my brain.. that's the logical side, right? I hope you have a fantastical day, eventful enough to celebrate two decades of being wonderful. Cheers to the parents, as well. Love you and miss you! We'll be sure to have a joint party when I get back.  

Bitten (Food Trials in Argentina)

When it comes to discovering a new culture, nothing beats trying its food. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Midday and late night snacks. Classy restaurants and spontaneous picnics. Packed office lunches and habitual cravings. Savory experiences and quick bites.

Study Abroad Special: Grilled culture spiced with local tastes, served up with a side of guilt-free consumption.

Alright, let's get Argentina-specific. Don't get me wrong, Argentina is massive and diverse. This much is evident by my trips to Bariloche and Córdoba, and my time spent here in Buenos Aires so far. However, some bites remain consistent along all Argentina's internal borders. I've taken the hardship of trying each dish and snack in order to better report what gets Argentine bellys a-growlin'.

Time to dish!

Choripan & Fernet: Grilled Sausage sliced and placed in
baguette bun. A strong licorice liqour that is often mixed with Coke.

Medialunas, Fresh OJ & Café con Leche: Fluffier versions of
croissants that come in either sweet or salty versions. Juice straight
from the peel. Espresso mixed with milk for a lighter wake-up.

Empanadas: Argentine hotpockets that host a variety of flavors
easily identified by the way in which the crust is closed and secured. 

Parilla: A grilling technique that encompasses a range of meat cuts
and veggies. You name it, you can grill it, but steak reigns supreme.

Other noteworthy bites (that may be followed up with pictures! per usual, stay tuned)-
-Jamón y queso tostadas: Ham and cheese sandwiched between thin white bread and grilled. Suitable snacks or light lunches best paired with café con leche.
-Cacahuetes dulces: Peanuts heated within a sugary syrup. I dare you to pass by a street vendor's cart and resist the overwhelming smell that perfectly exemplifies temptation.
-Mate: A strong herbal tea that has a meticulous set-up, but lasting result. No mate cup is complete without a tall thermos of hot water to continuously fill it up depending on the group size or energy demand.

One last cultural order. Argentine food and drinks are ordered to share. I've learned this lesson most from spending time with ultimate peeps and working alongside my Avant-Garde colleges. Everything is fair for grab... or better put, a reciprocal endeavor.

[P.S.- I'd just like to say, I'm very proud of my boy for winning his past TWO ultimate tournaments in KC. I hope he's ready to hit up some bbq when I get back.. okay, that is all.]

Snap and Soak

Our study abroad program's trip to Bariloche was a whirlwind of surreal views printed for postcards, following a reporter like hatched ducklings, three-course fondue dips, and group 'glue-ing'. This 72-hour guided adventure hosted the most activities I've done in the smallest amount of time here. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't overwhelmed about writing about it, especially since so much of the trip was visual. Hence the photocollage I put together in order to convey in the best way I could how my trip to Bariloche went.

Every sight was photo-worthy. It was a mixture of events that swirl around in my memory as sparkling aquamarine waters, warm mahogany wood, and living greenery. The air was pure and the town was serene in wake of the vacation season. The tap water tasted like Brita and the food was rich in flavor and diversity (well, I guess any region seems diverse as long as it offers something other than empanadas and medialunas). 

I sweated out stress sitting in the hotel's hot tubs, and then soaked in the brisk purity during our outside excursions. Bright scenery and coffee were my trusty companions, along with the sweet breakfasts from the included buffet, as I fought sleep-deprivation by the hour. A 15-passenger van was our vehicle to sites, interviews, visits and cat naps. Carolina and Hans, a well-known reporter in Bariloche, teamed up to schedule this itinerary unlike any I'd had before. 

Overall, Bariloche was gorgeous and unusually refreshing considering our hurried schedule and lack of nature hikes. I'm sure it's rampant with visitors during high tourist tide (aka the months of summer and winter), but with obvious reason. 

I guess sometimes you have to be a tourist to observe beauty, however I think it takes more energy to then appreciate it as a result. It'd be a crime to hit a location and run. Let's call it 'snap (as in photos) and step (away).' No, this wise idea is not to be confused with the legendary 'bend and snap' as patented by Elle Woods. Rather, I advise one should visit a place in order to learn something new or experience culture instead of simply staying cooped up in a hotel and taking photos at the overly trodden sites. 'Snap and step' or 'snap and soak'. The choice is yours.             

Gaucho Guide

I have always found the country to be extremely relaxing. Our family has its own slice of rural heaven in Galena, IL. It's a quaint historical town with breathtaking views and a plethora of farms. After many a peaceful visit to our family friends' house up there, my parents followed in the Fitzsimmons' footsteps and purchased a house in Galena about five years ago. We read, eat well, sway in hammocks, creak in rocking chairs, hike and kayak.

And Galena was about as close to 'farm-life' as I got before the Smylies' trip to an estancia (ranch) outside Buenos Aires. Before the four visiting Smylies even had a chance to inhale the polluted air of the city, a van swept us away from the airport to the lovely countryside about an hour and a half outside the skyscrapers and colectivos. From there we were greeted by a proper British accent welcoming us with a bright hello. Totty Pease, along with her husband James, owns El Roble (The Oak) estancia. Her back story is great, especially spoken in that charming accent of hers. I'm going to leave it for her to tell and you to find out.

However I will let you in on the secrets to living the life of a gaucho (Argentine cowboy) that I discovered during my two and a half day stay.

Anna's How to Live the Life of a (Pampered) Gaucho Guide:

Martín working a parilla (see #1)

1. Always stay well-fed. This includes enjoying juicy parillas (a mixture of grilled cuts of meat) and hand-made carbs, i.e. pasta. After all, how would the gaucho reap his rewards for raising fine cattle?

Cattle of the Sexes (See #2)

2. Recognize the difference between Macho (male) and Embrya (female). Yes, I'm actually encouraging sexism in this case. You don't want any hanky-panky between those 9-months, so after vaccinating each one, a gaucho must separate them accordingly into their respective pen.

Sleeping tight (See #4)

3. Understand Spanish orders before nodding in agreement. I may or may not have learned this lesson the hard way when our head-gaucho, Martín, quickly ordered me to.. do something or other having to do with lados (sides).. and proceeded to gallop off assuming I knew to help guide the vacas (cows). Then chaos ensued as Rachel and I stood in the wake of a massive herd of cattle trotting toward us with Totty, Lauren and my parents behind them. The cattle got confused and veered off the right path toward a water hole, thus creating more work for poor Martín to do. Oopsies.

4. Rest up, buttercup. It's best to have a plush bed suited with down pillows and blankets in order to ensure deep sleep before rising early for another day's 'work' and a delicious breakfast (see step #1).

5. Keep good company. I recommend finding wonderful estancia owners, such as Totty and James, to host or hire you. Martín, the head-gaucho, Viviana, the A-list cook, and Toto, Viviana's rambunctious son, also served as an authentic, humbling crowd. And I can't forget my peers on horses- my family.

James and Martín riding back (see #5.)

Take Five in Buenos Aires

Say hello to my family, the Smylie family. We have...

Poppa Smylie: the lovable, nutty graduate professor who masters a balance of wit and goofiness.

Mumsie Smylie: the sugar-momma who intimidates in the courtroom, but sheds her 'shark fins' for great conversation and caring outside of it.

Sister Lauren: the brunette, eldest daughter who shepherds fifth-graders by day and stirs up a laugh from anyone.

Sister Rachel: the blonde, youngest daughter who spits strong opinions, while remaining completely irresistible in all aspects (as evident by her acceptance to USC! Congratulations!).

Yours truly: the redheaded, midzie daughter who starves for creative endeavors although has slightly hypochondriac tendencies, but only because she cares (maybe too much).

They all reunited to visit me because they missed me as much as... Danny missed Sandy and those summer nights, cats miss alleys to jazz with one another, naked beds miss their sheets on laundry days... Okay, I'm exaggerating. I'm sure they missed me quite a bit, but I also provided a great destination for family vacation! Which consisted of:
-an Estancia weekend stay
-pool lounging and book reading
-my 21st celebration (wine tasting, shopping, tasty dinner and a drag queen club)
-an ultra-ritzy tango show ('Tango Rojo')
-loads of pounce and bananagrams
Here's what my family had to say about it...

A Chat with the Smylie Gang: (performed pool-side, chomping on empanadas)

Q: In your vacationing experience, where does BA rank?
L: At the top for many reasons. The hotel experience was re-donk-ulous, so many things to do. We were always discovering new areas.
R: Ditto. We've done the most different things, not just sit on our booty.

Q: How was the transition from country to city? Overwhelming?
M: The estancia was relaxing. We could decompress form traveling for 12 hours.
R: I liked riding horses.
D: Easy. The experiences were different in various ways but both places felt very cared for.
R: And I'm officially and experienced horseback rider.

Q: Do you guys feel more like city slickers or country peeps at heart?
L: Duh, city. At least if full time, then city slickers.
M: In general, yes, but we enjoy the country for getaways.

Mounted and ready to herd some cattle!

Q: Who best mastered the life of a gaucho? 
[Lauren and Rachel both raise hands simultaneously]
L: I guess Rachel wins.
M: But I did the best at smacking booty (referring to the time when we helped corral cattle through a narrow stall in order to get vaccinated)
R: I win, I win, I win!

Q: What moment did you feel most cuddly as a family?
L: Your birthday dinner when we were playing with food.
R: I felt cuddly on the cab ride home with you (referring to the conclusion of my 21st birthday...)
M: I thought it was cool when Rachel heard about USC and we were all jumping around laughing and crying.
D: When that guy missed Lauren's head at the tango (referring to when a male dancer almost karate kicked Lauren's head while jumping off the stage. more like an AH! not an AW! moment.)

Q: What are you a) physically and b) figuratively going to brink back with you? Think souvenirs and memories.
R: My doll, and that I'll have to one-up you now with a studying abroad destination. I think we're going to Venezuela! (to be continued- Hugo Chavez interviews the Smylies on Álo Presidente!)

Getting cuddly with some mate.

L: Ugh, Argentinean dudes- don't look at 'em, don't go out. Tell them that you have a boyfriend and he's on his way. Oh and a confirmation that we have to go on family trips like this every year.
D: Bringing back photographs and a hefty bill.
M: An affirmation of how wonderful our family is.

Q: Did you have any myths about BA confirmed or busted here?
R: I thought it was going to be Brazil.
M: The myths about men are true, although they are pretty.
L: And aggressive, non discreet
D: I don't know if it's a myth or not, but one thing I realized is that it's a pretty new city, relatively. Also busted that dad couldn't stay awake past 9:30 at night.
M: More than two nights in a row! (Quite the feat, let me tell you)

Q: Any final words?
L: We don't want to go, we're sad..
D: It was wonderful being able to come and see you here.

And it was splendid having you guys here too!

Anna's Web (Sans lonely pig)

It's safe to say I've been busy the past two weeks. Between writing papers (round II), spending time with the ultimate gang, visiting an estancia, hosting my family and celebrating my 21st birthday... well, unfortunately my blog has suffered in lack of content. But on the bright side, although I may have slipped on updating you guys promptly, I still have plenty of stories to share. I mean, there's enough stories involving one Smylie in Buenos Aires... So imagine the gang of five Smylies reuniting for a rendezvous here. Yep, exactly.

I hope to cover these topics as I race to blog before leaving for Bariloche tomorrow morning:
1. My family's stay (interview included)

2. Living life like a gaucho

3. Argentine bites

Then of course once I return from our program's included 'media excursion' to Bariloche and then spend an entire day attending events for my marketing agency, I'll have even more to catch up on. There goes that whole time dilemma again. I find myself amidst pending events that fly past during a seemingly infinite-lasting trip. The challenges, frustration and lessons to be learned slow time down, while hosting friends and family, city escapes and work procrastination accelerate it. I'm just trying to catch all the precious moments in this woven web of foreign events before they flee me.

[Insert maniacal laugh here as to imitate a vicious black spider hungry for some prey. Assuming or pretending that spiders, in fact, laugh of course.]

Forge Ahead!

Avant-Garde: n.
1. the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.
2. a small troop of highly skilled soldiers who explore the terrain ahead of a large advancing army and plots a course for the army to follow.
3. a tiny 'below the line' marketing agency with a long list of impressive clients and advertising partners.

I'm not sure how many of  you have been keeping up with my 'Productivity' section (I know the block text can seem daunting), but the majority of my week days now encompass working at Avant-Garde. Four friendly and talented Argentines comprise the agency that just split from a large one (Ver de Noche) to pursue a more focused path of campaign and event execution. As you can expect, the office can easily get chaotic since there are many a tasks to divide between four people. Fortunately for me, that leaves plenty of work for me to execute as an intern. And no, it doesn't include brewing coffee or making copies...

Instead Matias, my jolly boss, recruited me in his marketing army by assigning me two design projects for a Johnson & Johnson campaign. You remember that soap your mom may have used on you as a child to ensure a silky bottom? Yep, that's the company I'm talking about. I'm designing the folder in which the information about the campaign will be distributed to the clients (aka the distributors of J & J products), and the form of the web message they will periodically send to their clients measuring the progress of each distributor's sales.

The outside and inside designs of the folder for J & J.

Matias also conversed with me about taking on the design of the agency's Web Site! Me! An intern! Design their Web site! Needless to say I was ecstatic to hear about this opportunity and gladly accepted the challenge. And a challenge it will be as I explore the terrain of Adobe's design programs and plot my execution plans.

I never thought I'd end up working for the army, but it turns out that I'd love to enlist for an agency such as this one for whichever marketing battle. I'm enjoying the strong camaraderie of the group as we collaborate from our open desks. Instead of lighting flares, we burn incense. There's a slight hierarchy regarding professional positions, but everyone has a unique specialty or skill that he or she contributes to the ultimate goal: secure a successful campaign for their clients by discovering paths in an innovative way so that their respected audiences follow.

Lost and Found

I think I can officially say I've been adopted into a family now! No longer do I feel like an orphan of a study abroad student (although my red hair and freckles are appropriate for the part) in a freaking immense city.

[I normally would try and describe the size of the city I'm living in, but there is literally no way of doing so. The longer I live here, the more I realize BA never ends. It's Never(ending)land! What can you expect from a city that hosts 1/3 of its country's population?]

The Buenos Aires ultimate community has gladly accepted me with wide arms and discs in hand. And within the community I've become a 'Sapukeña!' Meaning I'm one of the 20 or so members of Sapukay, an ultimate team family. We train together, play together, celebrate and mourn losses together. We bicker on the field, we cheer for one another, and we always end the day on a warm note. Oh, and we eat damn well together. They're my unconventional, yet unconditional family. And I'm happy to report we have one win under our belt after this weekend! No better way to start out the league.

We look good together...

We fall apart on one another...

And we celebrate wins!

Homestay, Smomestay. I'll take 'la cancha' (the field) please!

[P.S.- How fantastic is it that the purple and gold match that of my background? Yep, meant to be.]

Let's Do the Time-Warp Again!

[Disclaimer: super cheesy content lies ahead. Nothing rated higher than PG, but we had gone more than 50 days without seeing one another, saw each other for a week, then had to say goodbye and hello to another 50 day spurt... so cut us some slack por favor.]

As I posted earlier, mi novio visited me in Argentina over my spring break last week. I couldn't have asked for a better trip to share. I had filled the week with just enough activities and traveling to suffice a long and costly trip to South America while still reserving some time to 'do nothing.' I think the result was quick successful, as evident by my interview with the boy.

A Chat with Clifton James (performed over Skype because that's what we do best):

Everyone- the Ceej.

Q: Give me a little background on why you decided to visit me in Argentina.
A: Um, because we had previously gone two weeks without seeing each other and I didn't think I could go four months without seeing you. I thought it'd be good to visit a place I wouldn't normally and obviously to see you.

Q: What expectations did you have before the trip about South America?
A: That it was going to be hot, that I was going to meet a lot of people, and that I wouldn't understand a word they would say to me. Also that I was probably either going to get robbed or lose something while I was there.

Q: And your expectations about the trip in general?
A: It was going to be short, that we were going to be doing a lot in a little time since it seemed we had an agenda by the hour (I tend to schedule pretty thoroughly).

Q: How did your expectations evolve during the trip?
A: The people I met there were really nice, knew some English, and I could communicate with them. But although traveling a lot and going to a lot of places helped slow time down then, I still felt like I went from Friday to Saturday really fast.

Q: If you could only take one moment away from the trip, what would that be?
A: Holding you as the sunset on the beach with the friends we just met around us taking pictures and then walking along the water. It was like a Hollywood setting... only real life, something that you just impose yourself on online. It was an experience that all together can't be duplicated- getting to share that with the girl of my dreams (these words were straight from the boy's mouth).

Q: Would you visit South America again?
A: If I could with you.

The parilla dinner after a day of traveling from Monte
Hermoso to Montevideo. 

Q: And why's that?
A: Someone's going to have to be able to speak the Spanish, and I love traveling, which is something that we share.

Q: What instance did you feel the most 'porteño' if at all?
A: [laughter] Probably on the second Saturday going to the ultimate practice and people actually knowing my name. The locals actually knew who I was!.. That was probably the only time where I felt like a porteño.

Q: If you could sum up the trip in one word, what would it be?
A: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (thanks Webster, oh and Miriam)

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Thank you for not only giving me a reason to go and visit a beautiful country and meet amazing people, but for being my amazing girlfriend too (I hope no one got violently ill after reading that).

CJ touched on a theme I've noticed throughout my entire experience studying abroad- TIME. It differs by society, culture and country. It's an objective measure in theory, yet entirely subjective in practice. Each person interprets it differently as if it were a piece of art. It provides structure, yet flows freely. It's your friend in one instance as you rush to make it on time to work, but works against you as you wait to see your loved ones at home. It makes no freaking sense.

So naturally I've decided to stop trying to 'figure it out' because for once it's more logical that I accept the nonsensical nature of the beast that is time. Instead I just do a jump to the left, and a step to the right, put my hands on my hips, bring my knees in tight and then a pelvic thruuuust that makes me go insa-a-a-a-ane. Let's do the time-warp again! 

Rocky Horror Picture Show- could you think of a better
movie reference?

Moda de Argentina Part III: Accessories

Like the old saying goes- Accessories make or break an outfit. So why would you even risk showing up with the wrong hairpiece or belt if you could help it? And that's why I'm here.

Fashion Tip #3: Accessorize as if Madonna attended Woodstock
The situation: I came from the United States where stick straight hair and tamed ringlets rule, simple cinch belts and wristlets complete an outfit, and getting creative comes with a 'hipster' label. Now in Argentina, it's not only that I'm studying abroad in an entirely different country, but I feel as if I'm in a different, warped era of fashion. Madonna's made a comeback y'all, and she's gone all bohemian on us.
The solution: Embrace the hippie-'80s fashion fusion! Go ahead and raise that long ponytail of yours to the crown of your head and flip it to one side. Pair crocheted vests with floral dresses, but even it out with a large plastic cross necklace. And nothing quite says you've made it through the wilderness like clogs alongside neon lips and scrunchies.
The compromise: You don't have to completely blast to the past to be fashion forward. One historic accessory a day keeps the fashion police away. Rock a hair clip with a simple belt or work in some flower power with a pin. The trick is to balance '80s with bohemian... then you can let the good times roll.