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.

I'm Bringing Blogging Back (Yeah)

[Anyone get that title song reference? Anyone, anyone?]

I just wished my Dear adieu at the airport this evening. Our week hosted a whirlwind of events that took us from an ultimate tournament in Monte Hermoso to the coast of Montevideo to a milonga (tango dance hall) in Buenos Aires. I quickly immersed the jet-lagged boy in rapid Castellano and Argentine culture (hello besos!) only to realize that such an effort was necessary in order to take advantage of the limited time we had.

So looking on the bright side of it all, with my goodbye to CJ comes my return to ze blog... which means more recommendations, more advice, more stories, and more abstract, sometimes illogical (or maybe just higher-thinking), metaphors. Time to kick-start this thing again after a minor stall. Mi culpa.

I'm going to hold off on my report of my spring break (aka last week) for now. I need a little more time to dwell and process the Oz-like hurricane that placed me somewhere magical for a temporary time. And as soon as I can put the emerald bits of information I learned from last week into words, better believe you guys will read about it.


As for now, I posted some eye candy for all to view! It's good to be back!

 A lil peck under the rubber trees in BA.

'Espiritud' before a game of beach ultimate.

Bracing for biking down the coast.

Fresh seafood paella. Go on, let your mouth water.

From Argentina, With Love

Dearest Followers,

I have decided to write to you under the pretense of a stressful day, or I guess more just a stressful morning. I got to wait in line for the International Post Office of Argentina today for my third attempt to pick-up my long-awaited Valentine's gift. Yes, Valentine's day gift. As in, it was delivered in mid-February. The complication? Good question. Our director said it'd be best to send our packages to her office address to avoid just that. Mmmmm, not so much. Rather, the package is now in her name and with her address, but intended for me.

So after waiting for a good hour in the sweltering herd of mail-less residents and foreigners, my number flashed up on the board. I eagerly walked up only to be informed by the stern man in the booth that one form of my director's identification and her signature was not enough to obtain the package. Then I got the stamp of rejection, followed by a wave-off and a "Quien sigue?!"

I'm convinced the postal office is Argentina's second army, protecting foreign invasions on perceived state possessions. I can't decide whether I should accept defeat and be the system's prisoner or march onward. I will probably make a more strategic decision when I'm not as sleep-deprived, however that seems to be a constant trend here.

So, this long letter to say- think twice before sending a package to me or a loved one in Argentina. Actually, I'll cut out a level of thinking and just advise you not to send a package at all. Let the person know how much you love them two-dimensionally or with words. Don't leave it up to a postal soldier worker.

At least I can look forward to another gift in transit.. United is transporting the Ceej as I write. And while I'm making yet another effort to go to the airport and wait to pick him up, I refuse to let someone stand between me and my man.

Sincerely,
Anna

More with Less

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want." 
- Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

Preach it, Watterson. This quote is the essence of my time spent in Córdoba. It was an overly welcome trip with too few days.

Two essays down, 10 hours of bus-riding to go.

After unwinding on a 360 degree reclining chair for 10 hours on an 'El Practico' bus, my group arrived in Córdoba. We rushed from the bus station to our hostel (Baluch Backpackers) to meet the guide for our day's relaxing excursion. Seems to be a contradiction, no?

Within 30 minutes we checked in, changed clothing, slathered on (what we learned much later was not enough) sun tan lotion and met our guide, Paula. She drove us two hours out into the mountains and we began our hike through the 'Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito.'

A breath of fresh air indeed. I never realized how conditioned I was to inhaling the smoke from the cigarettes of porteños (as if the burning sticks were extensions of their hands) and transportation fumes. I smelled elements -rustling grass, open air, running water- not pollution hovering between towering buildings. The tall grass and mighty rocks surrounding me didn't take my breath away. Rather, they gave me fresh air to breath in.

At the look-out point, the sun slowly burning my skin.

We hiked the entire day through elevated 'Sierras' with a stunning lookout marking the midpoint of the trip. We saw waterfalls and 'Los Gigantes' mountains ahead of us. Hawks soared above keeping eye on their territory. We weren't fortunate enough to catch glimpse of a condor since they are low in number, but the landscape didn't cease to astound us.

Quebrada put El Tigre into better context for me. I realized we had to make much more of an effort to escape the city and relax- yet another contradiction. But at least I had this epiphany with enough time for us to plan more weekend trips. I've made a conscious decision to accept all of the 'nothing' I can get this trip. In other words, I've made it my priority to fill more time with fewer activities, and thus waste less time stressing.

Max, Amy, Me, Alyssa and Kylie in Bedrock.