Greetings, fellow adventurers! Some of you may have noticed that I only recently started updating my blog. Oh, how time flies when you're immersed in the whirlwind of life abroad. As we enter the remaining half of 2023, I wanted to take a moment to catch you up on the remarkable moments that have been shaping my life in Argentina.
So, let's dive right in and explore the chapters that have unfolded since June.
For starters: Let me wrap up what happened during our June trip to Buenos Aires. If you haven't had a chance, go back and take a look at my previous entries.
So, after leaving the airbnb, we headed to the airport. Our flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 5 that afternoon. Unfortunately, we had to check out by 10 am. And unlike a hotel, this airbnb didn't offer a place where we could leave our bags until we were ready to leave. This was a problem because the hubs and I wanted to go to Jay's Diner to try their American breakfast one last time and then walk around Buenos Aires. But we couldn't do any of this while hauling our luggage around. So, we made the difficult decision to head to the airport and wait for our flight.
And let me tell you! That experience was a nightmare!
There were people coughing and sneezing and not covering their mouths at the airport. This is a huge pet peeve of ours. It also felt like people were trying to upset us on purpose. There was this one kid who was playing with a toy gun in front of us. How he got that thing through security is beyond me!
Also, there was this lady sitting behind us that kept whipping her long hair against the back of my neck. After 30 minutes, I gave her a nasty look and told her to stop, but she just looked at me like I was from another planet.
But we did find one interesting thing at the airport.
They had an Outback Steakhouse!
Alright, so it was more like a food truck than a restaurant, but the hubs and I were excited. I had eaten at Outback Steakhouse back when we were still living in the States, and I really wanted to try their Bloomin' Onion. But when I asked the lady at Outback Steakhouse if they had the Bloomin' Onion, she had no idea what I was talking about. Ironic since there was a photo of it in front of the truck.
Bummer!
This took me back to the time when I went to an Argentine Starbucks and asked for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. They didn't know what I was asking for either. Speaking of Starbucks... I had a latte and it perked me right up.
Anyway, long story short. Our flight was delayed by about an hour, but we eventually got on our flight and made it back to our host province of Cordoba City.
Hm... I wonder.
At what point in our expat journey do we drop the word "host?" Have we been here so long that we've gone from expats to locals?
We don't act like Argentines. We don't use their inflections or their slang. We don't even speak Spanish or Castilian unless it's necessary. And we certainly don't drink mate or eat asado. I can't imagine that ever changing. But we have been living, working, and enjoying ourselves (for the most part) for over 11 years. So, in some ways, this has become home, even if it doesn't always feel like it to me.
Moving on!
About a month after we returned to Cordoba City, I celebrated my 46th birthday with the hubs and his friend.
I had a lovely time, but more importantly, I was gifted a Starfleet uniform from the show "Star Trek: The Next Generation." I've wanted one of those uniforms since 1987 but never thought I would own one.
A couple of weeks later, I celebrated my mother's 76th birthday alongside my cousin and her son. The cuz and I had a falling out about nine years ago, but we let bygones be bygones for this particular occasion.
Sadly, I learned that day that two of my aunts (whom I had not met before) had passed away during the pandemic. I wasn't upset by the news because I never really connected with the Argentine side of my family. They didn't do anything wrong. It's just that I was raised in the United States and never even knew they existed until I moved abroad in 2012. So, we're not close. Still, a loss is a loss and my aunts weren't the only losses I suffered in 2023. But if the last 46 years have taught me anything, it's that life has a way of replenishing a loss.
To that end, I got reacquainted with two lovely friends whom I do consider family. They were kind enough to stop by and celebrate Christmas in August.
I know. I know. Christmas in August? That's insane! Well, actually, some people celebrate Christmas in July. This was our original plan because it's winter in Argentina, which gave us the chance to cook food without turning our kitchen and our home into a furnace. In previous years, we celebrated in December, which is summertime down here. But we always wound up sweating like pigs in an oven.
Unfortunately, there was a bit of a hiccup for our Christmas in July, and we had to move "fake Christmas" to August, which was fine.
We had a great time and managed to prep everything despite our busy online English teaching sessions and the difficult Argentine economy.
As I wrap up this update, I can't help but feel immense gratitude for my husband. I also want to thank my friends and my students. Thanks to them each day brings new lessons, connections, and a deeper understanding of the world we all share. While life in Argentina is not always easy, the challenges only serve to make me more resilient.
Thank you for following along with me on this adventure. Stay tuned for more tales of discovery, growth, and the magic of living beyond borders. Until next time, keep exploring and never stop chasing your dreams, wherever they may lead you.
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