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So we last left you all in the airport where I was trying to find out if I would be able to rush to save my boyfriend in Buenos Aires (BA) from not being able to communicate with anyone. My host sister and I ran to the bus station as soon as we found out my flight was canceled and found a bus leaving for BA in 5 mins. (Ptl moment) However, the only seat on bus left turned out to be a semi-cama (half bed seat) that ended up taking 18 hours to reach BA (instead of the usual 14). But I still figured it was a better option than trusting on finding a flight the next morning with the way the flights had been. Luckily Anith managed to find his own food, buy some essential, and see the main attractions of BA while I was traveling to see him. It was just very frustrating knowing he was in the same country but I couldn't get to him!
Anyway I finally arrived with enough time to go out to a nice dinner to eat some of the famous asado of Argentina before the Argentina Copa America game. We watched the game in a local bar and got to celebrate a bit with the locals. We spent the next couple of days sight seeing in BA. We went running along the riverside for 6 miles which was gorgeous but neither of us brought our camera sadly, made sure Anith tried all the food and beer in Argentina, and went and watched the Mexico and Uruguay copa America game. It was so cool seeing the fans support their country. It made me really want to go to a US world cup game some day so I can show support for my country too!
After that Anith and I hopped on a bus back to Tucuman to show him where I have been living for the past 2 months and let him meet all of my friends and family. The bus ride was much shorter and much better with company. Actually it was better than a plan ride because we could lay flat on a "bed" seat with 2 meals, movies, champagne, wine, and whisky! (all for free) We were excited!
Once we finally got to Tucuman my fav twins from the gym picked us up and I took Anith straight to La Maternidad for the best sights in Tucuman. Haha Everyone in the hospital wanted to see me again and meet my bf so we went there, even though no one knew enough English to speak with Anith. Then we had lunch with my host mother so Anith could meet her and after that we went with Flor, Julia, Matt, and Luceano (their little bro and Flor's bf) to La Puerta del cielo. Which is a path to the top of San Javier that took us up 4,000 m above sea level. It was about a 2 hour hike to the top but it was gorgeous and a great time! After than we came back and rested long enough to get ready for our trip to Tafi del Valle the next day.
Tafi is about 2 hours from San Miguel de Tucuman where we were staying. We road tripped in the car of Flor's bf Luceano. It was a gorgeous drive through the mountains to get there. Tafi is a valley in the middle of a bunch of mountains. We spent the day in Tafi, ate amazing empanadas, went to El Mollar, learned some new dance moves, and taught Anith how to drink Mate. The day couldn't have been any more perfect with perfect weather. However, we ran into a slight speed bump on the way back…. And by that I mean in the middle of the mountain at dusk our car quit working and none of us had cell phone service. Uh oh…. Another Ptl moment a nice older man actually stopped and helped us. The clutch plate on the brand new car was burnt out from mountain driving… (thank God for automatic cars in the US bc otherwise I'd be a gonner). Anyway he gave Anith, Julia, and me a ride back to the city to call for help. While Anith and I went to another going away party for me, Julia and Flor spent the next 5 hours getting their car home. (meaning driving the car home without stopping bc the clutch wouldn't work and honking through every intersection that they couldn't stop) The day was so much fun and a blast with them, but I felt so bad that it had a sour ending for them. Especially for Flor and Luceano who had to sit and wait 3 hours in the car for someone to come back and get them. You guys are my heroes!
After Anith learned about nightlife in Tucuman and ate the late night milanesa (instead of pancheros) at 4 am, we unfortunately had to head back the next day to BA. I had a sinking feeling all day knowing that this time I was actually leaving Tucuman for good. This experience was so much more than just a study abroad experience. I had studied abroad by myself before but I was with a group of other American students who were doing the exact same thing as me. Coming to Argentina along by myself was one of the best things I could have done. I was forced to speak Spanish almost 85% of the time (except for when I helped my friends learn English) and I had to make my own friends and family. Becoming a part of the Mazzeos family was so easy and great. They were so welcoming and easy to get along with that I fell in love with their family right away. Ani was a great big sis that introduced me to all of her friends and took me with her to all her fav night clubs. And they introduced me to the gym that I went to where I made friends with some random people who just wanted to practice English who turned out to be so much more than just random people. The Girauds took me to all their favorite restaurants, taught me the slang words in Tucuman, brought me with them to birthday parties, treated me as part of the family when I came over for family dinners, and showed me so much of the surrounding mountains, mountain biking, and Tafi. I feel that I was so lucky to have such a great experience and could not have asked for any better friends and family.
I had truly made a great life for myself here where I loved my work, everyone I worked with, my family, and the friends that I had made. It was more than just studying abroad but I learned so much about medicine and the politics and the culture of Argentina. Thankfully Anith was there with me when I left bc if I would have had to leave by myself I probably would have cried the whole way back.
Now, I am spending my last few days in Argentina in BA finishing up some online work I need to do here before I go back. The weather outside is rainy and dreary which kind of reflects my mood now that Anith is gone and I'm without my Argentina family and friends. It makes me feel like bursting into a song of Don't Cry for Me Argentina like Madonna in Evita. However, I know that when time passes quickly and it's hard to leave a place that means that you've had a great experience and adventure. Unfortunately, all adventures must come to an end at some point and a new adventure must begin. Now I need to start thinking about my next big adventure that awaits me: Medical school and the road to actually becoming a practicing physician instead of just the student who loves learning.
So, yes… Don't cry for me Argentina, it's been a great trip but there are many more great experiences to come I'm sure. And something tells me this may not be my last trip to Argentina.
To all those back in the State I'm heading your way tomorrow, but not before I make a quick stop in NYC to finally meet my new sobrino (nephew)! My life has been filled with babies over the past 2 months and I finally get to meet the most important baby in my life!
Love you all and I'll be seeing you soon I'm sure!
Hasta Pronto!
Besos,
Lindsey
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