Wednesday, December 25, 2013

First impressions of India

It has been a difficult week. I am so overwhelmed by all that has happened and I'm fairly sure that, given my current state of transition, I very well won't receive the well needed time/energy/coddling to really get back to 100%. Oh well. I can't even really flesh this out into a fully fledged blog post. No pictures because my iPod (my excuse for a camera) may or may not have finally died.

negative things:
Sick. To the gods above, am I sick. Cold/throat/fluids/nose/Delhi Belly/other places SICK.
it is also very COLD. Freezing to the point where I am angry about it. And it won't stop for like a month, allegedly.
I have the feeling here that everyone here is trying to fleece me/doesn't care about what happens/ignores me once they figure out I can't speak Hindi
I got bit by a FUCKING DOG.
The ensuing rabies vaccination was painful and continues to ache in the tender spot where it was given (read: my butt cheek)
the bed where I'm staying vacillates from "GOD WHY" to juuuuuust shy of being too uncomfortable to sleep in


positive things:
I am learning how to "India"
I'm getting a good sense of what the campus will be like
I met the primos from my very good friend's friend in Buenos Aires. They are AMAZING people.
I am not sleeping outside.
I washed my hands with hot water and it was better than sex.
I am getting all of the sickness and confusion out of the way, so that when everyone is here I will be able to offer advice/medicine/forlorn, bitter condolences
I may (if I can get myself together) be able to find an apartment
There is Wifi. Sweet, sweet Wifi.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Brief week in Berlin

 Probably all too brief. I had purchased a round-trip ticket from Berlin to Buenos Aires (because it was cheaper), which meant that from December 10th until December 17th, I was all up in Berlin.
I took this picture on the way to a job interview on my last day...yep. I was trying to keep it jam-packed. 

playing reindeer games and whatnot

But then, after all of the festivities, it was time to go. I somehow managed to get myself to the airport. The (giant) suitcase got there with the help of very good friends. I'm ever grateful for the support system I've found. Now, I find myself in India...
I will write a more extensive post about my first impressions. I'm not entirely sure that coming here at this point was such a good idea...because reasons. India at this point is not turning out to be so !ncredible...



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Another farewell

*Insert quote about Argentina and crying for me here*

I just spent four months in a country that I had never been to before and, honestly, didn't know much about. It's going to take me a while to process everything and to really deal with the fact that I'm not actually living there anymore.  

My last week was quite eventful. I had to move out of the apartment I'd been living in, and a friend of mine was awesome and gracious enough to take me into his house for eight days. Because of him, the last days I had in Buenos Aires were pleasant and way easier than they could have been. One day, I'll grow up and be someone like him: someone who helps people out of the goodness of their heart. I was able to go to the library and work on the various essays that I had to complete by the time I left Argentina. While they're not all 100% complete, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get everything edited and complete by the time I touch down in Berlin
 


 I was able to go through the city and get some gifts for my family and whatnot. Luckily, there are street markets on Sundays like the one above in San Telmo.

On the way home, I caught Evita Peron peaking through the trees

After the lovely last afternoon, I got to meet up with a few of the lovely people I met in Buenos Aires and a couple from the GSP. My fiesta de despedida was small but good 


So now, I've left Buenos Aires. It was an experience that I'm really grateful I got to have. The opportunity to live and work and play in a new city is always welcome. I'll have to think more about what I got out of it but, all in all, I'm glad I decided to go. One of the things I'm certain to miss: the pizza!