why am I happy?

After recently reading this article about the problems of my generation (the GYSPSYS), I gave pause and reflected upon the assertions made by the author and how they pertain to me. I certainly don't believe myself to be superior to others but, I have often hoped that I'm different, or special, or what have you. At least I try to be.

Then, I happened upon this article and considered the (admittedly defensive and priviledged) response. It highlights some valid points in that it says that not everyone feels "entitled" and that certain rights are inalienable. While I agree on some level, I don't think that some of the points of the former article are invalid...

Of course, both of these articles are really only relevant if I think of myself as UNhappy. Which I'm not! Of course, there are things that I would change about my life (i.e. Im always tired, I have social anxiety and am not sure what I'm doing at any given moment) but I think, in general that I am a satisfied person. Someone referred to me as the "exception that proves the rule" of the first article. Im not entirely sure what that means. I know that I am fortunate, and exceptionally so, to be doing what I am doing. Learning languages and living and working in a foreign country is EXACTLY what I need right now. Not many people can say they are getting that. I must say, I'm quite pleased with how this is turning out.

what a difference

a day makes.
gainful employment makes
warm weather makes.

I went out with a new friend to a museum near Plaza Francia as well as the cemetary where Eva Peron is buried. It was quite beautiful...the only photo I took was this:

from the top of the museum overlooking towards the Law faculty of the Universidad de Buenos Aires. It was quite a nice, warm day. 

I've now entered a period with which I am comfortable: flourishing in a foreign country. I managed to find a well-paying job, to set up my time so that I can do everything I need to and to be able to enjoy things. I'm finally starting to get what I need out of this whole experience. I'm going to use the money that I'm earning to buy delicious food and my ticket to India. This degree is going to happen.

Which isn't to say that everything is perfect. The next wave of classes that I'm taking is rather less than ideal. It seems as though, although the teachers know a lot, they lack the capacity to communicate it in an effective way. I am most disappointed by the offering of the class "Latin american culture and identity". Such promise and yet it is proving to be severely underwhelming. In addition to the huge amount of (mostly unnecessary) reading, I think that the academic aspect of my life is taking a backseat to the largely positive other aspects. Like my roommate, for example. He is proving to be the best shared living experience I've had so far.

Despite all of the difficult stuff in my life, I really DO enjoy it.

Moving

I did that. A few days ago, actually. It was quite the ordeal.

Near the beginning of the month, I decided that the place where I was living wasn't exactly right for me. A bit too loud, not enough Spanish, etc. I told my landlord that I was moving out and everything was fine. I found a place with a nice Argentinian roommate who told me I could move in September 1st. We maintained contact and I got excited to finally get settled into my semi-permanent residence. No problem, right? Wrong! I send him an email about 3 days before I was set to move, asking for the key. He responded with "I need to tell you something...." Long story short; his cousin needed a place to stay leaving me with 3 days to play the "let's not be homeless" game. Too bad for you, Buenos Aires. I'm super good at that game. So i neurosesed-out and emailed literally (figuratively) everyone. And the next day I found a place soooo crisis averted. whew!

In other news, I've been trying to do stuff amidst reading many, many pages for school. Here is a protest I stumbled upon going down one of the main streets of Buenos Aires (conveniently near my new apartment)

It was quite a shock. All of a sudden: noises! and people! and flags, so many flaaaags!!

It's been quite an adventure. Speaking of new things, I also managed to find a new translating gig! It was a funny coincidence. I was looking at Craigslist and saw an ad for someone looking for translating experience and strong Spanish. While my Spanish isn't exactly what you would call "strong" (I'm working on it) I do have a lot of translation experience with German. So, I sent an email explaining that and it turns out  a German to English translator was needed as well! It all went quite fast, the guy who runs the agency was very personable and now I have 8000 words to translate by Tuesday....in addition to all the reading and whatnot. Luckily (?) we just had a test so there isn't anything big to prepare for on the horizon but it's still good to stay on top of things. 

I'll end the post with this picture of the beautiful kinetic sculpture in the heart of Buenos Aires. I had the good fortune to have a new friend of mine show me around the area. We drank mate on the grass nearby. Todo piola :)

Getting the hang of it

I'm slowly but surely figuring things out. I'm not entirely sure why but this city seems hard to me. There's an energy of gotta go gotta go gotta hustle...but that might just be me projecting. It's definitely a work in progress. I feel like this mural I found while out exploring the city

Ready to go. There might be a lot going on around  me but I have the peace of mind to be successful. At least that's how I feel in the moment. I have been getting messages from people who support and love me, which has more of an effect on me than they know and that I even realized it would have. 

In other news, I've been walking around the city quite a bit. Here are some pictures from a recent excursion

                                 

                                                                                              

                       

                                    

                                                                                        

From the top: a monument near the national bank of Argentina, a surprise concert from the municipal police wind band in the botanical garden, a cool alleyway and another concert from the Israeli philharmonic that I actually planned to go to because it was awesome and free. The next up and coming adventures will be my first big test and moving into a hopefully permanent apartment. I feel good things coming. I happened upon this sign on my way back from eating dinner with some new friends:

I'm pretty sure what it says is a good omen: Soon you will enjoy the city more :)

Things have started

Classes and things and stuff. Everything!

I've been walking around the city a lot. Not taking public transportation has the benefits of saving about 10 pesos a day, moving around and seeing a lot of the city.

I've been looking at apartments and trying to find ways to make money (despite being technically prohibited from working) This means that I'm afoot pretty much about 3 or 4 hours a day, including the time that it takes me to walk to school. Everything seems quite difficult now but this is what I wanted. Adventure!

Here is the "Obelisco" which is near my new apartment

I'm also sure that I will look back on this and think the exact same thing that I think now about what I've already accomplished: I don't know how I did it but I did. 

Estoy aqui!

And so my trip began

 finally managed to get everything packed away :)

After a harrowing 25 hours of flying, running to gates, not getting let on to flights, losing things, finding things and barely making it, I finally arrived in Buenos Aires! Everything would be pretty much perfect if I hadn't lost my luggage...and there wasn't this burning pain in what I think is my right lung....

 

Oh well...

My apartment is artsy and awesome and full of interesting people. Most of us are from my program but there are a few new folks.

 It definitely gives me sort of a hostel vibe

I spent today figuring out how to exchange dollars into pesos via the unofficial rate..which entails knowing a guy who knows a guy and then sketchily meeting with him at an agreed upon time/place. This might be questionably legal but it also means I get 2 pesos more per dollar which is a great help, especially where I'm at.

Tomorrow I have a Spanish test and the first meeting of the GSP folks which should be really exciting. There are people coming from the GSP programs at Bologna university in Italy and Freiburg in Germany...it's going to be a pretty diverse group. Looking forward to it :)

8 days left

A lot has happened since I moved to Berlin.

Cafe below where I lived for a few weeks in April 

I finished working my internship. Learned a lot!
Did okay in my classes, wrote papers, took tests.
Hung out with friends and such (though not as much as I'd like)

recently found out that I'm not going to be getting the scholarship that I applied for AND AOK insurance agency is forcing me to pay for insurance while I'm abroad while providing none of the benefits.

....not so A-Ok...

I have to stop and think for a minute...maybe it was all a mistake? If I can't afford this, I'm not entirely sure what I'll do. Well....there's nothing else to do but press on, I suppose. I can do this. I can do this.


Things are starting to get interesting. BRING IT, LIFE.

At least I'm headed here for four months. After that, who knows?