Which was nothing as I'd expected...

... because I didn't have any expectations! The only housing information was given to me two days before leaving: "you'll be staying at the secretary's house."

Gustavo pulled up to a fenced-in front courtyard and the first greeting came from the hyperactive Scottish sheep dog named Boni, who goes nuts barking and bounding off the ledge only to jump back up again. 

(Boni, the lookout)

I hear "HOLA! Hi!" coming from the windows and suddenly my new family appears through the door to help me with my luggage: Vero, a very warm and spunky lady with her twin teenage daughters Chachi and Jemi (pronounced Jamie), who have the prettiest red hair and fair skin. All are bilingual in British English and Argentine Spanish, including the dog and the cat Jack. 

(Boni's butt, Chachi, Jemi, and Vero-- this picture was taken the next day but shh)

We thanked Gustavo then headed inside. Vero showed me around the house and laid down the law. There's one rule: no food upstairs. Other than that, they give me free reign of the house-- my own room and everything. But they save the best part for last... A POOL! For anyone who doesn't know me well, I live for water. So this was a lucky catch.

(heaven)

Aside from all the amenities, the family alone makes me feel at home. Or actually, more like that I'm on a tropical vacation. BAICA staff keeps welcoming me, saying they've been counting down the days till I arrive... it all feels better than I could've imagined.

Before Vero Chachi and Jemi left for a wedding in the afternoon, I unpacked and then Chachi walked me around the neighborhood to show me the Verdulería and Frutería (fresh veggies and fruit grocery) and the Coto (supermarket) nearby. While we walked, she told me about her recent mission trip. Already I can see how complex these girls are, and how distinct they are from each other in the little details.

After they left, I checked in with the family back home over wifi -- shoutout to Callaghan and Jake! iPod Touch was such a good purchase! <3 -- and then I decided to wander. I was also wicked hungry at this point, so I left with the good ol'Argentine llaves (keys) and headed the way we'd gone before. 

Only problem was that I turned left instead of right at the end of the street.

Call me directionally challenged, but I always figure that roads will meet up eventually. Parallel lines intersect, right? They don't, but eventually, after buying uvas (grapes) at the fruit grocery, I made it to Coto from the back way.

Shopping was a shocker.

Prices have more than doubled since the last time I was here. To be specific, inflation has increased 30% in the last month alone! I've also caught wind that they're releasing the US Dollar-- 2 years ago when I was here they banned it, developing the "blue market" for buying dollars at a much higher exchange rate than the official. In other words, this whole situation should be good for US Americans, but it's not when you're earning your pay in pesos... Since I'm on a budget and a gluten-free diet, my choices were limited. I had to put back the 50-peso cheese and the coffee, seeing as teacher salaries don't allow for much luxury in the indulgence department, but was able to buy the staples: salami, olives, yogurt, frozen veggies, and rice. 

And then again, I made a wrong turn somewhere.

I had no address, no phone, and no map. In my defense, the street we live on is a ghost street-- shorter than those parallel, so it doesn't meet with most of the cross streets. Also, at this point, I'm running off plane slumber so my memory's shot. Oh and not to mention that the provincias all reuse the street names I'm used to from la Capital Federal-- they all sound familiar even when they're not. Add all that to the fact I'm directionally challenged.

After an hour an a half of circling the 12-or-so-block radius in different directions, I made it home! 

It was good for me though-- nice exercise and I lost myself until I was found. Metaphorical connection to the spiritual life starts here.

No, but I'm not being sarcastic. I think walking is a very natural and spiritually rich practice-- we end up moving to the rhythm of our own pulse, which does wonders in clearing the mind.

Anyways eventually I cook dinner, skype, and get ready for bed. Just then, Vero returns with the girls and the ESL primary teacher named Candy from BAICA who came along to meet me-- we drink tea and chat until I can't stay awake any longer.

All in all, the day passed like a dream-- nice but doesn't feel real. It wasn't strongly plot-driven, as I didn't do much, but it was filled with new sights and a calmness that surrounded me all day. God's got me where he wants me, I'm pretty sure!

And now I leave you with the sunset view from my bedroom window...

Recap, part II

We landed and customs were quick. Too quick. When I reached the lobby with my luggage cart (free in EZE airport), miscellaneous items repacked into the large checked bag, i saw bunches of people. Clumps of tourists, gaggles of families, herds of companies asking "Taxi, señorita?"

The BAICA email said the man coming to pick me up would be tall with gray hair, carrying a sign saying "Cheryl." Well,, I wandered that room about four times, trying not to look worried. I didn't feel it, but exhaustion and not knowing can morph your expression into something less desirable. I felt like a walking target: lost American girl with blonde hair and too much luggage. Bingo! I'd rob me too.

Though not a monumental moment, I took it as a little faith-check. It had been about an hour. While I waited, I stood my back to the wall, wore my backpack backwards, and kept prayerfully calm. I reminded myself that I was in Argentina. In other words, maybe he'd be "late," but he certainly wouldn't leave without me.

A minute later, I saw him walk through the doors. Immediately, we recognized each other as if we'd met before.
Turns out I really flew through customs and arrived earlier than planned.

There's nothing like leaving a winter wonderland and then 24 hours later, walking outside into a perfect summer day. I'd expected too hot, but the weather was perfect-- exactly 20 degrees Celcius to ease me into the season. The ride to San Isidro with Gustavo was comfortable and welled up many emotions in me. We spoke in Castellano and Gustavo helped me review Spanish vocab. He also told me a little about his family and BAICA while I stared out the window.The countryside was painted gorgeous: green, trees, and even more green.  Like the first time I flew in two years ago, I noted the couples picnicking in the shade in the parks off the highway. I was cat-nap happy. Sleepy in the sunshine.

But maybe because I'd already seen the lovely before, the other side of things showed itself too. For example, in the long drive with thousands of cars passing, out of all of them, I could count the number of female drivers on one hand. Additionally, not one man rode passenger to a woman. Coincidence perhaps, patriarchy probably. And that's the way it is for now.

Just like, for now, I didn't catch any drivers texting behind the wheel! Culture shock! However, there was a man reading a book while he drove in traffic...

There were also all-ages playgrounds: while the children played, the adults exercised on the fixed machines. I will make it a point to partake in the genius.

After snaking through the residential areas of Buenos Aires unlike most zones in la Capital Federal, Gustavo stopped the car on the street and helped me unload my bags. We'd reached my new home, which was nothing like I'd expected....

(to be continued)

The recap, part I

First off, I can feel the prayers. Keep doing what you're doing, friends and family! Really, I feel so much support and ecouragement from back home as well as from the people here.

Here we go!

Wednesday night, Mom made a special family dinner-- Korean and a few cheese/cracker combos. My favorites! Tried bulgogi beef (not tofu!) for the first time ever since I was vegetarian every time previous. Then Mom and Dad spent hours repacking my two checked bags. Problem was the Medium bag was full, but it weighed under 50 lb. The large bag had space but was at least ten lb over the limit. Not matter how I tried, I couldn't balance them. Eventually, they got them perfect-- one bag almost ripping at the seams, thile the other tempting me to take more -- just one more pair of shoes? You'll need a bath towel! How about some face wash?-- Well, I resisted, but we'll come back to that...

Next day was my last in Maine-- the highlights were visiting with my old piano teacher and dear family friend Marita Gould. She turned 100 on Jan 18th (my mom's 60th birthday) and is still in great health all over. I got to play a piano piece for her, which she recorded, and then went out for coffee before walking Scarborough Beach with my mom and Kairi. 

Later, I went out for dinner at my favorite restaurant, which doubles as my place of work for the past few months-- Pat's Cafe. After eating, some friends came in for a drink and the night ended with dancing and karaoke at Old Port Tavern. It was such a fun night, but I was sad to say goodbye. Crystal drove me home and slept over, just like old times.

The morning of my flight, Jake came by and Mom made breakfast, complete with Gluten Free toast!! J and C helped me finish my last minute tasks, another friend stopped by, and then I got in the car with my parents with C following behind us. We remembered last minute to pick up Ellie from school on the way and arrived at the airport just on time.

So at this point, everything's smooth. Too smooth... Remember that perfect 50-50 pound balance I swore not to upset? Apparently I gave into temptation at some point because, after paying the $70 extra for checking a second bag, they tell me I still owe $200 in overweight charges. I look at the scale and my second bag is over the limit by eight pounds. No way I'm paying $270 on top of my ticket! We push but United won't budge. So my dad and I dissect the 8 lb out of the bag one sweatshirt at a time which means I've gotta figure out how to carry-on 8 more pounds of stuff.

The whole crew helps adorn me like a packrat's Christmas tree, clipping hiking boots to backpack and stuffing umbrella in the side pocket. Ellie's speaking words of wisdom like, "you can buy scissors there! Why do you need TWO purses? You have too much stuff."

In my defense, last time scarred me when I tried the "buy it when you get there" method. Remember the umbrella incident? When it turned inside out during the rain storm and my purse flooded? Argentina, please don't take offense, but most of your products are bad quality.
Also, if I already own something, I might as well use it or give it away, not inherit a cheap replica.

That being said, I did over-pack. 
I panicked. I bogged myself down with baggage, making the trip pretty uncomfortable-- physically and emotionally. I won Most Obnoxious Traveller that day, but the point is I made it. The bumbling American who bought an expensive airport dinner and then promptly spilled said airport dinner in the plastic carrying bag when transporting it onto the plane even got to see the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty before leaving the country. It gave me a taste of nostalgia that lasted me the rest of the trip. A card from my parents, the original bucket list from Crystal, and a hilarious quiz from Emy and Onycha didn't help either..

I think this was the first time flying where I was pulled almost equally between old home and new home. Departure and Destination held equal weight for me because I've grown to see the beauty of home. I love Maine and the people in it. It's a beautiful state and I appreciate it much more as an adult. I also love and already MISS my friends and family there. But the great thing is that they won't be taken away.

And actually, God forbid some part of home be taken away, I've learned that the end of somehting doesn't take away from the beginning or middle of it in any way. All time is all time. In other words, something good that's existed will continue to exist.

(yay for you, ex-boyfriends! Kidding, kind of.)

My computer is dead and I've no way to charge it so... To be continued..

BACK TO BUENOS AIRES

Instead of starting a brand new blog, I've decided to add on to this one! It may be interesting to compare what I end up writing about. One thing I'm going to try to do is write at least once a week. No promises, but I think it's only fair, seeing as so many people from home, church, Maine, and Michigan have been so supportive. In any case, it should be better than bombarding all my Facebook friends with scatter-brained status updates all day.

So here's the overview: I'm the new long-term substitute 2nd grade teacher at Buenos Aires International Christian Academy (BAICA for short). I will be heading up 2nd grade from February to June, and then we'll see what happens from there!

General thanks for this opportunity go to:

Stephen, who put me in touch with the school
Mom + Dad, for being patient, encouraging, and practical
Missy, for the awesome Lesson Plan Binder
Mrs. Fillmore, for resources and advice
Mrs. Strout, for Snuggly and teaching tips
Karen and Pastor Mark, for helping me with travel
everyone praying and sending positive energy