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| Early Morning Smiling Faces |
by John Elison
Although the schedule said to be at the school at 7am on Friday, a text from Alfredo rang midday on Thursday to the tune of 5:45am. There’s that “be flexible” lesson, again. Most of us didn’t even bother sleeping. That’s what long bus rides are for, right?
Remarkably, we all showed up (mostly) on time and in good spirits. As we left the city I immediately felt different. I didn’t spend time in the bustling city of Buenos Aires when I lived here last. The change of scenery felt like finally coming home.
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| A Gathering of Friends at the Beach |
A couple of stops and a much needed rest later, we arrived at the Havana factory. Havana makes the delicious Argentine treat, alfajores: cookie sandwiches covered in chocolate or merengue with dulce de leche filling. The smell was incredible and everyone was so kind. Bonus: free alfajores!
After the tour, we got our hotel rooms and were free to roam. With amazing luck, an old friend from when I was here last now lives in Mar del Plata. 10 years ago Maria was a cute 17 year old who looks eerily like my little sister. At the time she was studying English. Now, she is an English language professor at an important university. I am so proud of the woman she has become. Wandering the city, slipping back and forth between our shared languages, and re-establishing our friendship is a precious gem of a memory that I am much richer for having.
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Alfredo checking out some
gems of the sea |
Late that night I made my way back to our room. Traveling changes people and I would like to believe for the better. Most of the gentlemen in our program have traveled before. The time I shared with them only strengthens my faith in this assertion. We did typical guy things; wrestled, told “there was this time” stories, and discussed relationships.
While I can only speak for myself, I would like to think we also became a lot closer. We are strangers to one another, and yet our shared circumstances give us an intimacy that certainly surpasses that of casual friends. I truly hope that I will be able to stay in contact with them. I have no doubt that, like Maria, in ten years I will be proud of who they have become.
The following day we took a wonderful tour of the city. We saw beautiful homes, the ocean, naval yards, and took pictures with sea lions. We ended the tour at the aquarium and saw one of the most important shell collections in the world. Their pearlescent gleam was enchanting.
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| Sea Lions and Me |
That night I made my way to the pier along with two program members. While we sat and chatted about life, our discussion turned serious and so did the weather. As the storm rolled in and the waves turned dark, we felt empowered. Rather than being alarmed by our surroundings, as perhaps we should have been, we recognized that the weather was just a manifestation of our own collaboration. This was a brainstorm manifesting and the kind that brings the ship to port.
We made our way home without ever being rained on. Another gem discovered.
The evening was spent laughing, dancing and eating Mexican food at Coyote Ugly. Once the meal was finished, the restaurant turned into a dance club of several different rooms, each with a different kind of music. The room I ended up in had a live rap duo performing over samples of Cumbia, a South American music style that in Argentina is associated with las villas miserias and the poor. This was globalization at its best. A glorious fusion of music styles triumphantly born out of shared trials.
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| Complete Immersion |
On our last day I made my way to the ocean. I lived here for two years and never swam in the Atlantic. I couldn’t leave again without immersing myself in the waters, just as I have tried to immerse myself in the culture. It isn’t always warm and welcoming, but without a doubt it is worth the effort. In fact, given time, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
“Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” -Auntie Mame
Con gusto,
John Elison
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