Pizza, Café, Nossé...

That is the name of a little place I stumbled in to Tuesday at 3pm, starving...and awkwardly, like any foreigner in a new place, had to figure out how I get food...

Thankfully the two gentlemen working there, the barista and camarero, were both friendly and helped me out and I ended up with agua con gas, and a tarta de verduras con queso....which was amazing and delicious.

Then the next day, Wednesday morning, still unable to find the trash in the kitchen at my house, and afraid of the weird coffee maker, I tried venturing out for my coffee and figured I´d try this place again....and again the confrontation with the awkardness of figuring out how to order what I want, at least this time both gentlemen were ready for me with smiles and patience...

After my order attempt, I don´t think they pronounce cappuccino the same here, and brioche, was completely not understood....but after some confusion and pointing I now have learned that it is media luna here...one more vocabulary word down..now to adjust to the form of vos instead of tú, which is a totally different form from vosotros or ustedes....and throws me for a loop every time I hear it...but I digress...

This beautiful locale, which is my beacon of hope because they will feed me, and the many other´s like it in this city, for some reason are confusing to my brain because I walk in and always want to speak Italian to the waiter...It has been a challenge not to say Buon giorno as a greeting, or cuant'è when asking for the price...perhaps the ambience reminds me so much of Italy...though when I order a cappuccino here it is definitely a different experience and Buenos Aires most definitely is not Italy...

It is still just the beginning of my adventure and I have a lot to learn and a long way to go...at least moving forward I know I stumbled on to a gem, this little café, Pizza, Café, Nossé...

El viaje...y un poco después, la llegada

After a 12 hour delay of my flight...arriving at 9pm instead of 9am on Monday...I finally made it to Buenos Aires, safe and sound, and very happy to have the act of traveling behind me...I had a wonderful send off in Chicago on Sunday with gorgeous coffee, breakfast, weather, and company.

Upon arrival, I met my driver, who was a hilarious man, originally from Sicily. He was so delighted to speak Italian with me, and tried teaching me some Sicilian as well. This only majorly confused what Spanish I could muster at the end of a long trip...I don't know by the end what language I was speaking, but at least we understood each other.. :-)..

I enjoyed his "relationship advice", which he felt qualified to share because he was 38 and had been happily married for 14 years...He explained that the problem here (in Buenos Aires), is that there are many more women than men, and so the men like to try out many different women. He adamently expressed that it is demasiado lío (too much of a mess), when men try to have 3 or more women...but he thought 2 was perfectly ok. He doesn't think they should be greedy and go for 3.

...and all of that to tell me that the most important aspect to keep a relationship going is communication...even in the bedroom, he emphasized....good to know....grazie Alessandro...

After a delightfully interesting conversation with Alessandro, I made it to my new home for 4 months...in the barrio Caballito...where I met my landlords, including a german shepherd named Fidel, and found my room with a lovely bed and internet access...Ahh, life is good....now to explore the city, stumbling along in Spanish and with some Argentinian pesos...

Finally taking that step forward...

Why do they always teach us that it is easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves. It's the hardest thing in the world--to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. -Ayn Rand, in The Fountainhead

It is very easy to daydream about traveling and all the adventures that I could have while pursing my passions, but when it is actually time to jump, to act, it suddenly seems dizzying and overwhelming. For so many years I was absorbed in all that I should be doing, getting good grades in science classes for medical school, going to medical school and trying to convince myself I needed to be there, that I lost sight of myself and what drives me. I was living my life for other people, and that "selfless" act everyone respected, saying it was noble, but it meant however, that I was losing my "self", which is a high price to pay.

Leaving medical school was a traumatic event in my history, with family that was not supportive and did not understand. However, listening to what feels right for me, I learned that my internal compass will not lead me astray. I finally feel certain that I am on the right track, and while I think I took my "first step" a ways back...as I prepare myself for my flight this Sunday to Buenos Aires, Argentina, which will be my home for 4 months, I feel like I am about to take another first and important step toward pursuing my passions and dreams.

As every experience in life can teach you a lesson, I learned that I will no longer let other people tell me what I can or cannot accomplish, what is or is not a feasible goal...Life after all, is a safari, and it is not only the destination that is important but the journey and path that we choose that leads us there. With that in mind I carry with me my previous experiences, all that has influenced me and helped shape me, and continue forward, ready to experience, and learn as I go....

This blog is my experiment and attempt to capture my journey, wherever it may lead me...Thanks for reading, and enjoy it as it develops...

First stop Buenos Aires!

¡Adelante!