Flying South

Back in South America and have been.....

2010-01-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

working in Brazil this past month for:

http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/newsite/about1.php

Went traveling with some other staff members of the project to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraty

Is heading here to stay with the Garbade family:

http://www.destination360.com/south-america/brazil/florianopolis-hotels

Hoping to have time to head to Patagonia....but will probably head back to Buenos Aires
to start up the school year, photography...and some new projects!

Stay tuned folks.

O Atlanta...I hear ya callin'....

2009-10-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Real quick here.

These past few months I have been working back in Buenos Aires and my sister came to visit for a whole month. How great to see this city with her and hear her observations of the culture.

After one of the best years of my life, in three hours I hop on a plane to.....the USA!

I will be in Atlanta, NYC, Charleston, and Chicago for the next few months.
Yes, I am coming back to South America.

Hit me up via email!

See you soon folks!

One Toe Still In Brazil....

2009-08-25T16:49:00.001-07:00

This post is about two and half months late....hope you still enjoy.

After three weeks of working in Brazil and 8 days of traveling up the wondorous coast, I can say, that I mistakingly left a piece of my heart amongst the wonders of Brazil. We have all heard of Brazil, the South American country that pop culture would promote as having "the best beaches in the world", the exotic rainforest and of course, the best fruits. When you actually go to Brazil you witness a different level of preconception and reality. Before my travels to Brazil, I heard throughout the streets of Buenos Aires about this wondrous country that seems a world away in all aspects to Argentina. Brazil was a distant vision, a far-off land even though it rests right next to the South American country I live in, a false fairy-tale. Then, I got the opportunity to go.

For three weeks I worked with Concordia Language Villages teaching kids English in an English immersion camp. There were 11 counselors. Half from the States and half from Brazil.The camp was located in the mountains of Brazil with red dirt roads, green grass, and the nearest town requiring a two hour preparation time to figure out how to get there! What an interesting experience, to now live in South America then go and work for your own culture in a completely different world. Our daily schedule consisted of waking up at 7 and working activities with the kids until 10:30 at night. Yes, it is exhausting but so rewarding. All the counselors result in running off of pure energy from the kids. If we give them more, than they give us more and we can make it through the two weeks! Exhausting but obviously so rewarding to make these connections and see their English language progression.

After saying goodbye to the kids and the staff of Hometown Brazil, I put on my backpack and headed a little north where the weather was warmer and the beaches were calling. After a four hour bus ride (which is nothing compared to what I am used to in this huge continent!) I arrived in beautiful Buzios. A small beach town on the coast of Brazil. When I arrived I found a hostel that seemed more like a hotel with amazing character. This hostel was right on the beach and I passed 8 days in Buzios meeting new people (altough I travel alone alot, I dont think there was one night I was alone this whole year), walking on the beach with new friends and travelers, cooking in the outside kitchen, running on the beach at night, and falling asleep to the waves of a South American turqoise ocean.

Amongst this, I also met someone that held a heart that belonged to another. But he moved around me for 8 days in his daily manner. I watched as he connected to this beautiful part of the world that he was brought up in, laughed with him as we jumped in the water and he acted as if it was his first time in the ocean of his homeland, took notes as he taught me about natural remedies to cure someone when they are sick, connected to his actions as we cooked together, observed as he was open to everyone, took into consideration the confusion that I was causing him by being in each other intense presence when his heart is committed to someone else, and contemplated as he walked with a center of gravity that held a sensual flow. Things are all about timing and it was just a touch of something higher.....but you better believe....I won't forget Brazil.

Indo Para o BRASIL! Going to Brazil!

2009-07-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I head off to Brazil for a whole month. I will be going to teach for a company
from the States se llama, Concordia Language Villages. They teach all around the world and happen to have a program in Brazil. A friend of mine knows the guy from L.A. who runs the program
and recommended me for the job. I have taught kids before but only for a few days at a time. This time I will be with them for two weeks and really get to know them. Very exciting.
After three weeks of working in the Brazilian countryside, I am going to travel for a week. First stop will be an historical beach town called Para Ty, followed by a swing through Rio de Janeiro, and quick hop up north to another beach. These past four month I have been living with a Brazilian and am so excited to see his culture first hand....music, fruits, beaches, teaching, new thoughts and ideas.....o and the best part....I am getting payed to do this. Crazy. Latin America continues to show it's magic.
Have a great July peeps.

Familia and Family in Buenos Aires

2009-06-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well I do believe that it has been about seven months since I have arrived in Buenos Aires. Que raro!!! This has been the fastest year of my life and everyday continues to fly. Could it be being at the age of 27 as opposed to 22? When I was fresh out of college with the new realization that there is huge world, nobody is going to make a plan for me but my own ambition, no classes to lay-out my path, a desire to see all that I can, and all the choices that I personally have to make and was determined to decide on my own to make sure I was being true to myself. Not to mention the necessary life pauses that I was forced to take right after college in hopes of breaking through some intense obstacles. Well, at 27 I feel such a diffence in focus, calmness, optismism, motivation, and self-assurance. My heart has softened and I feel confident in my direction. Buenos Aires continues to inspire me and the knowledge that I am amongst the international traveling club, where the travels and adventurous souls are not the exception but rather the rule, has become more evident. However, all is done with purpose and the goal of constant growth and knowledge.

I have been so lucky with a great group of friends here that offer constant support, laughter, conversation and basically....a home away from home. This group consists of Ramiro from Cordoba who is an artist, musician, and sign-language interpreter for the deaf. Javier from Buenos Aires, whom has a house here in San Telmo Buenos Aires, where we constantly gather to cook, eat for a few hours, and converse. Katrina from the US who started a yoga studio here, Meghan from the US who is another constant inspiration to me. Our nights consist of going back and forth from Spanish to English, but depending on who else comes to dinner, is mostly in Spanish. It's wonderful. They have introduced me to a great deal of people here and we have built an internatioal fellowship.

Besides that main family group, the other friends I spend time with always consists of an international table and gatheirng. Always. There is never just one culture surrounding me. French, Peruivians, Colombians, Argentines, North Americans, English, Spanish, Swedish....no exageration.....it is a constant mix of cultures. This has become the norm to me and I love it.

Great news! My mom and Aunt just passed through Buenos Aires for a week and are now on their way up to Peru. How amazing to have my mother and aunt here! The week was a hectic array of social gatherings so mama could meet my friends, Tango shows, dinners, taking her to meet my students, and of course, eating good food! My mother is an amazing woman whose strength constantly amazes me. How lucky that I come from a traveling family. It's not hard to get them to come see me and I know this is so fortunate. It feels normal to travel for the Barnes family and as hard as it is to be away, my parents have shown so much pride for what I am doing. My mom loved my friends, students, and life here.....and now that she saw it face-to-face she told me she can go home happy and know that I am where I am supposed to be.

We had a wonderful visit and there were many realizations that I detected within myself. One being....I have grown up.

A Day and the Life

2009-05-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

As I was looking at my "agenda" this past week, I was thinking....wow....look at how busy life has gotten here....and I love it all. Check it out....The typical BA life as an English teacher, Spanish student, and social butterfly....

Monday, May 11th

10:45- Meet a student, Max, at a cafe for class. Decide to go to a different cafe this past week to mix things up. He is an advanced student.

12:00-12:00- Walk about ten blocks to next class.
1230-200- Teach group class of three students. Beginner English speakers.

230-400- Come home, eat, catch up on emails and freelance writing.

500-600- Class with Patricia in another cafe.
615-645- Hop on bus to head back to San Telmo, my area of the city.

700-800- Teach Alberto. We do class at his house which is down the street from me. Very beginner English.
800-845- Run home to get ready.

900- Head to a formal dinner that my student Max invited me to.

1000pm- 200 am- Eat food and try to speak Spanish. (dinner is late here.....obviously)

Tuesday, 12th

900- Wake up and work on freelance writing project.

12-200-Teach group class downtown
230-330- Priavate class with Juan right down the street from previous class.
330- Juan tells me that his father wants to start taking English class, great....go and meet him to talk.....who is the office over. Argentines are very close to there families in all things that they do.

430- Private class in Palermo. A different area of the city.

700-830- Yoga. My closest friends here have a yoga studio down the street from where I live.

930-100 am- Going away dinner party for Sophie.

Wednesday May 13th

1030- 1200- Private class

100-230- Group class

Run errands plan for Alberto's class, this week is object pronouns ( I really am not that technical of a teacher but sometimes you have to be)

700-830- Private class.

900-1200- write then sleep early!

Thursday, May 14th

700 AM- Wake up. Walk around dazed while getting ready.
800-930- Teach

1000-1130 Spanish class (sometimes when I can....I get the classes for free because I teach english for this same institute)

1200-200- Teach group classes

230-330- Teach Juan.

Write in the free time for freelance porject.

700-815- Yoga

900-1200- Dinner party at Chandani's.

Friday, May 15th

800-930- Teach

1000-1200- Spanish class

1200-100- Teach group classes

100- 230- Teach group classes

400-500- Teach my favorite student Carlos, to end the week.....

who knows....

Dinner

Saturday-

200-300 pm- Teach my youngest student who speaks three languages already.

400- Grocery shop in China town.

Dinner

900- Go see Ramiro in his play that is opening this weekend!

Sunday (last sunday)

Woke up and went to a cafe.

Lunch with friends.

Walked around the fair that is every Sunday in my neighborhood with Jaoquin.

Dinner at Meghans.

Prepare for class on Monday.

Start the week with a smile.....

Aprendiendo Spanish while teaching Ingles…a time me feel little-ita loca!!! Pero….me love it!

2009-05-09T15:56:00.001-07:00

To learn another language while teaching your own native language can prove to be a rather challenging task….but as they say in Argentina, “vale la pena”. This literally means, “worth the sorrow” and it is simply implying, “it’s worth it!”. I don’t think there is a better way to give patience, enthusiasm, encouragement, focus, and understanding to my students, than being in the same position myself…learning another language!
There are some days where I may attend Spanish class early in the morning and then head down the street to one of my students offices and feel so out of it because my head is in Spanish and then I need to be an articulate teacher…wait, let me explain….

Here in Argentina I teach English to business men and women (yes ladies….Argentine business men ☺ in downtown Buenos Aires. My other students are private students that I have found by advertising myself as an English teacher on some websites down here that are very similar to Craigslist. I almost have a full schedule of private students and I absolutely love it. What an amazing cultural exchange. Teaching them English, while they tell me about Argentina. On top of that…people from Argentina have the best sense of humor, are so friendly, intelligent, and a pleasure to teach. One of my students, Ramiro, is a lawyer here and I think all we do in the hour and half of class that I teach…is laugh. Don’t worry, I am teaching them but definitely having a laugh in the process. Sometimes I feel bad for taking money at the end of class because it was so enjoyable. Ramiro and many other students I have are advanced English speakers but I also have others that hardly speak at all. Sometimes, I meet Alberto, a beginner speaker, at the end of my long day and have to concentrate so hard, focus, have patience and energy for him. But I can do that because he wants to learn so bad! He will tell me in Spanish that he doesn’t understand because in his language the sentences are constructed so different. In which I respond, “I know…but you must think of these two languages as exactly that…two separate languages”. I knew I would like teaching English, but I truly enjoy this more than a lot of things I have done. I want them to learn and am grateful they want me to teach them.

To go from one language to the next is challenging, and teaching English has of course, slowed down my Spanish language advancement….alot. But as I said before, it is worth it and I have time here in Argentina. My head consists of thoughts in Spanish and English, and then when I do speak English I find myself saying things like, “in this moment….”, for that is how you express “right now” in Spanish. It’s fascinating because you start interpreting things in a totally different way and seeing life in a different manner.

I have no idea why learning a language became a main focus so late in life (ok..I am still young, I know) what I mean is….I LOVE learning another language. For it is not only about the language, it is about another way of thinking and really diving into the culture. For the culture is the way they think, and they way the think is through their language. The idea that I will ever get there I mean REALLY get there and speak fluent Spanish is like a far off fog….but I can do it.

Here in Buenos Aires, in this International mecca, the majority of people I know from Europe, Argentina, and other parts of the world speak at LEAST two languages. It is amazing. I understand that English is the main language you need to know, but I strongly believe that the USA needs to pick up the emphases on learning a second language. I know my kids will be starting young…that is for sure.

Anyone that knows me is aware of my ancy and adventurous nature. In the sense that, when I feel like I am NOT learning or growing….well, I don’t like it.
Folks, when learning another language and teaching various people from another country….there is always something to learn and grow in. O, and I think it helps also that I live in a magical place such as Buenos Aires. My thoughts on this city and country are for another blog-post for I am about to meet a friend and speak some Spanish…..need to warm up that muscle.

Paz.

Feriado

2009-03-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

In a culture that believes that you don’t live to work, you work to live, there may by many holidays to take off work throughout the year in Argentina. However, yesterday, was a holiday, not to celebrate but to remember people…..10,000-30,000 to be a little more accurate. “The disappeared” are the people I am referring to, and the thousands that were lost,truly dissapeared without a trace. From 1976-1983, Argentina’s government engaged themselves in what is called “the dirty war”. It was a war to stop left wing activists, anyone against the government, and as war does, resulted in the killings of thousands of innocent people due to mis-information and false conclusions. This military junta, would kidnap people at random times and places and send them to secret governmental detention centers for torture and eventual death. To this day, it is still yet to be determined the exact reason why, and now many were lost…. never to be heard from again. There are groups and rally's that still go on, from mothers and other family members, that want to know where their loved ones went.....
The presence of this history is still dominant today, and I noticed it in the privilege spot of standing in the middle of the crowd at a Radiohead concert. Thom Yorke took a moment on this day to remember the disappeared and say a few words in his thick American Spanish. I looked around a crowd of macho Argentine men, and saw eyes glaze over and their eyes wonder to a far-off place. Mentioning The Dissapeared creates a silence amongst this culture, and as always, the history of Argentina is not even close to forgotten by it’s people.

Read More About It: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War#US_involvement

Off the Beaten Path....Bolivia

2009-02-20T08:12:00.001-08:00

A country that holds 36 native tribes with each group communicating in their own language (Spanish based) and existing within their own culture and traditions, Bolivia proved to be one of the most fascinating countries I have ever been to. Mountain after mountain is all my eyes saw for three weeks, complimented by bodies of water such as Lake Titicaca and natural geysers that revealed themselves in Southern Bolivia. I never said it was easy, but it was an adventure and a completely different growing experience from Argentina. From the breathtaking landscapes to the spiritual indigenous culture of the people that walk those hills, my three weeks in Bolivia showed me the true heart of South America.

Let’s start from the beginning….

Of course, my automatic response is to grip my backpack even tighter….
He is not holding a pack, wearing travel clothes, possessing the expression of someone that is dreading the long bus-ride ahead of him or smiling with the knowledge that he is about to go see a new part of South America….So I don’t know why he takes a seat next to me at Retiro Bus Station in Buenos Aires, Argentina. But still, he sits as I wait for my bus to take me thirty hours up to a part of the world I have never been to. “….donde sos?”, he says, the common question I hear about five times a day and have mastered my response to this in Spanish.
“From the United States….but I live here in Buenos Aires….teaching English….I have been here for 3 ½ months….yes, I came alone….yes, I love it”, I respond.
He then asks, “Where are you going?”.
The grip on my pack starts to loosen as I gain trust in this curious 40-something year old man. I tell him I was waiting for a bus up to Bolivia where I would be doing some traveling and volunteer work. I then search the line of about 80 buses wondering where mine was, but still totally sure I was in the correct spot.
“Let me see your ticket”, he says reaching for the piece of paper that I was fumbling with in my hand.
A pause, a look at his watch, and I knew it…. Of course there is a different section of the bus station for International Departures!!
“Vamos”, he said as he stood up and started sprinting through the bus station. I started running behind this random man who was trying his hardest to get this young women to a part of the world that I am sure he didn’t understand why I wanted to travel alone in. But nonetheless, he was running me across the station in hopes of getting me there. I saw my bus loading on the last passengers and all I had time to say was,
“Muchas gracias!”
In which, he responded with one of my favorite phrases….
“No, por nada!”.
Which means “no, for nothing”. I flew onto the bus and immediately entered a different world. There was no longer European styled, Argentines around me. I had entered Bolivia from the first moment I stepped on that bus. All eyes were on this clean, traveling gringa, that wanted to see their country, because I have the privilege of thinking that it is fascinating. I sat down, and started catching my breath after my sprint through the station….and realized….I guess that is why he sat next to me.

From this point on, my trip took the same format. Challenging moments followed by realization. At the border between Bolivia and Argentina, after 25 hours on a bus, I was told that I am not allowed in because they just made the law that all people from the United States have to have a visa for their country. ONLY people from the United States. It is sad to say, but I have gotten used to this and will continue to acknowledge the fact that it is not easy to be from North America and travel in other countries right now. But that is a whole other story and soapbox that I don’t care to slip around on at this moment. Hopefully, and I have faith in this, things will start to change and some messes that were made will be cleaned up.

Luckily, I met a few guys from Bolivia on the bus that happened to have some US dollars on them (don’t ask me why) and offered to pay for my Visa into the country and I would pay them later when we arrived in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Again, I am reminded at how in travel, there always seems to be someone willing to help you out. Well maybe not always, but enough to remind you that it will work out one way or another. I got into Bolivia, and after 30 hours on a bus, I caught another 8 hour bus to Cochabamba. By this point, I basically decided that I can’t believe the things I do for travel….and also acknowledged that fact that, to me, it’s always worth it.

The Rainforest/ Jungle- Bolivia

Observing nights such as this is why I am allowing my legs to be infested with bumps that may hold disease (not really…..I got my shots before the jungle), my clothes to smell like a used sock, sweat constantly explode from all pores on my body while mosquitos latch to their humidity, while other bugs desire to investigate parts of my skin. However, there are always balances in travel, and the struggles always even out. Tonight I sat around a wood table with 6 men from an indigenous tribe in a Rainforest of South America. Attempting to be part of their comfort, I still listened as they talked of things in their tribal Spanish that I did not understand. Eventually, It was realized that they were talking about indigenous politics. Who grows the best coca? Who buys the best coca? Etc. As we all passed around their homemade “cocktail”, I listened and thought about how no matter where I am in the world, politics reaches everyone. Rules and realizations of the United States have also traveled to the depths of the Rainforest and opinions have been formed….. I was a figure of those opinions, and that is all they knew of me. Regardless, this group was welcoming, curious, and in general…open to talk to me.
The women sat towards the fire while the men chewed coca leaves, drank, and talked. Once in a while you would hear the women giggle with one-another and other times, they just sat and listened.

This is the Yuracare tribe, and even before the Spanish conquest, this tribe lived at the foot of the Bolivian Amazon and some still remain today….but not all. The number of families in this tribe are reducing and now only 150-200 Yuracare families exist.

“During the Spanish conquest, the Yuracaré region was hardly affected by lootings and expeditions. This was on the one hand because the region didn`t have the wealth/resources (gold, spices) the Spanish were looking for; on the other hand the region was little accessible. It wasn`t until the middle of the 18th century that the first Jesuit missionaries arrived in the region and tried to christianize the Yuracaré systematically. Not even 50 years later the Jesuits were followed by the Franciscans. With the missions, the Yuracaré started to settle down and to dedicate more time to agriculture. New products like chocolate and cotton were introduced in the region and the production of coca for the first time became important. Other consequences were that the Yuracaré didn`t dress in the traditional way anymore, started to give themselves European names and changed their nutrition. Little changed for the Yuracaré after Bolivia became a Republic in 1825. Bigger was the influence of the rubber boom at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, when the Yuracaré men were forced to work in the rubber plantations and production. Many Yuracaré fled from this forced labour and settled deeper in the forest.
This retreat deeper into the forest increased after the revolution of 1952. As a result of the revolution, free migration and settlement became possible and many peasants migrated and settled in rainforest areas. The consequence of this process, which still is ongoing, is not only the retreat into areas deeper in the forest, but also the cultural and social assimilation of those that stay closer to the peasants´ settlements. This process of colonization has generated serious conflicts about landrights. The encounter of the Andean cultures and the Indigenous cultures of the rainforest demonstrate the two completely different perspectives on property: Whilst the Aymara and Quechua have the expectation that land belongs to a family, for the Yuracaré land belongs to a whole community. Thus, fixed land titles were neither necessary nor available. Only a few years after the revolution evangelical groups arrived and started again missionizing the Yuracaré. In the seventies, the trading of exotic skins peaked. The deforestation taking place in this period also contributed to a reduced territory of the Yuracaré. In the nineties, the indigenous movement in Bolivia reached its zenith. The Yuracaré population also participated in the “Indigenous Marches” demanding the autonomous management of their territories. In 1996, the Yuracaré’s territory in the Isiboro Securé National Park was named TCO (Tierras Comunitarias de Origen=communal indigenous territory).”

Observations, Food, Traditions

Food:

“Yuca”. This comes from the root of trees in this part of Bolivia and is actually delicious! It is usually boiled and has a similar texture and taste as potatoes. I enjoyed it greatly.
Hecho, was another type of food I ate. Except this time it was an animal. The men hunt for their food in the morning, and Hecho is considered one of the better meats…..especially the heart. I watched the mother of the family that I was spending time with, take the heart out, cook it, and offer it to me….and of course, I ate it.
Plantanos, were also very popular amongst meals. Plantains are basically large bananas prepared in whatever fashion you desire.
Tea. I drank the most interesting teas from all different types of leaves and fruits from all over the rainforest. Some of the tea had a thicker consistency and they were probably my favorite food discovery in the rainforest.

Needless to say, five days in the rainforest of South America was a fascinating experience. Being one of few volunteers to walk through this part of the world, and spend time with these indigenous people put me in the middle of a curiosity I have always wanted to touch and observe in person. Never in my life, had I seen such primitive existence and authentic indigenous culture. Amazing.

After the rainforest, I headed up to La Paz Bolivia which was another interesting town. This town exists at almost 12,000 feet and holds a chaos that makes Buenos Aires look calm. From La Paz, I ventured to Lago Titicaca for three days. A beautiful lake with a history of spiritual and indigenous stories. A part of the lake called, “isle del sol”, is a monumental spot for many due to the fact that the first two Incas migrated from this spot up to Peru. After three days, I set back to La Paz to arrange my trip down to southern Bolivia, Uyuni.

On my bus from La Paz to Uyuni I met a guy from Australia by the name of Anthony. We ended up traveling together for a week, and proved to be great travel companions. Both of us had similar interests, goals, and views about traveling. We both wanted to seek out new food constantly, be as good to our bodies as Bolivia would allow us, get rest, and make sure we covered as much ground as possible. We ended up doing the three day tour of the salt deserts from southern Bolivia into Chile. Let me say a little about that….

UYUNI- Southern Bolivia

The more time I spend in South America the more I realize that this continent is an endless tunnel of beauty…and right when you get to the end of one landscape, you hear about another path that must be traveled. The salt deserts of Bolivia, contained some of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. I had no idea that the earth held these colors, vastness, and contrasting land formations. The tour leaves from Uyuni Bolivia, and travels through the middle of nowhere weaving on road-less earth through these landscapes….Hopefully my pictures can tell the story.

Chile

At the end of my three weeks of adventure, dirt, constant outdoor activity, hostels, a few showers, bumpy bus rides through the night on some of the most dangerous roads in the world….I got to see my dad in Santiago. He happened to have business down there and it was great hanging out with Renny Barnes in South America, where I have heard so many stories from his mouth about this continent.
There is more to see, and I haven’t even scratched the surface of this part of the world. I am now back in Buenos Aires, in a new apartment living with a Brazilian economist….rather interesting experience. At the moment, I am setting up things for the school year to start, and true to form, have taken on numerous random projects. I still love Buenos Aires, and am starting to form another home.

Non-Stop Buses

Let me tell you about my bus journey these three weeks.

Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz Bolivia- 30 hours
Santa Crus to Cochabamba- 8 hours
Cochabamba to the jungle- 7 hours
The jungle back to Cochabamba- 7 hours
Cochabamba to La Paz- 8 hours
La Paz to Lago Titicaca- 3 hours
Lago Titcaca to La Paz- 3 hours
La Paz to Uyuni- 10 hours
Uyuni tour into Chile- 3 days
San Pedro Chile to Santiago- 24 hours
Santiago to Valparaiso- 3 hours
Valparaiso back to Santiago- 3 hours
The experience.....timeless

Ok, by the end of it, I decided to dodge another
25 hour bus ride back to Buenos Aires, and I hopped
on a cheap 2 hour flight.

There will be a link to pictures....I took over a thousand.
If you are on Facebook, a bunch are there. At this moment, I am working
on a website, but for now.....good ole' Picassa albums will have to do.

Much love friends.

Jane of the Jungle

2009-01-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

Since being back in Buenos Aires, this past week has consisted of new faces and planning my South American summer travels. Although I am sad that Brazil did not work out, I have to remember that I am in South America and there is a great deal to take advantage of.

On my flight back from the United States to Buenos Aires, I met a guy my age by the name of Adam. He has previously lived in Peru and Honduras and was heading to Argentina to meet up with a travel companion to explore Argentina for three weeks. Well, I love this part of being a traveler…helping out other travelers. When we landed, Adam and I waited for his friend Grant and then I proceeded to show them to what I believe to be the best area of Buenos Aires….San Telmo. That same day we went to my favorite “hole in the wall” restaurant so they could get a local feel. As I skipped off to sleep through a little jet-lag and then meet with another “friend”, Adam and Grant ran into a girl Grant had met in Uruguay a few months back. It’s amazing how small this world is sometimes. Devorah from the UK, is this girls name, and she is one interesting lady. At the age of 34, her travels have just begun and she has already been everywhere. The next thing I know (and this is my first day back), I am spending time with two new travelers and another cool girl that lives right down the street from me. As the day went on, we made our way to Devorah’s house, which is right on the famous and beautiful Plaza Darrego. If you have not caught this name yet, everyone should know that this Plaza is one of my favorite places for reasons that are to long to explain. We go up to Devorahs roof with a blanket, bottle of Argentine red wine, and an amazing sunset view of Buenos Aires. By the end of the night, it was Devorah, Adam ,Grant, my friend Jody, and I. All exchanging conversation and of course travel and culture talk.

Since then, I have passed my time with the new and old faces and planning my travels. Tomorrow I will be taking off to the Bolivian Rainforest. It is a thirty hour bus ride from Buenos Aires and I am doing it alone. Eeeek. I will then take another 10 hour bus-ride to the part of the Rainforest I am working in. I am volunteering with an organization for two weeks and then traveling around Bolivia a little more. Mid-February, I will be back in Buenos Aires to start interviewing for teaching positions come March ( the start of the school year)

This is the organization that I will be volunteering with. Take a look:

http://www.fundacion-delpia.org/index.php?file=inicio

I am a little nervous for this journey of the unknown but the Amazon Rainforest has been calling my name for quite some time now….to work against deforestation with an indigenous tribe…..what’s there to think about? VAMOS!!

See you all in February.

Ashley

Holi-Daze 2008

2008-12-30T14:32:00.000-08:00

I have been at home for the past two weeks and must say this Holiday
season was grand. A visit to Chicago for a few days, to re-connect with
some friends, then back here in Georgia where I have spent non-stop
quality time with family.
Moments can be a rather challenging for the Barnes family, with
the lack of my brothers physical presence, but my family never
fails to amaze me at how strong and optimistic they are. Thank
goodness....

Seeing old friends, and learning new lessons has also been
a characteristic of this season. Life in Georgia is home,
and a beautiful foundation, but life for me now is different.
I feel the affects of the individual choices I have made
to travel, adventure, pursue, and live a life that may
look a little different to people. I would not have it any other
way, but there are some things you must let slip to a distance
to continue to move forward. However, I can see that just because
I am a continent away, so many of you are right by my side. Gracias.

UPDATE:

My Brazil job has been canceled. Sadly. Due to the economy
right now, they could not fund the program.
It's all good....
I believe I am going to spend some time working on a farm in Patagonia
to escape the city for the South American summer. No complaints.

Keep in touch.

ash

Atlanta....y despues...BRAZIL!!!

2008-12-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

Just a quick little post here.

Heading home on Tuesday and shall be in the United States
until the 3rd of January.

After that....

I AM GOING TO WORK IN BRAZIL FOR ONE MONTH!!
Wahoo!
A friend of someone that I worked with here in Argentina,
has a friend that lives in L.A. doing production but also
runs language camps in Brazil and China.
Concordia Language Villages is the name of the
program.
Check them out.

http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/newsite/.

So, I will be working with them in January, a little
Brazil travel in February...and then....who knows!
Still going to be in South America but may head up
to Peru or a smaller town in Argentina. I love
Buenos Aires...but....ya know. Gotta see this continent if I can!

See you folks soon,

ash

A few pictures from Cordoba...finally up!

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/Cordoba#

Actions Speak Louder than Words

2008-12-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Four girls from four cultural perspectives, that share similar passions, with the desire to be people of the world, apply creativity, and hold an ambitious nature to continue to learn and grow....I am reminded that sometimes, “all good things must come to an end”. We are hugging each other goodbye on a high note, and sending kisses as we all move on to our next planned lesson. Moving forward to other adventures, lessons, and growth…I imagine it would be impossible to stay in our house on Bolivar Street in Buenos Aires, Argentina forever. The four girls in this house, were able to connect and care even through a language barrier. By looking inside and seeing their true heart. One story to tell could take a great deal of energy, or one heavy thought that needed to be shared in the midst of travel....but we wanted to share what we could. I laughed so much with these girls, even when it took everything in me to understand the joke at hand....I guess actions really do speak louder than words.

This morning we said good-bye to Marion with fresh tears that could have only formed two months ago, for that is all the time we have had together. There are certain times in our lives, where individuals come together at the exact right time, with the same thoughts and passions, combined with the same attitude. Just like finding a love, the right timing can also be a catalyst to forming lasting friendships. If we were to all meet another time, maybe one of us would have been in a different place with a different connection. This time though, all four of us...were one.

A challenging aspect of travel, is saying goodbye to some of the people that you shared this experience with. You embrace the hope that your paths will cross again and the knowledge that you know the time you spent was unique and rare. Not just in travel but in life….

Chau chicas, suerte y gracias!

And of course we went out in style! We had a fiesta at our house, and by three in the morning (which is the time a party starts here), we had about fifty people in our house. Wahoo.
Here are some pics of our fiesta.

Despedida de 4 chicas locas!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/DespedidaDe4ChicasLocas#

All Things Sing in Buenos Aires

2008-11-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

** Indicates a footnote ☺

Like the man who whistles to work, or waits at the bus-stop and starts singing a song in spanish because he doesn’t feel like holding it in, or the Monday nights at La Bamba de Tiempo where you are surrounded by a pure and passionate musical energy, and finally the birds that sing, not chirp, but literally sing a song at 5 in the morning….I have concluded that all things sing in Buenos Aires. **

This is the most creative, unique, artistic, city combined with a cultural sophistication. Granted, I do live in San Telmo, which is the home of all this. I love walking out on the streets and seeing random instruments just hanging out with their fellow musicians, and then you actually get used to seeing a piano in the street in preparation for a street show, or just a piano in the street for that matter...how great!

As fate would have it, I live with three other girls that share this passion and appreciation for this unique kingdom.
With the four of us, from all over the world, there is never a lack of…people that we meet, or a dull moment to be had.

“Ashley….ashley…..vamos vamos”
“Que paso?!?! Es 430 en la manana! “

(I will say this story in English, because well, its broken in Spanish….lets be honest)

“Ashley….wake up, lets go.” Says, Lisa, my tall, blonde, bold German roommate, with a twinkle in her eye and the knowledge that she knows just how to get me up and at ‘em.
“Ashley….te he he”, follows Marion. A girl from Paris in so many ways with her petite frame, exceptional style, calm sophistication, and pretty brown eyes but contradicted with her love for adventure and other culture outside her own.
“What the heck are you guys doing?”, I say as I lay in my moisture hot room and was fast asleep dreaming of hopefully nothing.

“Ashley….its five in the morning, the sun is about to rise and the light will be so beautiful up on Avenida 9th de Julio to take pictures!”

Are you kidding me, it’s almost five in the morning, I am asleep, this is insane, but wait….they are right!

VAMOS!

“Yay, Ashley….tu es mi mujer favorita!”

I come downstairs to see my other roommate, Flavia from Chile, still studying for her philosophy exam. She looks at me with knowing eyes, that our other two, who were out having fun, now got me out of bed…but as Flavia and I are, we just smiled at eachother in humor.

“I want to come so bad but I am not moving forward in my studies” says flavia, with her short doll-like hair barely rustled from a night of studying.

Another time Flavia.
Bueno.

We venture out to the night that is so familiar to everyone here in Buenos Aires. This city, or the country of Argentina for that matter, lives for the night. It is there center-point, where the colors become more vibrant than the natural day-light could reveal.

“Wow…look at the plaza!”, exclaims Lisa.

The Plaza we live on, usually swamped with artists, people drinking at the café’s, tango dancers, tourists, wondering eyes never to be forgotten here in Buenos Aires, with the exception of a group of guys sitting off the numerous drinks they may have consumed, was completely empty. No chairs out for the restaurants, no artists pondering there next vision…just a few hyper yellow blossoms floating to the ground from a few of the various tress that line the streets of Buenos Aires.

We just snapped to it and started taking pictures. Except for Lisa, who had her little camera stolen at a club here in Buenos Aires. But did this bother her? No….we were on an early morning adventure and these crowded streets had calmed to being ours. There is something so unique about walking in a chaotic city when the streets are almost bare. You feel humbled, mysterious, and at home. Because those streets are now yours…for a few minutes anyways.

First thing we did, was stop to talk to a women who came up to ask us a question. Well, they talked and I held my camera tight for my knowledge that walking these streets with such a toy is probably not the wisest decision. But what can you do?! Be scared to make every move because of the unknown? As we said goodbye to this woman, with her sad story ringing in our ears, we continued to walk in contemplation that travel and strangers bring. But then..

“Listen…listen” Says, Marion. “The bird!”

We stopped to take in her observation and became filled with wonder at what we were listening to. It was a bird that was singing her morning song. SINGING. There was a melody, a rhythm, a poetic composure of notes. Amazing….in the middle of the big city, a bird still finds a way to express herself through a harmonious song in hopes of contacting her family and bringing them comfort.

Vamos!

We must get to the grand avenue before the sun comes up!
Avenida 9th de Julio is the widest avenue in the world with a total of 110 meters across. Rather chaotic during the day but so calm in the dim of night.

“O Ashley….get a picture of the "Cartoneros".
You see cartoneros all over BA in late night and early morning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoneros

And of course this led to Lisa talking to him for a while….I love it.

“O man….you guys!” I say…as my nose and stomach start to recognize the smell of fresh bread being made in the morning.
“We have to stop at the corner and get a postre o pan”
Bueno.
But lets go…hurry.

"Lisa...be careful" I yell in laughter to my roomate who runs to the man
in the truck offering her flowers. And she takes them in delight and he rolls along his way.

Finally, we made it to the avenue.
People were starting to head to work, Marion ran off with her camera and I just took it all in. With two other girls who appreciated this as much as I did….We observed as the city woke, and people started their days and their lives in a normal manner so different than the travel life that all three of us were living.

An observation I couldn’t help but overlook was the universal pull that McDonalds has. Here are people waiting at 530 AM for the McDonalds to open. I will say that the McDonalds here serves bread and coffee for breakfast as well as the traditional menu and I have heard that the meat is much better and less processed…but who knows. Que se yo!

After the sun had come up, and my body started to remember that it was pulled out of bed, my roommates then wanted to go to the ecological reserve to see the skyline.
My eyes started to blur and I had to pass….

But it was just one adventure, of everyday being an adventure, and listing to the songs of Buenos Aires.

** In case this wasn’t known. The typical time to eat in Buenos Aires or Argentina, is dinner at 10-1030 pm. You sit and enjoy for a while and then the night actually starts about 2 am. Most of you know how lame I can be when it comes to this, but I can do it every once in a while. Especially with Lisa slapping me everytime I want to go in early.

More Pictures of nights in BA

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/AdventuresInBA#

Chau Suerte....

2008-11-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

Soy de Estados Unidos…to travel or not to travel?

Just a quick little post here.

At the moment I am in the Province of Cordoba. Last night, I arrived in Cordoba city and stayed with a girl I met in Buenos Aires. She is living with two guys from Salta (Northern Argentina) and an artist from Mexico City.
Of course, the conversation around the outside dinner table, right by the asado, with a few cervesas (beers), homemade Limoncello (Chelsea, you would have loved it) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limoncello) from their lemon tree right next to us, was a conversation to remember. As are so many cultural exchanges that take place when you travel.

As an individual from the United States, it has been an interesting time to travel. The way our country is viewed, perceived, embraced, and contemplated is rather different from when I used to travel years ago with my father. Due to various reasons such as politics, the media, and other issues that we may all be aware of, the United States may not be thought of as the same country as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Whether these reasons are justified is not the point…. it’s just the way it is right now. Don’t get me wrong, this country has been MORE than compassionate and kind towards me. However, I can not ignore the observations I have had of other’s international opinions. I have friends from Argentina, Paris, Germany, and Chile around me constantly. My eyes have been opened even more as to how others, may perceive the United States. I won’t get to far into this discussion but we do have to remember that it is almost a trend of the media to report certain political and governmental activities that go on in the United States. And folks, what they see in their media, is different than what our media will let us see

What a monumental experience, to witness such a pivotal presidential election from another country. At first, knowing that all my friends were gathered in Grant Park, in Chicago, was rather heavy. Then a few seconds later I was like, HELLO, I am in another culture, in a great city that is highly active in the conversation of American politics, and I get to see first-hand the response to Obama winning this election. AND, my observations about Argentina and politics is not filtered by the media. It is exactly what I am looking at, in the moment, with no editing.

For all who have asked how Argentina has reacted to Obama winning…. This country loves him, and from what I can see in other international friends, the world embraces Obama with idealistic and positive arms. Que Bueno!!!

So….To travel or not to travel?

This is the thing….I speak the native language of English. And at this moment I am sitting outside, in the hills of Cordoba looking at a full moon and a lake below me, about to teach and hang out with some kids tomorrow. How fortunate and blessed am I that I can see and live in this beautiful country. However, if some of the people I meet down here want to come visit me in the States…they have to go through papers, visas, proof that they are not going to stay in the United States. And I just walked into their beautiful country with two questions that were asked out of routine as opposed to doubt about my intentions. Of course, this could lead to a whole discussion about Argentina and they way they do and don’t do things, but this is a positive post from a spoiled chica from the United States, so we will keep some perspective here. We are so fortunate to be able to experience things like this and then return to our home. Others would LOVE to spend time in the United States but it just isn’t as easy for them. When traveling, we may think that we are doing what so many do….and there is definitely a traveling club that exists within this world. When you meet others in this mentality, there is an instant connection. But don’t forget how lucky we are to have this opportunity. For others would love to fly beyond their limits, but can not, and we are so fortunate to be given a life where our flights are limitless. So if travel is a contemplation, embrace it….suerte!

I will have some pictures from Cordoba up soon.
But right now, check out some pictures from San Telmo, my neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/SanTelmoMyNeighborhoodOnSundays#

Provecho!

2008-11-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Time to throw some observations and details your way.
Let’s combine two of my favorite things. Food and culture.

Even though, I am presently living in a large, diverse, eclectic city, the cuisine of Argentina still maintains a distinct local character. There are many adjustments that must be made while living in another country and one of my favorite explorations is the new cuisine that is presented. This includes your daily routine with food, what to buy at a new grocery store that holds all new products. No more dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, good hummus (ahhhhhh), and basically everything that Trader Joe’s holds. However, HELLO meat, new sauces, fresh organic foods, street markets, unique tastes, cooking together with your roommates and enjoying a long meal with conversation. No rush. And finally…..finding new restaurants within your new kingdom!!!

Food Observations.

1) Argentine Parrilla: Meat is HUGE in Argentina and the best place to find the freshest meat (sorry if you don’t eat meat. The words “fresh” and “meat”, may sounds a little unappetizing) is at a local Parrilla. In Buenos Aires, you have a range of Parrilla’s. From fancy, clean, great décor, top selection of wine to a tiny opening in the concrete wall along your street, that contains a grill, a few beers, and a drunk local Argentine making some conversational connections while flipping fresh meat on his grill. So, a Parrilla, is where the meat is placed on this enormous grill, cooked fresh every day, and in most cases….yes….probably just came off the animal. If you like meat, you would fall in love. Not to mention, you can get a steak here and nice glass of wine
for no more $12….at a nice restaurant. For real folks.

2) Dulce de Leche- My goodness, I have died and gone to sweet heaven! For breakfast, it is very typical to have some sort of croissant, bread, or pastry….but in Argentina, these breads are served with Dulce de Leche. A softer, creamier, and all around fantastic Carmel. I am in the phase of putting this on my apples, crackers, and whatever else it taste good on which is everything (maybe even my finger sometime)

3) Mate: There is a lot of coffee here, espresso style mostly, but there is also a tea called matte that is a HUGE part of traditional Argentina. This tea is a natural energizer but can also be used in a ceremonial manner of friendship. If you are offered matte, it is a compliment that the person would like to share conversation with you. It is proper to take the mate, and drink it all. My first time of being offered Mate, I thought it would be rude to drink all of someone’s tea, so I only took a few sips. Now I know that one should drink the whole thing to show gratitude. To a great deal of Argentines, Mate is just part of their day….all day. This is a picture of how they drink Mate in Argentina.

These are just a few of the most common food observations. I asked my friend Gustavo, why the meat was so good here. In this huge country, the majority of people live in Buenos Aires Province. Yes, more than half the population. Just to note, Buenos Aires city, is different from Buenos Aires, “state”. So, it’s not like I am running around Tokyo or anything, because I live in the center city. So, with all this remaining land and agriculture, the cows here are raised to walk miles every single day, eating grass, and other varieties of fresh energy for their bodies. The result of this, are cows with strong, tender, healthy, non-hormone injected muscles.

This past weekend, I went to a small town by the name of Chascomus to work. Once again, I am reminded of how fortunate I have been to have met Lidia and Gustavo. This weekend consisted of working with some adolescents and on Saturday, a group of young kids joined us. I love working with kids.....buy my goodness. Saturday was insane....Guastavo and I were running around all day with a few seconds between activities, cooking, creating new activities, cleaning, making sure the kids didn't jump in the lagoon, trying to teach them english, and a pause to look at eachother and just start laughing at the chaos. Due to the fact that we all remained positive and light hearted, Saturday was a memorable experience. In two weeks, I will be heading to Cordoba for another weekend with “English In Action” ( and to works with teens again....phew! ). Gustavo is kind enough to let us stay at his hotel, for free…for a whole week. Amazing. Both Lidia and Gustavo are people that I have felt an instant comfort and connection to. They let me ask as many questions about this country as I may please, and love the cultural exchange of all the conversations.

My roommates and I are continuing to enjoy our international house and explorations of this city. Monday night can consist of going to a percussion show in Palermo while Tuesday nights will probably hold an outing to an amazing Tango dance club we have discovered. I love it. The other day, we walked to the market, bought a good steak and sat and ate lunch for about two hours together. Talking in Spanish ( me trying to) and enjoying our food. No rush. I am loving this aspect of the culture.

This is a picture of the girls I live with in BA.

Due to the fact it is about to be summer down here, it has been challenging to find as much work as I would like. However, patience is a HUGE virtue down here. Why? Because, my goodness, I am not in the United States anymore. Everyone takes their time, can be a little inconsistent as far as employment goes, but it all comes together…eventually. For the summer, I am looking at some other options, for I have been told that many English teachers do other things outside the city for the summer then come back in March to teach a new year. While I have this time, working more on the weekends and randomly throughout the week, I believe I am going to invest in an intensive Spanish immersion course. I know when the school year starts here, you don't exactly have a great deal of time for yourself. So, it’s possible I will be home for the holidays, back here for New Years in Mendoza, then wanting to spend time in Patagonia until the new school year starts. We shall see! I am not to worried about it though, because I have fallen in love with where I am at.

More Pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/ChascomusAndAFewFromBuenosAires#

Cultural Observation:
While I was at the camp with the kids today, a little girl about the age of three came running up to me in hysterics. She had lost her parents and was trying to talk through her tears. First of all, there is only so much I can say to her in Spanish. Second, what I can say is probably not the exact accent that she is used to. Anyways, I got some others and we started searching for her parents. It was really interesting how they were found. In Argentina, when a child is lost, you start walking around wherever you are, and proceed to start clapping in a calm consistent manner. Then as others in the crowd hear the clapping, they join in, and soon everyone at the campsite started to clap so that her parents would know she was found. And there you have it…she found her mom and dad. So simple, easy, collective and effective. Below is a picture of us starting to lead her back to her parents.

Cultural Exchange

2008-10-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

Let me catch you up on my past week of non-stop living. I have been in Buenos Aires, Argentina for barely over a week, and have already found a place to live, hopped on a bus to San Rafael, Mendoza, worked an English immersion program, and have my next set of travels to Cordoba set up. Wahoo!!

The house I am now living in, is in the barrio called San Telmo, and I am not going to lie folks, it’s a little gritty. However, very local, artistic, interesting, and beautiful. Bolivar Street, right next to Plaza Darrego, is where I will be planting my feet for the next month. As travel does, my comfort is being pushed with the house I am living in. Let’s just say it has vintage character but I am diggin it. Plaza Darrego is surrounded by outdoor café’s, and street performers. It is a great mix of local, and putting on a little bit of a show for tourists. The house wasn’t what I was interested in as much as the girls that live in it (I think that is something a male is supposed to say, but whatever, you know what I am getting at). One girl from Chile, another from France, and finally one from Germany (I always find Germans ridiculously funny, and this girl has NOT let me down). So throwing in an American, we have created a truly international house. The only language spoken in the house is Spanish, for that is our common ground. The girl from Germany knows English, so she offers me a little release once in a while. These girls are well-traveled, culture-hunters, artistic, and I am pretty convinced our house holds some cute ars girls from all over the world. I definitely can think of a few of you guys that would not mind visiting me now:)

At the moment, I am chillin at a café in San Rafael, waiting for my ride to come pick me up. San Rafael is in Mendoza, Argentina, and after a twelve hour bus ride I am maintaining a rather interesting composure and trying to speak Spanish in this foreign town. Why am I here in Mendoza? Well, a language institute in Buenos Aires needed another native speaker for a program they are having with a group of kids. So, I am in Mendoza (wine country), staying at a ranch/hotel, for free because I speak English!!! What?!?! Not to mention, going to be taking the kids rafting and various other activities throughout the weekend. I will let you know how it goes.

I have just returned from my weekend in Mendoza. Can I please pinch myself? So, this past weekend was with a language institute called “English In Action”. The people who ran this program are fantastic. I had no idea what this weekend was going to be composed of, but these past three days were beyond my expectations. Mendoza is absolutely stunning. It is one of the main places that I wanted to go and within the first week, I somehow managed to get hooked up with free transportation, food, and accommodation just to hang out with some great kids from Patagonia. I loved every minute of it. The activities they put me in charge of had a lot to do with creating stories, plays, and skits in English as a way to teach these kids the language. It was an incredibly active weekend and very well organized. Not to mention, soooo fulfilling. Hugh, from London and Ryan from Minnesota were the two other English speakers, and now fellow traveling buddies of mine. It’s good to travel around with two males in South America, ya know? Offers a little comfort.

The ranch/ hotel we stayed at was in the middle of Mendoza, with hardly anything else close by besides a river, mountains, trees, and kind locals. The landscape was rather interesting because the trees and other vegetation were so green, but the mountains had a desert like/ rocky feel to them. It was interesting observing the lush green trees against a desert like mountain. Very cool.

Basically, I was camp counselor in one of the most beautiful and unique atmosphere’s I have ever been in. All the kids were so interested in our culture and loved talking about theirs. Of course, there were a few that I got particularity attached to and have already been exchanging emails with these young, intelligent, eager to learn, ladies. They were wonderful. One girl, would talk to me about how badly she wants to be a poet when she grows up, and I felt it such an honor to hopefully relay some confidence in her to continue to write and pursue.

This all sounds great, and it has been, but I won’t pretend that travel doesn’t offer the challenge of getting through lonely times, various thoughts and people that you revisit in your head. But I love it all, because you walk away with perspective and Argentina has been gracious and accommodating in all the ways I was hoping for. I have felt oddly at home so far. It’s interesting…

Lidia and Gustavo were the two main people running this, “English in Action”, program. Lidia is a 65 year old, young at heart, active lady from Buenos Aires, and Gustavo is a 30-something year old, kind, smiley, great guy from Cordoba. Both of them introduced Argentina to me as holding some incredibly gracious and wonderful people. Another great thing that came from this weekend… Luckily, they loved having me there and have invited me to another weekend program where transportation, food and accommodation will be taken care of….this time it will be in Cordoba!! Wahoo. Somehow, I found a way to get to two of the main places I wanted to go, and staying for free. Unbelievable. Gustavo owns a hotel with his family in Cordoba and has been soooo generous in offering to put, Ryan, Hugh and I up for a few nights. Observation…I love how affectionate everyone is here. Meaning, the guys hug and kiss other guys on the cheek. Showing physical kindness in a refined manner…I love it.

Buenos Aires is a cool city but I hope to leave here within a month. Why? Because, Argentina is a gorgeous country, that holds more local life than this city shows. Come and visit for sure, enjoy salsa shows, a great deal of theatre, art art art, but to REALLY live in Argentina, I don’t know how I could stay in Buenos Aires. It would be like going to a beautiful island and never leaving the hotel. So, I am going to try and figure out how to get work in some other places and soak up this city for the next month. In a perfect world, I could find a job in Bariloche, Patagonia for the summer! How sweet would that be?!?! “Hi, my name is Ashley, I teach english in Patagonia”. AHHHHH!!

Please be sure to check out the picture of Ryan, Hugh and I chillin in San Rafael. Notice the kid in the background making sure these gringos feel welcome. I wouldn’t have this picture any other way. It’s classic.

So, overall, I have been beyond content with my time here and believe to be following the signs that this was the right choice. Honestly, I feel like I have been so fortunate with so many situations thus far. Lidia took me aside and made sure to let me know how she felt that I was just what this program needed. What positive confirmation that I am putting my energy in the right place! According to her, I “… am a clown” and she loves that for the kids. Hey, I will take it!

The first night in Mendoza, I was out by the river with Hugh, Ryan and Gustavo. Just talking, exchanging culture stories, etc. We got into talking about our families, and I felt comfortable to open up about my brother when asked about my siblings. I told Gustavo that I was a little afraid of some of the natural lows that come from living abroad, may be heightened because I miss my brother so much, and he just said, “you know Ashley, I don’t want to sound to…I don’t know….but if that does happen, I really think you choose the right country with the right people that would help you through that”. I just looked at this new stranger/ friend, and responded, “Hmmm…..I think you are right”.

PICTURES!! : http://picasaweb.google.com/barnes.ashley/MendozaArgentinaEnglishImmersionProgram#

I...Am....Gringa

2008-10-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

Here we go!

After a rather sad but confident goodbye with my family, I started making my way towards security in the Atlanta Airport. I have been away from Atlanta for about four years, but as I was saying goodbye to my strong family this time, I felt as though my feet were stapled to the ground. For I am diving into the extreme unknown. Wait though, we are always in the unknown, and people forget that, however this particular unknown does seem a little scarier than most. But, o so exciting! Adventure is calling my name and challenges await. Ahhhh….travel…I have been waiting for you. My mother was watching me like I was launching myself into some deep archaic cave as opposed to a large city. Gotta love her.

First gringa move. After a night of flying and no sleep, I hop in line with all the Argentine men and women in customs. Luckily, a nice young man could see that I was a gringa and informed me I was in the wrong line. Wait maybe I shouldn’t say I am happy that he could tell I was an American. What gave it away? Was it my huge backpack? My infamous head-tilt when I am confused and in awe of my surroundings? Regardless, I am gringa….hear me roar.

As always, I had a great time in my first cab ride. My driver was Eduardo and he was a grand character. He made sure I knew which soccer team to root for, as well as the fact that I need to work on my Spanish (considering the fact that I don't speak Spanish I was ever so grateful for this pointer), slow down when I speak and have fun. As we were driving into the city he decided to blare the song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”. “This is for you Ashley….”, he says. What the…? But I was cracking up at this older Argentine cab driver getting down to such an American teeny-bopper tune. Luckily, a beautiful song came on in Spanish as we entered the center of Buenos Aires. This city truly is Central America meets Spain. I walk one block and feel like I am in Guatemala with the pace of the streets and the unique smell, it reminds me of my first Latin American experiences which took place in Xela, Guatemala. Another block down and I feel like I am about to sit at a little European café in Madrid.

Today has consisted of finding my hotel, running around trying to figure out how to put credit on my SIM card, and being overwhelmed with how NICE everyone is being to this clueless chica. Seriously, people want to help me get set up ? Wow.

O, and let me just say that it is GREAT to have your research done. However, don’t for one second think that you are really going to know what you are walking into. I used to read that BsAs is so loud and chaotic, but coming from Chicago, the fact that I can hear birds out my window is a beautiful thing. People walk slower, and the vibe is so chill. Well, from what I have seen thus far…But I did just find out it's a holiday weekend and the majority of the city is vacationing at the beach or Mendoza.

Tired as heck but can’t sleep, I am about to go meet some people for my first Buenos Aires meal and glass of vino!!! Chau for now folks!

A Hard Place to Leave

2008-09-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

Travel Time!

As I acknowledge the deafening call of travel, it's just about time to dive into another culture, language, behavior, array of characters, perspectives, and growth with hopes of embracing a more worldly perspective. However, this time is different. Why? Because, this time I am walking away from Chicago....Chicago! I must be crazy.

Dearest Chicago, The Windy City, Frank Sinatra's Stomping Ground, Chi-town, The White City, My Kind of Town, The City that Works.....Chicagoland,

You have offered me more lessons in three years than I had in the 23 years prior to your presence. Walking into your vibrant chaotic grandness as a girl and leaving a woman. Chicago, YOU are where I grew up. No doubt about that. Offering the best and worst times of my life, and forming a foundation of strength and validity that only your influence could offer.

Thank you for letting me borrow your bone chilling reality followed by an optimistic beauty. For knocking me on my "ars", forcing me to crawl through the harshness until I picked myself up, dusted off my outer layer, and saw the unique nature that only this man-made city can possess. In translation, allowing me to give myself back to myself....with improvement.

Forever I am in debt for the people you gave me. For they have known a part of me that was foreign even to myself. I walk away from you not with my back turned, but with another standard of what I want out of life. To all who still roam those luminous avenues, or have walked through those streets beside me, you are plastered on my heart.

Dance large folks!

Ashley