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| My home away from home. |
But beyond all of these, what I've taken from this experience the most is how important it is to appreciate the people in my life. Beautiful things can suddenly become moments that take your breath away, tug at your heart, bend in overwhelming emotion just a bit when you are experiencing them with people you truly love and enjoy being around. Although I am now back to my real home, I feel a slight sense of home-sickness. Although I dreamed of my bed, my apartment, my 'things' each night, I suddenly can't help but dream of the beauty that Mendoza had to offer. Just today, I received an email from my host-mom wishing me the very best now that I am 'home' and signing off, all the way from what she calls my 'second home' in Mendoza.... What's more of a blessing than to have family and friends all over - even in faraway parts of the world....
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| My host mom and I at the airport... |
There are so many moments in Argentina that I already miss. I miss eating dinner with my host mother each night, looking forward to her every home-cooked meal. I miss the delicious tortitas that she grilled each morning for me with mermelada and a fresh cup of coffee. I miss how helpful she was with my Spanish in our afternoon lessons and study sessions. In addition I miss school and the incredible women who taught me and inspired me to learn more. With these, I also miss many of the large, wonderful, magnificent things that make Mendoza so incredible. I miss the breathtaking views of the mountains on my walks to school and miss how simple it was to hike a mountain on my day off. I became spoiled with these hikes. Even more, the mountains are breathtaking. As much as I try, my photos don't do them any justice, nor can my words every express how incredible it was to be standing at the foot of Aconcagua, America's tallest peak.
I also miss some of the simplest moments which suddenly became so grand - the taste of ripe olives drenched in olive oil, sipping homemade red wine, breaking the first piece of warm crusty bread, and seeing my friends’ bright smiling faces each day. Life itself became slightly more wonderful in Mendoza. For some reason, there was suddenly an ability to enjoy the simple things in life. In the United States, work, meetings, jobs, school, and lists preoccupy my mind. Half the time, I barely taste my food. While I am eating, my mind races thinking about everything else. In Mendoza, I was able to return to life's simple pleasures and learned how important it would be to bring these appreciations back home with me.
Since returning, I have taken many lessons, experiences, sights, smells, and sounds back with me. Just last week, I spent each day reuniting with old friends. My family and I have successfully gathered the past two Mondays to share a home-cooked dinner together – a feat we have tried to accomplish for years! We have now pledged to continue this tradition every Monday night. In addition, I have indulged in memories and stories with countless numbers of people - some of which I do not even know! I've returned home with a tall tale (a cuento chino as my host-mom calls it) of beautiful mountains, caring people, and delicious feasts. Last night, I uncorked a bottle of wine sipping its richness and envisioning the lush bodegas of Mendoza. I have downloaded "Tche Tche Rere Tche" and play it tirelessly in my car. I drink mate (the right way) every morning and suddenly embrace the ability to eat bread and olive oil on a regular (controlled) basis. This morning, I roasted vegetables exactly as they were made for me by my host-mom and plan to tackle her recipes for budin de pan and tortitas next.
In retrospect, my experience was life-changing. I am humbled by the lessons I learned and excited by the many new habits I have acquired. I've returned with a fluency in ‘Spanglish’ – a habit I really need to break. My instinctual 'hola' and 'gracias' is incessant. Aside from that, I have returned with memories and a refreshing outlook on so many aspects of how to live my own life. Not only was my experience in Mendoza life-changing, but the travel itself was as well. There is suddenly a sense of how large the world is and how small I am. In the face of this realization, I simply need to see and experience even more. Atop my desk sits a rock from Cerro de la Cruz, oddly broken in the perfect shape of a mountain. Each day, I look at it and am reminded of my trek through the rocky terrain. I have been to the Andes and back and can't wait for what adventure is next. Argentina has opened my eyes to a new passion - to travel. With strength and courage, I eagerly await what else I can learn, experience and accomplish. I am blessed, thankful, and forever grateful that Argentina is another piece of my life puzzle, and that it is just at the beginning of a life-long journey of experience.
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| With my wonderful teachers at 'graduation' |
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| The home of our coordinator for a celebratory final lunch in Mendoza. |
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In Mendoza, there is a saying.... Rather than goodbye, they say "Hasta Siempre" which literally translates to say "Until always." This beautiful saying rings so true for how I am feeling. I will not say goodbye to Mendoza. Until I return someday (and I will) to savor all its richness and beauty, I simply say "Hasta Siempre." Until Always Mendoza - Always with me and always a home away from home. Until next time.... "Hasta Siempre!"
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| Over the mountains and into the clouds.... leaving one magical place to enter another. Life is a fairy tale so long as we believe it is. |
