Wow, nothing like I expected. I now realize that all of my expectations were based on my time in Chile and that even though San Juan's population is 120,000 as compared to Valparaiso's 300,000, I thought I would find the same kind of smaller town atmosphere. WRONG. Valparaiso feels like a bustling metropolis compared to San Juan. Much has to do with geography. San Juan is situated in a very arid region with temperatures reaching 95 even now at the beginning of Fall. All this to say that during the afternoon hrs. accomplishing any task that requires movement seems to be impossible for 'sanjuaninos'... so the city literally shuts down from 1 to 5 everyday. Siesta is a way of life and all businesses are definitely closed. Everything opens up again at 5 until 9 when the work day is over and people return home to think about dinner (served around 10:30). Needless to say, life at such a slow pace is taking some getting used to. I feel ancient when at midnight I'm already tired.
But because of this slow pace, people are used to taking their time to really get to know a person. San Juan has not experienced much international tourism and from what I can tell the number of foreign students at the university doesn't reach must past 30, with the majority from other Latin American countries. So while I feel alone much of the time in the sense that no one is experiencing something quite as new or different as me here in San Juan, I also feel fortunate to be in a place that hasn't lost any of its authenticity to outside influences. And another advantage, the immersion will be 100%... definitely no English around here.
I can't say that I haven't questioned my decision to come here, but I'm learning new little things everyday that make life easier. And I do think that I'll like living here once I get into a routine - until then everything is a bit nerve-wracking. Classes start tomorrow so we'll see how that goes...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Barreal
On Tuesday I received an invitation from Belen (niece who's my age) to go camping in Barreal for three days during the Holy Week holidays with two of her friends. Since throwing myself out there despite my timidity is a priority right now, I accepted and on Thurs. morning took off on an awesome journey towards the Andes mountains. Words can't really describe how beautiful the 2 hr. car ride was so here are some pictures:
We spent three days hiking, relaxing with the guitar, and eating homemade pastelitos (see below). In the typical San Juan province fashion we got to know our neighbors at the campground and shared a typical asado (Argentina barbecue) with them on Friday night. We also visited some spectacular parks and waterfalls, all with the snowcapped peaks as a backdrop. Belen's friends were extremely nice and patient with me but couldn't believe I don't know all the lyrics to all the songs they know in English, or that I haven't seen every movie ever made in the US. What can I say?
Fortunately, Belen and I have a lot in common, plus she is very adventuresome and loves to explore the region so we've decided that we have lots of trips ahead of us this year.
We spent three days hiking, relaxing with the guitar, and eating homemade pastelitos (see below). In the typical San Juan province fashion we got to know our neighbors at the campground and shared a typical asado (Argentina barbecue) with them on Friday night. We also visited some spectacular parks and waterfalls, all with the snowcapped peaks as a backdrop. Belen's friends were extremely nice and patient with me but couldn't believe I don't know all the lyrics to all the songs they know in English, or that I haven't seen every movie ever made in the US. What can I say?
Fortunately, Belen and I have a lot in common, plus she is very adventuresome and loves to explore the region so we've decided that we have lots of trips ahead of us this year.
Let the Adventures Begin!
I AM HERE! The flight to Bs. As. was uneventful but that would in no way be an indicator of what was to come. After watching luggage go around on the conveyor belot for a good 45 min. I finally decided that my bags were either hidden in a back room or hadn't made it. The latter turned out to be true and the agent assured me that they would be shipped to San Juan by Tues. morning (I arrived Sunday morning). On the one hand I thought not having to lug a 76 lb. bag around an enormous city was definitely a plus, while secretly worrying that the bags could be lost forever on their 17 hr. bus ride through the Argentina countryside. But hey, what could I do?
I arrived in San Juan on Mon. morning and was greeted by Alicia (wife of my host Rotary counselor Jorge) and Belen (their niece). I never thought my first outing in my new home would be to buy underwear but by now all I could do was laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. The family has been extremely welcoming/accomodating/giving/etc/etc and without them I would be more than lost in this city that is definitely void of experience with foreigners. I've been living with Jorge and Alicia (older couple with grown sons) who have fed me and clothed me, literally.... Alyson in a 56 year old woman's clothing, ha. Long story short, the luggage ordeal lasted for days and when we finally got confirmation that they were on a bus headed for San Juan the bus was held up for two days by picketers who wouldn't let any vehicles pass... again, laughter. I finally got them on Easter Sunday and after a week was glad to wear something that was mine.
I arrived in San Juan on Mon. morning and was greeted by Alicia (wife of my host Rotary counselor Jorge) and Belen (their niece). I never thought my first outing in my new home would be to buy underwear but by now all I could do was laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. The family has been extremely welcoming/accomodating/giving/etc/etc and without them I would be more than lost in this city that is definitely void of experience with foreigners. I've been living with Jorge and Alicia (older couple with grown sons) who have fed me and clothed me, literally.... Alyson in a 56 year old woman's clothing, ha. Long story short, the luggage ordeal lasted for days and when we finally got confirmation that they were on a bus headed for San Juan the bus was held up for two days by picketers who wouldn't let any vehicles pass... again, laughter. I finally got them on Easter Sunday and after a week was glad to wear something that was mine.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Hasta Luego
As most of you know I'll be spending the next 10 months or so in San Juan, Argentina studying, teaching, and doing service projects with the Rotary Foundation (http://www.rotary.org/) as an Ambassadorial Scholar.... basically trying my best to build some bridges between Rotary organizations on the two continents. The foundation has never sent a student to San Juan before which is A) very cool in the trailblazing kind of way but B) nervewracking in the "I have absolutely NO contacts and will just show up and hope for the best" kind of way. We'll see...
As I write this I am very nervous about the prospect of arriving in a new town to start an entirely new life but know that I am ready for an adventure (four months of knocking on doors has most definitely prepared me ;). I currently have a plane ticket (arriving in Buenos Aires March 16th and San Juan March 17th) and a two-day reservation at the Triasico Hostel. Other than that, nothing is for sure so I'll have lots to figure out once there. At least I'll be figuring it out in the lovely 80 degree heat :)
I will miss everyone dearly but hope that you will all keep me updated about the goings on in Nashville, NC, MN, and everywhere else you are, and I will do the same from San Juan. And if you ever feel like spending some time in the mountains of Argentina my casa (or perhaps room) will always be open to visitors. I am here:
Hasta Luego! ~Alyson
email: alyson.nunez@gmail.com
skype: alysonnunez
msn messanger: alysonn23@hotmail.com
As I write this I am very nervous about the prospect of arriving in a new town to start an entirely new life but know that I am ready for an adventure (four months of knocking on doors has most definitely prepared me ;). I currently have a plane ticket (arriving in Buenos Aires March 16th and San Juan March 17th) and a two-day reservation at the Triasico Hostel. Other than that, nothing is for sure so I'll have lots to figure out once there. At least I'll be figuring it out in the lovely 80 degree heat :)
I will miss everyone dearly but hope that you will all keep me updated about the goings on in Nashville, NC, MN, and everywhere else you are, and I will do the same from San Juan. And if you ever feel like spending some time in the mountains of Argentina my casa (or perhaps room) will always be open to visitors. I am here:
Hasta Luego! ~Alyson
email: alyson.nunez@gmail.com
skype: alysonnunez
msn messanger: alysonn23@hotmail.com
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