A Bit of Normality...

Yes, I am still alive here in San Juan despite the recent lack of blog postings. The truth is there just haven’t been events worthy enough to write about, and though it may sound odd, a slower more normal pace of life has been a welcome change. I finally feel like I’ve established a good routine and that I’ve decided on groups of friends since it was becoming impossible to participate in everything with everybody. The weather has also helped a bit as it’s usually 45 degrees, windy, and cloudy (yay for finally seeing clouds here!) so most everyone stays inside unless it’s absolutely necessary to go out.

I’m of course still attending classes everyday but I’ve started going to the gym more frequently as I’ve found classes that I really like. At school I have a great group of friends as everyone is finally finding their place among the 60 or so first year students. I really still speak with everyone and have no problem filling the 30 minute breaks that we have each morning talking with my classmates, but my core group is fantastic. Birthday parties, symphony concerts, “study” sessions… we’ve had some adventures. They’re all dying to try S’mores so hopefully with the help of some generous traveling neighbors I’ll be able to give them a taste of US culture soon. We’ve also established a nice group with the kids in the residence hall… nine of them left two weeks back since their internship here ended so we’re now down to six – me (nicknamed ‘la importada’ or imported one ha), a girl from Cuba, and four from different parts of Argentina. We eat together, study, and hang out taking advantage of the television they’ve just left us in the common area. Besides these groups, I attend Rotaract meetings on Wednesday nights where we plan community service projects. Our biggest endeavor is a full length play that we’ll put on in December to benefit one of the special education schools that exist here…. imagine Alyson acting, I’ll keep you posted. And then on Thursday nights I go to a church youth group’s adoration service. And on the weekends something always comes up, besides the fact that I do study, so although life has slowed down a bit I’m still much busier than I was in Nashville. That’s about to change though since classes end on Friday and I’m off on some adventures but for now I’ll leave you with some pictures of my sanjuanina life :)

Studying in our hallway (kids that left already from La Pampa ARG)



Singing outside on warmer days



My closest friends here (La Cubana and Victoria from Mendoza who will hopefully be my roommate in a month!)



Dorm friends from Catamarca and my roommate from Buenos Aires