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DEL.ICIO.USFarewell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today is my last day in Buenos Aires. That doesn’t seem possible. This trip was supposed to last at least a year. But before I left, I applied to a grad school program that takes only three people a year. I figured it was a really long shot. But they accepted me. And I couldn’t say “no” to the opportunity. So I’m heading back to the States tonight. It feels wrong to go, but it feels right to be entering the program.
Last night, my friends Leo and Armando threw a farewell party for me and there were 20 people there, from all over the world: Italy, Scotland, England, Spain, Brazil, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, and of course, the States and Argentina. As I looked around I couldn’t help but think of my somewhat forelorn arrival four months ago. I feel really blessed to have found such good friends in so short a time, and I’m going to miss them.
I’ll also miss long afternoons spent in El Ateneo on Santa Fe Avenue, the most beautiful bookstore I’ve ever seen. I’ll miss Friday night dinners at the Dorothy Parker. I’ll miss people-watching at the Sunday ferias and learning new words every day.
I hope I can return someday.
But now I’m starting over again. I’ve got just a few days to find an apartment in Tuscaloosa, then I’ll be learning my way around a new town and making new friends. This time I won’t have to deal with a language barrier (insert your own joke about Alabama accents here), but I will again be a fish out of water, a 30-something grad student in a sea of 19-year-old undergrads.
Thanks to all of you who read and posted on the blog. It meant a great deal to hear from you. I hope you all will see Buenos Aires for yourselves soon!
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