I know the title's cheesy, but it did rain for my last week so I think it's justified. I arrived back in Columbus, Ohio just a few hours ago, after 17 or so hours of planes and running through airports. It's still hard to believe that I was in the big city eating lunch in Palermo Soho yesterday, and that I won't be meeting up with my new friends for kilos of ice cream anytime soon.
I managed to cram a lot into my last few weeks -- la Boca, mate in the park, dinners with friends, and even a trip to Iguazú with my parents to name a few -- but I'd rather use this last blog post to reflect back on my experience.
Buenos Aires, Argentina and this summery day in Columbus feel like two completely different worlds. I'm already feeling some of the uncomfortableness that comes with reverse culture shock, namely in that every stranger that I meet is expecting English, not Spanish, to come out of my mouth. This was particularly hard with the airport officials. A lot of it is good though, too, like the smell of a clean kitchen and dishes that aren't sticky. There's a lot about Buenos Aires that I won't miss. And a lot, I'm sure, I will.
Going from scheduled, fast-paced, busy busy busy America to the *much* more laid back Argentina stretched me as a person and taught me some valuable lessons. Latin time really is a thing, and life in Argentina was less scheduled, less hurried, but also less organized. As someone who enjoys planning every minute aspect of her life, this relaxed approach was very stressful. Information isn't readily available online and often is only accessible by going and talking to someone, an approach that makes me nervous when it involves, say, not knowing what bus you need to take until you fly to the new city and can ask someone on the spot. Being forced to literally ask people for help over and over, with no alternative, really washed away the introvert's anxiety in me (for this particular subject) and helped me handle curve balls thrown at my plans. At some point, I stopped worrying about my Spanish and what I would say, stopped wasting time debating the need for the human interaction, and started asking strangers on the street and kiosqueros for directions, the time, and any other problem that needed solving. As Caroline says (in Portuguese), "If you have a mouth, you can get to Rome."
Another theme I want to touch on relates to the values we place on study abroad experiences. In the beginning, I remember forcing myself to use the bus or go out to a bar spontaneously, using the value of the event as a learning experience as motivation. When you're abroad, everything is a learning experience. Whether you're practicing language skills, learning life skills, meeting new people, or trying something new, there's an innate value to everything. Going back to Hamilton this fall, I'm worried I will feel undirected and useless, like my daily life is pointless. Sure, I have end goals that will be hopefully be impactful, but what's the point of going out to that party when I'm already cozy and in my comfort zone in my own bed? Reflecting on this has led me to give myself, and everyone else, if you're feeling this way too, a new challenge. Every time you feel a little stuck in the rut, like the life you're living isn't quite satisfying, focus on what value whatever you're doing might have. Are you making a new friend? Uplifting someone? Where is there potential for you to improve? What skill are you refining? How can you connect better with this person? Going back to Hamilton will be challenging for me for a variety of reasons, but I hope that if I stay positive and reaffirm myself, study abroad will have changed me for the better.
