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Published: December 28th 2007
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Marina
Friends gather at Marina´s apartment to send her off to Tahoe It has been a wonderful 2 weeks in Buenos Aires and alot of the reason if because of the people I know here. I have been very lucky the last many years to meet wonderful students from around the southern hemisphere that come to work the ski season over their own summer vacations. A couple of them were here to see that all was well for me and that I was having a good time.
Marina will be returning to Tahoe for her 4th season this year. That makes 9 winters in a row for her... winter 1 here in BA, then that summer she went to Tahoe for winter 2, then returned to BA for winter 3, then back to Tahoe... you get it then. Anyhow, this time she will really be able to enjoy her time there as she just finished University and is a graduate this time. Felicitaciones Marina!!! It turnes out that Marina lives only 8 blocks from my hostel. So, one night I walked over there for a tastey dinner of Empenadas, a local favorite and cold Quilmes, the recgional beer. I met and chatted with her friends and met her father and older brother.
It was neat to meet people close to her here, at home in BA, as I have known Marina for several years. Afer dinner was through, about 1 am, it was time to go out.
Marina and her friends took me to a bar near the center of the city, but was not at all a tourist attraction. Here we danced to music influenced from local culture and trends. This was a very refreshing change of pace, as much of the music I had been hearing in the hostel was familiar to me. And, this more latin style of music makes for some very fun twirling on the dance floor.
This was not the only night I was able to enjoy the young local scene, as Gonzo, short for Gonzalo- soon to be Dr. Gonzalo Recondo, invited me out for a night of celebration with his fellow med students as they just finished their exams as well. Here we met up with another former employee, Sebastian, and we all danced the night away. This was a special night, as Gonzo´s favorite professor (he likens him to Morrie), an 80 something legend, spun on the dance floor while his
students praised him and embraced this chance to enjoy his company outside of th classroom.
Gonzo was wonderful in taking me under his wing to show me a personal perspective in Argentina and Buenos Aires. He toured me around while passionately sharing with me his cities history, political tensions and downfalls, foreign relations and economical struggles. My mind was reeling after an afternoon with this kid. His parents should be very proud... and I may seek out his sevirces one day, as I am sure he will be come the best Doctor all of South America has to offer. Thank you Gonzo, for being you 😊
I felt very honored when I wsa invited to meet his family over tea and cakes one afternoon. A ritual they come together for once a month, to gather at Grandmothers house and catch up with one another. This particular afternoon there was games. I do not know if this is part of the tradition or if this was simply for my benefit. None the less, I was recruited to be the last leg of a relay race. Two teams, 6 vs. 6, we lined up on one side of the room
while we routed on our team member while they preformed some silly task. Player 1 had to carry a hard boiled egg on a spoon held in their mouth across the room, then peel the egg and eat it before returning to the team so the next person could go. Another person had to peel a potatoe and then dice it up finely, another had to sew a button. Ummm, Gonzo, he only had to eat 6 cookies as fast as he could. Granted, they were stale cookies, quite dry and hard to swallow- it still did not compare to the laughs that Maria (Gonzo´s younger sister and also a former employee of mine at Heavenly) and I got as we attempted to complete our, the final, leg of the race. Yes, you see the picture.... but what is it we are actually doing you ask. Well, there was a SMALL piece of candy hiding somewhere in a pan of flour that we had to fish around for only using our mouths. Here I was, among a room full of strangers, young and old cheering my name in a strong spanish accent. I dove in, timidly at first I admit,
but from the corner of my eye I could see Maria going for it, so I had to follow suit. Have any of yo ever known me to back away from a competition. Anyhow, a mess I made but a candy I did not find. Maria found hers and team #1 was awarded the chocolate prize. Thankfully, I was receiveing enough laughs that my fellow team #2 members were not at all unhappy with my perfomance. Whew...
Meeting the friends and families of these former friendly employees, whom now I just call friends, was an irreplaceable memory for me. I might have thought seeing the special bond between Gonzo and his Grandmother or the way he looks after his baby sister Lulu (age 3) would have made me feel lonely, or very far away from home. But, I was never plagued with this sadness, as I was not afforded the chance. These friends and their families welcomed me whole heartedly and with open arms. I felt nothing but love and genuine concern for my well being.
As I leave Buenos Aires tomorrow for the first leg of my travels South, around Patagonia, I am feeling more confident and
secure than I could have ever hoped. I was given a beautiful bottle of wine from Gonzo´s family to enjoy on New Years, so as to know I am not at all alone. At the first or any hint of a problem I have their cell phone numbers and emails. They wouldn´t let me go with out them. I was sent off with a map- a local one, not one of those touristy things, so I might find a little something off the beaten path. And, when my trip around Argenitina is all said and done, I will return to Buenos Aires in March for my flight back home to the US. But before I go, I will have some very special people to share my stories with. And, I know that they will be listening.....
Hope all is well at home. Happy New Year to you all!!! xxx- ciao for now
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Michele
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Awesome blogging skills, Jamie! Reading about your experience is almost like being there. Keep 'em comin, chica. I am sure you are in the Patagonia region now and can't wait to hear about your experiences there. Safe journey my friend and HAPPY NEW YEAR from The Apple ! love ya, Michele