Month: January 2023

It is now the eve of our departure and as promised, here are some of the brighter details of packing. I am in the process of meticulously organizing my first very own luggage set including a checked bag, carry-on, and backpack. You would be amazed how much you can fit in a large suitcase, although it may measure more than half my size. I have recently discovered that the best way to go about packing is packing cubes. Inside are rolled clothes that cover three seasons, mostly electronic school supplies, and travel essentials like toiletries and outlet adapters.

I have been diving into alternative preparation amidst my newfound procrastination. I am brushing up on my Spanish after being somewhat out of practice for a month and a half. Furthermore, I have turned my Argentina research into an exciting vision board. I even got a head start and tried some delicious local empanadas. What I have gathered is that there is no amount of preparation that compares to experiencing something for yourself.

With that being said, there has been plenty of time to relax which has consisted of a lot of reading. Yesterday was the last Sunday at my home church and I am reminded that with these temporary goodbyes come so many new beginnings. Someone recently told me that this experience is going to change me in unimaginable ways, so here’s to the unimaginable. Things are about to get a whole lot more interesting. ¡Nos vemos en Argentina!

¡Hola! Or should I say, ¡Che! We are just about two weeks away from the beginning of this adventure, life in Buenos Aires. Everyone prepares for these big changes differently, while some throw up their hands and leave it to the universe, others make color-coordinated spreadsheets. While I typically would resort to the latter, I find myself somewhere in the middle. I think I am already starting to adopt the laid-back Argentine approach, and I honestly feel relieved.

I have been in contact with the university abroad, but I don’t have a course schedule yet as the enrollment process is a contrast to what we are used to. Students research the courses they are interested in, attend various lectures for a two-week trial period, and then meet with the professors to commit. Moreover, I have recently met my host mom virtually and she is amazing! I am curating a gift for her that reminds me of home, including a Holy Cross postcard featuring a painting of campus, a dish towel with the Boston skyline, and some Asian goodies.

At this point the bulk of the preparation is done so these last few weeks I am soaking in moments with family and friends. Of course, I also have to pack, more on that next week. With respect to what I am most looking forward to, I would say being immersed in the language. I love catching a glimpse of the Spanish-speaking world through media and I can’t wait until it is my reality. As I have never left the country before much less on my own, I am eager to experience everything, even the fourteen-hour flight.