Second Semester Catch-Up: Installment 1

For starters, I promise I had every intention of picking my blogging back up sometime within the past 9 weeks. However, this semester apparently had other plans for me. Ever since setting foot back on South American soil, life has been one crazy adventure after the other.

Here begins a 4-part recount of the happenings of my second semester abroad in Argentina.
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Molly & Miles' Argentine Adventures
(January 18-28, 2010)

It started with an incredible 8-day trip all over Argentina in the lovely company of my wonderful parents. We spent two nights in Buenos Aires, during which they got to experience an authentic Argentine parrilla (steakhouse), take a wine-and-dine tour of the three of the city's finest restaurants, visit the Recoleta Cemetery (and the mausoleum of the infamous Eva Peron), and best of all, meet my homestay family! It was such an incredible experience for my American parents to meet my Argentine padres. The introductions were so long-awaited and enthusiastic, and it was all-in-all just heartwarming to see each couple so excited to meet the other. It was obvious that seeing where I sleep, eat my meals, and with whom I spend my time at home in Buenos Aires gave Mom & Dad a huge sense of comfort, despite my distance from home, and gave them a far better understanding of the experience I've had during my time in Argentina.

From Buenos Aires, we went to the Chubut province of Patagonia, where we spent three nights at the El Pedral Lodge, right on the beautiful rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean. We saw oodles of Patagonian wildlife, from elephant seals to 800,000 Magellanic penguins to an entire sea lion colony, pups and all! (Seriously, apart from Cade, the cutest things I've ever seen...). We read and relaxed and enjoyed each other's company to the fullest during our three days in Patagonia.

Upon leaving Patagonia, we headed to the Argentina wine country of Mendoza. Though now world-renown for its Malbec, the Mendoza region only became internationally recognized for its vineyards within the past 5 years or so. Thus, many of the wineries are still completely family-owned and take great pride in their small-batch wine productions. The wineries we toured during our time in Mendoza were clearly run out of sheer passion for their work, a sentiment I believe is far too rare in the corporate world we are used to. To further enjoy all that Mendoza had to offer, we spent an entire day hiking and zip-lining in the Andes mountains. The scenery was just breathtaking, and I felt like through that aspect of the trip, Mom & Dad were able to experience at least a taste of what I did and saw during my trip to the Peruvian Andes last fall.

We enjoyed our time in the in the wine country immensely, but alas, by day 7 of our travels, it was time to return to Buenos Aires for my intensive Spanish classes and the beginning of a new semester. On the last day of the trip, Mom & Dad came by Casa Holden and were able to meet many of the friends they'd heard so much about over the past several months. We enjoyed one last treat together -- dulce de leche helado from my favorite ice cream shop -- and before I knew it, it was time for them to go.

Saying goodbye to my parents was harder this time than any other time I remember. Perhaps it was because it came abruptly at the end of a once-in-a-lifetime vacation; perhaps it was because I had somewhat adjusted to being in Argentina with them as part of the equation; or, perhaps it was because that goodbye came at a time when we felt closer than ever. The 8 days we traveled through Argentina truly brought my relationship with my parents to an entirely different level. For once, I was the "pro" showing them the ropes -- telling them about local customs, acting as their translator, and showing them a country that we contrastingly viewed as "second-home" and utterly foreign.

Our trip through Argentina allowed my parents to witness, at least in part, what my life had been for the past semester. They finally understood that when I told them my favorite part of life here was the kindness of the locals, it wasn't a diplomatic answer -- it was the honest truth about the kind of people that live here. They understood exactly what I meant when I said I wouldn't trade my homestay parents for a bigger room or more convenient location. Ultimately, they saw what a diamond in the rough this country is: the breathtaking landscapes, the delicious cuisine, and the hospitality that rivals that of Texas pride.

Though saying goodbye was the hardest yet, we all knew that an incredible semester was in store. We will forever cherish the blessing of the memories we made that week and can look forward to reminiscing about them for years to come. For the timebeing until my return home, Skype will have to tide us over. But we all know we've got plenty of living to do until then.
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To view pictures from our week of Argentine adventures, click here.
Miss you all!

Love from abroad,
Margaret