Reflections

The first semester is over! Whoa, I'm halfway there! (Whoa-oh, living on a prayer?)

So, what have I learned? What kind of progress have I made? What awaits me?

Reflections (set to Babasónicos, I imagine myself in a Bill Cosby sweater as I write this)...
On being el yanqui platense: I am now at a point where I "pass for" Argentine the majority of the time. You know, walking down the street, talking to people, going through my day, etc. Or at the least I pass for a weird Argentine. I'm at that point where everything here has become pretty normal.

On "culture shock": I'm now at a point where I am adapted to living here and in some ways I can't imagine living somewhere else, at least for now. Every once in a while I feel a small "culture after-shock", like when I get a visit and try to explain things that now feel normal to me, or when people ask me questions about the U.S. I've realized that I have no idea what it's like there now except for what I hear from, well, people like you guys who are reading this. I've also realized that I'm okay with that.

On the future: The future's so bright I can hardly see it. For sure I'll be in North America come December. And that's about all I have to say about that. For now.

Coming adventures:
Winter vacation! Possibilities: Rio de Janeiro (have to work out that visa stuff), Iguazú Falls, Mendoza, etc. I hope to go to all these destinations and more before August 18th when I have to be in class again.
Visit from parents! In 2 days!