Sorry, I have been silent, I will write more later. Since I last wrote, I finished out the week here in Buenos Aires with classes, hanging out, etc., nothing super eventful.
I had gotten a Brazilian Visa while in Iguazu with the hopes of visiting Rio de Janeiro. I randomly put a message on facebook - "Who wants to meet me in Rio de Janeiro"? I wasn't honestly expecting a repsonse because it's fairly expensive to fly there from the states, but I got one. I was hoping to go after I finished classes, before I went to Peru. It happens that one of my friends from Villanova was doing a study abroad program through her grad school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She had been looking for an internship in Brazil and was having trouble finding one. She was finished classes already and was "wasting time" as she needed this internship before she went back to school in the states. She had filed a request to return to the states for her internship portion and it was approved sooner than she thought and so she had to return to the states on short notice. She had warned me a few days before that if we were going to go to Rio, we should go sooner than later (didn't realize just how soon!)because this application was in process and she would have to leave almost immediately if it was approved. Wednesday I get a message from her saying she was leaving the next Monday 3/3.
On a wim I decided to up and go to Rio. I left that next morning to meet her in Sao Paulo and we took a bus together to Rio. It was an awesome time. Beautiful City. A few pleasant surprises and a few not so pleasant... I saw my first of the "New 7 Wonders of the World", hung out at the beach a lot, etc. More later...
Nia is a wise woman. She had a lot to say, recommended some good books and some good music. We reminisced and talked about our experiences in our respective countries and what we have learned thus far about the countries, ourselves, etc. and what we hope to take from it. Being with her was definitely chicken soup for my soul!
It was an amazing way to spend a long weekend, only wish it was longer! I'm back in Buenos Aires, trying to talk as much Spanish as possible and retain as much of the information I learn in class as possible. It's tough, but it's going well!
I had an interesting experience. I have been trying to get an inside look at the Public hospitals in Buenos Aires. Finally, one of my teachers' brother-in-law is a doctor and so she set up for me to spend the day with him in the hospital. VERY DIFFERENT!
Sorry, I started to say so many things, but just don't have the time to finish. Will update more later. Love you all and hope everyone is well back in the states! Will write more soon.
|
