"We no longer have to rob the pharmacy" - Nahuel

4-30-10
After my night out, I woke up and relaxed for a bit. Then I headed out to my doctor and set up Remicade. It was such a beautiful day that I walked the 20 blocks to the hospital. After waiting for sometime, I talked my doctor. We set up an appointment for the 14th. Woot woot!!! After I met up with the people who will be doing the process.

I then headed out to a lunch. The lunch was a goodbye one for all the people who were in just Spanish classes. It is so strange that people are leaving already. The lunch was amazing. It was all you can eat buffet of Argentine/Spanish food. Sooooo delicious. After, Chelsey and I walked back and relaxed. Eventually, I called Kelsey and Alex via Skype. It was nice to talk to them. Among other topics, we talked about our apartment. Kelsey and Alex are planning to move in early August. Andrew and I then headed to get stuff for International Night at the university. It was fun but eventually my friend Jamie and I headed back to the residencia. I got food and hung out with friends. No idea for the rest of the evening.

Getting LOST

4-29-10
I woke up and did the bibliography for my paper. I then emailed it to myself and headed out to class. When I got to school, I went in printed my paper and headed up. My teacher was late but showed up. We discussed random things about Seven Madmen and related its themes to the themes of Tango songs. It was interesting. After class, I went to lunch with some friends and ate delicious food. I then headed home. I tried to continue to watch the Natural but fell asleep. I was out for at least an hour or so. I relaxed and talked to friends at dinner. I then decided that I was either going to go out out or go out and see a movie. Eventually one of my friends from NYU came up with a plan, so I went out with her and some of her peers for a bit then she and I went to a club where I danced and had a good ole time.

Getting the paper done

4-28-10
I woke up and had breakfast. After, I continued to work on my paper while uploading my photos from the weekend. It was really taking a while. I then had lunch with friends. I headed to school to pick up some papers that could help with my paper. I decided to swipe in. I thought my economics class was canceled but it was not. But he barely was on topic. I passed my midterm but hope to improve my score for the final.

After, I had Spanish class. I had a headache relating to my cold. So I went to the nurse to get an aspirin. We went over some stuff that will be related to the midterm that is next week. Eventually school was over, and I talked to friends. I then headed to Starbucks to work on my paper. I got myself a Blueberry Muffin and went to work. I was able to write some more pages before I headed home. At home, I talked to some girls about my trip to Peru since they are going there some time, while I ate dinner. After dinner, I finished my paper. I then rewarded myself with some ice cream and started the Natural before I fell asleep

Writing an Essay

4-27-10
I woke up and went to breakfast. I talked to some of the friends including people who are in the same literature class that I am in. We talked about the paper due on Thursday. I decided that in my best interest I would skip my class today in order to have more time on my paper. After getting showered and ready, I headed to school. At school, I tried to find a book the library that my teacher said would help with the paper. But alas it wasn't.

It was lunch time, so I ate with my friend Cassi and Lucilia. We talked about homework, trips (Lucilia gave me advice on my plans on Salta) and more. I also pulled up some websites to help me out with the paper. Eventually, I went back to the library and wrote some of my paper. Then I couldn't get a strong enough internet connection so I moved onto Starbucks and wrote nearly two out of the five pages by the end of it. I was planning to write more tonight but the internet back at the residencia wasn't that great. I am planning to wake up tomorrow morning and writing a good portion before Spanish since I don't have economics tomorrow.

I emailed my uncle and I am pretty sure now I have a job for the summer. I also emailed some people who posted on Craiglist about weddings in the Seattle area over the summer. So we shall see about that too.

I am currently fighting a cold

A weekend of just LIVING

The Empty Road

Me on top of a massive slab of rock that Ryan and I climbed

The Guacho who led the horse riding

Just a fraction of the land of the Algodon vineyard

The mountain I climbed solo on Sunday

My view from my solo hike

The view from part of the horseback riding

4-22-10
I woke up but decided to sleep in instead of breakfast. I showered and shaved. I then grabbed my stuff for my literature class. At school, I hung out with one of my partners for my presentation. I grabbed some juice and croissant before class. I then hung out until class. In class, we discussed the Seven Madmen. We got some background information about the author. Then my presentation came up and it went smoothly.

After school, I hung out at the residencia. I read some about the NFL draft which I was missing this weekend. I met up with Michele. We walked and talked. We had lunch at a Chinese place near where I am living. After, we walked and talked more before we had to say bye till who knows when. I then went home and packed. After packing, I went to withdraw money. I also bought some nice pants for myself to wear out sometime. I then talked to Abbey for a bit. Then Chelsey, Joe and I went and grabbed food and headed to school.

On the bus, I hung out and talked to a lot of the people who were near me. We played some new form of Bingo. I got close to winning but didn't. We had dinner which was ok. After, they played Be Kind Rewind. It was not as good as I was hoping. I slept for a bit before we stopped for a bathroom break. I played with a cute dog. I then slept the rest of the way.

4-23-10

I woke up around 8:15 for breakfast and tea. I listened to music and wrote for the first part. We finally got there. I hung out with people. We met up with the people who were on the other bus. We got lunch and hung out. We then got a laydown on all the rules and agenda for the weekend. My friend Ryan, who coincidentally is originally from Greensboro, and I headed out to explore.

We walked along the road. We found some chill places. We climbed some rocks. We saw a guy who tried to tell us to grab his soccer ball that was floating down the river. We chased and chased but didn't catch up to it. After, Ryan and I observed the surrounding area to see if there was a good place to jump into the river. After much debate about time and if we should do it, we jumped in.

Ryan went first and I followed. The current pulled us pretty fast. Ryan reached the other side and extended his hand for me. I luckily grabbed it. We climbed the rocks and searched for a place to jump in the river. Then we decided it would be best to just go back to our stuff and head back. But the current was so strong that we had to pick the right place. This proved difficult. At I slipped a couple times, including one time really hard against a rock. There also some places where the water was spinning in circles that I had to avoid. I tried to swim across but failed. Eventually, Ryan found a good place and did. I tried to do but ended up further down river a little in a thorn bush that cut me all over the place. I met up with Ryan and put on my clothing quickly and we hurried back to the hotel because we thought we were late.

Turns out no one was ready. I changed shoes. We met up as a group and headed out on our hike. It was relatively easy one. We had dogs that followed us the whole way. At one point, we had to run down a part which was a lot of fun. After we got back, it was time for snacks. After which, we hung out and some people played basketball while others commentated.

Then we had dinner. Then we had a party in one of the cabins which was a lot of fun since most of our group was there. We sang including a group rendition of "Lean on Me", talked and what not. Eventually I headed to bed.

4-24-10
I woke up and went to breakfast. After, I had the choice of rappelling or free time. I chose free time. I hung out with some of the guys. We talked and played Foosball. After, four of us decided to go horseback riding. We got on our horses. Mine was a cautious one and a relatively newbie. We rode up and down mountains. The views were spectacular. I love the desert. So beautiful. We galloped and sometimes it felt that my horse was double timing it to catch up. After the ride, we met up with the group and ate lunch.

After lunch, we had a little down time before going wine tasting. Some people sang songs on our bus. After a 45 or hour bus ride, we got to the first winery. It was massive. The company's name is Algodon. They are originally from New York. The vineyard had a golf course, restaurant, tennis courts besides the vineyard. We walked around and learned about their process of making wine before trying their wine. It was not as great as I was thinking it would be. We then headed back.

After a short ride, we arrived at a smaller, family own winery. We saw some of their livestock which included some MASSIVE PIGS. They reminded me of the pigs from Hannibal, and I worried about my health. We then saw their process of making wine. It was different. After, I tried their dessert wine and Malbec. I bought their Malbec and some raisins. We then headed back to the hotel. After snack time, most of the guys and I played Foosball, Pool or Ping Pong. It was chill, then we had dinner.

After dinner, we had a similar party to the night before. Then we started to play Capture the Flag. It was a lot of fun. Then we chilled more. I went to wash my hands, and the faucet sprayed water all over the place. It kept rushing after I turned it off so I tried to stop it with a towel while people tried to find someone to help. The lobby was locked but we got someone's attention. He came and checked it out. After slowing it down but not finishing the job, he walked off. Then the water pressure increased. After fighting it some more, we tried to find the guy again but all the person said was tomorrow he or someone will fix it (proof I am not in the First World). So the boys in the cabin were stuck there with water flooding. We made a joke out of it by calling the cabin Team Pirate. Eventually I headed to bed.

4-25-10
I woke up and headed to breakfast. The water was still flooding in the cabin. We told the people who were supervising us for the weekend. They got people to turn off the water. We all got changed for river rafted and headed down the road to the place. We got dressed in our goofy outfits and got instructions. We then headed down the river. It was a lot of fun. The river was extremely calm compared to the Rogue River. I bounced around from boat to boat, either by kidnapping, or jumping ship and ending up in another. After, we got on buses back. My bus had a dance party on it which was fun.

We changed out of the outfits and headed back to the hotel and ate lunch. We boys then had to talk the hotel about the costs. The manager was trying to charge 500 pesos for the damage but we argued and won, with some help, that the faucet was old and was bound to break. So we didn't have to pay for any of it. After, I grabbed my camera and hiking boots and walked. I decided to climb the mountain right near my hotel. It was pretty much all rock and some dead bushes, there was no trail. It was difficult and scary at times. I had to push myself but when I made it to the top. I felt so strong. I felt so alive. I felt amazing. I eventually climbed down, resulting in more scratches on my body, and watched some of my friends play a pick up soccer game. Then it was snack time. After, I quickly packed my bag and said bye to people going on the other bus before boarding my own.

On the bus, we played a game of Bingo, this time. I was only one away from winning. Then I wrote in my journal and listened to music. I especially turned up the music to avoid hearing High School 3 playing. Then I had dinner which was alright. After, they played V for Vendetta. After, I fell asleep.

4-26-10
I woke up at 8 when we pulled up to school. I headed back to the residencia. There, I had breakfast before talking to Abbey and relaxing. I showered and unpacked. Eventually it was time for lunch. I then headed to school with Chelsey. In history class, we talked about Juan Peron and the 60's in South America. In Spanish, we talked about our upcoming midterm among other things. I then headed home to relax and talk to Abbey and edit photos. Unfortunately the internet is really bad here at times. So it made it hard.

It is nice to relax after such an amazing weekend. Photos will be up sometime soon. This weekend was amazing for among other things, I lived for me and for me alone. I did what made me happy and feel alive.

Some quotes from my list that are especially applicable this weekend
1) “I would like to learn, or remember, how to live.” – Annie Dillard
2) "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” – Edward Abbey
3) "I read somewhere... how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong... to measure yourself at least once." - Christopher McCandless
4) "Love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though it offers no resistance, as though the world is your natural element." – Audrey Niffenegger
5) “Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.” – Ricky Fitts – American Beauty
6) “I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.” - Rosalia de Castro
7) “No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength.” – Jack Kerouac
8) "It is enough that I am surrounded with beauty." – Everett Ruess
9) “To the desert go prophets and hermits; through deserts go pilgrims and exiles. Here the leaders of the great religions have sought the therapeutic and spiritual values of retreat, not to escape but to find reality.” - Paul Shepard

Only 8 weeks left until I am in Seattle. So strange...
I plan to go to Salta in a few weeks either alone or with people.

A scene out a movie

4-21-10
I woke up. I ate breakfast and studied. I showered then studied more. I took a break to watch Lost. Then I studied more. I dropped off laundry and grabbed my bag and headed to lunch. I studied more. I got on the bus and try to study some more. Around being 3 or 4 minutes away from the school driving, we collided with a car, taking off one its side view mirrors. While the two drivers conversed, I was worried that I wouldn't make it to school in time (though i had like 35 minutes but wanted time to study). So I jumped off the bus and sprinted to school. Luckily I had the right music playing (Pretty Lights), it gave me the energy to move fast. I jumped by people, ran through crossWALKS and jumped over things all in order to school. I was getting stared at by strangers, who probably were like why is this person running? I felt like I was in a movie. A bit epic. I made to school, the ten blocks or so, in five or ten minutes.

There, I relaxed and studied in the cafeteria. I then headed down ten minutes early and studied with people. It was time to take the exam. The first question was what were pros and cons of globalization. I could some what make that up based on discussion and my previous class on globalization. The second question was about the external factors that affect the Latin American economies. I knew some and one spot blank. The next was about Mercosur and its original reasons for existence. Similar as the previous. The big question was about the proposals and suggestions for helping the Latin American economies. I think I did alright but not amazing. I need a 4 to pass but hoping for 6 so I don't have to worry about this stuff on the Final. I then hung out with the four amazing people who run my program here. One who preformed the very crucial duty of cleaning my glasses, since I didn't do a good enough job according to her. We talked about randoms stuff and other people joined us. I had a very delicious freshly squeezed strawberry and orange juice. I also did my Spanish homework.

In Spanish class, we talked more about the future tense and also learned some more grammatical stuff. I then headed home. Less eventful bus ride. At home, I chilled which was nice. Tomorrow evening, I leave for Mendoza but I will post before I leave.

Chau

Changing Directions and Apperances

4-20-10
I woke up in time for breakfast but missed the eggs unfortunately. I ate some cereal before heading back to my room to quickly shower before class. I then headed out. I took the bus with some friends. I chit chated with people before class. In class, we discussed Populism and how it got its rise. It was quite interesting. After class, my friend Mark and I discussed how some of the roads (most are one ways) are changing directions due to a major street becoming a two way. Literally a street will go one way and change the direction the next day. It happened to one of the streets my residencia is on the corner of. I then headed home for lunch.

At lunch, I ate talked to friends about midterms and what not. After, I studied a bit for my econ mid term that I have tomorrow. Ugh. Not really looking forward to it. I then headed out and got a hair cut (you should be happy mom and dad). After, I spent most of the afternoon studying minus a skype date with Abbey. I ate dinner and studied more. Took a break for ice cream. Despite my studying, I am still iffy. This is not my area of expertise so it is having trouble clicking in my mind.