I didn't really go into this weekend with many plans, but it ended up being awesome anyway (as weekends here usually do). But now it's Monday so BOOOOO. At around 1am Friday night I decided to join my amigos on a day-trip to Rosario, which is about a 4-hour bus ride north of BsAs and is known for birthing 2 things: the Argentinian flag and Che Guevara. Took pictures in front of the sign outside of the apartment where Che Guevara's parents lived when he was born. Turns out there isn't much else going on in Rosario, but it's right along a river, so we bought a few bottles of vine and spent practically the whole day outside in the fabulous weather. For me it was a much needed break from Buenos Aires AND it was only about $40 for bus fare there and back. Long naps on the bus, good company, good food... not too bad for a last-minute trip.

I got a little down today- possibly because I'm incredibly tired from getting back from Rosario at like 6am- but mostly because feeling uncomfortable and out-of-my-element all of the time gets really old. I never thought this was going to be easy, but I did think it'd be easier to adapt than it has been; I'm still so self-conscious about my spanish and nowhere near as outgoing as I'd like to think I am. But at the same time, I've already done and seen things I'd never imagined doing...so ultimately every second of it has been worthwhile. I think I can be a little too hard on myself sometimes, and it takes quiet days like today to remind myself that it's perfectly normal to miss Abbey and country music and Sonic and my puppy as much as I do. Those are the things I know and make me feel good, so there really isn't a reason why I can't miss them. Dad asked me today if I would want to come home if given the chance and the answer is no... I don't want to go home. This semester is rockin' so far! I keep having to remind myself that this isn't a vacation and that I'm supposed to be doing my homework and studying or whatever, but then again, my classes only transfer back as pass/fail so as long as I get a C... I just know that next semester is going to be rough trying to finish up and graduate, so I'm treating this one as a little break. Which is why I'm doing things like skipping Argentine Literature next week to go to the Argentina/Spain game. Time is flying by here and I just keep thinking about how when I look back on these months I'm not going to wish I had studied more, I'm going to wish I had skipped studying to do something awesome instead. And eaten more alfajores.

But you know me, I can never fully stop thinking about the foreseeable future... which is why I literally cannot stop thinking about doing an honors thesis next semester on "the students of 1968 in global comparison." One of my professors sparked this idea for me a while back and I'm looking for a way to incorporate Argentina into my thesis, possibly as an example of a movement that resembles those of 1968 but was delayed because of the numerous coups and political repression in Argentina during those years. Honestly I could go on and on (as I already have to a few people here, which I'm sure they're sick of)...but we'll see what happens. I should probably get through this semester of intensive spanish classes first!

Ah, I'm such a nerd. Buenas noches!