The Cure for the Buenos Aires Big City Blues

Ayer fue un dia terrible, horrible, no bueno, y muy mal.

Just kidding...I'm not going to write in Spanish, though I REALLY need to practice. I kind of stink at it...eeek! But to translate, yesterday was a "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" (to quote the title of the childrens book about Alexander and his very bad day). I won't go into the details but I will say I cried for an hour and a half with mi madre (Bibi). I was just exhausted, very very scared of Buenos Aires and the things that happen in big cities like this after the first day of orientation and I think I was missing home a good bit too.  I didn't realize that I'm kind of a small town girl!

BUT TODAY WAS SO MUCH BETTER!! Three great things happened today that cured my big city blues (for the time being):

1. I bought un teléfono!!
It is terribly important that I have one here, Buenos Aires being such a big city. Bibi wants me to be able to call her and tell her where I am...just like any mom does. And I want to be able to connect with students from my program so that we can explore together. Isn't it strange to think about the world before cellphones? How did people communicate? Danggg...we're SO fortunate to have that luxury! Anyway, I bought a pay as you go phone and only paid 100 pesos (25 dollars)!! That's the best deal that anyone in the program has gotten yet! Wahooo!

2. THEN, the craziest thing happened. I was walking home by myself 14 blocks (still scared of "el colectivo" or bus), when I ran into my friend Gabby. Gabby goes to UNC and is in Tri-delt! She has been studying in Buenos Aires since February and I didn't even know she was here. We ran into each other on a street called Santa Fe and as you can imagine, we were both really surprised to see each other. She asked me to go to a coffee shop with her and we sat and chatted for almost 2 hours. She gave me all kinds of tips, showed me how to read a map and how to get to where I need to be tomorrow AND the next day! We sipped café con leche and ate sandwiches; it was faaabulous. I told her today that she was truly a gift from God. In my terrified state, I needed a friend who knows the ropes and could speak to me in English about this place. I don't know why I worry and can be so impatient with the Lord. He has me in the palm of his hand and wants what is best for me and boy does He work in mysterious ways.

For the past few days I have been praying Psalm 86 and have been really encouraged by how God is constantly loving, PROTECTING, and pursuing me. The beginning of the Psalm says:

"1 Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need you help.
2 Protect me for I am devoted to you.
Save me for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God."

Whew...AMEN!

3. And the last piece of the cure for the big city blues? Gabby took me on el subte!!
El subte is the subway and you know how scary it can be to venture down into those subway tunnels in New York! We only rode from  one stop to another but that cut out 8 blocks of walking and after walking probably about 6 miles today while wandering, I needed a break! Now I'm not quite as scared of and confused by the subway AND I bought an extra ticket to use the next time I need to ride the subte so I can pass go! That will definitely come in handy!

Anyway, thanks for reading! I love you guys!
Praising God for a better day,
Katy

 

Mama Bibi and the House of Many Treasures

I'm here nowwwww...I made it to Buenos Aires safe and sound! In the taxi cab with driver Victor (who got a couple good laughs at my first attempts to find my linguistic footing) my heart was pounding out of my chest. I didn't know what my home stay was going to look like, how I was going to get inside, and exactly who would be waiting for me there. We spun around corners nearly sideswiping numerous other drivers, stopping and starting abruptly (and you know how I get a little car sick just riding around in Chapel Hill....eek). We pulled up in front of my apartment building and I clambered up the front steps and looked back at Victor, wide eyed. There was a big gold panel with a buzzer and lots of buttons one of which would call Bibi's apartment. But being a  relatively small town girl (compared to the ciudad GRANDE)...I've only seen those things in movies. Victor did his thing, called for Bibi and before I knew it I was shoved into a tiny elevator headed up to the 7th floor.

Then, I entered the house of many treasures!

Sidenote: I just told Bibi the title of my first blog post...she looooved it. And insisted that I say "tesoros antiguos" to let you all know these are ANTIQUES and this stuff is reeeal.

Here are a few pictures:

 According to Bibi, these beauuutiful, intricate pieces on the left are handmade from the colonial era in Argentina! And on the right are antique botellas. (Mom: they reminded me of the ones at the Seagate store...should have brought her one!)



This is a poster from New York during the time of Coco Chanel. Bibi has a few of these pieces and is fascinated with the fashion.

 This is una abanico antiguo (antique handheld fan) and Bibi says it is more than 250 years old!



Anyway, Bibi took me to my room and I got settled in as she whipped up some pasta with daaaank homemade sauce. We sat down to lunch together and she told me stories about all of the pieces on the walls in her sweet little home. She served me lots of food and I'm thinking that's going to be a trend. She looked dejected when she asked me if one piece of bread would be all that I would be eating...so much for shedding a few lbs. meh.

Going into this adventure, I felt very alone and prayed that the Lord would prepare my heart to be ok with that and to press into him amidst my lonliness. I'm normally not afraid to take a leap of faith but for some reason my nerves were getting the best of me and a cried so darn much before leaving the US...(i guess that's no surprise really...). I pleaded with God to help me to trust his divine purpose for me here.

I know He sent Bibi.
She has a warm presence and has welcomed me with open arms already. I'm excited to explore and make friends my age of course but if anything I know that I have a home away from home to return to. As she and I walked home tonight, arm in arm, I thanked God for the sweet new friend I have in Bibi and her house of many "tesoros antiguos".