Dear American Airlines,
You've hurt me before. Those delays in June and all that running to catch connecting flights - I didn't need that. So when you went and canceled my lovely nonstop flight from JFK to Buenos Aires, I thought it was over between us. I didn't think you'd ever make it up to me. But then I got to Miami and discovered that I'd been upgraded to business class. Tired and shocked, I settled into my seat, with more leg room than I could ever use, a nice little kit containing everything from socks to toothpaste, and a charming flight attendant offering champagne... and I knew things were going to be okay. It was sometime between my tasty salmon dinner and drifting off to sleep in my comfy reclining seat with the footrest fulling raised that I realized I wasn't ready to let you go, American Airlines. You've more than made things up to me. And I know you might hurt me again, but for now, I'm willing to give you another chance. Especially if you keep giving me chocolate ice cream and free booze.
Love,
Becca
So I'm here, in Buenos Aires. Things are off to a great start so far. There are about 120 people on my program, so I've met a lot of people and learned/forgotten a lot of names already. I really like pretty much everyone I've met. There are a few Wesleyan students who I didn't know before but already we've gone off into various Wesleyan-exclusive conversations and I think we're going to have fun together. Tonight the whole group (everyone who's here so far; a bunch of people haven't arrived yet--I think the crash in Sao Paolo messed with a lot of people's itineraries) went out for dinner at this huge restaurant with an extensive buffet, which was great. Afterward I went out wandering with a bunch of people but came back here after a little while, having decided that since I have five months to go out and I have to get up early for orientation tomorrow, I might as well take it easy for tonight. (As I'm typing this, people keep coming in and (re)introducing themselves - I'm in the lobby and everyone's psyched about free wireless.)
General first impressions: I am excited to get to know this city, to find out how the run-down Latin American buildings I'm used to seeing in other countries collide with European tastes and architecture to create the unique culture of Buenos Aires. So far it does feel like other South American cities--kind of. (Sidenote: I am now surrounded by other American girls trying to use the wireless. Did I mention the male-female ratio in CIEE is about 1:10?*) My Lonely Planet Guidebook has more or less sold Buenos Aires to me as the sexiest city ever, full of attractive, well-dressed people with plenty of passion and personality. Intimidating? Yes. Intriguing? We'll see.
Tomorrow, orientation begins bright and early, and speaking English ends. Should be fun...
*totally a guess, but I don't think it's too far off
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Becca! You've brought me right back to the beginning of my semester abroad: flights, the endless parade of names, hotel lobbies, and anticipation. Aaaah it's gonna be great.
Becca, You are so amazing you fearless traveller!!
Talking about your sense of direction reminded me of that fateful day when you and sam, michael and alex got lost in your "backyard. You have come a long way!!! Just got back from visiting U of FL in Gainesville with Alex. A beautiful campus and the guy were really cute. Thought the girls were also quite acceptable looking. We got lost because uncle marc insisted on inputing our info into the GPS in my car. I had the info all printed out from mapquest and if I had done it that way I never would have gotten an 11/2 iuir delalyed. He put in a way stop for another school in Orlando that we were thinking of looking at but didn't and the GPS insisted on taking us to Gaineesville by way of Orlando. It was such an adventure that I wish I could have missed. But it worked out and it just goes to show that it is better to follow your intuition and simple directions rather than all of these fancy new gadgets that just complicate life.
Anywar by now you probably know everyone in your group. Just watch out for those sexy latin guys. when I was single I had several experiences with them. They ar efun but not to be trusted.
Love, aunt lisa
Post a Comment