The trip there

Suddenly I feel so small. This is something that I wanted to do. To be isolated from everyone I know and love is difficult. The day and a half it took me to get here got me thinking about life and love and I realized that I am not isolated from everyone I know and love, I have their memories. I get to discover a new culture and love it. Susana and family have taken me and I already feel like part of the family and I know I am going to love this life style. It is family centered. At noon everyone goes home for an hour and a half to eat lunch with their family. I have not had a chance to explore the city yet. I slept in late today woke up ate a marvelous meal and drank some wine then coffee with the family. I met “Maria” the grandmother. (That is not her real name) She is the legal representative of the school. I love this woman already. We sat for an hour over coffee nerding out talking about educational issues until Susana told me that I need to go and write everyone to let them know I am ok. She says that despite what you think they are not “Indians” and they live a modern way life. She also sends her best to everyone who read this.

I need to vent about the airline service. Before I left I was joking with Katie about how I was probably going to be sitting next to geriatrics, obese smelly people, and screaming children on my flights to Tucuman. All of which I can proudly say came true. From Chicago to Miami I sat next to geriatrics. I had to buckle his seat belt for him and open his wine but one good thing came out of this. Wine, he purchased a bottle for me and we talked about his life. The man sells boxes that all I can say about it. By looking at him I thought he was going to up and die next to me but he was rather humorous during the flight. On the 9 hour trip I sat next to obesities that smelt of poo. This was terrible; his maness was folding over the armrest and sweating on me. However his wife was gorgeous, I didn’t understand. Three hours into the flight he switched spots with his child who used my arm as a pillow for the entire trip, I didn’t mind. From Buenos Aires to Tucuman the child in front me screamed non stop. I did notice if you want to be a flight attendant a combination of the following must be in place; terrible grey teeth, mustache, mud flap, 4 inch plus fingernails, long braided hair of many colors, or a very greasy persona.

I wrote seven pages in my journal yesterday but you don’t need to know it all. What you need to know is that I had a very happy birthday. I feel comfortable and welcome with this family in Tucuman. I am here to do something that I love. And I miss my dork. A lot!