Spring has sprung, finally!
More travels, plus slowing down a bit.
The theme of this newsletter is contrast, mostly between the nonstop chaos of travel and the near-absolute stillness of my life in Rosario, which has proven to be just the break I have been waiting for—to finally be bored here for pretty much the first time.
But before we get to that, first, the chaos (and a banger to go with it):
Travel shenanigans
After saying goodbye to Córdoba, I wasted no time moving, and instead headed straight to travel with my Fulbright friends, first to visit Kelsie in Mar del Plata and then to attempt to ski with India in Las Leñas, outside of Mendoza.
Both places were immensely beautiful, and I was super grateful to spend time with them both, even despite the fact that the snow in Las Leñas was pretty atrocious and long lift lines meant we didn’t get much out of the expensive effort. Instead of staying longer, we visited San Rafael, which turned out to be gorgeous and aaaaalmost made us forget our travel trials.
After just one whirlwind week back in Rosario cramming in interviews left and right, I hit the road again, this time taking an 18-hour bus to Iguazu Falls to kick off a two-week adventure with Suze and Delana, my college friends who came to visit. We spent most of our time in the northern province of Jujuy, taking in the high Andes desert and jungly Calilegua National Park before enjoying Buenos Aires.
Having my besties by my side and getting to share with them the gorgeous landscape of the northern part of the country were huge highlights in my time here, even if they inadvertently causes my first real sense of homesickness since being here!
Finally some peace and quiet (and the return of warm weather)
After all that, I am now back in Rosario, and so far I am loving this city, partly because it’s felt like a vacation from all the chaos and partly just the vibe of the city and the people here, who I instantly have felt connected with. Here’s a song from a band I got to see this past weekend and a celebration of springtime finally arriving in Argentina:
I haven’t taken too many photos of the city yet because it’s generally not safe to have your phone out on the street, but Rosario, more than anywhere else I’ve been so far, really reminds me of Washington, D.C. The city hugs the Paraná River like the Potomac and the ease of getting around makes it super livable here. Vegetables (and good food overall) is also much more accessible, and the city is known for its incredible gelato, which I have been exploring as if it’s my job.
The other Fulbright grantee here India, who has been living in Rosario since we arrived in mid-March, has been a saving grace here so far, introducing me to all her friends and favorite spots in the city and coming with me on my long marathon training runs on Sundays, when the city closes the prettiest main roads and everyone is out enjoying the sunshine.
But after spending a weekend here by myself, I realized I still need to organize activities for myself, and got signed up for yoga and rock climbing once more so that I don’t go stir-crazy this month. I am also super lucky to have a wonderful roommate and a beautiful, relaxing home (with a gorgeous patio) that’s been my sanctuary in the city.
I am also really enjoying my frisbee practices here so far as they’re super organized and I feel as though the level of play is the perfect amount of challenging, especially as I am getting stronger from marathon training.
My research here is chugging along (more on that next update), and I feel much more prepared to make inroads and wrap my head around the topic with Córdoba under my belt and my Spanish more than functional, although I am struggling a bit with the Rosarino accent since they tend to drop the “s” in words, making them blend together.
Mostly, I am celebrating the springtime weather (I am not normally prone to seasonal depression but skipping summer entirely this year has definitely gotten to me) and have already found that sipping mate and reading by the river, which is just two blocks from my house, is going to be my go-to move! Here’s some ambient noise from an afternoon I spent reading in the sunshine by the river.
Now for the photos of food, which has been a highlight for me in the city (not pictured, but they sell sourdough, pickles AND greek yogurt here!!!)
