GOODBYE BUENOS AIRES; Chile Journals

JANUARY 18^TH BUENOS AIRES AIRPORT 4 AM

So I’m leaving to go back to Chile’. I’m not excited. In fact, I’m rather ****ing sad. Buenos Aires was great. No guy jacking off on my leg. The men here were more than respectful and I made a new friend, PLYMOUTH.

I could read this in 2 months and go who? PLYMOUTH who? But for the two days spent, well, he was my buddy. We agreed to keep in touch… which if life has taught me anything, only means what you make it.

I left K in Buenos Aires. She flies out tomorrow—well technically today. Her flight was full for this afternoon so I had to take the freaking 5 am flight back. Yuck—AND ALONE! With no translator… D and K have been lifesavers for that.

She’s lucky though, she gets to sleep and see more of Buenos Aires. I haven’t slept yet. Yes I am tired. It’s 4 a.m.

I leave for the states in less than a week! I am excited and nervous. What if I just fall back into my old bullshit? Not studying for the GRE—not applying myself—OMG  NOT TRAVELING! What?!

I would love to go back to Buenos Aires! Never forget that!

Now that I’ve lived in Chile I fear I don’t really like it or at least not Valparaiso. The place I desperately wanted to live is a place I am desperate to get away from now. That’s how it goes…

But what am I doing? What did I learn? Why did I do this? I moved to Chile because it was “home” and I loved it so much when I came in September… it’s not what I thought. It’s so much harder than I expected… and I’ve been told it’s because I live in Valparaiso and it would be different in Vina—because it’s a city with money and more access to things… They say Vina is more like the US.

I am just a weenie. A tired weenie.

Oh, I would like to continue my travels before I leave South America! Like Mendoza and Northern Chile’ but I am dangerously close to outta moola which means outta luck my friend.

Otherwise, in Buenos Aires I saw the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Malba! Such a fantastic place! It puts our Walker Modern Art Museum to shame! I saw the Campbell Cans and Edie Sedgwick and Marilyn! It was amazing and I felt like I was really experiencing something.

I ended up in a jazzercise class too! In the middle of a freaking street! Kicked my ass it did! I was so into it though that I accidentally smacked a lady right in the face. She sat down right after. PLYMOUTH said I crushed her spirit but I think she was just tired. Besides, she wasn’t getting it—and that’s why I accidentally smacked her—she wasn’t keeping up. The music was so 1970’s disco! It pumped me up to hear English music!

I ran around the botanicals and the zoo—meditated by a pond—watched a dog jump into the pond chasing a stick over and over again.

My hostel was fantastic! Dormitory style called the Palermo House! I met so many people—so many Dutch people now that I think about it.

I forgot to tell you about BOLOGNA! He’s my travel buddy—though some would say he’s just a plastic toy from a chocolate candy—but I say, “phish” to that. Now Chongo doesn’t have to be alone—he’s got Bologna (and cheese.)