Omnibuses and Schedules

For Christmas vacation, my friends and I traveled pretty much all over Argentina. I’ve been to Patagonia region, the mountains of Chile and back to the Pampa of Argentina. One thing I have found is that no matter the plans that you make, they’re probably not gonna go according to planned.

This Christmas vacation, we had planned all the buses out that we were going to take. I think only 2 actually worked out. The others we had to improvise, which worked, but threw our schedule off just a couple hours each day.

I learned to be flexible with the people I travel with. I’m a natural born leader. It kinda comes with being a first-born. But this trip, I just had to take the reigns. It was frustrating at times because I didn’t want to lead. I just wanted to chill and have someone else make the decision as to what we were doing. I think I upset some people. Sometimes I wasn’t the nicest, but that kinda comes with the job.

Overall, it was a good vacation. I’m finding that I really enjoy Argentina. Even though the food is really different and I’m still getting used to it, it was so much better than Chile. I even still really like the Villa. Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere and there’s not a whole lot to do, I find that I enjoy the simplicity of it all. I feel my mind is most creative because I have to entertain myself.

I’m here in Buenos Aires at the airport waiting for Krista’s family to arrive. Mine comes in two days. I have to say that I’m super excited to see them. I’m super blessed to be able to spend some time with them in “my” country. I want them to see what I’ve accomplished so far and what the culture is that I’m living in for these next 4-5 months. It’ll be hard to say goodbye, but I’m excited for what’s to come.

So as the end of this month wraps up and a new year begins, I just want to thank everyone for their support and friendship. It literally has meant the world to me even though we’re on different continents. Being down here has taught me to be grateful for everything that I have. Yesterday, we were sitting in a McDonalds in Rosario waiting for our bus for a couple hours and there were little boys handing out cards. These little boys were so dirty and looked so helpless, but I knew that I couldn’t do anything. It’s sad to say that there are so many people in this world who have little to nothing and yet they are some of the happiest people in the world. I have encountered some of those people, I live with some of those people. Argentina is a different world. Yes, I miss the United States, but I know that I’m down here to learn so much more about myself and the potential that I have. It’s rough at times and I just wish that I could be home, but I’m so thankful to be here and to be around the people I am.

You hear it many times about not taking things for granted, but seriously: Don’t take anything you have for granted because one day when you don’t have it, you’ll realize all that you’re missing.