Tomorrow, tomorrow

After what has seemed like years of anticipation, I am finally leaving the Midwest tomorrow morning. I am spending four months in Buenos Aires, Argentina studying with the SIT Southern Cone study abroad program. SIT is an independent study abroad program provider that "bridges cultures and transforms lives" according to the website. You can find more info here: http://www.worldlearning.org/ssa_ard.htm. My program focus is regional integration and political and economic development in the Southern Cone of South America. I will be staying with a host family and taking field trips to Brazil and Paraguay or Uruguay. During the last month of the program I will be researching my independent study project and living in an as-yet-undetermined locale in Buenos Aires.

I have been home since the end of December making this the longest winter break on record. In retrospect my time was well spent: I worked for 6 weeks, saw Obama speak twice (and SHOOK HIS HAND...it was magical), and saw loads of family and friends.

It is 9:50pm and I still need to pack my suitcase. My flight leaves from Minneapolis at 7am which means I have an ungodly early wake-up hour. I arrive in Miami at 11:30am and wait to check in for my next flight until....6pm. Oh joy! The group flight to Argentina is at 9pm and then I (finally) arrive in BA at 9am! There is a four-hour time difference between Minnesota and Argentina which equates to an 8-hour flight tomorrow night. All of these numbers are making my head spin.

I know this semester will be challenging and difficult but I could not be more excited to go. When I come back to the States I want to say that I regret nothing from my travels. I want to meet locals, experience city nightlife, go to soccer (fútbol) matches, travel to wine country, fall in love with the infamously delicious beef, work my tail off with my seminars, and enjoy every minute of life in Argentina. Take care everyone and I'll update when I can! Hasta luego, Erin