Posten Nr. 6

me shamo Natalie Casteshanos... (Rotary; Argentina; 2010; 'un viaje al rededor del mundo y a traves del tiempo.')

View more presentations from guest418f5a.

Check it! (Above!) (That's the presentation I am giving at the Rotary clubs here in BAires. Minus my dazzling oratory, obviously – ha ha, I jest!)

I am thrilled to report that I finally gave my first Rotary presentation this evening, at the Rotary Club of Villa del Parque. I went to the meeting with my friend and fellow becaria (as we Rotary scholars are affectionately called), Thiana. Villa del Parque is Thiana's host club, and her sponsor Rotarian, Willy, is President. Thiana and I rode colectivo 110 from my apartment in Recoleta for a solid hour before we arrived in Buenos Aires' suburban barrio, Villa del Parque. We met up with Willy and his genial wife, Liliana, at their spacious home and then made our way, via taxi, to the meeting several blocks away.

Tonight's meeting was particularly unique, I was informed, not only because Thiana and I were present, but also because they were celebrating Rotarians' birthdays for the months of enero, febrero y marzo, and because the wives of the Rotarians – la Rueda – were going to be present as well. Rotary in Argentina, as Liliana bluntly informed me, is 'muy machista.' Most clubs are comprised only of men and some clubs go so far as to prohibit women from being members. That's why la Rueda exists, so the women have an equal opportunity to contribute to Rotary's global goodwill. Liliana is very active in la Rueda – she gave Thiana and me a detailed account of their work in local hospitals, as well as their various charitable undertakings, en route to the Rotary meeting.

The Villa del Parque meeting was – as one of the women at my table who informed me she had attended Rotary meetings all around the world put it – 'muy parecida a' the Rotary meetings in other parts of the world. I confirm that the meeting was, indeed, muy parecida a the meetings I have had the pleasure of visiting in my sponsor district, the great District 6930 ('donde tenemos las frutas citricas mas sabrosas, las playas mas hermosas, el unico Parque Nacional de los Everglades, huracanes famosos y, sobre todo, los Rotarios mas simpaticos').

The dinner meeting commenced at the early-by-Argentine-dining-standards time of 9:30 p.m. Like most Rotary meetings, the agenda was packed with news, discussion of upcoming events, guest speakers (Thiana and myself included!) and the spare moments were consumed by enjoying the rather tasty 3-course meal. The Rotarians were enthusiastic, hospitable and were genuinely interested in knowing Thiana and myself. All in all, it was a fantastic evening with the Rotarians of District 4890 and I look forward to making many more Rotary memories and forging many more Rotary friendships during my time in Buenos Aires.



Beyond the Rotary fun, my days are generally bursting with beautiful sights, delicious foods, inspiring encounters and gratitude-evoking experiences. Por ejemplo, last week I had the opportunity to go on a basically impromptu trip down to the southern part of Patagonia (From Mr. Wikipedia: 'Patagonia is a geographic region containing the southernmost portion of South America. Located in Argentina and Chile, it comprises the southernmost portion of the Andes mountains to the west and south, and plateaux and low plains to the east.') to the cities of El Calafte and El Chalten. I went with fellow becaria, Rachel, my friend from UF, Joy (a teacher for 2, going on 3, years here in BAires) and a male friend, with the patience of a saint, Grant (also a teacher here in BAires). The 4 of us spent 3 magical days hiking and basking in the unbelievable splendor of Mother Nature's gems – majestic, prodigious glaciers and grand, awe-inspiring mountain peaks.





Back in Buenos Aires, things are fine and dandy, as is the norm in my life these days. I've had the chance to hit up some great art installations at galleries and exhibition spaces all around the city, have seen some decent live music, and have been brought to the brink of flavor-induced euphoria on well over a dozen occasions (maybe I am weird... but. the. food. is. so. good. here.).

A chance encounter with an Italian diplomat (at the cafe at Fundacion Proa in La Boca) led me to an apartment-converted-to-yoga-palace for one of the best-all-around yoga experiences I have ever had in my 10 years of inconsistent yoga practice. One timid step through the nondescript apartment door and into the warm glow of incense and oil infused air and I knew I had found the yoga studio I was seeking. 'When the student is ready, the teacher will be found.' Truth.

BAires is starting to feel like home, sort of. Well, a really, really awesome version of 'home.' Is it boastful to candidly recognize how awesome my circumstances are right now? Because my circumstances are really, really awesome right now. I guess I say it not to impress you, dear reader-friend, but rather to impress upon you just. how. GRATEFUL. I. am. I feel blessed, fortunate, appreciative for this, for being in this amazing city, with this amazingly generous Rotary scholarship, charged with the task of making friends and pursuing my dreams.

I guess I suggest that BAires is starting to feel like 'home' because my days are slowly becoming routinized and novelty is subtly being eroded by the mundane. My friend Ryan (the only other North American law student at la UBA, self-designated member of 'Team (Latin) America' – it's supposed to be a pun on 'Team America' – after years of working in Panama) pointed out to me that one of the most fulfilling pieces of the experience of living abroad is the fact that seemingly mundane acts, in a foreign environment, are challenging, exciting, thrilling even. There's a lot of veracity in his insight. Admittedly, most of my days are filled with mundane tasks and activities, but each one can easily be characterized as 'challenging,' 'exciting' or 'thrilling.'

Por ejemplo, yesterday, walking through the rain to catch colectivo 59 to Belgrano to meet Thiana for lunch was challenging (slippery pavement + I missed my stop and had to back track some 10 blocks); lunch with Thiana was thrilling (I ate a really delicious salad and was exposed to a fabulous new restaurant); later in the afternoon I met up with a pseudo-acquaintance-turned-friend, Lewis, for tea, and that was exciting (because new friends are always exciting and I really love tea that much); then I went to class and that was exciting (because it's an interesting topic, International Refugee Law, duh!); then I went to the yoga palace for an exciting, thrilling, challenging end to my day. Enough of that. I think you get the point.

I believe I've lived in Buenos Aires for something like 6 weeks now. Wow! I can't tell if that is a long time or a short time. 'Time moves slowly and passes quickly.' There's a lot of wisdom contained in Alice Walker's aphorism (it's actually a line from 'The Color Purple').

As always, I am looking forward to writing you, cherished reader-friend, some more and will likely do so within the next 12 days... . . .

By the way, on a concluding note, I am not sure who reads this. And, perhaps you, dear reader-friend that reads these verbose posts, also share with me this nagging sense of isolation . . . ? I feel like I am writing to everyone and to no one, all at the same time. (If I feel it, you too must feel it.) I don't know, I guess I am fishing for feedback. It's cool if I don't get any, I still like you guys, a lot. Plus, I have a feeling I know, more or less, who makes it this far anyway. (What's up, Mom and Dad!)

Un abrazo fuerte : )