Yep, I’m still here! I know it’s been awhile. I returned to Buenos Aires yesterday after two great weeks in the U.S. The first week I was in Omaha at our Word Made Flesh offices helping with some new staff training, as well as further envisioning and defining my role as Coordinator of Formation for our community. The bonus was good times catching up with O-Town friends in between it all! The second week I met up with my parents and grandma for a week of vacay in Virginia. Why Virginia? Well, it was one of the nicest timeshare units available on short notice. It was a fun and special time with my family (although we sure missed my sister & co.!). It was especially meaningful to be with my mom after all her chemo and radiation treatments these past nine months.
So, after being away for a couple weeks I am overdue for my next favorite thing about living in Buenos Aires. Today, as I was out and about running some errands, I was quickly reminded how much I love my neighborhood of La Boca, specifically, the street where I live! I love that it is common for me to greet people on my street within a few block radius. Whether it is the owners of the restaurant a couple doors down, the older men who sit in front of their homes to people watch all day, the men who are homeless and recycle to earn some money, the managers who run the local store, or the young guys who work down the street hustling the tourists to eat in the restaurants just a block away…it is always fun to recognize and greet people along my regular walking route in my La Boca hood.
In addition, I love that I live within walking distance to the Forcatto family and the Dean family. I love that on futbol game days I can hear the roar of Boca Junior fans from the “Bombonera” stadium about five blocks away. I love the way neighbors hang out on the streets sharing mate or cerveza. I love the trees that line my street and the way the leaves change with the seasons. I love the drum lines that often beat their drums and dance past my apartment. I love that if I listen closely I can hear tango music being played in the tourist areas just a couple blocks away.
And the list goes on and on with things I love about my neighborhood. It is always super hard to say goodbye to family and friends in the U.S.! But, I am grateful that I can return to an apartment and neighborhood that feels like home!
To check out my favorite things #1, 2, & 3 (in no particular order of importance)...click below.
#1 – Fiestas!
#2 – Walking in the City!
#3 – Mate!
More to come...
