A Little Bug's World

Farewell Buenos Aires

2009-07-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write my "farewell Buenos Aires" entry for quite sometime but for some reason, I've never been motivated to acutally sit down and write one. I don't know if it's because I'm surrounded by everthing that's Chicago...family, friends, and yummy vegan food or because I had a love/hate relationship with the city that's called "the Paris of South America." Whatever the reason, it was this article-Journeys: Buenos Aires Spotlights It's Cafes, in The New York Times that made me start typing away.

-So, here I am at almost two o'clock in the morning at work nonetheless (for all of those who don't know, I'm back to working as a pediatric nurse . . .and don't worry, all my patients are sound asleep, well taken care of, while I'm wrting this entry) writing my blog entry-

I started my work night off as usual, a couple of vital signs, a couple of medications, some chit chat, and some reading. I started skimming the New York Times online for any interesting arcticles. Lo and behold, there was an article that caught my eye and it had do with Buenos Aires. Since Jackson and I called BsAs home for almost a year, it was only natural that I'd read up about the Argentine cafes. The article mentioned a couple of well-known Argentine cafes, Las Violetas, Cafe Tortoni. This wasn't what struck me to start writing though. The picture slide was the real reason. Seeing the pictures brought back so many memories, good, beautiful memories. I never thought I would say this but there are times that I truely miss Buenos Aires. I miss the get togethers with all my wonderful friends. I miss walking around Palermo at night with Jackson coming home from Spring, watching people eating, drinking and laughing in the restaurants. I miss sipping mate from one of Jackson's many gourds, while sitting at the park. I miss our little apartment on Goritti with the old man down stairs who criticized me for not walking Zoe for a longer time. I miss the people on the streets at 3 in the morning just chatting away while taking puffs from their cigarettes. I miss my favorite stores...my favorite spot for licuados and tea. I miss my stay at home mom role (minus the kids). I miss my stress free life. My life that involved mingling, mate and medialunas...the three "M's".

There are definitely things that I absolutely hated about BsAs but I won't mention them. I want this entry to be about the reasons why I loved BsAs. I've bitched and complained too many times about my dislikes. This entry is my beautiful memory.

For anyone who truely knows me, I really came out of my shell while in BsAs. I feel that my experience there helped me grow in so many, many ways. BsAs was my initiation to adulthood. Although I was super happy to leave BsAs, as I look back, I can honestly say that I do not regret one moment. BsAs will for always be the greatest adventure of my life that I'm happy to have shared with mi gran amor, Jackson.

Cookies and Milk

2009-03-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

As we enter the middle of March, I can't help but think that spring is around the corner...around the corner, back home that is. As for Buenos Aires, today's down pour made me think of fall. After weeks and weeks of hot and humid weather, it was nice to feel a cooler breeze and a few rain drops on my sleeve.

Because it was raining cats and dogs for awhile today, Jackson and I decided to stay home. We had a nice quite day. While Jackson did his usual (writing), I continued working on my current project...cooking. Today though instead of coming up with dinner, I concentrated on my favorite meal of the day...dessert!! I found a fairly easy recipe for thumbprint cookies on vegancookies.wordpress.com which turned out great. This was my second time baking vegan cookies and I'd have to say that the second time around was better. The important thing is that Jackson enjoyed the cookies. He took a break from his writing and grabbed a glass of milk with a plate of cookies...I still have a lot of practicing to do but when it comes to cookies I'm more than happy to devote a lot of time.

It's Not Mac n' Chesse

2009-03-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I have been keeping away from doing "nothing" by coming up with projects. This week, I've been reading more about vegan cooking and baking and trying out some fun recipes. I have to say being vegan in this city is quite the challenge but I make do with what I have. Sadly, I haven't been able to try some awesome recipes because I'm not within arms reach of a blender or a food processor. True, I could purchase a blender and make my life as a vegan a lot easier but in today's economic crisis, I don't want to invest in a blender that I will have to leave behind when I return to the US. So, I work my way around the recipes I find and stick mainly to ones, where I can replace or omit ingredients and/or kitchenware.

Being devoted green, healthy vegans, Jackson and I wanted to continue our custom of buying organic produce. Not willing to give this up, Jackson began researching and found a place in Buenos Aires that delivers organic produce to your door...El Rincón Orgánico was heaven sent. One thing I noticed though, after receiving our biweekly box of organic produce for a couple of months was that one food item ALWAYS seemed to pop up. What do you ask?....squash. Here is where making do with what I have at hand comes into play. Having never made squash before, I had to find recipes where I could use it. Thankfully, I found lots of recipes, most of which required a blender but after more browsing I found one recipe in particular that was fairly easy and super yummy. Today, I made Butternut Squash Macaroni Casserole....and it was delicious! Jackson said it was a good replacement for Mac n' Cheese...what does that mean?...well, he loved it!A very orangey butternut squashThe finished project!!

From nothing to Projects

2009-03-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

I've been asked many times since I've been in Buenos Aires "What are you doing down there? What have you been up to?" In the beginning, my honest answer was "nothing." However, the more I heard myself saying "nothing," the more I realized that I was selling myself short. It's true to what is life in the United States, I am doing nothing. I'm not going through a monotonous routine of work, home, dinner, sleep, work, home, dinner, sleep. It has taken a while for me to get used to the fact that I don't have my broken record lifestyle of the same old shit, although there are definitely times where I crave my old routine. Now, my lifestyle is more seasonal; it changes. One day, I'll go visit the Chacarita cemetary and on another day I'll do nothing but fiddle on the internet at home. Regardless of what it is, I have been experiencing life differently. I try to make my experienece living abroad a not "nothing" answer....(and the optimal word here is TRY). Here are a few things that I've been doing since my arrival in BsAs:

1) try to gain some insight on Erika...not an easy task...looking inside is easier said than done.
2) try to figure out what I really want in life...which is a very big topic that includes career, school, happiness, love, family etc...this could take a long time to figure out...
3) try not to worry so much about things I can't change or about things that haven't happened...again easier said than done....
4) cooking....I've done lots of cooking while in Buenos Aires. I made it my mission to keep Jackson and me on track with our vegetarian/vegan diet. And since Jackson worked all the time, the least I could do was prepare yummy meals for us.
5) drawing...I've recently started drawing again...I have to say, I forgot drawing was one of my favorite hobbies.

These are just a few things that I've been working on. Given these little tid bits, I guess I can't say that I do nothing while I'm living in Buenos Aires. As my good Australian friend said "tell everyone who asks what you're doing that you're finishing up on a project and that you're planning on your next project." So next time someone asks me "What have you been up to in BsAs?, I will say "I'm working on a couple of projects."

So here, I share with you a couple of my projects...mostly food:) (some recipes are from Veganomicon Cookbook)Vegan: messy rice

Vegan: curried lentilsVegan: spaghetti with TVPVegan: chocolate, rasberry cookiesVegan: quinoa with chickpeasVegan: pancakes

Vegetarian: cauliflower patties

-Lulu

Zoe

In the Clear

2009-02-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

It has definitely been a long time since I've written in my blog and I have no reason for it, except perhaps laziness and lack of inspiration. Just yesterday though I was given reason, a scary reason...all because of a handful of raisins.

Saturday night, Zoe got hold of half a piece of budín (which is a pastry some where between bread and cake). Zoe has never before climbed on tables but Saturday night she jumped on to the coffee table and ate the half. Normally, I wouldn't freak out but I just recently discovered that raisins and walnuts are toxic for dogs. And, the piece Zoe had had both. I did my research Saturday night after Zoe inhaled what she thought was her dessert and learned that raisins can lead to acute renal failure....YIKES!! Naturally, I was scared for my poor pooch but that night she experienced no signs of toxicity.
Vomiting is one of
the initial signs of grape or raisin toxicity
and can occur within the first 2
hours. Other initial signs that can occur
within the first 5 to 6 hours of exposure
include diarrhea, lethargy, and
polydipsia. Signs of ARF may develop
either within 24 hours or several days
after exposure. Signs of ARF may
include anorexia, lethargy, depression,
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
tremors, and hypovolemia.

It was in the morning, however, when Zoe started throwing up. She threw up a total of 6-8 times each time less and less. I'll spare you the details of her throw up but the first one had whole raisins and walnuts. When I saw this, I thought we were in the clear because she obviously didn't start to digest the raisins but after about the 3rd time throwing up Zoe's legs started shaking. By this time, I was a wreck. I frantically called my cousin who's in veternarian school and she told me that raisins are not toxic. I didn't take her word for it though because online I found A LOT of evidence that proved her otherwise. Since I wasn't about to risk my baby girl's life, I googled 24hr vets and took Zoe in to see one. Unfortunately, the vet Zoe saw had no idea that raisins are toxic to dogs too. All I could think at that moment was "what is wrong with this city?! They haven't heard of raisins being toxic to dogs...my veternarian student cousin says I should give Zoe a bath with dish washing soap...fleas seem to be a regular tenant...and they don't believe on preventative heartworm medication!!" Ahhh! Despite the vet's lack of knowledge on raisins, he was very nice and attentive. He gave Zoe to shots, an anti-emetic and something for her tummy. When we got home, I let poor Zoe rest and kept her NPO (nothing per mouth). Sunday night, I finally gave some water and really, really burnt toast (the charcoal produced in burnt toast is supposed to help absorb the toxicins) . I kept an eye on her the rest of the night and watched out for any more signs of toxicity. Thankfully, we are in the clear. Zoe woke up this morning peed, a lot I might add, and inhaled her plain brown rice. She seems to be her active little self now.

A Time For Change

2008-11-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

(all pictures from the Chicago Tribune)

With the city sky-line in the background, with the building lights gleaming like little stars in the night, with the American flags waving from the hands of the young and old, White and Black, thousands and thousands of people gathered in Grant Park to celebrate an unforgettable moment in our history. I would have loved to be in my hometown to join my fellow Chicagoans yesterday. Even though I'm miles and miles away in Buenos Aires, I've seen (thanks to the wonders of the internet) the celebrations that are taking places ALL OVER the world due to Obama's victory. In Chicago alone, I have never see such excitement and grand celebration since perhaps the Bulls winning their 4th championship. People flocking to the streets and honking horns always reminds me of the Bulls but this time around it wasn't the Most Valuable Player (Michael Jordan) that had people in tears, cheering. No, it was the Most Valuable President, Barack Obama, who had people cheering, crying, and being patriotic. I have never been more proud in my life to be an American and Chicagoan. I never though I'd see people dancing in the street, chanting USA, USA!! I never thought that I'd see people of all colors, races and religions come together to cheer for our first Black president. When has a president drawn crowds of people from cities of the USA to the cities of Europe, Asia and Africa? For once, countries are happy and proud of the USA. For once, countries want to work with our American President to help heal this world. For once, the voices of American people were heard.

The day we elected our first Black President will always be remembered. What a huge step for mankind. This is an image I will for always want to see and remember...two races hand in hand...two races united. Together, the world will stand united.

A Girl's Best Friend

2008-09-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share with everyone a picture of the birthday girl. My little September 11th pooch is 4 today!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Zoe!!!!

A Work in Progress

2008-09-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, there comes a time in your life when you think "What am I supposed to do in my life? Why am I here? Do things really happen for a reason? " In search for these questions, many people find the urge to experience new things, expand their horizons. Some people enroll in a ceramics class, others register for meditative yoga at the Y. Then, there are those who travel. They travel as far as Timbuktu and as close as the backyard to their own home. As for me, I fall into all the these categories. I did all those things in hopes to know myself better, to become really good friends with a very important person...ME.

Two years ago, I was at the worst place I could be, shattered into a million pieces after having my heart broken by an unexpected divorce. At that moment, I had no hope or faith, everything was dark. But as my dad says, "Después de la tormenta siempre viene la calma." This is so very true. It didn't happen in a blink of an eye, but I managed to put myself together and re-introduce myself to ME. Since my crossroad moment of choosing the path of triumph over the path of self-pity, I have made it my duty to challenge myself, to experience new things, to meet new people, to not let fear get in my way of ANYTHING I do, to not take life for granted, but instead to live life to the fullest. Granted, there are times when I don't follow my own suggestions or advice, or anybody else's for the matter. Regardless, it's because I challenge myself that I am here...in Buenos Aires. Before getting here, I went through a lot of obstacles (post-divorce obstacles aside), some harder than others. I quit my job (done with pleasure). I sold my house (done with a little skepticism but very liberating). I said bye to my family and friends....this was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I have never been away from my family for more than a month...so you can only imagine what a withdrawal symptom I'm experiencing. Sometimes, I think that my family has become an addicting drug that I just can't quit. Without my family and with Jackson at work, I find myself trying to tune into ME again. I admit, I'm one of those people who doesn't like being by themselves because I start thinking about everything from A to Z. The truth of the matter is, I NEED to be alone at times, even if it scares the shit out of me. This is the only way I will get to know myself better, the only way I will become at peace with being away from home, the only way I can reconnect with that incredible person named Erika.

Like I said before, overcoming a disillusioned heartache was the first hardest thing I have ever had to do which brought about self-empowerment, growth, independence, healing and reconnection. A true blessing in disguise. Well, the second hardest thing, being away from my family, has led to the same. Of course both situations are different types of sadness. Nevertheless, moments of sadness bring about change. Being away from home is allowing me to grow in more ways than one.

Till this day, I don't have everything put together. I don't have the answers to all my questions. There's still lots of things I have to learn, lots of places left to see and most definitely lots people left to meet and befriend. There is still more self-empowerment and growth. There always is. But that's okay because I like to consider myself a work in progress.

An American Nurse in Argentina

2008-09-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm feeling anxious, nervous, excited and curious all at the same time...where's the Ativan when you need it?!...just kidding. All joking aside, I have all these mixed feelings because I have my very first interview in Buenos Aires. Tomorrow, I will meeting La Matron, in other words the head nurse, of the Hospital Británico. I really have no idea what to expect. My guess is that nursing in Buenos Aires is not the same as in the USA. My fear of being a nurse here is that I'll be doing a lot of ass wiping, aka dirty work. Do nurses in Buenos Aires have the autonomy that nurses in the USA have? In the USA, nurses are pretty much doctors, minus the medical degree. Does this ring true for nurses here as well? I have no idea!! Regardless though, I think working as a nurse in Buenos Aires will be a great experience and will definitely help me with my future goals(I still have to write an entry about my plans for the future).

Aside from tomorrow, on Monday, I have an interview with Sanatorio de la Trinidad en Palermo. I will be meeting with the nursing coordinator of neonatology and pediatrics. This job seems very promising. Although I've heard that the Hospital Británico is one of the best in Buenos Aires, I'm slightly more interested in the hospital in Palermo. For starters, the nursing coordinator seemed to really be interested in my CV. Secondly, it's in Palermo, which makes it easy for me to get to. Lastly and probably the most important factor is that I would be working with kids. Back home, I was a pediatric nurse, so this would be a perfect fit for me. I guess I'll have to make a list of Pros and Cons for both hospitals. One thing is for sure, if I work for the Hospital Británico, I will not be thrilled about wearing an all white nurse's uniform. I'm used to wearing a Sponge Bob Square Pants scrub top with colorful pink pants and of course Crocs. If I'm lucky with both hospitals, I'll have to really think of which hospital suits me best. Hmm, what would Florence Nightingale do?

Side note: (I miss my nursing buddies. Love those girls!)

The Not So Popular Pooch

2008-09-02T18:29:00.001-07:00

It's official, Zoe is no longer the most popular pooch in town. The days of neighbors calling out her name from across the street are long gone as well as her group of doggy friends, like Rodney(the shihtzu),Whimpie(the Golden Retriever), and Larry( the sharpei).

In Buenos Aires, my poor Zoe doesn't have any friends, no dog friends or human friends (she really prefers the human friends). Buenos Aires so far has given her dirty paws with crap stuck them and no attention from passer-byers. Back home, people would get out of cars to play with her. Children would run to her and neighbors would say "hey, there's Zoe!" Zoe doesn't give up, though. She wags her tail like a propeller and bats her eye lashes, every time a porteño walks by her, during her daily walks around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, Zoe has no luck. NO ONE looks her way. I'm flabbergasted!! As the mother to this beautiful shihapoo, I feel bad for little, eager Zoe, when people ignore her and dogs growl at her.

One assumption I have is that porteños are not affectionate with their pets. Unlike in the US, they really don't make a dog a man's best friend. My cousin, who's Argentine, practically shouted at me "Don't treat her (her not Zoe) like a human!!" Could it be that porteños simply own dogs for protection, that they see dogs as simply dogs, an animal? What's wrong with making a dog part of the family? Doesn't humanizing them a bit make them friendlier, loving and happy? I'm not sure what porteños think about dogs but the dogs I've seen are not very friendly. Without fail, all the dogs I've encountered want to bite Zoe. Why is this? She's not aggressive by no means. The dogs are not only mean to Zoe, though. I even saw a small cocker spaniel try to bite an old lady, who wanted to pet his/her head. Are porteño dogs simply not used to affection? Who knows...

I do have to say, though, that old ladies tend to be a little more receptive to Zoe. They won't pet her but they do say "Que linda" with a smile. Today however, a young man stopped me in the street to ask what kind of dog Zoe is. Turns out, the guy has a little girl who wants a dog like Zoe. At least for a moment, the guy made Zoe the most popular pooch and for that, Zoe and I are both thankful.

And now, some pictures of the most popular pooch in Chicago........

Zoe being happy, friendly and loving.

Getting all the love and attention she loves, Zoe could be held like this for hours.

Sleeping with her daddy

Lost in each other eyes.....

Zoe is NBA star in her dreams.

First day home from the hospital...um, I mean pet shop:)
My little Zoe weighing only 4.5 pounds in this picture.

My Cup of Tea

2008-08-22T15:55:00.001-07:00

Since my arrival to Buenos Aires, I have been longing for the teas at Intelligensia, Argo, Dullop, and Café Neo. Surrounded in this city of plain tea, I miss the jasmine tea with honey and soy milk from Intelligensia. I crave a soy chai latte with gingerbread from Argo, especially on the cold winter days in Chicago. As for the summer days in Chicago, the iced chai was just the perfect drink. Finally though, thanks to Tina, Jackson and I have a place in Buenos Aires where we can drink great tea.

On Friday Jackson and I went to El Último Beso, a cute little café in Palermo, set apart from the busier, touristy streets in the neighborhood. The ambiance was relaxing, warm, and bright, definitely a unique place. They had an assortment of tea, all named after famous movies, like Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Cinema Paradiso, to name a few. Of course with names like those, the tea could only be phenomenal. Overall, the entire place was phenomenal. I especially fell in love with the decor, white walls and furniture with a splash of colorful lamps and chairs. Definitely a place my mom would enjoy and not only because of the name. The café says "Ana" in every corner. Hopefully one day she can have her taste of El Último Beso.

The entrance to El Último Beso. I love the black and white contrast. The black iron, against the tall windows, not to mention the white benches.

Jackson posing in front of our new favorite café.

From chandeliers to tall, white doors...
...to victorian china to...

...to a white leather sofa.

Me and Jackson on the white, leather sofa.

What I like to call the Red Room. Again I love the contrasting colors. In this case, the red and the white.

Jackson thinking "We must come here again"

I had to include this picture for Sophia. Fia, I saw this massive add while walking to El Último Beso. Of course, I thought of you instantly and knew you would like to see your name in all its glory.

Ahh little sis, all we need is your face in this magazine:) I miss you tremendously...love you...besos

More Laundry Woes

2008-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

After taking Zoe for a walk in the park, I decided to try out the autoservicio laundry. I gathered my laundry and lugged it to the laundry that's maybe four blocks away, give or take. To my dismay, the laundry wasn't allowing self-service laundry today, due to some kind of water problem. So disappointedly, I lugged my laundry back home. Ahh, I'm having such a hard time doing a load of laundry in Buenos Aires. Right now, "laundry" and I are not getting along. We'll see if I'm able to do laundry tomorrow. One can only hope:)

Fun, Family and Friends

2008-08-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Aside from starting my job hunt, I've been hanging out with expat friends, walking the streets of Buenos Aires on my own, visiting family, and relaxing. Here are a few pictures of how my weekend went.

Here, I'm walking down Avenida Cordoba, coming from Lotus and La Esquina de las Flores. At both places, I ended up buying seitan, empanadas, and a very healthy brownie...yum

Friday night, Jackson and I and a few expat friends had dinner at Kathmandu, followed by dancing at Rumi.

Jackson dancing the night away with his eyes closed.

Zoe and I taking a catnap, before meeting Jackson for tea and medialunas at Ristretto.

My cousin Inés, my uncle Aldo and I at a birthday party in the provincia (outside of Buenos Aires)

In order: Jackson, Damian (Inés' boyfriend), Inés, and me.

Back to Reality

2008-08-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling fidgety lately and I think it's because it's time for me to join the working world. I'm a little reluctant and scared to do so though because this will be my first time working outside the USA. Actually I'm a lot scared. I have no idea what to apply for here in Buenos Aires. Do I apply for a nursing position, even though I don't know if a hospital will accept my nursing license? Do I apply at some telemarketing company, knowing that I really don't want to answer phone calls and be yelled at? Should I teach English, even though I have no teaching experience? Or should I answer a few random ads on craigslist? AHH!!! Every time I sit in front of the computer, ready to start my job search, I get bummed and overwhelmed. What do I do if all I know is nursing? I know I'm super qualified for any nursing position in an Argentine hospital, but all the legalities might get in the way of me actually working as a nurse here. However, this is not my only concern. When I quit my job two months ago, I questioned whether I even wanted to be a nurse in the first place. Okay to be completely honest, I had no intention of returning to the nursing profession. Like most nurses, I've reached boiling point, and I am completely and utterly burned out. Don't get me wrong, I love the profession and I love the kids. I simply CANNOT take the hospital politics anymore. This topic, however, can be a separate entry. Sometime in the future, I will have to write about the woes of nursing and what I want to do instead of it...a little hint, it involves school.
Back to what I was talking about, before I went off on a nursing politic tangent. Even though before I came to Buenos Aires, I no longer want to practice nursing, I still vacillate between wanting and not wanting to work here as a nurse. Reasons being, I've never had to work in an environment where Spanish was the spoken language. Yes, I'm fluent in Spanish, but Argentine Spanish is very different. Secondly, I'm screwed in regards to medical terminology. Despite these facts though, I bravely started setting foot in reality and submitted my first CV to el Hospital Británico. I know this is the first submission out of a bunch, but at least I have officially started traveling back to reality.

My New Best Friend

2008-08-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

I admit it, I'm behind in the world of YouTube. I've always heard about it and even checked YouTube out a couple of times in the past, never understanding what all the fuss was about of course. Now that I'm in Argentina though, I think YouTube is the next best thing! To my disappointment when I arrived in Buenos Aires, I discovered that I cannot watch some TV shows outside the USA. The channels will simply not allow for international viewing...I know, bummer. Here is where YouTube comes into play. To satisfy my laziness and need for American television, I've relied on what else but YouTube. It has been a great source in connecting with home. I've watched Chicago news, clips from America's Best Dance Crew (no laughing at my TV selection please), episodes from Ugly Betty, and even a documentary on Evita. While I'm currently unemployed, I've found YouTube to be quite entertaining, allowing time to fly by. I should really get my ass off the sofa and go outside, but it's hard to not give into this addictive drug. Maybe just one more hour of my new best friend, before I get dressed and head out the door.

My, How the Table has Turned

2008-08-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know, it has been a little over a week since my last blog entry. I've been spending a lot of time by myself this past week. Reason being, Jackson started working last Monday. He pretty much works all day, and I don't see him until 8:00 pm. However, I do meet up with him in the afternoon, whenever he has 4 hours to kill in between classes.

It has definitely been a nice change from working to not working. I have gladly taken on the role of stay at home mom, preparing meals, doing laundry, walking Zoe, reading, messing around on the internet, all fun things of course. Cooking, primarily, has been the most fun as well as a great learning experience. I've always known how to cook but it always included chicken or some kind of meat. Since becoming vegetarian/near vegan, Jackson has always been the one preparing the meals because of my lack of experience in vegetarian cooking. So, now that I've been the one staying home, I look through our Veganomicon cookbook for some tasty recipes. Last Monday, I prepared cholent which is basically beef stew, minus the beef. The meat is substituted with soy meat which we were lucky to find at Lotus, a health food store/restuarant on avenida Cordoba. I've also learned how to prepare spinach empanadas and pizza. So far, all my cooking has been a success. Even though Jackson misses being in the kitchen, he's delighted that he is trying out some new vegan dishes.

Aside from cooking, I've been replacing my non-existent running with walking. I walk EVERYWHERE. Last week I walked to El Ateneo, a huge, majestic bookstore on Avenida Santa Fe. This bookstore is beyond words. It is by far the most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen. The bookstore is located in a restored old theater which totally blew me away when I walked in. The balconies were reading areas for customers, and the stage was converted into a café. This place is a must see, even if you're not into books.

At Ristretto Café last Thursday, Jackson and I met up with a very nice chica, whom we met online. Anne is a delightful photographer from London, who's here for tango. The three of us spent hours in the café talking about everything from health care to collectivos to politics. Anne came to our apartment for dinner and tea. She also met Zoe, who was very fond of her. Since Jackson and I had such a great time with Anne, we met up with her again the following day at Olsen. This time, however, a whole bunch of other expats joined us. We met a lady from Lebanon, another lady from Singapore, a student from Bolivia, a couple from New Zealand and Finland, a lady from Poland, and a couple of New Yorkers. The night was fabulous! Everyone was interesting, and we all got along well. Once Olsen kicked us out, a few of us went to a pricey Italian restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, we went to Nicole's apartment drinks. What an evening!! I had a blast!! Sometime in the next couple of weeks, we are all going to a tango show. I can't wait!

This past week in Buenos Aires has been great. I'm coming out of my shell and exploring the city on my own. I'm meeting interesting people, who I'd like to keep in touch with. I'm enjoying all my free time. Not working is not only fantastic but it rejuvenates your soul. Working as a nurse for five years really took a toll on my body and mind. I'm catching up on some over due sleep and finding myself less stressed out than before. It's nice to wake up whenever my body feels good and ready to do so. Even though I'm enjoying doing absolutely nothing, I'm going to start applying for some jobs. Jackson can't be the only one bringing home the bread. I think it's funny though how he's the one waking up early now, while I wake up whenever and do whatever. My, how the tables have turned.

Buenos Aires Brings Cold Aires

2008-08-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

In my two weeks in Buenos Aires, today has been the coldest. Of course, the 39-45 degree weather that I experienced today is something I can totally handle being a Chicagoan used to 10 degrees below zero. Being Chicagoans, Jackson and I have been able to determine when the weather has reached 40 degrees by simply being able to see our breath, one of our many talents. And today being one of those days, Jackson and I were able to see our breath while walking to a cafe on avenida Santa Fe. I know, why on earth am I talking about cold weather and being able to see my breath? Well, the cold weather allows me to connect with two cities. The cold air in Buenos Aires takes me to Chicago. It takes me to mid-November when the the leafs have fallen and when people on the streets walk around with coffee cups from Argo Tea, mine being chai soy latte.....yum. Cold weather is something I know all too well, 27 years of knowing. So, I appreciated the cold air in Buenos Aires today. Instead of the chai soy latte, Jackson and I enjoyed some tea with a medialuna, a evening tradition we've picked up rather fast. So, I had a nice winter evening in the city of "Good Airs."

Confessions of a Drama Queen

2008-07-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

After discussing with Jackson the length of time we will be spending in Buenos Aires, I came to realize that I'm a spoiled, American woman. I might at times go as far as saying princess. Living in Chicago, I would have never considered myself to be spoiled or a princess. There are definitely people in the USA who would win the prince/princess yearly award over me. In our own ways , we all become spoiled royalties when we step on foreign soil. Take the movie Sex and the City, when in Mexico, Charlotte carried chocolate pudding in her purse because she was afraid to drink and eat in Mexico. This is a clear example of fear and princess-material, but most americans are afraid to crap in their pants if they drink faucet water in a foreign country. I'm not like Charlotte in that aspect. However, two weeks in Buenos Aires has made me think of all the luxuries I once took for granted.

I confess, I'm not completely comfortable living her yet. There are too many things I miss and I hate that I do. Not only have I turned into a spoiled princess but I've turned into the person who can't stop talking about her hometown. I'm not carrying chocolate pudding in my purse but I am missing how with the push of a button, I can get Mr. Barkys, Patanol, Allegra, a great hair cut with Paige and even thumb tacks. Even laundry becomes an issue. In Chicago or any city in America, you go to a laundry mat or if you're lucky you have a washer and dryer at home....I wasn't that spoiled as to have a washer/dryer. But here, I could be wrong because I still have to investigate this further, you take your clothes to what looks like a laundry mat so that someone else does it for you. Now here is where more of the spoiled Erika comes in play. If your like me, I have specific ways of doing laundry. I don't like completely drying my jeans because they shrink, this goes for my t-shirts as well. There are certain fragrances of laundry detergent that I cannot stand. In other words I'm picky. So yes, I confess that silly things like this diverts my excited and enthusiasm of Buenos Aires. I confess that the dog shit and crap on the streets drives me completely insane and overprotective of my dog who by the way used to have the bad habit of eating things on the streets. I confess that the walking chimneys is irritating my throat and worsening my allergies. I confess, I'm afraid that the pollution is going to turn my lungs black...of course, I'm exaggerating. I confess that I'm not thrilled with the buses. The trains, FANTASTIC!!! Buses not so much. I believe this opinion will be debunked once I've figured out the routes. I confess, I don't want to use el voseo. I want to keep my peruvian roots alive. And if peruanos say chompa than for crying out loud why can I not say it. Okay , I admit that's over the top because I can't ask for a chompa if that's not what they call it here. I think you get the gist though. My confessions have opened a door I was too scared to go through. But, I will courageously walk through it. I'll put my confessions in my backpack and continue on this journey. I don't know if my walking shoes will take me to two years but I guess only time will tell.

The Haunting of Paros

2008-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Why is it that Jackson and I are being followed by paros?! We both thought that our days of being caught in strikes were long behind us. After the strike we experienced in Cusco that forced us to stay an extra two days and experience hunger pain, we thought we would never again have to be the innocent bystanders that are forcibly affected by a paro. I guess we were wrong.

What started off as the end to another nice touristy day, ended up being a very long walk down a sketchy street. Avenida Corrientes is not sketchy during the day or even during late night hours. For 15 blocks or so, the street is filled with people wandering into bookstores and in line for night showings at the theater. But after the blocks of open stores and theaters end, you're left with closed vendors, making the street some what sketchy at 11pm. Walking down this street and walking over 25 blocks home wasn't by choice, though. We knew our route home. We were going to take the SubT, jump on line C, switch to line B and get off at Avenida Medrano. Little did we know that the SubT and collectivos (buses) started a strike at 9pm, right when we were eating are way through a vegetable souffle. Of course when we found the gates to every SubT station closed (this was around 10pm), we had no idea about a paro. I simply thought it was ridiculous that the city of Buenos Aires had such an early time to stop trains from running. And at this moment, I missed Chicago. As Jackson and I were walking down the streets, I was having a mental conversation with myself. "When has the CTA ever closed because it was passed hours?! Never!!! Sure, the CTA sucks and is always under construction but at least it runs ALL day. At least, there are options. If one station is closed, there's always another one. But in Buenos Aires, what do people do? How do they go home..SAFE? This is stupid!! Why are SubTs closed?!" I know, this is very childish and judgmental. However, I was extremely tired from walking around Puerto Madero all day (I'll talk about this later). Plus, I was NOT looking forward to walking home all the way from downtown Buenos Aires. I know this isn't an excuse but at the time my PMSing mind thought it was. When we finally got home, I saw on the news that the SubT and the collectivo strike started at 9pm. Reason being, bus and train drivers were protesting for their safety, after a 44 year old man was stabbed to death by a passenger. Okay, the news made me shut my trap and take back my thoughts of the city's transportation system but let me just say that only in South American will strikes like this happen. In some ways, it's refreshing.

As for the earlier part of my day, Ines, Damian, Jackson and I drove to Puerto Madero, one of the most priciest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. We saw tall, modern buildings, hotels like the Hilton, restaurants, and shops all of which cost an arm and a leg. Among the restaurants we saw were TGIFridays and Hooters for a moment it felt like Chicago. This, however, is definitely one aspect of American culture we try to avoid which we did by moving right along the boardwalk. In all, Puerto Madero reminded me a little of Navy Pier with its docks and boats. For a cloudy, Sunday afternoon, Jackson and I did rather well from boardwalks to bridges to a piece of American culture to yummy vegetarian food to experiencing yet another paro.

Navy Pier? Pirate ship? No, a ship docked at Puerto Madero.

La Puente de las Mujers. As Jackson pointed out, this bridge looks like a sharks fin.

My cousin so cleverly avoided the TGIFridays in the background. Way to go Ines!!

Crossing La Puente de las Mujers.

Don't Cry for me Argentnina

2008-07-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

For the first time since my arrival to Buenos Aires, I felt completely at peace and at home. Maybe it was the dinner and a movie that made me feel like this...I don't know. What I do know is that Jackson and I both enjoyed yesterday's outing with my cousin to see the 7pm show of Sex and the City in Recoleta. To start off the night, my cousin made us speed race to the theater. Of course this made it impossible for Jackson and I to familiarize ourselves with the route to Recoleta or the theater. Fortunately, the speed racing paid off because not only did we manage to buy tickets but we also managed to buy something to munch on as well. Odd thing about buying movie tickets in Buenos Aires, at the ticket booth, you select your seats!! It's not like in the USA where you buy your tickets and then "Good luck in finding a good seat!" I haven't quite decided whether I like Buenos Aires ticket buying system better. I guess it makes better sense to know you're only option are crappy seats. Unless you absolutely want to see the movie, crappy seats are perfect. As for most people though, if the ticket booth lady says "the only seats we have are two in the front row" then we probably will come back for the next showing.

The movie itself was nice. Like Jackson said, it had a lot of what women like...clothes, shoes, relationships, a great group of BFFs, kids, dogs and who can forget...LOVE. One downside about the movie is that the closeness between Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda made me miss my friends back home. After the movie, we walked to a near by restaurant where we devoured panqueques which in translation means pancakes. I know pancakes for dinner?! Not quite, another unusual difference in Argentine culture is that panqueques are like crepes that are not sweet. The one Jackson and I shared was filled with cheese, olives, and tomatoes, very good by the way. On our way back home, my cousin pointed out the famous Recoleta cemetery which Jackson and visited the next day.

Today, Jackson and I went to Recoleta cemetery to visit Eva Peron's (Evita)tomb. The cemetery was unlike any other cemetery I have ever seen. People walked down the paths as though they were walking the streets of Venice. The cemetery itself seemed to be a hidden castle. It had high brick walls with glorious statues peaking out from the top. The streets of Buenos Aires surround the cemetery. Its not until you walk through Recoleta Park that you find the museum like entrance. Surprisingly, there weren't a lot of people visiting Evita's grave considering that tomorrow is the anniversary of her death. Once the musem closed which was fifteen minutes after we arrived (we made it there just in time), Jackson and I walked home. I hope that we have more days like these. It helps me get to know the city more and helps me feel comfortable with our move.
On our way to Recoleta cemetery.

Entrance to the cemetery

Streets of Venice?

Only the cats stay after the cemetery closes.

Flowers for Evita

Beautiful statutes....I could have been in an art museum.

Full from a delicious dinner.

Scene of the crime and the end to wonderful day.

Unlocking the Door to a New World

2008-07-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

These are the keys to my new home. Instead of opening the door to my apartment, they should open a castle door. Don't you think? Now that I've unlocked the door, here are some pictures highlighting my days in Buenos Aires since the first day I arrived, July 16th 2008 until now...enjoy.

Zoe knocked out on her new pillow after a rough flight.

Both Zoe and Jackson looking out the balcony. And what do they see you may ask?...........

....This is what Zoe and Jackson saw.

Our living room...

Jackson already working hard in our dining room.

July 18, 2008, the day I received my first delivery. My mom, dad, and sister sent me this beautiful bouquet for my 28th birthday.

Zoe is looking at the heavens, amazed at how beautifully yellow these flowers are.

The streets in San Telmo.

Downtown Buenos Aires at the Obelisco.

Getting some ice cream with Carlos Gardel.

And, these were just a few pictures of our first week in Buenos Aires. Hoped you enjoyed:)

Walking on a Minefield

2008-07-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

It has been exactly one week since Jackson, Zoe and I left Chicago. The long talked about move finally came and we are now established in our cozy, one bedroom apartment in Palermo. It was a rough flight to Buenos Aires for the three of us especially Zoe. The poor pooch suffered some serious motion sickness and threw up on her self several times, making her in need of a good bath. As for me and Jackson, we both felt that the flight was very bumpy. I sort of felt a little sick to my stomach so I can only imagine how Zoe felt being in a travel bag underneath my seat. Once we arrived to Ezeiza, we gathered our suitcases with the help of an airport employee and made our way to the exit. Jackson and I were both surprised that after all we went through to get Zoe into Buenos Aires, all of which included an extensive physical exam to obtain an international health certificate and extensive screening at the USDA office which by the way charged me $25 to get the health certificate stamped, we thought that a vet would be waiting for Zoe at the gate in Ezeiza. There wasn't a vet waiting at all. According to the airport employee who helped us, there's an office to take arriving animals but he had no idea where it was. So, he simply walked us out of the airport where we met my uncle and cousin. It's unbelievable that it was so easy to bring Zoe. Even in O'hare, no one knew we had a dog in a travel bag. If I would have known how easily Zoe would be unrecognized, I would not have paid the $100. Hopefully, it will be this easy to take Zoe back into the USA. We shall see after a year or as Jackson prefers, two years.

Since the very beginning, the thought of moving to a foreign country scared the shit out of me. And now that I'm here I have to admit I'm still scared. I have all these thoughts running through my head and I don't know who talk to about them. I feel that if I tell Jackson, I will shatter his dream of moving here and if I tell my parents, they might think I'm unhappy which I'm NOT. Anyone who truly knows me knows that it takes me awhile to get used to my new environment. Jeez, it took me awhile to get used to working at Comer, coming from a small community hospital. Now imagine, a foreign country where the Spanish is not the Spanish I'm used to and I don't know anyone except Jackson, my uncle and cousin. I admit this is a better start off than some people but for me, it's a giant leap.

After being here for a week, my allergies have become a living nightmare due to the pollution. I'm afraid that the pollution will stop me from running which makes me very sad. Not to mention, the dog shit all over the sidewalks makes it almost impossible to run without stepping in it. Why don't the Argentines know how to pick up dog shit, leaving it on the ground only makes the city a walking minefield. I am happy to see a lot of dog lovers in the city but how well do the Argentines take care of their dogs? I'm disappointed that Zoe won't be able to have her organic, animal-free testing food. With some research, I decided to feed Zoe Royal Canine which doesn't preform inhuman animal testing... I hope. We are lucky enough to have a vet two blocks away from our apartment who not only sells Royal Canine but is also a groomers. Now, the question is whether I trust this place with my Zoe? I'll have to be bold and test it out. As for me and Jackson, we are very happy to have found Lotus and La Esquina de las Flores both being a natural food store with organic and vegetarian products. However, I still miss Whole Foods, Trader Joes and all our favorite vegetarian restaurants in Chicago. For my birthday though, Jackson treated me to dinner at a really nice vegetarian place called Bio, located in Palermo. The food was very yummy, especially el flan de coco.

So far, our time in Buenos Aires has been very nice. Jackson is super happy to be here which scares me because I'm not on the same page as he is. Jackson talks about staying here for two years. Now, this really frightens me because I was shooting for a year. Even then, I don't know if I can be here for a year. I don't want to tell him this because I don't want to be a disappointment and rain on his parade. Seriously, what am I going to do here, work wise?! If I'm not nursing than I don't know what I'm capable of doing. At least, Jackson has teaching experience. I don't even have that. What do I know besides nursing? Jackson talks about meeting new people and having great conversations but that can easily be done in San Francisco. Why not travel through South America and Europe together?! I know this is a great experience and will allow me to grow in more ways than one, but I don't know if I can get used to this. Like I said this is a giant leap for me. It's going from one extreme to another. Why couldn't my start be in New York or California?! I know I have to give it time. I know that eventually I will learn to assimilate. This is a new cultural experience and as an anthropology lover I should embrace this opportunity. I don't know my way around. I don't know what neighborhoods to avoid...what train or bus takes you where...how one goes about seeing a doctor...what medicines you can get at the pharmacy without a prescription...Give it time, Erika!! I tell myself this all the time. "Two years, though?! What happened to your plans of going back to school? Or the baby talk?" These are questions I ask myself. What can I say, I'm complex. I like to think though that we all are in our own little way. This is what I'll repeat again and again: "This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Make the best out of it!! Everything in life happens for a reason. We grow every day through the stuff we experience. Now conquer the world!!!"

Color me Argentina

2008-07-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

These past couple of days have been jam packed and what sucks is that the craziness hasn't ended. I finally got to the Zoe part on the "Argentina To Do List." Saturday I took Zoe to get her last anal gland expressing ( I know it sounds gross but Zoe NEEDS it done every so often. It's either that or see her drag her butt on the floor all day which I admit can be amusing) I have no idea if I'll find a vet who will squeeze Zoe's anal glands in Argentina? Is this just something that fanatical dog lovers do in America because for most dog lovers our dog is like our child? This brings me to all sorts of questions in regards to Zoe. Just like a lot of Americans are proud parents to a Beagle, a Boxer, a Maltese or in my case a Shihapoo (Shiha what? Shitzu Poodle) a lot of us have also joined the organic food band wagon, myself included. Being a near vegan and being totally against animal cruelty, I researched on PETA's website the various dog foods that don't test on animals. You would think that dog food companies wouldn't test on animals given the fact that the product is for an animal. NOT TRUE. I was amazed to discover the various brand name dog foods that test on animals. Well, I'm glad to say that Zoe's Whole Foods dog food is cruelty free. But, will I have this luxury in Argentina? As retarded as this may sound, will Zoe have her organic, cruelty free food? Will she have a groomer that knows knows how to cut her hair? I know these questions may seem ridiculous and silly. I mean, I know there are probably excellent groomers in Buenos Aires. And, I know that there must be a cute dog boutique that sells cruelty free dog food. But, all my questions arise from a woman who has never lived outside of Chicago. I'm developing the "missing syndrome." I'm going to miss the groomer, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, the simplicity of getting vegan foods and for crying out loud I'm even going to miss Whimpie, the Golden Retriever from two blocks down. Before I went on my dog food tangent, I was mentioning crossing off stuff from the Zoe part on "Argentina To Do List." Something that makes our move closer and official is Zoe's International Health Certificate. Today, Zoe had a health exam like no other. The vet checked her retina, her range of motion, her breathing, her heart, ears, teeth, you name it he checked it. Of course, this makes me happy because in some warped way this satisfies my hypochondriasis. Everyone will be happy to know that Zoe is super healthy and ready to fly the friendly skies. Well she'll be ready once I get that certificate stamped by the USDA vet. That will be taken care of this Friday.

I'm proud to say that Jackson and I have been making some progress in our packing. There are boxes all over the place but the good thing is that we're filling them. We'll be filling them and moving things into storage until the day we leave. 6 days and counting....the count down started. I don't even want to think of the days because it starts the water fall that takes place in my eyes. How can somebody be so conflicted about moving abroad? I LOVE the idea of moving with Jackson and Zoe but I HATE leaving my mom, my dad, and sister. I've never been away from them for so long and it kills me. I won't be able to hug them. Skype you're awesome by allowing me to talk to family everyday but I want a hug from my mom! I'm beginning to feel that Argentina is consuming every inch of my body. The boxes in my house remind me of Argentina -6 days and counting. The fucking "Things to Do" reminds me of Argentina-6 days and counting. Jackson's new Argentine accent reminds me of Argentina-6 days and counting. STOP THE COUNTING. Yes, I can't wait to get there but I also want to stop time because I want to be with mom, dad, and Fia which I thankfully did today.

Jackson, my mom, my dad, my aunt and I went to Millenium Park today for a concert. A free concert! It was great! How many times do you get to hear classical music in the park?! We had our own little picnic. Jackson and I brought some yummy vegan BBQ ribs from Soul Vegetarian, corn bread and sweet potato pie. My mom took guacamole with chips, juice, and fruit. It was the perfect feast and a perfect evening. It was in those two hours in the park with my family and Jackson that Argentina wasn't the talk of the town. It was in those two hours that time stood still for me.

Keep Writing

2008-07-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

This entry is for Jackson. Thank you for reminding me that I have a blog that needs more entries. Truthfully, I'm uninspired right now because Argo Tea is too damn cold. I will write another entry soon:)

Sleep is Better than Packing

2008-06-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, I haven't completely gone insane having quit my job. I'm catching up on my long over due sleep. On some level, I didn't really realize how much a 12-13 hour shift exhausts my body, especially if I'm functioning on only 2-3 hours of sleep. It feels GREAT to have no time boundaries, to go to bed in the early hours of the morning and wake up in the afternoon. I can't remember the last time I had that privilege, maybe it was when I was 6 or 7 years old and I asked my dad if I could stay up to see the sunrise. I remember he gave in to my request because he knew that I would never make it...he was right...I somehow made it to my rainbow bright bed.

One would think that having all this time would make me pack for Argentina. Truthfully, the three book boxes remain alone. I haven't done anymore packing. I ask myself why. Is it because it's stressful to see everything that needs to be packed? Is there too much crap that I don't know where to begin? Do I need some of the stuff now and that's why I haven't packed them in a box? Or, am I delaying the inevitable? By not packing, I'm telling myself that it's not time to leave family and friends. And by packing, my date of departure is around the corner and official. I'd like to think that I'm just being lazy because I'm enjoying not doing anything for the first time in a long time. Not working and not packing has allowed me to enjoy Chicago. Jackson and I go into the city a lot. We hang around cafes and walk through the various neighborhoods, recording every smell, alley, pooch, tree, fence, house, apartment, yard, street sign, store on every corner because we know that soon all that will be a memory. We are not allowing ourselves to take Chicago for granted. We have both created lists of what we want to do before leaving Chicago. Here's a few things on our list:

1) Go to the Taste of Chicago
2) Go to the museums
3) Go to Lincoln Park Zoo
4) Go to Navy Pier
5) Eat at the Chicago Diner
6) Eat at Ethiopian Diamond
7) Eat at Alice and Friends
8) Eat at Joy yees
9) Go to a Cubs game(I don't think this will happen)
10) Meet with all our friends......

These are just a few things Jackson and I have talked about, whether we will accomplish everything who knows. We will try to become tourists in our own city.

And the Count Down Starts

2008-06-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

What have I done except for quit my job? Well, all I've done is pack a couple of books which is hardly anything. Unlike moving to a new apartment in a different part of the city, moving to another country is even more stressful. I have to decide what I want to keep to put in storage, what I want to give away, and what I want to take with me. These are "the three piles" as Jackson calls it. Thank God for Jackson!!! He keeps me sane during my worry and stressful episodes. He also perks me up (usually by biting my cheeks) when I'm sad about leaving my family and friends.

Jackson was a great boyfriend yet again. Of course he's the best boyfriend EVER in this whole world, but we already know that. On Saturday when I started balling after having worked my last shift at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital. When I got home that Saturday night, it finally sunk in that I would never work with my girls at Comer again, that I wouldn't see my patients, that I wouldn't be a nurse for who knows how long. Yes, I've bitched and complained about work a gazillion times but the truth is I will miss work. Clarification, I will miss my co-workers and being a nurse. But, I WILL NOT miss the politics and management involved in UCCH.