From nothing to Projects

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

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

(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

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

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

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

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.