My Argentine Bucket List

First of all let me just say, time is an extremely complicated thing. On the one hand, I think about having been here for four months already and I can't believe it's all flown by so fast. On the other hand, I can't imagine a time when I didn't know Córdoba, Argentina and feel like I've been here for much, much longer. That being said, with exactly six weeks left abroad I feel extremely excited to be home and catch up on everything I've been missing, but also an utter (and admittedly premature) fear of the depression I will experience upon leaving. I think these feelings are a good indicator of my newly acquired double life... My heart officially belongs in two places at once.

But on a lighter, logical, and less emotional note: being my usual planning-self, I've put together a "bucket list" of a few of the things I want to do/accomplish before I leave (gulp) this beautiful country called Argentina. What can I say? To-do lists help me deal.

#1 Visit international chains like Walmart and McDonald's. Somehow I've managed to avoid these establishments throughout my time here so far, but I feel it is necessary to see what these places are like and note the differences between here and back home.

#2 Ride the public bus system in a complete circuit around the city. I ride the N5 colectivo everyday to and from the same places within my barrio or towards downtown but I have yet to see where the bus goes beyond that. I plan on taking a few of the buses that stray from the main roads and doing my own personal city tour.

#3 Take sunset pictures. The bus I take everyday passes along the edge of a hill that opens up to a picture perfect view of a valley and the sunset on the Sierras mountains beyond, and every time I wish I had the time (and my camera) to just get off and snap a few pictures. One of these days I'm gonna do it.

#4 Take the time to go to Carlos Paz, a city about 30 minutes from Córdoba that is said to be a quaint and beautiful town nestled in the Sierras that many cordobeses retreat to during the unbearably hot days of summer. It would be a crime to spend 5 months in Córdoba and not make a day trip to see this little city.

#5 Get through, with as little stress and anxiety as possible, the two midterms, two finals and one standardized test that I will be taking in the span of less than two weeks. Let me tell you, social psychology and the theory of teaching are not easy classes in any language.

#6 See Harry Potter on the big screen, in Spanish, in Argentina, a whole day earlier than it premieres in the States... 'nuf said.

#7 Get to know the last section of Argentina I have yet to visit: Patagonia. This will be a 2-3 week trip in which I will hopefully be flying down to the southernmost city in the world (Ushaia) and slowly working my way back up through the country in colectivo, stopping to see national parks, glaciers, penguins, whales, and about 6 or more major cities. Everyone says southern Argentina has some the most breathtaking and beautiful landscapes in the entire country... we'll see, this country has already exceeded my expectations as far as beautiful landscapes go and its hard to believe there will be something better. However, I think I'm willing to be proved wrong ; )

So overall, I'd say I've got a pretty busy schedule up and til departing time. That could be a good or bad thing... who knows, it all just depends on which world my head is in at the time.