The time is finally here-- today's the day I leave for Argentina. I have been preparing for this day for months, and it certainly feels like it. As I pulled out my (meticulously organized) binder as I checked in this morning, I felt a sense of accomplishment that the preparations were finally done. I breezed through security and felt good. I got all the shots, printed multiple copies of all the right paperwork, and paid all my bills. Everything is finished and the trip is here.
Since I studied abroad in Israel in high school, the second time around has allowed me more time for reflection. I think I've gone through the same five stages this time as I prepared to go abroad:
- Excitement-- I really do love to travel and visit new places. There's so many new locations to explore and people to meet. I am optimistic about my trip and all the new experiences I will have.
- Stress--I end up spending lots of time preparing for the trip, from visiting the doctor, calling the credit card company, shopping, packing, and so many others. I feel good when these things are complete, but always worry about having enough time to get them done.
- Frustration-- When you go abroad, everyone and their brother has some words of advice. When people who have lived in South America or spent long periods of time there share things with me, I feel better and appreciate hearing their perspective. When people who spent four days in Buenos Aires in 1993 tell me how bad the subway was, I get very frustrated and try to fake gratitude. Advice out of context is useless and frankly insulting to a traveler. Just because you didn't like Mexico City doesn't mean all cities where the majority of people speak Spanish are going to be exactly like that.
- Panic, or "What did I get myself into?"-- This stage involves small moments of panic in which I realize I am shockingly unprepared to go. For Argentina, these moments come when I realize I don't know Spanish words (ie, "I don't know the Spanish word for lawnmower, there's no way I can live in a Spanish-speaking country!").
- Acceptance-- I finally understand that there's no turning back and that I have to leave. I am sad to leave my family, friends, and the comforts of home, but I know in the long run this experience will shape me as a person and help me improve my Spanish.
With Mom and my bags at the airport
So now I sit at the airport waiting to go. This airport has my favorite dessert places-- Pink Berry, Jamba Juice, and a cake store-- so I have seriously contemplated just doing my study abroad here in the International Terminal. But I remind myself that there will be cake and ice cream and fruit smoothies in Argentina. They will be called different things-- pastel, helado, and batido, respectively (I DO know my dessert vocabulary)-- and they will taste different and maybe even better. There's no way I'll know unless I go out and find them, talk to people, and learn my way around a new city and a new world.