Why?

I came to Buenos Aires because I was angry with school. I was sick of the Carlson mentality. I couldn't handle the "Corporate Backstabbing 101" and "How to Fire Employees and Save Money" classes. I was sick of people bragging about there Target, Best Buy, Wells Fargo, Cargil, etc etc etc internships.

I came to Buenos Aires because I needed a new challenge: Spanish. English is just too easy. You will never understand what it means to take your language ability for granted until a 8 year old can outwit you in daily conversation.

I came to Buenos Aires because I was getting pent up in Minneapolis. Gran Buenos Aires has 13 million people. I love MSP, but it was just time for a change.

I came here for the right reasons. I suggest you get out of your comfort zone too. It's horrible, it's amazing, it's enlightening, and you'll learn a lot. And guess what, I have 8 months left!!!

Besitos a Todos! I'm going to make some friends.


Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Farewell MPLS

After many happy and emotional farewells, I've finally made my departure. Minneapolis has been good to me. I remember my first day of college like yesterday. Mom, Dad, Tony, Flo, Nicholas, and Thomas dropped me off at Pioneer Hall. After the hugs and goodbyes, I was alone and ready for the unexpected.

You never really know what college is going to be like until you actually get there. How do classes work, are there really 300 people in your lectures, is dorm food good or bad? So many questions, but in the course of the first few weeks, you feel like a pro. I'm hoping this is how Buenos Aires will be. It'll take a couple of weeks to get acclimated, but I'm really hoping to get a firm grasp on the city quickly.

I've had some great times and made some amazing friends while in Minneapolis. Biking/sight-seeing/exploring/gawking at Lake Calhoun in the summer with Tim, drinking beer along the Mississippi with Nick and Eric, breaking my collar bone, hanging with Shonit after I broke my collar bone, going Canoeing down the St. Croix with Tim, Ruston, and Josef with a broken collar bone. Who knew the combination of absinthe and biking could lead to the creation of so many memories.

I'll definitely miss everyone at the Loring Pasta Bar. Seeing as I started working there about 6 weeks into freshman year, many of my best friends are also my coworkers. It's a known fact that the LPB takes over your life after awhile. Be it late-night bike rides, Halloween parties, bonfires or Christmas parties, LPBers always do it up. I'll miss you all very much and now I'll be that "oh, he used to work here a year ago" guy if/when I return.

Minneapolis, I bid you adieu.

Spanish Love Songs

It's exactly three weeks from today when I will arrive in Buenos Aires. The excitement is still there, but the nervousness is also starting to kick in. I've been racking my brain lately trying to think of anything that I'm forgetting to do before I leave, but it seems like I've got it all covered. I guess I'm just getting pent up. I'm sick of studying, but angry because I feel I should know more, and I'm tired of cold, miserable Minneapolis. I need a change. Buenos Aires, it's time.

Anyways, I feel I've been overdoing Spanish rock. I'm starting to recognize the songs, and I need something new. I recently came upon some love songs on Pandora, and I really like them a lot. It's not that I'm a huge romantic, because I'm clearly not, but it's because they speak NICE AND SLOW! I can actually figure out what words they're saying, though by the time I translate them in my head, they're already started their second verse. If only everyone in BA spoke as clearly and slowly as Alejandro Fernandez.

Well, I should study.

Hitting The Streets

So,
Today was my first day, of a few, using my newly created sign in downtown Minneapolis.

A little backstory; I watched a story on the news about how much you can make bumming, and I'd also heard of a man "bumming his way to the top." Seeing as I really had nothing to lose, I set out to create my own little sign, complete with a worthy cause which they would feel happy contributing to.

The response was decent. I met some really nice people and informed many of my future travels to Argentina. I passed out my blogcard to quite a few people as well, so hopefully some of them are reading this post right now.

I'm not sure how many more days I'll do it for, but it was a fun experience. I printed 100 "blogcards" so I think I'll just do it until I use them all up.


pictures are soon to come!