May
15
As I boarded my plane to Buenos Aires, I felt mostly excited for the next four weeks. But a small part of my heart was worried. A year full of deep community just concluded, and next year will be different. Now I will be spending a month by myself, surrounded by strangers, trying to communicate in a foreign language. Could the contrast between isolation and community could be any more extreme? My life is usually overflowing with people who are so funny and smart and interesting – mostly those of you reading this blog. And I’m so lucky to be around you that I sometimes forget that there are still other people out there worth being friends with. (This sounds snobby. I know.) But this evening (I wrote this blog on Friday), I was reminded that you can never have too many friends. Oscar’s secretary is about my age, and she invited me to her house for dinner. Beforehand, I was a little nervous. My shy, introverted side can only handle so much small talk, even in English. But as it turned out, everyone there spoke English, and so we spoke mostly in English all evening. This is not my goal, but it was a nice break. No work on the Sabbath, right? :) And instead of awkward small talk, we had lively conversation about all kinds of interesting things. I didn’t leave till after 1:00 a.m.
At one point in our conversation, I tried to explain the dynamic of our community. I told them that we are all mixed up in each other’s lives, even our friends who live on the opposite coast. We share everything – food, music, stories, laughter, and tears. No one calls before coming over or knocks before coming inside. We always know that we want to be around each other - that life is better when we’re all together.
I got a little emotional trying to explain the depth and beauty of my community. It’s truly unique. But here, an overnight flight away from my dear home, I am experiencing a different side of community. It’s not so deep or intertwined. But it’s beautiful nevertheless. No one on this continent has any real reason to care about me, but since I arrived, I have been the recipient of so much thoughtfulness. I met Anthony’s mom and family at the airport and caught a ride with them to la Villa so I wouldn’t have to brave public transportation by myself just yet. Our driver paid for our dinner at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. When we arrived in la Villa, Mrs. Handal’s friend escorted me to the president’s office. Oscar thought of everything, from finding me an electrical adapter to giving me money for dinner. This morning, he took me on a tour of the campus and introduced me with pride in his voice to other important people at the university. Another one of my students, Edith, smiles so encouragingly at my fumbled attempts at Spanish. She’s already made sure that my weekend is full of plans.
When I try to describe it concretely, their gestures seem small, but they have made me feel absolutely welcome during a time when I am self-conscious of not belonging. There’s a level of formality to this kind of community, and I don’t feel like any of us have really chosen each other. These people aren’t benefiting from my time here; they are caring for me only out of the goodness of their hearts. But somehow, it feels good to be cared for just...because.
Its nice to hear that you are being taken care of!
newness. its awesome for its own tangibility, but it has its drawbacks, like isolation. but way to make the best of the good and the bad!
La querida Villa...
Have you been to puente blanco and puente negro?
Eaten at Pizza Ranch or La Rueda?
Be sure to have a milanesa en un sandwich. La Vieja Estación and La Rueda make the best.
English Sabbath School...does that still happen?
Disfruta la comunidad...
your descriptions are right on Jehle!
Best wishes in these growing times!
Oh Amanda. My heart feels all swollen and warm! (this description sounds kind of gross when I type it out... but those are good feelings). I'm glad that we share in a beautiful community here in the states and I am GLAD that you are finding a different kind, but just as beautiful, community there.
Yikes. I get so mushy when I talk about our friends these days. I just love you all so much! Sheeew.
Yeah, you're pretty lucky to have such a tight-knit group, but I think experiences like those you're having in Argentina are good ones to help grow your love outside the boundaries.
Also, I'm jealous! I had no idea you're traveling for four weeks there. I was in the middle of making plans for four weeks in Guanajuato, Mexico when I got a job offer that required immediate attention... so now I'm not sure when it might happen. But all of this is making me think of my lost summer of teaching English in Peru with Amanda Jehle.
Proud of you!
My mom was just asking me if you were in the area, and I kept thinking...no, I think she's somewhere...but couldn't remember. Now I do! Glad it's going well so far. Hope to see you eventually. :)