Giving Thanks

Oh boy, I've officially broken my one cardinal rule of this blog, and neglected writing for over a week (over two at this point!). I'm sorry. As life in Mendoza winds down for me, I have been working frantically to tie up all my loose ends, including finishing all my lessons and giving final reviews, collecting payments (always a pain in Argentina), buying presents for friends and family back home, and then buying an additional suitcase to contain said presents along with all my own purchases. I have also been fielding some very interesting job offers from various locales in South and Central America, as I weigh my options for the future. And of course, preparing for my next adventure: life on the farm!

But wait... leaving Mendoza? That's right, we are officially hitching up the wagon and leaving Mendoza behind in almost two weeks. Although Mendoza has certianly challenged us, enticed us, confounded us, and embraced us in its own unique way, it's time to move on. And now that the austral summer is in full swing with Christmas just around the corner, I am more than ready to escape the stifling dry heat and tempestuous clouds of sand and pollen that are currently wreaking havoc on my allergies.

Of course, we are not quite ready to leave the warmth of summer after waiting nearly 10 months for its delayed arrival, so we are sticking around Argentina for another two months. In all honesty, I would stay longer if I could, but even with full-time work and job offers in three different cities, I am dead broke. Despite our best efforts, Argentina has gotten the better of us financially and we decided its better to leave before our debts get overwhelming.

For the next two months, we will be working at an organic farm and yoga retreat center in the city of Lujan, about an hour outside of Buenos Aires. Hopefully, this experience will not only give us a much-needed taste of country life, but also allow us to spend more time outside, in meditation and personal renewal, and with each other. In addition, we get to participate in as many yoga classes as our sadly out-of-shape bodies can take. Ideally, I hope to embark on my next adventure more fit: physically and mentally. And hopefully I'll get a killer tan too!

There is so much more to share with you all, including our weekend trip to San Rafael to see Canon Atuel, "the grand canyon of South America" and my many hilarious and frustrating encounters with my lively (sometimes unbelievable) students. Teaching, living, and learning in Argentina has certainly been a challenge, but as I prepare to trade the classroom for early mornings on the farm, I can feel grateful for all the challenges I have met, all the things I have learned about this culture and myself, and also all the wonderful things I can look forward to embracing again whenever I make it back the US; namely cheddar cheese, northwest concerts, and all my amazing friends and family. And although I won't be having anything close to a traditional Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow, I can still take this moment to express my gratitude for all things past, present, and future that conspire in mysterious ways to make me a better person.