Hope you enjoyed the photos! Until next time!

After our participation in the parade, Tanner and I went off to Chile for a few days.  I'll provide some photos from that trip in my next entry, which will be soon! Until next time!

It was a beautiful day with a light breeze. I strolled around on my own, exploring the town snapping a few photos and noticed the high volume of scooters and motorcycles. Everyone and their mom (literally) were riding these things around.  “I should really learn to ride a motorcycle,” I thought to myself (foreshadowing!). Then I spent about 3-hours walking around, chit chatting with locals and learning about the town, before my French friend Charlotte arrived with her friend Alice, who was also French. I had arranged to meet with them since they were arriving on a later boat.

I met them at the port, which was about a 10-minute walk from where I was. Before I could propose my already hatched plan for the rest of the day’s agenda, Charlotte exclaimed, “We’ve decided we want to rent bikes!” with the glee of a 6-year old receiving an early Christmas gift.  I paused, my brow furrowing slightly.

“Like… motorcycles?” I asked.

 “Yeah!”

“Well…I don’t know how to ride one”

“Neither do I!

“Do you?” I asked Alice

“I’ve ridden a few times,” she responded with a shrug.

I froze. I really didn’t know how to handle this.  These French girls were not only ready, but EXCITED about hopping on a 2-wheeled gas-powered vehicle barreling down the injury superhighway.  I had only broken one bone in my life, my finger, and I planned on keeping it that way…

“Ok,” I muttered… Mom, please forgive me for my poor peer pressure fortitude.  In this moment, I was not only representing myself, but the entire male species and the good ol’ US of A. Plus my own pride was on the line, which is apparently more important to me than my bodily well being (It's like I’m in middle school again).

When we went to rent bikes from the first shop we saw, the owners asked us if we knew how to ride. I described our skills generously as “mas o menos” (more or less), to which they responded with an absolute refusal, saying it was too dangerous.  I was so relieved…but my French friends would hear none of it. We finally found a place that didn’t ask questions, accepted my Texas driver’s license as proof, and Alice’s French ID that wasn’t even a driver’s license.  A huge lump formed in my throat as the moment of truth approached and the owner explained how to operate the bike (It was really more of a scooter, but calling it a scooter makes me feel even more ridiculous). I pulled away from the shop, swerving on the bike in one direction then another as I jetted forward and jerked to a stop repeatedly.  The girls were having quite a good laugh. They told me later they weren’t laughing at my driving, but at the face of the owner as I scooted away from him just missing another bike and a car… both of which were parked.

After a couple of minutes, I got the hang of it, and I had an amazing time zipping around on that little thing. We saw some local sites (see below), and I enjoyed the rest of the day with Charlotte and Alice before I took the ferry back to go to my classes that night.

I learned an important lesson on this trip though thanks to the persistent French duo.  I was terrified, but after some active learning I had an absolute blast.  If I had let my fear guide me, I wouldn’t have learned how to ride a bike (I refuse to emasculate myself further by calling it a scooter).  It was a valuable learning experience, and I committed myself to prohibiting fear from limiting my experiences on this trip, and life in general.  I also got a reminder that as terrifying as some things are, an important aspect of life, especially living in another country, is to try new things and open yourself up to new experiences.

Anyway, I’ll wrap this up, as I’m currently on a Rotary adventure in Patagonia.  I am with two former ambassadorial scholars who started an NGO called Project Patagonia (www.projectpatagonia.org), and will be helping out as they deliver computers to rural schools in the area.  I just arrived, and will be sure to update soon. I went yesterday to the District 4890 district conference in Buenos Aires, which was a great experience.  There’s so much to write about! I’ll update soon! I promise! I’ve committed myself anew to updating my blog regularly.  Thanks again, and stay tuned!

Nos vemos!

During the conference, Kirchner asked Clinton for US to mediate between Argentina and Great Britain over the ongoing row over the Malvinas Islands (or the Falklands as the British call them).  When she asked this, an audible "ooooh" escaped my lips which could have been interpreted as disapproval or trepidation perhaps.  My roommates snapped their heads back to look at me and asked, "You disapprove?" I told them, that I thought it was a good idea, but I thought it would be politically difficult for the US to do.  Allow me to explain...

These islands were first explored by the French, but in 1765 a British explorer, unaware of the small French presence explored the islands and claimed them for England.  When the US Revolutionary War began in 1776, Britain abandoned the islands to use these resources in the war, leaving behind a plaque claiming them for Britain.  The Spanish Crown then asserted itself on the islands (already in control of modern day Latin America, with the exception of Brazil which was under Portuguese control) until it too left in 1811.  In 1820, the first claiming of the islands took place by the Argentine government.  Thirteen years later, a British commander returned, informing the Argentine governor that he planned to reassert British sovereignty over the islands.

Since the 20th century, Argentina and the UK have continued to argue with each other over who really controls the island.  What makes it particularly complicated is that the majority of the residents of the island are of British descent and would prefer to remain under British rule.  The Argentines insist that they have claim to the islands, which even resulted in a war in 1982 when the ruling military junta invaded the islands in an attempt to distract Argentines from the domestic economic woes.  The British defeated Argentina a little over 2 months later after 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen had been killed.  This defeat along with domestic chaos led to the eventual abdication of the military junta, and democracy was established.

Since the war, Argentina has continued to insist its sovereign rights over the islands.  Its even in the constitution, and the issue is often used in presidential campaigns.  The issue has come up again very recently after British oil companies have begun searching for oil off the coast of the islands.  Argentina has brought it before the UN and has now asked for the US to mediate.

Clinton this week proposed the idea to Gordon Brown, to which the British Prime Minister said "thanks, but no thanks".  The British insist that there is no need for negotiations as they have sovereign rights over the islands, and the people of the islands want British rule.  The Argentines see things differently, and the island wound is open anew now that drilling has begun.

Important warnings to all visitors though: 1.  When in Argentina, call them the Malvinas (NOT Falklands) and 2. if you happen to side with the British on this one, don't tell an Argentine.

That's right ladies and gentlemen, Thomas Mendez is officially a graduate student.  My classes start the 15th of March, and I'm very excited.  The faculty and staff at the school are friendly and intelligent, and the campus is beautiful, located in Puerto Madero, the port area, with some of the most expensive real estate in the city.  I'll be sure to snap some pictures of the area as soon as I get a voltage converter for my camera so I can charge it to take more pictures (should have thought of that!)

In addition to my academic and personal adventures, I have been working the Rotary scene as well.  I am so lucky to have a great and helpful host counselor (far left), pictured here with the vice-president (far right) of my host club, Villa Lugano.  I have attended two meetings of the club.  The first one was an asado (see below) with family members of various Rotarians.  It was a really great experience, and my first encounter with many members of Villa Lugano since my official arrival.  They accepted me warmly and it was very comforting, knowing I have such a welcoming and loving Rotary family here in Buenos Aires.

This is a picture from the Villa Lugano "asado" which was delicious, and I will discuss shortly.  The man I'm sitting next to here is the "Bill Barmore" (for you Rotarians reading this) in Buenos Aires.  He is the scholarship coordinator for Ambassadorial scholars and I'm not sure what all of his responsibilites include, but he is planning on getting all of the Ambassadorial scholars in the BsAs area together along with the District Governor.  He is a great guy, as are all of the Rotarians here that I've met and a member of the Villa Lugano club.

Also, I promise we were all having a great time, even though the people on my side of the table don't particularly look like it.  This picture must have been taken between laughs, or maybe everyone was too busy enjoying the meat, which reminds me...

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a humble "parrilla" (grill) at a friendly Rotarian "asado" (BBQ).  What's amazing about this picture, if you ask your humble correspondent, is not how great this particularly asado was, but that in reality it was pretty average according to Argentine standards.  

You have not experienced Argentina if you have not tried its delicious beef (not to mention pork, veal, and more).  Argentina has the highest consumption of beef per capita in the world.  For all you vegetarians, I highly recommend you check your non-meat eating habits along with your baggage at the airport before coming to visit (I need some healthy suspension of disbelief here from you, the reader, so we can ignore the fact that you should ideally pick up your baggage upon your arrival).  Eating beef is such an essential part of the Argentina experience, and one of my favorites. 

For you vegetarians out there unwilling or unable to shirk your eating regiment for an Argentina adventure, do not despair.  Though meat is definitely an Argentine staple, there are many delicious vegetarian options, which will have to wait for another post though unfortunately.

Sorry for the delay in the update folks, and I look forward to sharing more info about my time here...Now I'm off to have a delicious choripan...I'll share this beautiful edible creation in another entry. Hasta luego!

In other news, I am still working on getting this website up to snuff before I start publicizing it more so please, friendly observer and loyal reader, share any suggestions you may have to make the site more user friendly and clear.  Don't worry about offending.  My skin is as thick as a rhino's (see below).

Though my skin is rhinoesque (in a metaphorical sense), I'd like to think my temperament is much milder. Until next time!