Argentina Here I Come!

I am such a sucker for foreign lands. Anything and anywhere different than where I am is better and certainly more appealing. We used to make fun of this dude in grad school for always being interested in international students. Well, he traveled in his mind by listening to their stories. And now I do the same, shamelessly, by falling into daydreams after making reservations to go to Buenos Aires. !Ay que maravilloso!

So, I spoke with the hotel reservations agent and he booked us in. I checked the hotel rooms online. I guess there is value to going with a boutique hotel. Classic style furniture, not your regular bed-side table with the bible drawer. I await the travel agent's email with plans to go to Iguazu. An Argentinean email - imagine - essentially in cyberspace, but originating all the way by Patagonia.

Goodie, goodie, goodie. I cannot wait to go. My boss was slightly taken aback by my request to go on vacation, again, after just returning from home. But she is a kind person and in the back of her mind, she knows that I work hard, drive my computer like a race car and do the flamenco over the keyboard with my fingers -- much to the dismay of my cubicle mates. So she said "Of course, go."

Himm...Americans do not take enough vacations, I'm telling ya... is it because they like to work so much or is it because this is such a vast country that going next door becomes an overhaul? At the end of the day, people are people. I think everyone needs a break. The fact of the matter is that the U.S. is surrounded by water and whomever comes to stay brings a few new customs and adds it to the American mixture and calls himself/herself American. The foreign lands are left in grandparents' memories and old-age mumblings.

As much as I love the comfort and security of the U.S., my mind is always elsewhere. Would I dare to move again? Probably not. But let me tell you, if I were rich enough, I would not spend time in a studio filming reality shows. I'd whizz around.

Back from vacation...

Got back about a week ago. I have not been together enough to write. Do this, do that. Run here, catch that. I think I am mostly adjusted...to the time zone, work flow and people.

Broke down when I was away. How could I stay so far away from home. Was it worth it? Was I fair to my parents who needed me with them, but would never admit not to interfere with my life and future. Perhaps feeling the discomfort of some bad news we received, I got even more nervous, knotted up... I was expecting to arrive home, give my parents my list of worries and hope to have them resolved within a few days. Then I'd be able to enjoy my the rest of my time there.

But life gets more complicated as you get older. Your parents end up having problems they cannot handle themselves. You try to share, hold them together, hope to help them...maybe they always had such problems but never wanted you "to worry your little mind" over them.

Annnyways, we were one big worry knot on vacation. Came back with hurting tear ducts and more heart palpitations than I would have wanted. And found comfort in the urban disposition of DUMBO, still in the 50s Carroll Gardens, busy and noisy BQE.

Annddd a large envelope from immigration: ohmigawd..finally the news I was expecting. Could it be true? Was this the final round in my green card saga? The dream I had since 7th grade: coming to America! The words between the lips of an immigration officer would make it all official on the 10th of August... tic tac tic tac...the world will stop spinning until then. Can I hold my breath until then? Should I? What if something goes...no, I won't even say it. With the same level of determination I had until today, I will push for another month. Close my eyes and brace ahead..Gather the papers, wait and hope for the best...What else can I do but :-)