Art of Travel Sp 09

View from my apartment. One last Time.I asked to extend this final entry to this week because I still had about a month left until I leave Buenos Aires and return home. I'm still having a hard time truly reflecting on my experiences because I'm still experiencing as I still have two weeks left. I'm not sure I will be able to have any true final thoughts on my time here until I'm back home, away from Buenos Aires, and am left alone with my thoughts without any bias. Returning back home is nothing short of a bittersweet sentiment for me. I've felt incredibly homesick for family, friends and loved ones and the feeling of being so far away from a world where you have responsibilities and obligations is so fantastic, yet worrisome when you know you have to return home to confront them. I wonder, though, if I've been able to spend my time in Buenos Aires wisely. Just a couple of days ago, I literally ventured 2-3 blocks from my house and discovered things that I had no idea was there. Had I known that there was a supermarket, a tea connection and a blockbuster so close to my house, I would have looked at my neighborhood in such a different manner. I still haven't done things that are so basic to visiting Buenos Aires: shopping at the San Telmo fair, visiting MALBA, the planetarium, etc. I think back to those drunken nights and hangover-filled mornings that, in retrospect, seem so unnecessary. Riding home today after visiting the San Telmo fair, I kept my eyes glued to the windows of the collectivo, falling in love with Buenos Aires all over again. Knowing that I only have 12 days left to enjoy Buenos Aires until I have to return to the real world and quit playing expat, has me feeling increasingly anxious. Gone are the days that I can make fall promises to visit that fabulous exhibition or listen to independent bands at the obilesco. My only regret, is having not traveled more of Argentina. I seriously can't wait to come back.

I never thought, in a million years, that I would be able to say that Argentina has made me find myself. But boy, have I. When you're out of your comfort zone and familiar surroundings and have a bunch of opportunities laid before you, both negative and positive, you learn about where your values are or where they aren't. My opinions have changed on many things, my opinions have been validated by many experiences and I'm loving every minute of learning about myself. My travels here have caused me to reflect on who I am and what kind of person I'm working to be and where I hope to go. On a less serious note, I've found new music interests, bought some fabulous books and have made new friends. This semester has been such a chaotic one, but it's been mine.

As promised, the beginning of my guide to life in Berlin:

Kreuzberg (Krzbrg, X-Berg)

Bars/Nightlife:

Roses: Orianienstr. Between Adalbertstr. & Heinrich Pl.

Roses Bar, marked only by a red and green neon light, tracing the shape of a rose, is a Kreuzberg favorite. Started by the lovable and loving British ex-pat, Gabriella, this small bar is an amalgamation of all things kitsch. The fuzzy pink walls marked with masks, miniature light shows, toy guns, and images of the Virgin Mary, will make you happier than the strong and reasonably priced drinks. Beers are limited, but they have every liquor under the sun. Highly recommended, unless you hate Halloween stores.

Franken Bar: Orianienstr. Between Adalbertstr. & Heinrich Pl.

Franken would like you to believe it’s a quiet joint that has enough regulars that it needs not draw in new crowds. This might be the case, but when midnight rolls around, the 90’s punk music (read: Pennywise) blaring out of the stereo does not match the unfinished wood floors or picnic table seating crowding this small bar. Mix this with a too-punk-to-serve-you waitstaff, and the only thing that’s left to make this place worth a visit are the cheap drink prices. Highly recommended, unless you have 50 more cents to spend on that drink.

Luzia: Orianienstr. Between Adalbertstr. & Dresdener Str.

Luzia, another Kreuzberg favorite, does not adverise itself from the outside. Surely, if you do enough digging on the inside, you will learn its name. But, for me and my friends, it was and still is known as “Sexy Bar.” The window seating in this big bar acts more like a window display for the coolest, trendiest kids you’ve ever seen in Xberg. The staff don’t smile, but they’re prompt. Prices are reasonable. Seating is limited. Clientele are arrogant, but mostly have a thin shell to crack. Highly recommended, unless you aren’t a contract model, fashion designer, or makeup artist.

Mobel Olfe: Mobel Olfe off Adalbertstr.

Mobel Olfe is not only the name of a fun, loud, fashionable gay bar, it is also the name of the scary housing complex (primarily for recovering heroin addicts) that it resides in. The bar will make you feel safe and warm, but going outside is the best reminder you’ve ever had to stay away from drugs. Clientele and staff alike are extremely, extremely friendly, and drinks are cheap. Come here to meet someone, gay or straight (because “gay bar” in Berlin is a little more loosely translated than it is in New York), have a fun conversation about your favorite classic rock musician or up and coming dance sensation, and go home feeling relaxed, because, Hey, that bottle of wine you guys split only cost you four euros each! Highly recommended, unless you can’t bear to step over a few passed out guys on your walk home.

Monarch: Skalitzerstr. & Adalbertstr, Past Kaiser’s

Monarch is one of the many unmarked, second floor bars in Berlin that you “just have to know about.” Except, Monarch is quickly fading and might need to start employing another method of advertising besides word of mouth. The DJs are fun, the scene is chic, and the panoramic view of lower Kreuzberg is astonishing. That said, the drinks are overpriced and the staff make you feel bad about your broken German, meanwhile the clientele is pretty sparse these days. Highly recommended unless you don’t want to feel like you’re throwing a party that no one else showed up to.

Ankerklause: Admiralstr. On the south side of the Bridge.

Ankerklause has a jukebox. The people who come to Ankerklause, it seems, know how to operate this jukebox in the best way. Mix this with cheap, but very limited drinks, classic American bar food, a consistently good amount of people (except on Thursdays, when it’s way too crowded), and its beautiful location overlooking the water, and you’ve got one of the best bars in Kreuzberg. Highly recommended unless you aren’t looking for a low-key setting that night.

Trinkteufel (“Drink Devil”): Adalbertstr. & Naunynstr.

This bar is loud, punk, and rambunctious. Its unapologetic, and rightfully so. This is the place to come for piercings, tattoos, Mohawks, patchwork leather jackets, and safety pins. It’s not exactly my sort of place, so my visit was short lived. Highly recommended unless you are often scared by people who’s alliance with political extremes defines their entire lifestyle.

Rote Rose: Adalbertstr. & Oranienstr.

I, myself, have never been into Rote Rose but decided it worth mentioning because it is, supposedly, the best bar in Xberg for finding drugs and prostitutes. Highly recommended unless you don’t want to be that guy getting arrested out front at 1am.

(Un-named) “Tapas Bar”: Orianienstr. & Heinrich Pl.

I discovered the low key tapas bar one night just looking for a new place to go. It’s lighting is a tad harsh, but still warm, and the drinks are reasonably priced. Mixed drinks (or “Longdrinks”) come in large glasses, and their beers are all half liters. The small snack foods are great, and the atmosphere screams “first date.” Highly recommended unless you’re under 35 and feel like showing it.

Kubertus Lounge: Eisenbahnstr. 6

Kubertus is another Kreuzberg secret. My tandem language partner (a High School senior living in Kreuzberg) showed me this bar. The menu is really interesting, subscribing to a definite dada-collage aesthetic, and the bar itself, is entirely cozy. Overstuffed couches and plush chairs line the place, making small corners for people to sit and have intimate conversation. This would be a much younger type of “first date” place, I might say. And, before I forget, Kubertus has a revolving book case that leads to a staircase to its basement whereupon entering, it’s transformed into a club every Friday and Saturday night. Highly recommended, unless you don’t like to surprise people.

S036: Between Adalbertstr. & Heinrich Pl.

S036 is a nightclub with a heart of gold. There’s nothing too remarkable about this place from the looks of it. In fact, one might even say that the cover price is just too much for what one gets: decent, but certainly not famous, DJs, and a dancefloor that offers some fun lighting and the occasional spurt of chemical fog. Even so, I try to go to S036 as often as I can because the club is actually a non-profit for immigrant and gay rights in Kreuzberg. Highly recommended unless you don’t feel charitable.

Berghain/Panorama Bar: Just follow the pounding base behind S-Ostbahnhof

I do realize that I’ve written about Berghain during my blog post on the subject of authenticity, but it’s definitely still worth writing about some more. This three-floor megaclub club, with no reflective surfaces, has been voted the best club in the world. The door policy is disgustingly arbitrary and frustrates so many people on a nightly basis, but, if you wait it out and finally get in, the experience will be mindblowing. They have an incredible sound system and light stage in every single one of their gigantic rooms, and they have a labyrinth-like maze of smoking rooms, bath rooms, sex rooms, and food bars lining the ulterior of the main rooms. Highly recommended unless you haven’t decided where you’ll go if you get rejected that night.

Fritzclub: S-Ostbahnhof (Immediately outside, to the East)

Another huge club with a great sound system and light show, but Fritz is pretty pricey and its scene is a little tacky. Highly recommended if you want to party in a church seven days a week.

Watergate: Oberbaumstr. & Grobenuferstr.

Like Berghain, Watergate also has a heavy-handed door policy to encourage it being remembered as an authentic experience. But, Watergate’s policy is slightly less anti-American than Berghain, so if you look like you want to have fun and are a little more dressy than might be acceptable at Berghain, then Watergate is a definite solution. The prices and drinks, as well as number of famous DJs that frequent this hotspot, match Berghain. However, the doormen/bouncers are a little friendlier, and don’t mind a smile or conversation while you’re in line. Highly recommended if you’ve just been rejected by Berghain but refuse to go home.

Bar 25: An Der Schiling Brucke (S-Ostbahnhof)

This club, right on the Spree, is only open during the summer. But, during the summer, its open almost all the time. People sit out on the patio it offers at all times, and as long as its not too late, no one pays a cover. The views of the river are breathtaking, and the club-feel to this place is much less than overwhelming. There’s also a fantastic tire-swing that always has a line (never too long) that you can take for a ride right above the river. Highly recommended, unless you hate the summer.

Club de Visionaire: Schlesischestr. & Schleusenufer.

Like Bar 25, Club de Visionaire is only open during the summer. Like Bar 25, Club de Visionaire is located right on the river. Unlike Bar 25, Club de Visionaire is solely based outside, in a small garden, where blasting beats and overcrowded thoroughfares do not match the type of experience you’d love to be having there. If you can snag a spot on the floating dock it boasts, you’re in for a treat, but chances are you’ll be huddled between two shouting Germans, a thorn tree, clutching your 7 euro drink for dear life. Highly recommend, unless you don’t have the magical power to make people leave.

Restaurants:

Helvetia: Neunynstr. & Manteuffelstr.

A Swiss-German treat, this cute restaurant offers a host of fine “potato-cakes,” “onion-cakes,” and traditional spatzles. They have a huge selection of beers and wines, and their prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of food. The staff is small and happy, and willing to help you translate their exclusively-German menu. If you’re hungry and willing to spend, I recommend splitting the fondue-for-two and the Swiss version of cheese spatzle. Highly recommended.

Henne: Neunynstr & Lauschnerdamm

Another keystone in understanding German authenticity, as I wrote before, this restaurant only serves half-fried-chickens (Milchchicken) with the sides of potato salad or sauerkraut. They also only offer three beers. Highly recommended, unless you’re, like me, a vegetarian (vegetarisch).

Maroush: Adalbertstr Between Oranienstr & S-Kottbusser Tor

Maroush offers cheap Middle-Eastern sandwiches and dishes. It’s specifically Lebanese, which means it’s the best place to go for hummus and for falafel. It’s hard to say what makes Maroush so great, but, like with most things, it’s probably the classic atmosphere. Highly recommended for a cheap lunch, especially if you have a longing for New York’s famous Mamoun's.

Hasir: Adalbertstr Between Oranienstr & S-Kottbusser Tor

Hasir offers Turkish foods to a much more refined palate. The setting in this restaurant is definitely upscale, but they still cook their kebabs right in front of their customers. Their Turkish hummus is much different than classic Lebanese hummus, but still very delicious. Highly recommended if you’re parents are in town, picking up the bill, and want to know what Kreuzberg is all about.

Cream: S-Schlesisches Tor, to the South

Cream is the ideal place for brunch after a long weekend of drinking and dancing. The meals are hearty and reasonably priced. The staff are friendly and allow you time to read while you’re trying to shake off your hang over. True, too, is that this is definitely a place where you’re likely to see that guy or girl you were dancing with last night, and make one last effort to exchange numbers, or have sober conversation. Highly recommended for a more relaxed, daylight version of that party scene you craved so hard.

Markthalle: Manteuffelstr. & Reichenberger Str.

The final place I wrote about in my post on the subject of authenticity, Markthalle does not buy into the idea of fanciness or extras. A limited menu and a limited selection of beers, Markthalle is another great place for fine German dining. Although, as I mentioned in my last post, the prices are a little higher than what you grow to expect of places in Kreuzberg. That said, if you aren’t a vegetarian, this is place to get Weinerschnitzel—the sort of Weinerschnitzel counter-part to the Milchchicken offered at Henne. Highly recommended, again, if your parents are in town and want a real, German experience.

Kim-Qui: Orianienstr. Between Adalbertstr. & Dresdener Str.

Vietnamese at its finest and cheapest, Kim-Qui has an excellent selection of pho and glass-noodle options that have kept me coming there all semester. There owner and primary waitress, not to mention, is one of the sweetest women you’ll have ever met in your life. It’s small, but cozy, and you’ll find yourself relaxing while listening to all your favorite 90’s pop singles on the restaurants apparently limited soundtrack. I definitely recommend the boiled, rather than fried, summer rolls with tofu. And remember to tip, because you’ll definitely be remembered by the owner the next time you come back.

Calexico: Orianienstr. Between Adalbertstr. & Dresdener Str.

Literally, the only place in Europe that I recommend getting Mexican food. After having been served shredded cabbage as a side to my “vegetarian burrito,” in Poland, it’ll be no problem returning to the US, where actual Mexican food lines the streets. Calexico, owned and operated by Mexican immigrants, is the only place that does burritos, quesadillas, and salsa right in Berlin. The prices are a little high, but unless you know how to make Mexican yourself, you might just have to splurge a little.

Kuchen Kaiser (King of the Kitchen): Erkelenzdamm (In the Square/Platz)

The best breakfast/brunch spot in Kreuzberg. It’s huge and has a diner feel, and the waitresses give you the same look when you ask them if they speak English as waitresses at diners in the US might give if you asked them if they spoke German. You’ll just have to deal, but it makes it easier that they have menus in English and, every Sunday, offer a really beautiful all-you-can-eat (“American Style”) breakfast buffet for nine euros. And, before I forget, Kuchen Kaiser also takes credit cards, something very, very few establishments here in Berlin offer. Highly recommended, unless one of your main reasons for going abroad was to avoid diner-style eating.

misty paris

The semester is dwindling to its last legs now, and every conversation I've had in the last two weeks has been punctuated with someone saying "I can't believe it's ending so SOON!" and everyone falling into momentary depression. One of my friends has taken to yelling out at random points whenever it hits him that his days left here are in the single digits. Everyone is busy running around and cramming as much as possible in to one day in order to finish their to-do list.

Personally, it's a rather odd mix, because it’s the end… but not quite. I'm terribly sad that the semester is almost over because it's been the most fun I've ever had in college by far. Since the programme is so tiny – 150 people in total - NYU in Paris has all the closeness of a tiny liberal arts college. But by virtue of being in Paris, this semester not only gave us the chance to explore one of the most amazing cities in the world (I’m just a little bit biased), but a springboard to the rest of Europe too.

But it’s not quite the end of Paris for me either, because I’ll be returning in the fall. However, it’ll be with an entirely new group of people, which by all accounts, makes for a vastly different experience. I have a feeling it’ll be slightly odd to come back after spending four months at home. Things will seem so familiar, yet not. Moreover, most of next semester's students will never have been to Paris before. Things that will seem incredible to them will be things I've long since gotten used to, while everything new to me will be compounded with the question, “Why have I never seen this before?”

Whatever happens, I'm glad I'm coming back, because I'm not done with Paris yet. I’ll be able to do the things that I always intended to do this semester but never got around to, and rediscover my favourite places. After all, there're still a thousand museums to see, arrondissements to explore, cafés to discover and the rest of france to conquer.

singaporean flag

Home is a curious concept. What is home exactly? Is it the place where you hang your hat? Or maybe where your heart is? According to de Botton, at least, home seems to be the place where one is suffused with painful familiarity that mutates into ennui.

Singapore is a country that believes very firmly in progress and growth. Particularly since our past was nothing much to speak of, history is often relegated to the status of an afterthought or for the sake of tourism. Physically, the manifestation of this mindset shows itself in the incessant building going on the country, as buildings and houses barely ten years old are constantly being torn down to make way for newer, more modern ones. Subsequently, every time I go home for the holidays, I always feel slightly dislocated; in the midst of things that should seem so familiar, there’s always something to jar me into the realization that things have changed, and I wasn’t around to see it.

Yet even with the sense of alienation, I invariably feel bored and claustrophobic within a couple of weeks of having been in Singapore. Having bridged the gap between third world fishing village and first world economy in record time, Singapore is extremely focused on the financial frontier, at the great expense of everything else, particularly the arts. Furthermore, being barely more than wide, there is literally nowhere to go in Singapore nor anything to do. As such, less and less time is needed each time I’m back to make me feel an intense urge to leave the island and I’m afraid that one day I will feel absolutely no impetus to return to Singapore.

The end result of all of this is simply a sense that I don’t really belong anywhere in the world. For convenience’s sake, I still refer to Singapore as home, but the word is rapidly losing the heartwarming connotation it’s meant to have in abundance. How is it possible for a person to feel so bored in a place so unsettlingly foreign?

Truth be told, when I signed up for this class, I expected it to be the easiest class I would ever take. After all, I already had a blog and updated it  regularly, so how hard would it be to just write a few more entries? As it turned out? Very hard.

Most of my entries come into being when something really strikes me, whether in a good way or a bad way. Unfortunately, since external influences are by nature in unpredictable, my typical blogging habits are highly erratic: no entries for a long stretch, only to be followed by three in a day. Of course, that didn’t quite work for a class where an entry has to be produced once every five days.

More difficult yet was to write about specific topics that I had absolutely no inclination to write about, or at most, peripherially. I would sit staring at the assignment prompt for a good while, with my mind drawing a complete blank before giving up. Frustratingly enough to, some of the things that I’d already written about for an open topic suddenly fit into a fixed category later on in the semester, but since they had already been written, couldn’t possibly double count. What was I to write about now, having already written about it before? The class would have been a lot more enjoyable if there were less restrictions on what to write, but more feedback on what about our writing worked or not, and possible other areas to explore that we might not have considered before.

Having to write about events as opposed to thoughts helped me tremendously though, since my normal blog is disproportionately full of introspective musings that make no sense to anyone else but me. This class forced me to sit down and consider my audience more, what they’d want to read, what they’d be bored by, and whether or not they would even understand what I was trying to say. I have a feeling that this class therefore did more than just help hone travel blogging skills; it improved my general writing skills.

the city I'm not ready to leave

With still about a month left of the program, it is strange to have to consider my “final thoughts” about the semester. As I sit here reflecting on which aspects of the experience were rewarding or problematic or how I may have changed because of my experiences, I am becoming more and more anxious and stressed. But if anything, I am glad that this assignment has come too early for me. The process of considering what I have gained from my experiences first makes me feel sad that I am leaving so soon, then it makes me feel guilty for the days I slept til 4 PM, and then, thankfully, it inspires me to cherish my remaining days here. I am reminded that although I still have a few weeks to go, my precious time abroad really is coming to an end. With so many places still left to visit, I can’t help but wonder if I have failed to make the best of my time. In general, one of the biggest struggles for me while abroad was balancing my life as a student/resident and as a tourist. A semester seems like a long time but it wasn’t long enough. In the week I visited Rio de Janeiro, I felt like I saw more than I have in all my time in Buenos Aires. As a tourist on vacation, my time is dedicated to hitting up every museum, every park, or every famous monument or neighborhood. But in Buenos Aires, I function much differently as a student living here. It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in my dorm in NYC obsessing over my travel guides with my roommate. But more than half of the museums, sites, and daytrips I bookmarked with anticipation are places in or around Buenos Aires that I still haven’t visited. Hopefully I will accomplish some of these activities within the next month.

For me, studying abroad was like running away from everything and everyone that I knew. Somehow, living without any of my friends or family in a city that I lack the cultural skills to navigate has been a breath of fresh air. Since I arrived here I felt free…no one knew me and I knew no one, which left no space for preconceptions or strings attached. I have had many bad times in Buenos Aires but for some reason I love this city more than anywhere else. I have learned quite a lot about myself throughout this semester and I have changed in many ways, mostly in personal ways. I am most satisfied with the different people I have met…the friends I have made both inside and outside of the program.

this is me posting my blog

I think that having a class abroad from NYC is tricky. Throughout the semester I felt a bit distanced from the course because for me, it was challenging to have a class without a set class time and without a professor that I physically see and speak to on a weekly basis. I found that the distance made committing to the class far more difficult. I had trouble remembering to keep up with my posts and for some reason, even though I enjoy the assignments, it was always a chore for me to sit down and actually get to work. Regardless, I don’t think there is any way to avoid the feeling of disconnect I felt with the class…I’m not sure what else I could have expected. I think I found it especially difficult to adjust to because I had taken the “Abroad at Home” course last semester in NYC which was very similar to this course, but having a physical class and a professor and a great class dynamic made a huge difference.

In reference to the assignments, I liked the open topics the best. Sometimes I found the more specific topics frustrating because I felt like I had to desperately weed through my experiences here in Buenos Aires in order to find something that applied to the assigned topic. Often I felt I was turning my experiences into something they were not by attempting to analyze them in a specific way. Still, I really enjoyed this class because it forced me to take a step back from the fast pace of my life and my experiences abroad; the process of blogging grounded me in a sense. My time in Buenos Aires has passed so quickly, but these assignments were able to briefly remove me from many moments that may have just flown by if I hadn’t stopped to look for them. I am happy I took this class and I would choose to take it again if I were reliving my semester in BA.

The American Roadtrip: A great picture of two bloggers in Bariloche. Photograph by Evelyn Astor.I’ve really enjoyed Study Abroad but it hasn’t felt like a vacation. While I have had the least work in Buenos Aires I am not probably building my worst GPA ever. What's more, I don’t quite care. Early on I saw that I could either spend as much time as possible doing work and trying to earn good marks but I realized that, at least for me, it might not pay off. I tend to work long hours and get the same or poorer grades than my classmates. I decided that as long as I was going to be here I would consciously try to experience as much as possible while trying my best to get good grades and, more importantly, learn.

It has been an interesting social experiment. I have spent many (though I’d say an average) amount of nights staying out until 4 or 6 AM. I’ve developed a taste for Fernet branca and Coca-cola. I have had some of the best times of my life—that I can remember. I’ve also felt very lonely at times. These are the swings of Study-Abroad which rings of high-school more than college. Actually, much about study abroad echoes the social situations of those formative years. A relatively small group of young adults are dropped in a new environment and though they are unclosed in a semi-permeable bubble the new surroundings (or something else) cause them to jump for friend groups and mates. I have gotten to know a few people in this program quite well but I still feel like a stranger to most. Is this a bad thing? No, yet when our group split up to either go to Paraguay or Salta last weekend I got to know kids that I had not spoken to before and now I wish I had more time with them before we jet back home and blend into the massive student body in the fall. I will have to be better about staying in touch with people who I’ve studied abroad with. Maybe that is what I hope will change most when I return—my difficulty with keeping up with good people. It was also difficult not to think about my worries about social situations and meshing with others on this trip. While I tried to be more care-free, in-the-moment and all that I think I learned that being in a new place can either help or hinder getting one’s groove (so to speak). It’s really up to the person.

I don’t want to end this class and (in a way) this program thinking along such difficult lines. Studying abroad has made me more comfortable with my self in relation to other people more than it has left me sensitized to social interaction. I have enjoyed most all my classes (though Economics needs to be retooled) and have definitely improved at speaking Spanish. I am very happy with my home stay and think that it is one of the best ways to separate oneself from the familiar.

I only have one solid recommendation. I wish NYU Study Abroad made it easier to take classes at other schools in Buenos Aires. I understand this goes against the program’s distinction and organization but that is why I say it. Every argentine who asked me where I studied assumed I was an exchange student or taking classes at UBA or some other school. I know some students in this program who stayed two semesters and, in the second, took some classes outside. I’ve heard that it was difficult for them to set this up. It should not have been.

Things I will remember years from now:

-Hanging with the Bohemians until dawn on Av. Independencia

-My first harmonica lesson

-Radiohead at Club Ciudad

-Bariloche with Liz, David, Summer, and Evelyn

-My night in a tent at the foot of volcan Lanín

-The Village Recoleta movie theater

-Avenida 9 de Julio and Santa fe

-Drinking mate with Malvinas veterans

-Being there when Alfonsin died

-Reading at the Feria del Libro

-Learning to walk before I could tango

On the Road AgainI still feel very far away from the end even though I know it’s right around the corner. I hope when I get there my feelings for Buenos Aires will be as positive as the final thoughts I’ve been reading from other people’s blogs, but I’m not sure if they will be. My feelings about Buenos Aires, Argentina, studying abroad in general, swing daily. It has been an experience of peaks and valleys, highs and lows, and it’s left me with a general feeling of uncertainty. I have a lot of people wrote about how much they have grown, and maybe I’m just too in the thick of it right now to notice, but I’m not sure if I’ve grown at all in any real, or noticeable way. I am honestly racking my brain right now to try and think of some concrete change I can write about… nothing is coming and it actually makes me sad. Now I’m wondering if I kept myself from changing somehow? Or if I did not come in with enough of an open mind? I’m worried about how I will look back on this experience, if in the end it’s just been an expensive and privileged waste of time.

I am grateful for are the friends I have made in the program, including one who will be my roommate in New York. I am excited to see how the connections I have made in Buenos Aires will change my experience of New York when I get back.

Now for what NYU can do to make NYU in Buenos Aires a better program; they can offer better classes! I have not met a single person in the program who does not have at least one class they absolutely hate, and many people have two or three. It is incredibly rare to hear someone raving about a class. It is even rare to hear someone honestly express that they will take much, if anything away from their classes here. I am perfectly satisfied with two of my classes, reasonably satisfied with one, and then there is my fourth class, the class that makes me miserable for an hour and a half every Monday and Wednesday. If you know someone who is studying abroad in Buenos Aires next semester, I urge you to direct them to someone who has done it already if only for a list of classes to avoid at all costs. It is hard to take, even a single class that feels like such an utter waste of time, when you are living in a city you may never have the chance to visit again.

Now that I have written the most negative post I could have created, I would like to say that I absolutely do not regret the experience, how could I? And writing “final thoughts” when you are still a month away from having them really means they are just present thoughts, and like I said they change everyday, and happen to be on a down swing right now. Understandably, I’ve been writing blogs posts all day long. Well, goodbye blog! You’ve caused me stress, pushed me to think, taught me to write really fast, and I’ll miss you!

I originally signed up for this blog because I was excited to use my new digital camera to publish my own images on a site. When I heard that a family friend had gone to Buenos Aires and gotten his camera stolen I backed down and decided not to bring my own. For the first month or so I used other peoples’ pictures and ones I found on the web. Then my parents brought a camera down which was smaller and more practical and I began to integrate a few original pictures into my posts; but by then this course was well underway and I no longer cared most about the graphics. Instead, blogging became a way to distill some of the thought processes that were going on in my head or to clear those processes away and respond to a prompt or reading that I had not seen or considered before.

I liked blogging but it never became a habit. It was less like a work-weekly activity and more like a somewhat stressful though usually enjoyable unburdening that happened in clumps as the semester progressed. In this way I don’t think that I experienced part of what blogging is said to be about. And I think that if I were to take this course again I would try to post more regularly. The way I (and many people, especially those I know in Buenos Aires) did it did not feel exactly like a blogging class. But I don’t consider this a failure on my or the course’s part. Each post was an experience in rehashing experiences, feelings, and opinions within a structure that I felt was loose enough to let my thoughts flow.

This class is very different because of Steve’s Wizard-of-Oz manner of teaching. I received a few e-mails from him towards the beginning but other than that I barely feel the presence of the teacher. I do wonder about how my performance is being evaluated, whether my posts are being seen as good or bad but I realized that if I received any of that information this class would cease to be about blogging. Responses are not papers and though I’m sure they will be graded with some element of normative university policy I have not worried about that when I have written responses and I appreciate that.

What would have made it better? I think that it is good that Steve wasn’t as strict as he could have been about the schedule for turning in posts. I think it is best to respond more regularly—to make blogging a habit rather than a confusing mixture of duty and pleasure. Yet it was difficult to make this habit and maybe (maybe) it would have been easier had there been more occasions to write on an open topic instead of a prompt. That said, I think all the prompts were helpful. Maybe my main criticism relates to the timing of the class in relation to the study abroad programs. In New York school is over and kids from a few of the programs that began with Spring semester are back at home as well. Meanwhile the students in Buenos Aires and Shanghai have a few more weeks left meaning our final thoughts are going to be sent out (tonight) before I think my actual final impressions have taken shape. This is a casualty of school-schedules and the beginning of summer-term which I don’t know how to solve. All and all, I have really enjoyed this course and think it is a meaningful addition to the travel experience. Thank you.