Even though Mondays usually bring up feelings of hopelessness, wanting to retreat back to bed and things of that nature, this morning I woke up feeling all the contrary. True, it is a Monday, but one that kicks off my last week in Buenos Aires...After spending 56 days here in Argentina, only four remain until I'm back in Valdivia! It was a challenge taking myself away from a very lovely life in Chile, but it makes me all the more happy and confident in myself for following through with what I knew would be best for me. I have decided to make this most of this week, obviously...Tonight I'm going to "Kansas," an American-style restaurant that all the Argentines rave about. Normally I avoid things that remind be of home, but this is an exception because it is literally my one opportunity to get a taste of home until I go back in September. Plus, I figure Jamie and I will be able to be the judges on whether or not the food is truly American...

It has been a bit strange repeating summer just a few months after coming to South America. In Seattle I was so happy because I was having one of the best summers of my life, and at the same time looking forward to this hazy exciting future in South America. The balance of living in the moment as well as looking forward to the future is a rare yet fantastic combination that I felt at that point in my life, and that think I am now feeling this week. I haven't spent all of my time in Buenos Aires feeling like this, but for that reason it makes this week even more spectacular. I really do feel at home where I live. When my host brother purposely tries to get on my nerves or teach me that watermelon in "sandría" instead of "sandía," I tell him I'm not going to listen until he says something interesting, yet I usually go with him when he walks the dog because I truly do enjoy the entertaining conversations we have.  Whenever I want to talk about life, Chile, boys, or whatever it may be I know that I can waltz into Jamie's room across the hall and talk until one of us has to go to the bathroom or gets a phone call. Every day I walk to the same fruit stand and buy four figs because I am going through I phase on my life where I think the fig is quite possibly the most intriguing fruit I've ever discovered. I love this new life I have, and in many ways it is more similar to how I would be living if I were in Seattle. I find myself in the same position that I was just a few months ago, enjoying one of the most important summers of my life, and looking forward to my arrival in Chile. Now, there is one major difference between this summer and the one in Seattle. Well, a few actually. First of all I am in Argentina! Ha, well that's an obvious one. The other major one being my expectations of my life in Chile. I know exactly which house I will live in because I picked it out myself. I know what kind of food to expect, how I will walk to school, which grocery store has the best bread, who I am looking forward to seeing and what I will bring them from Argentina. Obviously, there is a lot that I don't know, and that scares me a little. But, one thing I've discovered about myself is that I don't like to feel like I'm losing or even not gaining momentum in some direction. So, according to that logic I can never know exactly what I am getting myself into...