I graduated! ¡Me recibí!
After 1.5 years at Loyola University Chicago, 1.5 years at Knox College, and 1 year at la Universidad de Palermo, I made it! =) It feels surreal! It feels like freedom! It is time to enjoy mi Buenos Aires querido (my beloved Buenos Aires); read, write write write, and edit; and plan my next big job and trip.
The current plan involves: visiting family and friends in the United States, mi patria (my country); freelance writing and doing other work (in the fields of education, activism, and art); learning Portuguese, my favorite language; and investigating graduate schools for next year. I hope to end up in Brasil, Italia, or España soon! Everyone wish me luck! =)
The day I graduated, July 20th, was also Argentina's Día del Amigo (Friendship Day) and Colombia's Independence Day. Jorge got me a little merengue cake to celebrate, and we went out to a movie and for dinner at Plaza Serrano (which is full of American-style restaurants and bars) in Palermo Soho. We got a seat at a outside right next to a heater (it's winter here!) and had chicken-and-avocado sandwiches with wine. It was really nice!
The movie we saw was "Moolade," a Senegalese drama about one community's struggles with female genital mutilation — some girls ran away from the procedure, and of those who undertook it (not always voluntarily), some died or had problems with urination, sex, and childbirth. The procedure was viewed as a religious obligation, a woman's duty, and a necessary procedure to enhance desirability for marriage. It was a great movie. Despite the heavy subject, it was surprisingly light-hearted and inspirational. It made me reflect that although big changes like the end of severe, traditional mutilations often entail a long, difficult, and painful process, they are nevertheless very possible. One big change I am working towards in the United States is the end of sexual violence. Did you know that 1 in 6 women in the United States are raped, and of the 39% of attacks reported to police, only 16.3% result in jail time?** This is contrary to the popular opinion that many women falsely accuse men of sexual violence, and that these (false!) accusations carry heavy punishments. Increasing accessibility to education and health care and reducing racism are two other issues I'm passionate about. As Cecilio Acosta said (my own translation): "History is a monument, not a rule: he studies wrong who fails to see the possibilities the future holds."
The current plan involves: visiting family and friends in the United States, mi patria (my country); freelance writing and doing other work (in the fields of education, activism, and art); learning Portuguese, my favorite language; and investigating graduate schools for next year. I hope to end up in Brasil, Italia, or España soon! Everyone wish me luck! =)
The day I graduated, July 20th, was also Argentina's Día del Amigo (Friendship Day) and Colombia's Independence Day. Jorge got me a little merengue cake to celebrate, and we went out to a movie and for dinner at Plaza Serrano (which is full of American-style restaurants and bars) in Palermo Soho. We got a seat at a outside right next to a heater (it's winter here!) and had chicken-and-avocado sandwiches with wine. It was really nice!
The movie we saw was "Moolade," a Senegalese drama about one community's struggles with female genital mutilation — some girls ran away from the procedure, and of those who undertook it (not always voluntarily), some died or had problems with urination, sex, and childbirth. The procedure was viewed as a religious obligation, a woman's duty, and a necessary procedure to enhance desirability for marriage. It was a great movie. Despite the heavy subject, it was surprisingly light-hearted and inspirational. It made me reflect that although big changes like the end of severe, traditional mutilations often entail a long, difficult, and painful process, they are nevertheless very possible. One big change I am working towards in the United States is the end of sexual violence. Did you know that 1 in 6 women in the United States are raped, and of the 39% of attacks reported to police, only 16.3% result in jail time?** This is contrary to the popular opinion that many women falsely accuse men of sexual violence, and that these (false!) accusations carry heavy punishments. Increasing accessibility to education and health care and reducing racism are two other issues I'm passionate about. As Cecilio Acosta said (my own translation): "History is a monument, not a rule: he studies wrong who fails to see the possibilities the future holds."
Now that I'm done with school, I'm starting to edit all the fiction I've written and read all the books I've amassed (I came with 5, and now have 50! I'll have to think about the best way to transport them, because I can only think of 3 that it might be bearable for me to leave behind, haha). I'm starting with the porteño (native Buenos Aires) fiction, which it will be nice to read while I'm still in this wonderful city!
Other highlights of my week have been:
- Jorge letting me borrow his camera (¡Gracias, Jorge!).
- Seeing the final "Harry Potter" movie with Nam.
- My landlady, Fernanda, being really proud of my graduation, and giving me a book by Paulo Coelho: 'Veronika decide morir: Una historia sobre la locura' ('Veronika Decides to Die: A Story about Madness').
- Taking a trip out to the province of Buenos Aires with Jorge for lunch with his family. It is much different than the city — everyone sits outside in lawn chairs, and you can actually hear the birds. Jorge's mom seems a lot like him, and very nice!
- Eating Peruvian food, peeking into an antique store I've always been curious about, and going to El Caminito to chat and watch a tango show with Daniel on his last day in Buenos Aires.
- Having lunch and coffee with Leo and checking out the cultural centers and book stores in Microcentro.
- Going to a birthday party with mi amiga Juliana and a few of her Colombian friends. We talked about different countries, music (they introduced me to Chayanne, the sappy Backstreet Boy of Puerto Rico), serenatas (serenades), and we ate hot dogs wrapped in empanada dough with spicy sauce.
- A Peruvian folk music show on Avenida de Mayo. The dancers wore bright traditional hats and outfits, danced with white handkerchiefs, and popped confetti-filled balloons. At the end (my favorite part), a little girl sang a really touching, melancholy song.
- All the SUPER-excited Uruguayans on the streets after Uruguay won the Copa América.
A dock at La Boca.
More Museo Maguncia, featuring hippy/revolutionary Jesus and Robin.
Edited stories and poetry coming soon! =)
Abrazos
Kaeli
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