Finally online and Rotary pics

My host counselor, Guillermo Rosenbaum, and my Host Club's President,
Monica at the Villa Lugano Club's 40th Anniversary dinner
(we are exchanging Santa Fe and Lugano banners)

Hello Rotarians!

After nearly two years of applying, interviewing, and planning, I am now living and going to school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This really is a dream come true. Buenos Aires is unlike any other city that I have visited. From the laid back socializing around a "mate" cocido, to the frenetic pace of the "colectivos"(buses), "porteno" life (the colloquialism for born and raised in Buenos Aires) is markedly distinct from my life's previous experiences.

But let me start with the most recent experience. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in my host district's (4890) District Conference. 6 out of the 7 other scholars assigned to District 4890 were present. I can think of no other place--except maybe the United Nations or the Olympics-- where such an eclectic mix of different cultures and languages was present: the scholars all hailed from the United States, but the Rotary International (RI) representatives were from Spain and Germany. The Argentine clubs were from all over the Capital Federal of Buenos Aires but the Rotaract members included a girl from Italy and one from France. Lastly, the World Peace Scholars spoke, one from Colorado and another from Germany by way of Bolivia. And the RI rep's great grandfather is buried in Calvert cemetery in Albuquerque!

The conference demonstrated Rotary's international breadth and collegiality and really reiterated why it is so important to me to be here on a Rotary Scholarship. Wherever I am, I can find people who will help me learn about their way of life, whether it be as simple as where to buy the best vegetables or as complicated as politics and the agricultural industry, there is always a Rotarian ready to let you into his or her life.

So many things have happened since I fist got here on February 12th that I can't possibly list them all here right now. I just wanted to share my District Conference thoughts as a way of introducing this blog. More entries to come, please stay tuned!

Un Saludo,

Alethea