September 2, 2018: I made a friend today.

Today was relatively eventful.

If you saw the most recent post before this one, I made a promise to not complain at all today and to be as productive and positive as I could. I think I achieved those goals! I had made a list of things I wanted / needed to do today and that usually helps me get things done and stay focused. So I got up, ate breakfast, sent an email I've been meaning to send, and worked out right away. Notice the avant-garde fanny pack that I run with. Today was sunny and 60 degrees and the rest of the week is supposed to be even warmer!

I ran to the park and did my once-a-week 20 inverted rows and that is where I met this new friend. After I finished the rows, a guy standing nearby said, "Para la espalda?" asking me if the exercise was for my back. I said yeah (but I wasn't really sure lol) and then we conversed for a little bit and I found out that he is from Colombia and he moved to Buenos Aires about 2 years ago. His name is Carlos and he is a DJ, so catch me trying to sneak into private events where he DJs hehe. We made plans to workout together and potentially to explore Buenos Aires. I'm excited to have someone to workout with and show me around the city! There's still so many places I haven't been...

I worked for the next few hours until lunch, where I balled out with eggs AND pasta. Big dawgs gotta eat. It was then time for me to visit one of my new housing options. Here's how I feel about that visit...

My initial feeling was guilt and like I was a traitor going behind Laura's back. I know that that's not how it is but it just wasn't a great feeling. The neighborhood of this home is MUCH more lively than Almagro, but it didn't feel as homey as Almagro (naturally, since Almagro is literally where my current home is). It just seemed a bit more commercial and the couple did mention it was a caro (expensive) neighborhood. They seemed like really kind people, people with whom I could have interesting conversations, and people who understood well their role as a host family. But they weren't quirky at all and it made me appreciate all of Laura's little quirks... as opposed to getting annoyed by them. Like yeah Laura talks to herself a lot, hums random tunes, and gets werked up about politics, but that's what makes her her. The benefit of the new location is that it's within walking distance to 3 of my 4 classes, but the disadvantage is that it is considerably farther away from my friends. I think that is what worries me most.

Here is me realizing I didn't take any photos of the apartment or neighborhood to share on here. Ugh. If I had to describe it I'd say it was more urban, more diverse, wider avenues, more shops, more people, taller buildings... yeah basically just more urban.

I came home and continued to read some homework and then fell asleep for 30 minutes. Laura called up to ask me if I like pizza napolitano (pizza with mozzarella, tomatoes, and garlic) and I responded, "Claro que sí!" (Of course!!)

It was homemade!!! Dinner was so nice, she didn't put on the news for once, and we actually had a pleasant conversation. This is going to sound dramatic but I literally could not look her in the eyes and think about leaving her. I am so torn. I decided that while I'm here, I can at least make better efforts to connect with her. I offered to write out my schedule for her and she said that would be great, so that'll be nice because she'll have more of an idea of what I'm up to and I won't be frustrated anymore that she always asks the same questions.

She then offered to make me ensalada de fruta and how could I say no...? So we cheerzed to that. Now I'm going to try read a bit more but probably just go to sleep early.

To sum up my thoughts about moving, this is how I feel:

-maybe I've been too hard on Laura and this is just a phase she is going through (I mean she literally did have a fever and that affects your mood)

-maybe I haven't made enough efforts to connect with her and that is my fault and not hers

-moving to a nicer neighborhood seems unjust because it's like I'm just picking and choosing what I want... Laura doesn't have that freedom so it's not fair to leave her just because she lives in a poorer neighborhood

-but at the same time I literally do feel isolated at times because I don't live in the same neighborhood as my friends

-but maybe I feel isolated because I didn't go out much this week and regardless of where I live, if I spend most of the time in my house it doesn't matter if I'm in Almagro or Palermo or Recoleta cuz I'm inside my house either way!

-maybe the ideal situation would be if I lived in the same house with the same Laura but it was located in Palermo... unfortunately this is impossible so I can "solve" it by just traveling to Palermo more often

And that concludes my diary for the day.

Song Recommendation of the Day: "Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest

P.S. - Here is a shoutout to Randi Geffrey... not at all per her request. She may or may not claim to be my #1 blog fan... but she'll have to ask Sue about that one...