My First 'Blog' Post

Blog—such a funny-sounding word. I’ve just discovered that it is derived from the word “weblog”…as in a log, or a record of incidents, found on the World Wide Web. Cool to know. Blog…Blah blah blah....Ga ga ga—Blog.

I have always viewed producing an ongoing narrative (for an online audience), such as this, as pretentious and unnecessary but realizing that I have a terrible memory and some blogs are cool, this may not be a bad idea. Plus, I would like to go back as a hip, grey-haired grandpa and read and make fun of all the pretentious things I’ve said when I was young. ;)

But more importantly, the impetus behind making this blog is my long-awaited sojourn to Buenos Aires, Argentina! Ahhhh! My first time out of the country! Ahhhh! Obliged to speak a language I am not fluent in! Ahhh! Being considered a “foreigner”? I dig it.

I’ve chosen to study and travel to Buenos Aires simply because it is a great city: sub-tropical weather; proud and educated residents; distinct history & culture; fashion & arts thrive; built in a beautiful country with wonderful landscapes. I dig it.

Honestly, I am unsure of what to expect. But I do know that this journey will not be ordinary. I have spent too much time obsessing over this city, country, and its people for it to be just another American kid’s “study abroad trip.” In the past months, I have researched so many topics. 70s Argentine rock music, I got it covered! Commonly used Argentine curse words? Umm Hmm, I can tell you about those. Gauchos&Barrios&Gardel&LoveHotels? Baby, I’m yours. What I am trying to say is that I will make the most of every moment I spend in Argentina! Gracias a la vida!

I will be arriving one week before the start of the program. This week will be committed to being a dorky sightseer. Fanny pack and all. But after this one week, I will shed the fanny pack and become a porteño, a resident of Bs. As. I will also adopt and abide by one rule, one principle that I will keep in mind the rest of my trip.

Rule #1:

Be a traveler, and not a tourist.

This rule arose from a quote of book I have read by Paul Bowles titled Sheltering Sky:

"He did not think of himself as a tourist; he was a traveler. The difference was partly one of time, he would explain. Whereas the tourist generally hurries back home at the end of a few weeks or months, the traveler, belonging no more to one place than the next, moves slowly, over periods of years, from one part of the earth to another."

I will move slowly through Argentina, collecting every bit of knowledge that I can with a very open mind.

And oh yeah, and as for an explanation behind the title of my blog?

It sounds nice. Unlike the word ‘blog’

Sell a cellar, door a cellar, sell a cellar cellar-door, door adore, adore a door, selling cellar, door a cellar, cellar cellar-door.

Selladore.

Do you dig it?

(16 hours till my flight leaves)!