Buenas Cosas

I just wanted to post some good things (Buenas Cosas) that make me smile.

First and foremost- I got a job!
Not just any job, but a full time job including health insurance and a work visa. I'll be working for Avature, a software company. Technically it's customer service but it's not the terrible phone answering variety, more like client relationships with companies around the world. I also work with Jorge.Thanks Jorge for recommending me! Also thank you Galo, Michael and Flor who put a good word in for me as well.

Shobie being in town makes me look at Buenos Aires in a different way. I've been exhausted but the good news is I had a pleasant experience in Colonia, Uruguay. If you haven't read about my first experience, read it here. Shobie was set on seeing a beach. Here's the thing people- Buenos Aires isn't always hot and it's not a beach. However, it is summer right now and thus incredibly hot, but that doesn't change the beach situation. Colonia is only an hour boat ride away and has a nice river beach. I turned several shades darker, I may even be a different race now. I don't actually have any photos of me on the beach (no swimsuit shots, thank you very much) but here's a photo of me enjoying another good thing, Cookies and Cream milkshake with vodka supplemented by a game of Jenga.

I just got the job offer today, so I'm still beaming. It just so happened that I had already made plans with Magu for her to meet Shobie and I and go to this cupcake place nearby that she loves but I had never been to. It was a great way to celebrate. I had a chocolate orange cupcake with an iced dulce de leche coffee. Decadent and delicious. I don't have a photo of that yet, Magu has that, so I'll just leave you with a photo of a photo of Magu and I with Santa and two other girls, Ana and Caro.

Fun Analysis

"I did some analysis and realized I hadn't enjoyed life enough"

My friend Shobie just said this to me and it seemed like something I would say. "I did some analysis". Who else needs to analyze fun? I think that fits right in with my 40 year old logic/7 year old interests theory.

However, I am also in complete agreement with Shobie about remedying the results of this analysis. My life in Buenos Aires is not about work. Yes, work will always be necessary, this is a resume building experience and of course, I will never escape my true workaholic nature, but I am here to have an adventure and allow myself to have the fun I always should have been having. I didn't do any extracurricular activities in high school because I was working. I didn't get very involved in university because I was working so much I could hardly sleep. I wasted part of my youth. I don't have regrets, but I'm shutting down that pattern here and now.

• I completely refuse to schedule any work on Saturdays.
• I also refuse to schedule any morning work on Wednesdays. 9am-2pm is completely reserved for playing Squash, going out for lunch and relaxing before working with the family.
• I only have 30 hours of scheduled work then just 4-12 flexible hours through my newest job (see below for description).

This brings me to the Buenas Noticias part of my post!

• Got a new job today as a "Personal Assistant" for the Choi family (a Korean-American family living in BsAs who I occasionally babysit for). The hours are super flexible and the tasks are varied but easy. I will be helping Janet organize her life/schedule as well as taking some work off her hands such as making phone calls in Spanish, running errands, organizing their home. I also get to work on creating developmentally appropriate games for their two children, Soren (7) and Alyosha (3) . I love that I get to use my Spanish and kid skills! This job also plays into my more relaxed schedule very nicely.
• Shobie is coming for Christmas! This is old news but we've been planning out some activities and plans. So far Tango dancing, beaches and parillas have all made the list. I'm so excited and grateful his visit.
• Erin is coming in March! Yes, that is right, two scheduled visits. I cannot wait!

Small Victories

• Jenny and I spent a signficant amount of time searching for a giant bar of chocolate and stumbled upon this delight:
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• Cooked this vegetably delicious meal of asparagus, onions and red peppers and breaded eggplant for myself after a terrible and slightly frightening student sexual harassment episode:
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• Spent 45 minutes with my Ipod, a book and a Fanta Zero laying on a park bench in the sun. One of my arms now has a more pronounced farmer's tan.
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Delicious Fanta, sun, and totally bitchy sunglasses.