I started to feel more confident with the hustle and bustle of the city. I made friends with the laundry lady as I dropped off clothes and greeted dogs along the road to my apartment. I was feeling less alone.
Then, Flor changed everything! In the university library packed tight with tables, I was hoping to get some help with my homework. And then I met her! Flor welcomed me with kisses on the cheeks, a normal custom, as I wrestled with Spanish. I laughed at all my mistakes and to my surprise, she did too! It was the start of a lifelong friendship. Flor helped me navigate through the confusion. I was no longer the only one on the playground. I had a teammate, ready to pass me the ball!
The feelings of loneliness and homesickness faded after about two months. I could feel a rhythm starting in my routine of school, riding the bus, and laughing with friends. My mentor embraced me and shook me by the shoulders as he said that the hardest parts were behind me. I smiled and jokingly said, “Gracias chango!” A phrase only used in Tucumán to mean “Thanks, man!” He grinned from ear to ear and told me I was becoming a real Tucumana.
I could not have imagined how welcome I now feel in Argentina. Tucumán has made me fall in love with travel and Argentina forever.
