Getting Ready To Go

I'm moving from Tucson, Arizona to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  People keep asking me "why?" and I respond with "why not?"  I'm 27, no husband, no kids, nothing tying me down.  Well, I do have a cat, but my parents have kindly volunteered(ish) to take her in.  I completed an ESL teaching course several months ago, and have since been applying to schools in South America.   No bites.  Or, more truthfully, a couple of schools seemed interested, but wanted me to start teaching the next day.  Or seemed interested until they discovered I didn't live in their country.  And so... I've decided to just head out there.  South of the border.  I don't know anyone, I have no set job and nowhere to live.  Oh, and I am not fluent in Spanish.  But... it's an adventure?

I don't feel nearly half ready to move.  Honestly, I have made about 90 lists in preparation for my move.  I lose one list, pick up another tiny slip of paper (just the size that's easy to lose...) and jot down another.  "Things to Buy" in order to be comfortable when arriving in Buenos Aires.  "Things to Do" such as get shots, turn off my phone, wash my car, book a hostel, buy my plane ticket... Like I said, I keep misplacing my lists.  And then, randomly, I found a couple of them today.  They were all complete.  Guess that means I'm cleared for takeoff.

I'm nervous about living in a city. City life is a major attraction for me, since I've never actually lived in one.  Anyhow, I've wondered for awhile how I would fare in a city.  Always having something to do, somewhere to eat, something to see... Now that I'm just about ready to go, I'm getting more and more apprehensive.  I'm not even supposed to take pictures when I'm there...its not wise to flash your camera about, it's apparently the same as holding a giant "rob me" sign.  I'm sorry, I'm going to be taking pictures.  My first time in another country, alone?  I'll just have to get sneaky about it is all.   I'll  also have to give cabbies exact change, because counterfeit Argentine Pesos are a real problem.  Plus there's a "mustard trick" that thieves use to disarm you--they squirt mustard on you, and then while they "help" you try to clean it off, a partner runs up and grabs your purse.  Come ON!  Mustard is my nemesis. They couldn't squirt me with ranch?  Then I could clean it up myself with a french fry or burger.  I'd probably just shed my shirt to get away from the smell if someone attempted the mustard trick.  Sorry, you can't have my purse, but I am topless...win, win?

Lastly, I have been brushing up on the little bits of rusty Spanish that I know.  My Mom offered up some old Spanish phrase books for me to peruse.  The latest edition that I have is from 1986.  One of the phrases is actually "I'd like to make an appointment for a hair permanent."  Amazing.  Even better,  one of the books used to be my Grandma's.  I just know I'll be wandering around Buenos Aires spouting old colloquialisms from the 50's.  "That tango was the bees' knees!" or the equivalent.  Though really, I tend to sprinkle old phrases into my daily speech as it is.  I used the saying "I'll be there with bells on" and my younger cousin thought that I had made up the phrase myself.  A Spanish book from the 50's could be a perfect fit for me. 

So I'm ready, I guess.  A week from today I fly out.