Argentina: 4, Emily: 1.5

So I've decided to start a running tally between Argentina and myself. I can only imagine that we are going to continue to find ourselves in conflict for a while. So I decided that it has already earned 4 points for all of the potential departure dates that it has destroyed. RIP August 15, August 22, September 6, and yesterday. I was tempted to give myself a kajillion points simply for procuring a departure date. However, it seemed like that was letting my personal bias step in just a little too much (also, I haven't actually left yet so Argentina could still nab another date). But, I do believe that because I have finally answered (almost for sure, I mean I have a Fedex tracking number and you can't deny that's legit) the overarching question of when, I deserve a bonus half point. For now I am leaving on Friday, September 3 and arriving September 4. Continue watching the tally to see if this has changed.

So for all of you that are following this adventure, the Battle of the Visa has come to a conclusion and now the real adventure has begun. The adventure of packing. Now, I began packing on August 8 (for my first departure date of August 15). Every item of clothing that I wear was packed that day and if you do the math that means I have had no clothes for 23 days. So don't worry everyone, its not groundhogs day, all of my alternate outfits have just been in prison. I never unpacked because I was always convinced I would be leaving in a couple days. Even though the leaving thing never happened, I now embrace the extreme inconvenience of the last one and a half fortnight because, ladies and gentlemen, I am practically packed. Unfortunately, since my original packing extravaganza I have bought at least four more articles of clothing, countless gifts, a package of miso soup and mac and cheese. Problem Numero Uno: will it all fit?

The second problem has to do with the aforementioned host gifts. Now I already have calendars, CSU t-shirts, bracelets, stickers, post-cards of colorado, playing cards, peanut butter and wildflowers. You would think that would be sufficient, and really I should think thats sufficient. But for some reason my latest mental aberration is thinking that everyone in Argentina is going to expect un regalito from me. Which is ridiculous, at some point I have to realize I won't even meet the whole population, let alone gift every Argentine.

Number three has to do with my freaky food habits. So far in my suitcase I have an entire bottle of soy sauce, spicy teriyaki sauce, siracha, crunchy peanut butter, creamy peanut butter, three packages of miso and two boxes of mac and cheese. I have yet to figure out how to guarantee a successful transport of tofu, but really, maybe I should just leave my asian food fetish behind.

So will I conquer the packing adventure? Only time and the tally will tell who wins: Los tres problemas (win for me) or the 50 pound, two suitcase limit (win for Argentina).

And the Visa Battle Persists...

As you may or may not know the largest remaining question in the commencement of my Argentine adventure is: When? When am I going to leave?

Initially, my departure date was August 15th, but after a quick trip to Houston that dream was promptly altered. I was slightly devastated, and accidentally scared the crap out of another boy by telling him to cross his fingers because rejection is possible. (Sorry to him, where ever he may be...probably actually in Argentina. Well, and now it becomes clear that the reason he gets to be there and I don't, is because of bad karma for scaring him in the first place. Dang it.) So anyhow, after some tears and general panic, I realized that extra time at home might actually be a good thing. Therefore, I lounged around in a magazine worthy house, ate sushi and was merry.

I once again returned to Colorado and proceeded as though I was leaving the 15th, just in case it actually worked out. (It didn't, so don't get your hopes up.) I had many wonderful people in both countries working hard to make sure, I would be in Argentina as soon as possible. The hero of the situation turned out to be Jorge, who told me I could have a new Permiso de Ingreso in a week, and my Visa would probably arrive a few days later. "Well, how fantastic!" I thought to myself. A couple extra days at home, and just to be safe I planned a departure date of August 22nd. Plenty of time to get my visa, right? So I continued my good byes and packing. I told my host family (who might I say have been incredibly accommodating and wonderful through this whole ordeal) that I would be arriving the 23rd and I also told my future classmates. I was pumped, and excited, and ready to rock and roll.

Unfortunately, I will have to continue to fight tooth and nail to receive my visa. Once again, there is a problem with my permiso de ingreso. So for now, it is less of an Argentina Adventure and more of a How to get a Visa and Accurate Permiso de Ingreso Adventure. I am very grateful and lucky to have many amazing people working hard to solve this problem, and hopefully soon I will be able to answer the final question: When?