Buenos Aires

I’ve been here a week and a half now.

I’m starting to think I might be the luckiest person alive. I’m on federal supervision but in Buenos Aires, where my program costs are covered by scholarships. I won the host family lottery. I left my debit card in the ATM and actually got it back from the bank the next day. Tonight I found 200 pesos on the ground. I sat on a balcony last night and listened to songs that I listened to in prison. The contrast could not be greater.

I feel free here. Years younger. Life no longer feels so heavy. The tension that is omnipresent in the air in the US doesn’t exist here. The vibe is chill. People sit around and talk, drinking coffee at night. Dinner is at 9pm. It’s OK to be a few minutes late to anything, even school and work. My watch is not my master.

People are warm and friendly and always kiss you on the cheek to greet you. I spend most of my day speaking in Spanish, almost as an afterthought. It’s an incredibly beautiful life.

I’m already dreading going back home.