Things I Will Miss

People seem to always ask me if I am happy or sad to leave. I'm both, I guess. I'm excited to see my family and friends, and I'm looking forward to summer and the conveniences I took for granted; but then I'm sad to leave all I've come to love behind: the people, the lifestyle, even the food. A part of me has changed: I thrive in Big City Living. I dread driving my car. The coffee here at Voulez Bar is very frothy. More milk than coffee I'd say. I've learned that whole milk holds the bubbles longer. Something about the fats. I wonder how soy milk will do with my new whisk. And coffee here is always served hot. Really hot. Maybe you're supposed to sit and linger over it longer than most Americans would allow. And business deals are done over lunch. It's weird that I'm going home; it hasn't hit me. I only had two weeks to plan my arrival; I've had three months to work on my departure. And while I can't stay, I'm not one for making a huge show of leaving. I'd rather sneak out, that's more my style. "But people here like you," Andres told me. I'd like to think people back home like me too, but I'm more likely to see them again.
I will miss the nightlife: staying out until 7 in the morning, the coffee, the cheek kisses, the subte, walking everywhere, sidewalk cafes, kiokos with alfajores and phone cards, speaking Spanish, daily nun sightings, Argentine fashion and creative ensembles, the people who try to sell me a pen when they already see that I have one in my hand, leisure time, opulent buildings juztaposed with modern architecture, passion and cacerolazos, how unguarded the presidential palace is as opposed to the doors of private schools, patios and balconies, green parks, family outings, urban skylines, avoiding dog poop, sunny days when everyone sits around drinking mate, when people confuse me for a portena, gaggles of colegio students chattering in opaque maroon tights, honking cars after a futbol victory, urban noises, the buzz of electric life, a culture that runs on caffeine and sweets, active little old ladies hobbling about, scoring a subte seat, meeting interesting people from all over the world... now this is just making me sad.