Switching fields

Did you ever dreamed of changing the work you do? I don't mean just switching to a different company, I mean really going from Doctor to lawyer? Account to teacher? 

I just switched from teaching to baking. It is learning everything from scratch. It is knowing nothing and building up. The last time in my working career that I felt like this, I was 19 and started working at a preschool. I knew a bit about kids and I had just a little of experience. It was hard, but I don't recall it been so hard as this switch has been.

I officially started working at a restaurant called PANI Deli 10 days ago. Do I have baking experience? Yes, some! I used to bake at home, plus I did a 4 months internship at another place called Maru Botana.

But this, this job has been different. First it as been an adaptation into the amount of physical work it takes. I get home exhausted, muscles I never knew I had soooo soared! But that, that is not even the point.

The point is that I have been left alone in the kitchen... Jajaja, I know how to make certain things, and I believe the kitchen is a try an error kind of thing. Definitely I learned from my mistakes, and definitely I won't be making them again!! 

It get a bit frustrating, going home everyday and knowing you messed up! I get to work all happy, so enthusiastic, and the minute I get to the kitchen BOOM! The news hit me, I messed up! 

It's not the messing up part that gets me upset, because yes we learn from our mistakes, is more the WTF! Again! And even when I thought I did everything good! Yesterday the thought crossed my mind... What if I go back to my old job, I was good, I was reasonable happy!

But then, I think we only have one life to live! We came here knowing nothing and everyday is an opportunity to learn, to become better, to experience, to feel.

As Pierre Curie said: you have to turn life into a dream and turn the dreams into reality.

I been wanting to learn baking and pastry for many years, this is the time, the opportunity, and not because I failed I need to dropped it.

Happy to keep trying, keep learning, and continue making life sweeter.

Te quiero

Un té quiero. Un té quiero que ilumina, un té quiero que saca sonrisas.

Hay te quieros que sonrojan y hoy te quieros que llegan al alma.

También estás esos te quieros que dicen tanto y los que dicen tan tan poco.

Un té quiero no es un té amo pero es UN TÉ QUIERO.

a diferencia del Inglés, el español tiene al "te quiero" para dar esos mensajes que no son extremistas. Para dar esos mensajes que ponen contento al otro, y q le dan ganas de seguir apostando.

Siempre fui una persona cariñosa y de un té quiero facil; con los años y la movida a Miami el té quiero se sumó más valor, y resto uso (frecuencia en el ser usado). Conocidos, colegas, estudiantes, amigos usaban el "I Love You" y por más q me ponía contenta escucharlo se volvió rutina y perdió su valor.

Con la idea de la "primer estadia" (es decir, septiembre-diciembre) lo escuche con más frecuencia. Mis amigas, si, MIS AMIGAS, lo usaban, me lo decían, me sacaban sonrisas y me gustaba escucharlo. 

Luego con la visita de una amiga "yanki" lo uso también y ahí es cuando pensé, pucha, este viaje no sólo me mueve a mí sino a mis alrededores también.

Aguante la libertad de expresión!!!! Jajaja, no q antes no la tuve! Sino q es bueno darte cuenta q hay amistades q lo siguen usando, no sos vos la q lo dice, sino q te lo dicen! 

Y porq no después de 16 años, esos te quiero re validan amistades de ambos lados del charco. Amistades nuevas y viejas, de siempre y del momento. Amistades cercanas y las un poquito más lejos. Esas amistades q se dice todo con una mirada, pero que los abrazos llenan el alma.

En este 14 de febrero no sólo celebremos el amor de pareja, porq ser pareja es ser compañero, ser compañero es ser amigos y ser amigos es lo más lindo que hay en este mundo.

Vivan las amistades que llenan el alma, las que te reís sin parar, las que te levantan cuando te caes (sin importar cuantas veces te caigas) y las q dicen te quiero.

LAS QUIERO AMIGAS!

LOS QUIERO AMIGOS! 

Following your gut feeling

(Picture taken on Friday, January 29 when I got lost and went to the wrong place, I ended in one of the most iconic places in BsAs. Obelisco 10am)

Its about time, that I start feeling the need to start sharing some of the adventures I am experiencing here in Argentina.

Last week I read a blog post from a friend that talks about been out of the comfort zone and thy where the magic happens. Well, precisely I just finished reading all seven books of Harry Potter for the very first time (I believe that kind of magic exist too, the idea of a parallel world).

While working at Hillel, often I would find my self hearing the same questions from students: "your life is so cool, how come you are traveling? How come you always have a story? How come you are always in a new adventure?" And then I would tell the same answer: my parents taught me very well the concept of saving. But now, I can tell them it's more than the saving to have enough money to be able to do this, it's really taking all your emotions, courage, strength, and truly following your gut, that this decision is the best decision for YOU right NOW.

How did this adventure started?

It was the day after my birthday, I called Karen to share with her that I wanted to enroll in Pastry school but I was too scare because of the money and time commitment, to which she simple reply: "why don't you come here, to BsAs to take couple of short classes and then you could go back, and you'll be more certain about it". From that point on, all happened very fast: classes were starting in 20 days, I reach out to a famous pastry chef asking about school info and she offered me an internship."

Well, not only I loved the classes but I was the happiest everyday I spent in the kitchen. Everyday that went by I found my self thinking how much I enjoyed it. I spoke with some university professors, spoke to the administration, and all pieces were fitting in the puzzle for me to stay here for the year. WHAT AN YEAR??? 

I left Miami super convinced that I'll be back, its only 2 months. No way I would stand BsAs! (Although the decision making process was not an easy one) i would find my self saying.

So, going back about decision making, following your gut... Yes, we learned the most, we have the most fun, when we are outside our comfort zone. It is completely scary, I would find my self thinking: alone, in Argentina, but it's not israel; what about safety, money, friends (all my friends have their lives set, will they have time for me, will I be making new friends?) what if I don't enjoy the cooking? What if school is boring? What if I realize this is not for me? What if my parents do not support this project? What if.... ?What if.....? All those questions, going 9837737383 miles an hour on my head. 

And this are times where we need to listen our hearts... They are close to the gut feeling, Jajaja. My heart was saying YES!!! Do it!!! Yes, I'll feel alone at times; yes, there will Be things I don't like; yes, money is an issue, I have no saving money given that I spent it all over the summer traveling; yes, it's not the safest place; YES I WANT TO DO THIS! 

And like that, I took a deep breath, talked to my parents (whom I am forever thankful that they support me in this adventure), enrolled in school, and over a yummy pasta bowl and a bottle of wine, I told my friends I would be staying for the year. 

They are thrilled, they are happy, they supportive, they are my marketers, my number one encouragement, my favorite testers; and yes, they have their own lives, but so they did the ones in Miami. Yes, I can make new friends as I did in Miami, Israel, SF, and every place I been. 

Couple of years ago a friend gave me a box of encouraging phrases by Louise Hay to keep handy... I love the one that says "I turn every experience in an opportunity" and some how this is my moto in life.

This is an adventure, this is a journey, it is important to think about it this way. I can always say I want to go back and I can always say another day another experience. 

Been in Argentina so far has given me the chance to experience it as an adult, to work, to learn, to meet, to reconnect, to eat, drink, visit, shop. I left when I was a kid, sure the Argentina of today is not the one from before, but I'm not the same one either.

Not all decision would bring positive outcomes, but even failing is a positive one because you would learn from your mistakes! 

So, if you find your self thinking about that one thing, that scares you but you are completely confident that is the one thing you need to do, JUST DO IT.

Today, I promise to share more about the experience, the journey, the lessons learned, the failure ones, and the most funny stories.