After 5 years in Buenos Aires, I finally decided to make the move to Spain. In light of the current economic situation that Spain has been going through lately, notably the high unemployment rate, I decided to take the safer road and apply for the government scholarship/work program Auxiliares de Conversación Extranjeros en España. The upside? Go to Spain with a job and (small) salary already arranged. The downside? You don't get to choose where in Spain. And that's okay. After 5 years of Buenos Aires, I would probably rather become a hermit for the next 5 years than go to an equally large city like Madrid right now.

And...

Me tocó...Extremadura. I didn't know much about it either. I still don't. But I do know there's a lot of countryside. And ham. That's also okay, because I like ham. Better than I do the Argentine asado anyway. And my dream of returning, albeit for a short time, to a more relaxed, friendly life is surely what decided I would be going to Extremadura.

So the journey begins here. In two weeks from now, just 2 weeks shy of my 5-year anniversary here in Buenos Aires, I will leave this city for what may be forever, or at the very least a long time. With my eyes set on my next destination. I realize now that I thrive on change. Exchanging Buenos Aires for a town (which I don't even know yet) in Extremadura will hopefully be the change I'm looking for, as well as a punto de partida for finding my next rumbo.

Aires Extremeños