Hermione v Fleur

In California I had every comfort I could ever need, whether it be San Ramon or San Diego or anywhere in between, I had everything. I had a loving and supporting family (presumably, I still do), the best friends I could ever be blessed with, an insanely comfortable bed with all the trappings (pillow, blankets, teddy bears, etc), a car, heaps of clothes, towels, familiar shampoo and conditioner, beaches and a Target around the corner and a shopping mall just down the street if all else should fail. I have a bed and pillow (KB regrettably could not make the trip), I have clothes to get by well enough and there are plenty of shops around every corner that carry everything anyone could possibly need here in Buenos Aires. The familiar brands are gone but for a few exceptions (Suave, Billabong, BK, McD, Starbucks) but even the familiar brands carry the markings of Argentina: Spanish sans the English translation. This is all good and well because as my main goal here is to learn the language, the absence of English is very helpful indeed.

The main discomfort that this new place has provided that California never could is not the feeling of drowning in a foreign language nor is it being at the mercy of public transportation, it's the humidity. The minute I stepped out of the airport on that fateful day in January I had the immediate feeling of suffocation and promptly began sweating like an iced mocha in San Diego. Not more than a minute had passed that my bangs began to celebrate the airborn moisture, followed by my whole head of hair. I was without straightener or blow dryer for the first few days, and even after buying a straightener I believe the battle for sleek hair will never be won. I have what I like to call "adventure hair" best characterized by Ms. Hermione Granger herself. It is a bushy, poofy mess of irregular curls and waves that is tamable only by bobbi pins and headbands. The beautiful, sleek, flowing hair will only return when I return to a dryer, more bearable climate i.e. California.