Its Dirty Martini Time! #drinks #martini #greygoose #catvsnewjourney

Its dirty martini time! #drinks #martini #greygoose #catvsnewjourney

Highlights and Challenges of Living Abroad

Traveling the world can have both its wonderful and horrible moments. One of the main reasons to travel especially for those adventure-types like me is to learn about cultures, people, history, languages and customs. Aside from assimilation, being a foreigner is figuring out to fit in often uncomfortable  situations that can potentially lead to a well-rounded perspective of that country or how you view life in general. It’s a lot of work but worth it if you can get past your fears and frustrations.

My most recent adventure was to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had visited this bustling South American city almost seven years ago and although it was familiar, a lot had change despite the obvious (i.e. technology). However, this time I was staying for a extended period of time, between 2-3 months, volunteering with an NGO on their communications team maintaining their blog among other things. Luckily, much of my work was flexible in that I could present ideas to the team and given the green light to write about anything. But through this freedom came with some challenges. So below is a list of “Things I Won’t/Will Miss about Buenos Aires”:

Won’t: The ‘sh’ in replace of ‘ll’ pronunciation in Spanish - what can I say, it was pet peeve! 

Will: All you can eat gelato everywhere, even by delivery!

Won’t: Tiled sidewalks - if you stepped on a loose tile, oftentimes you would end up getting a splash of dirty water up your legs. 

Will: Nightlife - I mean endless partying seven days a week into the early hours of the AM (i.e. 7AM), that’s what I’m talking about!

Won’t: Little to no vegetables with your meal - when you go out, plan to get your fill of meat, carbs and booze but nothing healthy. 

Will: The relaxed and laid back vibe - the people seem to be happier and more content with doing less which was easy to shadow without feeling guilty.

Won’t: Blue vs. Black market - if you are a tourist you are going to get screwed either way but if it matters that much to you remember to bring cash (i.e. USD). 

Will: Malbec wine - nuff said!

Won’t: Short men - I’m a 5′ 7″ female and barely met anyone who were my height or taller, not a big deal but girls, you’ve been warned! 

Will: Friendly, not creepy taxi drivers 

Won’t: Super sweet and running consistency of yogurt - I might as well drink it and that’s not my version of yogurt (i.e. I prefer Greek style, thick). 

Will: Tango - both the dance and music!

Won’t: Not enough parks - some parks had exercise equipment and places to sit but not much room to run around or play a game of futbol without safety issues. 

Will: Kiosks - they have everything and are plenty of them all over the city open late!

Won’t: Need to know where you’re going when you get on a bus - they calculate your fare by this information but for a tourist who doesn’t speak the language makes it all that more challenging. 

Will: Recoleta and San Telmo - out of all the barrios (neighborhoods) in BsAs, I will missed these two the most!

Life doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints it takes and it takes and it takes and we keep living anyway, we rise and we fall and we break and we make our mistakes and if there's a reason I'm still alive when so many have died, I'm willing to  Wait for it...

‘Wait for It” from Broadway Musical ‘Hamilton’

Cool #lights down #exchangealleynola #nolaatnight #nola #neworleans #frenchquarter #walkaroundtown #walkaround #thingstodo #eveningstroll #traveler #travelusa #gonola #streetlight #vintage #vintagestyle #lights #citylights (at Exchange Alley)

Blew my mind! Tots going to use this method for my late “Cookie Bake-Off” this year :) So excited!

5 Cookie Pro Tips from TED-Ed (and Science)

1. Cookies are for everyone. But everyone has cookie preferences. When you slide that cookie tray into the oven, you’re setting off a series of chemical reactions that transform one substance - dough - into another - cookies! The better you understand ‘Cookie Chemistry’, the better equipped you will be to create the cookies you crave.

2. Lots goes on in that oven, but one of science’s tastiest reactions occurs at 310º. Maillard reactions result when proteins and sugars breakdown and rearrange themselves into ring like structures which reflect light in a way that gives foods their distinctive, rich brown color. As this reaction occurs, it produces a range of flavor and aroma compounds, which also react with each other forming even more complex tastes and smells.

3. The final reaction to take place inside your cookie is caramelization and it occurs at 356º. Caramelization is what happens when sugar molecules breakdown under high heat, forming the sweet, nutty and slightly bitter flavor compounds that define…caramel! So if your recipe calls for a 350º oven - caramelization will never happen. 

So, if your ideal cookie is barely browned - 310º will do. But if you want a tanned, caramelized cookie, crank up the heat! Caramelization continues up to 390º degrees.

4. No need to check that oven like a fiend. You don’t even really need a kitchen timer - when you smell the nutty, toasty aromas of the Maillard reaction and caramelization, your cookies are ready! 

5. Baking is chemistry, friends! That’s right - PURE. SCIENCE. Check carefully before altering those recipes - chances are some of those ingredients and quantities are there for a reason.

Curious what else happens in that oven? Check out the TED-Ed Lesson  The chemistry of cookies - Stephanie Warren

Animation by Augenblick Studios

Littlest Things, Sweet Surprises

I was walking in Barrio Chino the other and saw a baby walking with her mom with a huge ¼ kilo of helado dripping all over her hands. The area in Belgrano reminded me of nice residential places in Queens, reminding me of fond memories of home. I also took a walk from Plaza Italia down to Villa Crespo through Palermo. During this time, I realized that living in Congresso instead of the commercialized Palermo gives me a more authentic experience.

Buenos Aires (BsAs) is a city full of tension, economically and politically, and at the same time a place where anyone can easily feel at home. As an avid world traveler, I cannot say that I have felt like I was part of a family as must as I do in BsAs. Here, foreigners, neighbors and friends alike are embraced as family. Despite the poverty found right outside the center of the city in barrios (neighborhoods) like Barracas, the people are always coming together to help one another. The best example of this is on the trains and subte. Different from the beggars on the NYC metro system who 9 times out of 10 are ignored, those who solicit or beg for assistance in BsAs actual get consumensated for their struggles. 

Its not easy to forget all the challenges the people of Argentina, primarily porteños (BsAs locals), who vocalize the fight with protests and marches along Avenida de Mayo almost everyday. They take democracy seriously and want to preserve anything and everything that is Argentinean. Although many of the things that claim to be Argentinean has been adapted from other European cultures, however, over time the people of Argentina self-identify and reaffirm these customs are their own. So why would I want to live in a barrio that resembles a more Westernized country? Why wouldn’t I want to get exposed to the lifestyle of the average porteño? All I know is that this trip to BsAs has definitely changed my perspective when traveling in the future.