Reflections from a teammate abroad
During our orientation to Buenos Aires, our study abroad coordinator did her best to prepare us for living in this city. “Los carros son asesinos," she warned us, “y los perros dejan regalitos en las veredas.” She also warned the girls that Argentine men are more forward than we’re used to, that they call piropos (compliments/cat-calls) to women on the street. After nine weeks of running in the city, I can confirm: the cars are “assassins,” the enormous dog population has a tendency to leave “little gifts” on the sidewalks, and the men stare. I’ve stopped wearing my contacts on runs; my eyesight is adequate for avoiding dog poop and dodging asesinos, but fuzzy enough that I don’t notice all the sideways glances.
Biking and swimming, too, have required some adjustment. I’ve learned which spin instructors speak in Spanish I can understand and which don’t. I’ve learned that personal space is a non-issue at the gym, that someone might sit on the floor directly in front of my bike to wait their turn, or lean on my handlebars to chat to the person next to me. I’m still figuring out lane-sharing etiquette in the pool. Split the lane or circle swim? Chat during breaks or pretend the other person doesn’t exist? Pass or wait?
Argentina, in general, is keeping me on my toes. Every day is different: I learn something, I see something beautiful or surprising, I smell something new (and I sometimes wish I hadn’t). Every week’s schedule looks different. Tango lessons, museums, food fairs, plane flights, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls. There is no routine. I feel different, too; in Spanish, I express myself and relate to others differently. Sometimes, I don’t recognize my own voice.
Although running, biking, and swimming in a foreign country presents its own challenges, more than anything, these activities provide much-needed familiarity and routine. When I left for Argentina, I didn’t intend to prioritize training. I worried that it would hold me back from experiencing all the newness of this place and this culture. I have found, though, that a daily commitment to triathlon gives me the energy and peace of mind to engage more fully in the rest of my day. It helps me feel grounded. My heartbeat and my breath sound the same in any language.
In several weeks, I will return to Dartmouth with a new appreciation for the challenge and the satisfaction of triathlon training. More than that, though, I will return with a deeper gratitude for the team. As I train alone, I’m realizing that half of my love for this sport is actually a love for the Dartmouth triathlon community. I miss group ab sessions, collaborative spin workout playlists, and team dinners.
Sending you all my love, Dartmouth Tri. Looking forward to open water swims in Storrs, long rides up and down the Upper Valley hills, and windows-down road trips with the bikes bungeed out back.
sbr,
About the Author
Sonia Rowley is a '19 on the triathlon team, studying Psychology and Spanish. She loves (and currently misses!) peanut butter/banana/honey sandwiches from Collis.
