It’s funny how easily you can slip into the rhythm of any city and feel as at home as in your own country.
My body and mind both seem to reset when I arrive in a new place — whether it’s hot, humid Singapore, sun-drenched Australia, or the bustling capital of Argentina. I adjust to time differences, new schedules, meal times and weather with surprising ease.
I’ve only been back in Buenos Aires a few days. After a grueling 30-hour journey with stops in Dubai and Rio de Janeiro, I went straight back to work the morning after I arrived. I returned to the gym on Wednesday after almost a month away, during which I happily tested my stomach’s ability to cope with different foods.
Somehow I’ve developed a rhythm here in Buenos Aires — a pattern of rituals and habits, a steady tempo populated by acquaintances, friends and people who feel almost like family.
On the taxi ride home from the airport, my two heavy suitcases in the trunk, I watched the night streets roll by. The scene felt familiar in ways I hadn’t expected: the lights, the flow of traffic, the corners and blocks that now register like the back of my hand.
It’s both strange and comforting to leave one home and arrive at another.
Home as easy familiarity — the feeling you get when a two-second glance at a street tells you which part of the city you’re in and how many blocks you are from your apartment. Home is walking into my Curves gym and being greeted with hugs and kisses from friends and instructors who want to hear all about my trip to the Far East. Home is knowing the streets my feet have walked, leaving footprints among millions in this cosmopolitan city often called the “Paris of South America” for its elegant European architecture.
Home as belonging — a place where you feel rooted even if you weren’t born there. It’s the nest you look forward to after a long day at the office, where the warmth of the kitchen and good company can smooth away the rough edges of a tiring day. It’s a small refuge whose very sight can replace fatigue with a bright smile.
Though Singapore remains my true home, there’s something wonderful about knowing that on the far side of the world people welcome me into their lives. That sense of connection is priceless.
So even as I enjoy a light, refreshing dinner — trying to shed the Singaporean carbs — and even though I’m far from any Asian dish or restaurant, I feel completely at home.
Looking for something light and fresh to lift your week before the weekend’s indulgences set in?
Avocado pairs surprisingly well with fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced onions and crisp greens.
It packs flavor and comes together with whatever you have in the fridge. Can any meal really be easier?
AVOCADO, TOMATO & ONION SALAD
(Serves 2 as a meal, 4 as an appetizer or side)
Ingredients:
1) 1 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
2) 1 head of butter lettuce (or your preferred greens), roughly torn
3) 2–3 teaspoons dried oregano
4) 1 large tomato, sliced
5) 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
6) Salt, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste
Steps:
1) Combine the torn lettuce, avocado slices, tomato and onion in a bowl.
2) Sprinkle dried oregano over the salad.
3) Season with salt, then add a splash of balsamic vinegar, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil (this order helps balance the flavors).
4) Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.