(nearly) full circle and (entirely) in another hemisphere

¡Hola! I'm in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, and it's wonderful to be back. It's been almost a year since my first visit. I first came to Argentina in November 2006 as the winner of the Mirian Conti Argentina Prize (which was presented at the 2006 Juilliard Commencement). Mirian is a terrific pianist and an absolutely wonderful person, and she hosted my first trip.

What an unforgettable time I had last November! Some memorable things: watching the flight map in awe as we flew over the Equator and the Amazons; arriving in gorgeous summery weather; driving into Buenos Aires in all its bustling, cosmopolitan glory; savoring the amazing and amazingly inexpensive food from the very start (the pastas, ice cream, and anything with dulce de leche were standouts—unfortunately my vegetarianism precluded me from sampling the legendary beef!); performing in the gilded Salon Dorado at the Casa de la Cultura to a fantastic, appreciative audience; meeting the most wonderful people; enjoying a tango show (gotta love the bandoneon); frequenting the city's ubiquitous internet cafes; marveling at the European-style architecture, antique shops, and colorful street fairs in San Telmo; sipping delicious coffee at the iconic Cafe Tortoni; scoring deals on high-quality leather goods; seeing artwork by Frida Kahlo and others at Malba, which houses the largest collection of Latin American art; laughing hysterically at Talladega Nights on the flight back to the US.

My current trip (sponsored by the American Embassy) is equally exciting, albeit shorter and more jam-packed. I wish I had more time to sightsee, but I'm really enjoying my "official" duties. The agenda includes two concerts, a master class/talk, and various other events. More on this trip to come...