Sexy Spanish Club in Buenos Aires

Win a Trip to Argentina!

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:51:00 +0000

Dreaming of traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina?

The makers of Bueno, entonces..., the hot new Spanish language learning software, are trying to build their Facebook cred by reaching 10,000 Fans by March. If they get there, one lucky fan and a friend will win a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for 10 days of intensive Spanish lessons, a chance to meet the cast and crew (and me, too!) and of course, have way too much fun.

From now until March 12th, Bueno, entonces... is offering a series of contests on the Facebook Page, which offers free daily Spanish phrases, words and grammar lessons. 100 participants will be chosen as Finalists from the series of contests and will be entered to win the Grand Prize Trip. The complete contest details are posted on the Bueno, entonces...Fan Page.

They've to a super-simple photo contest. To enter, just snap a picture of yourself holding a sign saying "I want to win a trip to Argentina" and post it to their Facebook wall. Then get your friends to 'like' and comment on it.

But HURRY! The TEN finalists with the most 'likes' will be selected on Friday (February 5). So polish up your tango shoes and hurry and go check it out.

About the program:
Bueno, entonces... is like Rosetta Stone meets The Simpsons - the program is comprehensive, but at the same time hilarious and really engaging. Just released last year, it has been already featured in the iTunes App Store and on the Daily Candy website. To see more, check out their Learn Spanish website.

Bueno, entonces....My Favorite Way to Learn Spanish

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:29:00 +0000

I have taken my share of Spanish classes, believe me. Some were good, some were...not so good.

But none were as funny or as motivating as the Bueno, entonces...program.

Witty and wry, with more than a bit of adult humor, it's like watching a favorite TV show--you can't wait for the next episode! Though it's definitely geared to the twentysomething crowd, even old folks like Tom and me laughed out loud during many of the lessons.

It's sexy--in a fun way. And since this is the Sexy Spanish Club blog, well, I feel that I must recommend this as it is THE sexiest Spanish-learning program out there. The two characters--the hot Argentine teacher (Jimena) and the kinda goofy student (David) definitely develop a certain...chemistry. It makes it fun. Will they--or won't they? I'm not telling. ;-)

For those planning on visiting Argentina, you should know that this is the ONLY Argentine-oriented Spanish program available. It tells you how to pronounce things the Argentine way and includes plenty of cultural references and helpful (and entertaining) slang.

Plus, it's portable: it can be instantly downloaded to your iPod, iPhone, Smartphone, or laptop. No need for that sweaty bus or Subte ride to a class, and no books to lug around--just plug in and learn...and laugh!

What are you waiting for, gringo? Get started on your own sexy Spanish here.

Leaving Buenos Aires?

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:46:00 +0000

No, not really. Though it's true that my husband and I just bought a small farm in Uruguay , we are keeping our studio apartment in Buenos Aires and plan to visit regularly. After all, it's only two hours away and we have two daughters living in Buenos Aires and many friends--and though we plan to live a quiet life in the country (focusing on farming and writing) we will want a blast of city life every now and then!

Why did we buy the farm? It was unexpected. We visited some friends--an expat couple, British and French, who had spent twenty years in New York--who had just purchased a farm. We saw how they were living, and it was just so appealing that we couldn't get the idea out of our heads. Two weeks later, we'd bought our own place (or at least, started the process). The real estate transaction went very well--quick, smooth, very nice owners who worked with us directly without using an agent.

What appeals to us about it is the challenge of living even more simply, of connecting to the land, developing (re-developing...I grew up on a farm) our skills in terms of planting, growing and harvesting our own food, and living in a 90-year-old farmhouse without succumbing to our American instincts to redo and rebuild. It's beautifully simple as is, but not perfect--and we are looking forward to being okay with that.

Most of all, we love the idea of investing in land, of being in a beautiful place and getting to know our neighbors in a setting that encourages cooperation, bartering, and sharing. And okay, I can't help but think that it will be a really fun place for our eventual grandkids to visit. ;-)

But Buenos Aires is in my heart and always will be. I love it, and I really appreciate the creativity of the people (locals and expats). It inspires me, makes me think, makes me laugh, and helps me appreciate life. I know I'll feel the same way about life on the farm in Uruguay--but in different ways.

A Buenos Aires Writer in New York

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Thought I'd update this blog--I'm posting regularly on my New Globals blog these days.
I've even posted some fun little videos about finding my book in Barnes & Noble and meeting my agent for the first time (I wrote the book in Argentina and did everything via email!)
and most recently, seeing my book in a bookstore window here in New York.

My book, The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education, was published by Random House on the 19th, and Tom and I are in New York for a month. Generally, authors do a book tour sort of thing, but we're doing things differently! We've had a great time hanging out with three of our daughters here, celebrated when our oldest earned her master's degree (at 23) and started a new job this week, and just enjoying life in the East Village.

We were excited to see the print edition of Smithsonian Magazine on the racks this week! As I'm sure many of you know, their cover story for the June edition is about living in Buenos Aires, and several expats are quoted, including me. Thanks for that, Daniel Politi! ;-) The interview was done well over a year ago, but the timing worked out very well as it was published the same week as my book launched!

There was a glitch in the shipment of books to the many education bloggers, organizations and others who were supposed to receive an early copy in order to build some buzz. We found out just last week that the books are still sitting in the warehouse! Argh. This seriously hampers marketing efforts, as you can imagine, so we're doing a little damage control and scrambling.

In fact, things are likely to pick up in a big way soon: later this week, a short feature on the book will be published in USA Today and a review is scheduled to appear in the Boston Globe either the 7th or the 14th (Sunday editions). I've had some radio interviews and podcasts so far and Tom and I are learning a lot in our lunch sessions with parents (a group of parents buys us lunch, we listen to their concerns about their kids' education and share tips). In fact, we had a fabulous one in Westport, Connecticut last Friday with a dozen people in attendance. Tom was the only guy, but hey, he's used to that.

Most of all, we're just enjoying the moment and feeling grateful for the opportunity to have a book published and get a chance to share this message with those who can benefit from it.

If you or someone you know is strugging with college costs, disheartened by the college-prep hassle, looking for inexpensive ways to study abroad, or just ready to hear some GOOD news about U.S. education, I hope you'll consider reading or recommending my book! Learn more at
http://www.NewGlobalStudent.com
It's also full of inspiring stories and helpful advice for anyone--especially families--considering spending time abroad.

And to all you aspiring writers in Buenos Aires and elsewhere---keep at it! Two years ago, I had no idea what I would write about and though I hoped I'd write a book someday, I was like millions of other people with the same vague dream. Keep dreaming, but more importantly, keep writing! You just never know where it can take you.

We're Selling Our Apartment in Buenos Aires--UPDATE

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Yep. It's true.

Oh, it's not that we don't love it. It's been fantastic. We chose this location (just on the edge of Belgrano) three years ago when we had two daughters living with us, and it couldn't have been more perfect in terms of proximity to their schools--Islands International School and Universidad de Belgrano, and an easy bus or train ride to Lincoln University College. Just a couple of blocks from the Subte D line (Congreso de Tucuman stop, so you almost always get a seat!) and four blocks from the Nuñez train station, with bus 29 running right in front of our apartment as well.

We have great neighbors and our sweet little street is quiet with very friendly people.

Our building? Love it. Only three years old, with a lovely pool and parilla area on the roof, a small gym, and a large sauna. There are only two apartments on each floor, and ours is facing the back instead of the street. Despite the fact that we're only a couple of blocks from Cabildo, what wakes us up in the morning is birds in the trees below (we're on the seventh floor).

So, why are we selling it? Well, regular readers will know that I just wrote a book and in May, Tom and I will be going to the US for the book launch and promotional tour...and we have no idea how long we will be staying. It could be two months, but it might be six or eight months, depending on speaking engagements and other opportunities.

Also, we purchased a studio apartment in Palermo, right on Paraguay (between Armenia and Malabia) that has been under construction and will be completed in the next month or so.

PLUS, our four daughters seem reasonably launched and as empty nesters, we just don't need three bedrooms. We really like to change things up, and we've always wanted to try living in a studio apartment, so Tom and I are excited to move into the little one.

That means we've decided to sell this one, despite our daughters' concerns (we've assured them that we're likely to buy another place--with at least a spare bedroom--once we get back here after the tour stuff is over).

Luckily, the wonderful realtor who sold us this place--Javier--is a friend and is helping us sell this one as well. He works with Cristian Bau realtors here in Buenos Aires and he's such a good man, a pleasure to work with and we trust him completely. By the way, buying property here isn't hard as long as you've got the cash since there aren't really any mortgages--we saw this place, bought it and MOVED INTO IT--all within a month.

So, anyway--if you or someone you know might be interested in buying a really nice three-bedroom, two bath apartment in a great location--and we're happy to sell most of the furnishings as well for a VERY reasonable price--let us know. It's been a fantastic place for our family and I know that whoever ends up lucky enough to live here next will enjoy it as much as we have.

To see the listing with photos, go to:
(SOLD--NEVER MIND!)

Kayaking in the Delta (Tigre)

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Maya is hard at work on her other blogs so I (her husband Tom) wanted to use her traffic to recommend a guided kayak tour of the Delta that I took last week.

I have been up to Tigre and the Delta several times, it is only about 30 minutes from our apartment in Belgrano via train. Though the town of Tigre itself is worth a trip, I generally skip it to get out to the islands in the Delta.

Generally we have taken the Interisla Collectivos (passenger boats that act as buses between the islands) and have gotten off at a restaurant pier or someplace else to go hiking. We have also rented a house for a weekend.

But, what I really wanted to do was explore the myriad of small canals and channels that the
larger boats cannot get into.

Based on fellow expat Jonathan Harada's advice (http://tutoramigos.blogspot.com) we contacted Martin at www.eldoradokayak.com. Martin met us at the station and had already purchased tickets for the collectivo (boat) out to their island camp.

I have been on the same route before though it was totally different as Martin is very knowledgeable about the Delta and during the entire 1.5 hour boat ride he gave us great information about the route.

The last stop of the collectivo is their camp/house. Serenely quiet, the small canal had very few houses. All that we could hear was the winds in the leaves and the chirping of the birds.

Martin's partner Chapa had a light lunch ready for us, set nicely around a picnic table in the jungle clearing. Their house is simple but new, clean with full changing and shower facilities.

After a brief instruction on paddling techniques we set off in double and singles--very stable kayaks that were almost brand new.

Time is different in the Delta and the two-three hours we spent blissfully paddling the small canals and channels flew by. My two daughters were hesitant to go initially (worried they were not strong enough) and completely enjoyed the experience.

Our route took us through darker narrow passages as well as past grand houses on one of the larger rivers and then into seemingly untouched portions of jungle.

When we got back, a lovely lunch of sausage sandwiches, tomato salad and vino patero awaited. Chapa and Martin are wonderful conversationalists and our hour lunch turned into a three hour (again time in the Delta is different) discussion of Argentine politics, culture and life on the Delta.

When you visit Buenos Aires take this tour, you will not be disappointed. I have traveled a fair bit and the Delta is like nowhere I have been before and Eldorado Kayaks let me see it up close and personal.

New Year's in Buenos Aires: A Look at the Year Ahead

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Some people like to do the look-back-over-the-last-year thing on December 31st. I prefer to do the what-a-cool-year-it's-going-to-be thing on New Year's Day.

For the Frost family, lots of good things are in store and already in motion. Observe:

**My book, The New Global Student, will be in bookstores on May 19th. So the next six months will be devoted to pre-launch publicity as well as sketching out Book Two. Lots of exciting times ahead as we start to get media attention for the book!

**Tom and I are working together. We worked together as English teachers in rural Japan when we met back in 1983, and over the years, we've had businesses together and worked side by side. But we've always had our own projects. This year, I am very excited that he will be working directly with me on the business/nonprofit projects related to my book! We've always been far better together than apart, so there's no stopping us now! ;-)

**Our oldest daughter (she is 22) will complete her master's in May. She's been working full time in addition to earning her master's so May will bring some relief but also new opportunities. Cool!

**Daughter Number Two (just turned 21) graduated from college in December and finished two internships in Manhattan--one at a Latino ad agency, one at MTV international. Now, she is very happily working in an Irish pub (she LOVES it!) while saving money and also working as a freelancer for the ad agency. It's great to learn how to do freelance work (and negotiate for good pay) at the age of 21. This weekend, she is moving into a new apartment (she's been living with her older sister since August) and is thrilled to be living in New York and doing her thing.

**Daughter Number Three also graduated from college in December (she is 19) and was offered a job as a multilingual events coordinator for a major cruise line. Unfortunately, the earliest they can place her in a position is March, so she is arriving in Buenos Aires today to spend the next couple of months relaxing, traveling and possibly pursuing other work options if the cruise thing is taking too long.

**Daughter Number Four (she is 18) is here in Buenos Aires now on her winter break from college in upstate New York. It's a chance to visit us, visit her boyfriend (okay, we know he gets top billing) and see what it's like to come back to Argentina after being away for a few months. She's going to meet her boyfriend's family out in the campo (country) for a few days, which should be interesting. She'll return to New York in a couple of weeks, continue her studies, and do an internship this summer. It looks like she'll graduate with a BS in Applied Psychology (organizational psych, really) in December.

It's a year of growth, opportunities and changes--exactly what we love best. ;-)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Christmas at Mar de Ajó--and My First Book Blurb

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Tom and I had a great time at Mar de Ajó--just the two of us, the beach, the sun. Though I expected more wistful moments--this being our first Christmas in 22 years without kids--there were actually just a few, and we thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Christmas in a sleepy beach town.

It's not sleepy now, though--the holiday crowds were arriving as we left! There was much painting and sprucing up being done during the time we were there. It was great to be the only foreigners around--everywhere we went, people asked where we were from, were very friendly and interested and we had delightful conversations with the locals we met.

Not so nice--I caught Tom's cold (I guess I had time to get sick, so I did!) and thanks to some pretty horrible coughing yesterday, I seem to have a cracked (or at the very least, very sore) rib. So, just as I was during my recovery from gum surgery a few months back, I am VERY QUIET. It hurts to breathe, let alone talk, laugh or (OUCH!) cough.

But the good news is that I got my first blurb for my book--from Dan Pink, author of A WHOLE NEW MIND. I loved Dan's book so I am utterly thrilled and humbled and awed that he wrote such a nice blurb for my book cover. Here it is:

"With considerable verve and tremendous insight, Maya Frost offers a primer on how to take your education -- and your life -- into your own hands. THE NEW GLOBAL STUDENT is essential reading for any family yearning to step off the treadmill and plunge into the world."

-- Daniel H. Pink, author of A WHOLE NEW MIND

Nice, huh? I am looking forward to getting more blurbs soon--they are being sent to my editor at Random House/Crown and she is out of the office until January 6th. Dan just sent his along to me as a courtesy since he knew I was on pins and needles. It's especially meaningful coming from Dan as he is a father of three and took his kids on a sabbatical to Japan while doing research for his manga career guide, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko.

So...quiet....and thrilled. Not a bad way to spend the next couple of days. ;-)

Holding My Book In My Hand and Searching For Candy Canes in Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:28:00 +0000

So, yesterday I get buzzed from downstairs. It's the FedEx guy with a package for me from Random House--six copies of my book! Okay, these are early, uncorrected copies but they look just like a real book and everything.

It was so strange.

Since this entire process--finding an agent, getting a contract, working with an editor--has been done ENTIRELY online (not even a phone call--I'm seeing how long we can go just keeping things virtual!) it's kind of surreal. Now, I have six copies of my book scattered around the house--on a table here, a nightstand there--and my heart flutters each time I spy one. Very exciting and weird. I'm sure all new authors must feel this way.

This week, I've finished up my new website at www.MayaFrost.com

Also, I've redesigned by mindfulness website at www.MassageYourMind.com

I officially launched the Education Design Institute and Education Design Partners.

I sent an e-newsletter to several thousand subscribers.

I posted on my blogs, submitted an article to an article directory, had an interview with a reporter for a newspaper in New York--and she wants to pitch an article idea involving a lengthy interview with me to several major magazines.

My agent explained that my Book #2 proposal is on hold--it's too similar to one that a bestselling author just signed a contract for with my publisher. That really sucks for me, because I could easily sell the proposal to another publisher as it's a very hot topic--I just happen to have the same publisher as this guy! Drat. But switching publishers before my first book is even out would be very bad form, and besides, I love working with my current editor. So, I will spend some time thinking about a different proposal and just have to kiss that other one goodbye. Such is life.

My only consolation is that fact that if I wait and submit a different proposal later in 2009, I might have a fabulously successful book under my belt and get a much better offer. I'll focus on that.

Tom and I are having our first Christmas in 22 years without any kids--all of the girls are spending Christmas together in New York City. So we are making sure to be away from home for the holidays---heading to a nice Argentine beach (not the fancy one). We set up our Christmas tree in the lobby downstairs for everyone to enjoy and we're delighted that the (old--from last year) candy canes that were hanging on the lower branches have disappeared--now we have to go out and buy some more. Anyone know where to find them here in BA?

Two daughters are arriving for visits within the next two weeks, though, so that's pretty exciting! Can't wait to see them.

Loving the weather--spent some time this week in the pool on the roof with Rita, my Pilates teacher. I'm bummed to learn that the Pilates place next door is CLOSING--that's why she did a training session for me in the pool instead. Rita is my buddy--and now she's not likely to teach in my neighborhood since she lives a fair distance away. Several storefronts in my neighborhood are for rent--it appears that the landlords are raising prices from January. The bad news is that some of our favorite places are closing. The good news is that there will be new ones opening--and that's always fun.

That's it for now. Love to everyone up north--and east and west and south. Stay warm/cool and have a wonderful holiday!

Galley Ho--the Next Step In the Book Publication Saga

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:05:00 +0000

Today, my editor at Random House emailed me a copy of the cover for the galley for my book, The New Global Student. A galley is an uncorrected version of the book that is quickly bound and a cover slapped on it so that it can be sent to some hapless author or expert who is expected to read 300 pages and come up with a pithy little phrase to put on the back of the final book cover that will make people buy the book.

It's a very humbling process.

First, you have to come up with a list of about 50 people you'd love to have on the back cover. This takes some dreaming, some researching and a lot of outright fantasizing. I mean, you're supposed to aim as high as you can and then take a little step back. So, okay, Obama was on the list for a nanosecond--we have the same publishing and sales teams, after all--but I figured he probably has other things to do right now than read my galley. ;-) (Doesn't mean he won't get an advance copy in spring, though!) Then I stepped back a little and came up with a full range of options--people who are experts or journalists in parenting, education, creativity, global living, travel, pretty much any category that is included in the book.

Next comes the process of tracking down contact info (agents, blogs, whatever) and sending an email explaining that I'm a person they have never heard of who has written a book they didn't know about, but would they consider taking several hours out of their holiday schedule to read the book and then offer a blurb? Kind of humiliating, really.

And then the fun part: some people actually say yes. w00t! Of course, there are some "no, thanks" responses and some who don't respond at all, but it becomes a sort of treasure hunt that is oddly addicting. I will be sorry when this process is over.

So, here are the wonderful, kind souls who have already agreed to receive and review a galley:

Dan Pink (A Whole New Mind, Free Agent Nation)
Po Bronson (What Should I Do With My Life?)
Bill Bartmann (billionaire philanthropist/entrepreneur)
Jay Mathews (education columnist for the Washington Post)
Greg Toppo (education reporter for USA Today)
Dan Brown (author of The Great Expectations School, ed columnist for Huffington Post)
Seth Godin (author of numerous books including his latest, Tribes)
Karen Maezen Miller (Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood)
Dr. Daniel Amen (Change Your Brain, Change Your Life)
Dale McGowan (Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers)
Peg Tyre (The Trouble With Boys)
Ariel Gore (founder of Hip Mama magazine, author of Atlas of the Human Heart)
Neal Pollack (Alternadad author and punk-dad columnist for Parents magazine)
Richard Wiese (Discovery Channel travel host, author of Born to Explore)
Eric Maisel (Creativity For Life and many others)
Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class, Who's Your City?)
Matt Mason (The Pirate's Dilemma: How Youth Culture Reinvented Capitalism)
Jim Fay (the Love and Logic parenting series)

...and a few really big names that I don't want to mention because I don't want to jinx anything.

I am already deeply indebted to these people for simply saying yes, even if they hate the book and decide not to offer a blurb. I mean, seriously--I'm not sure I would say yes to me, so I am very grateful.

They're going to be mailed out around Thanksgiving, and I will hand-write notes to be included with each galley (and FedEx them up to NYC for them to add to the mail-outs). Maybe I should send them some Godiva chocolates or something. Too much? Well, if they send me a nice blurb, I will think of some way to say thanks.

And then the waiting begins.......do they like it? Did they stop halfway through? Will I ever hear from them? Will they write on their blogs about what rubbish the book is? Ack.

Meanwhile, I'm launching a brand new website and redesigned old website this week--International Education Week--and sending out press releases for that.

Stay tuned!

Lucky Writer, Get Over Thyself

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:14:00 +0000

Okay, I'm coming to terms with the fact that I had pretty much zero say in the design of the cover of my book. This is not so unusual for authors (especially new ones) with big publishing companies, and the design team at Random House has been cranking out bestselling covers for years, which is certainly more than I can say for myself.

So, I'm reminding myself that it's OKAY if I don't love the title.
It's OKAY if I don't love the cover.
What matters is that I am incredibly fortunate to have a chance (and an advance) to get my book out there into the world, and I should just shut up and get over my own little petty color preferences and word fetishes.

I'm over it. (Almost)

And having gone through the process of moving and reestablishing the book-related blog YET AGAIN, I have decided that I do not ever want to be in the position of moving a blog.
So, I nabbed a killer domain name--www.NewGlobals.com--and will be using that for everything: this book (though I also have www.NewGlobalStudent.com that will always point to the book page), the new blog (with broader topics/appeal), and future books/projects.

It hurts to go from like 1,000 visitors a day on a blog I've been working on for eight months to, um, TWO visitors a day to the new one this week. Again, time to buck up and get over it and be clear about planning long term and starting from scratch at a site that I can grow for longer than eight months!

So...in the next few weeks, I will be unveiling my new site at www.NewGlobals.com Watch for announcements here!

Retiring In Buenos Aires: My AARP Interview is Online

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

About ten months ago(!), I was interviewed here in Buenos Aires by Rich Halten, who was doing
a recorded bit for AARP on retiring in Buenos Aires. Okay, so I'm not retired, but I did connect him with someone who is and he interviewed me about moving here and what to expect. I couldn't talk about my book (too early).

Things have changed in ten months. In the interview, I say that here it costs about half what we would pay for a similar lifestyle in the US. Well, as you all know, prices have gone up considerably since then--now, I'd be more likely to say that things are about 30 percent cheaper, depending entirely on your choices. Still, I stand by my claim that for those who are looking to lead a simple, low-cost life outside the US--nice but not terribly luxurious apartment, no car--in a cosmopolitan place with all kinds of cultural opportunities, BA remains a great option.

You can listen to the interview here:
(it's only four minutes long, and I'm the second of the three local expats being interviewed)

http://radioprimetime.org/index.htm

Just scroll down to the story on Prime Time Postscript about Buenos Aires.

Trying Not To Be Attached: Book Angst in Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:24:00 +0000

I'd heard that when it comes time for a publisher to come up with a cover for a book, they get some input from the author, come up with three very different options and then ask the author for their thoughts, what they'd like to combine, tweak, etc.

Sounds reasonable.

So it came as a bit of a surprise to me when my editor emailed me saying, "Here's the cover for your book...what do you think?" without ever asking for any initial input from me. Fortunately, there were some good things about the design, and I viewed it as a starting point for discussion.

So, my agent and I came up with some suggested changes (after first offering praise for the general layout) including a change in font color from brown to black and a change in the subtitle color from red (overlaying a map, it looks like a danger zone) to blue. I thought the whole thing could look much bolder and more eye-catching with a blue/green/black color scheme rather than the red/blue/brown presented. The font was tall and skinny, and not particularly friendly, so we asked if that could be fattened up a bit. In the middle was an image of a bag--intended as a student bag--which was a bright red backback, something a fifth grader would carry. I asked for an image instead of a messenger bag, perhaps with the corner of a laptop peaking out of it and a passport in the front pocket.

My agent and I submitted the requests and looked forward to getting the new design(s).

Today, we received an email saying, "Here are the five designs--which one do you like best?" Except that the artist had decided that he didn't want to change the font or the colors. And the images of the bag? One had a red Communist star on it--not kidding. One had fluorescent colors. One was army green with nothing else. One was very girly. One was blue with a yellow star. Nothing inside, nothing peeking out, no details--these were more like catalog images.

Oh, and they decided to change the subtitle. Yes, you see in the beginning, I had asked for "Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition and Get An Outrageously Relevant Global Education" but then they insisted on using Global in the title, so I suggested (at my wit's end after many rejected proposed titles) "The New Global Student" since it was super duper basic, which seemed to be the only acceptable quality. We couldn't have global in the title and subtitle, so I switched the subtitle to "Skip the SAT, Save Thousands On Tuition and Get A Truly International Education"--not nearly as zingy, but boring enough to please the middle America moms they are afraid of scaring off.

But then they said, hmm, we need to add "HOW TO" in front of it, or "DISCOVER THE SMART WAY TO" etc. I said, you know, it's kinda long and clunky already--can't we keep it shorter? No. So we added "DISCOVER THE SMART WAY TO"...
But in today's email, my editor says, "Listen, sorry, I know we were the ones who insisted on this initially, but now we think we should drop the 'DISCOVER THE SMART WAY TO' since it's just so long and all."

Sigh.

Now, I'm emailing my agent asking how much I can negotiate on the cover. I mean, I don't think changing the color of the font is too much to ask, really, and it hardly feels collaborative when we're asked for input and it's completely ignored.

So, that's my rant for the day. Big breath. I have been through other scares (like when they wanted to publish the book in AUGUST, which would have killed it) so I am hoping to get through this one with flying colors(!) as well. But when you're IN IT, it's a little nerve-wracking. I actually love my editor and trust my agent to help get this settled, so I'm not worried--just a little...surprised.

I'm afraid to transfer my blog to my new website at www.NewGlobalStudent.com in case they change the title at the last minute! That site is just temporary--I'm waiting for the final cover art before having my web person design a whole new look. So haven't been doing any education blogging, though I will be a guest blogger at Education Futures later this month.

Did have an interview with Newsweek yesterday--that was cool. You never know how things are going to turn out or if you'll make it into print, so you sort of have to view these interviews as opportunities to share information--even if it's only with the journalist. We'll see where it goes, if anywhere.

Looking forward to tonight's gathering of local expat entrepreneurs....it's always fun to hear what other people are up to. And it's a good way to forget about the cover for a while. ;-)

What Do You Do After You've Turned In Your Manuscript? Wait...Or Write Another Book

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:26:00 +0000

Tick. Tock.

The last few days, I've had a bunch of time on my hands. You see, I turned in my manuscript for the book I've been writing, and while my editor is going over it to send me my final round of edits, I am twiddling my thumbs and wondering what the hell I used to do all day before I started writing this book. There must have been SOMETHING. Well, I did have a daughter or two kicking around, and now it's just Tom and me, and since he's got his stuff to do, I am finding myself rather open, schedule-wise.

So, I've gone for walks. I've been out enjoying the spring sunshine. I've been sitting in cafes and parks.

Not only am I waiting for edits--you see, I've spent the week waiting to hear from my agent, who presented my ideas for Book #2 and Book #3 to my editor at Random House. And waiting. And waiting. Okay, just since Monday, but it seems like a really long time.

Just heard back last night that my editor LOVES the two book ideas. That's the good news. The bad news is that I'm not likely to get an offer until Book #1 is "in production" (meaning done with the copyediting process and turned over to sales and marketing...which could be weeks or even months).

And so, my agent--being the strategist that she is paid to be--suggested I put together a formal proposal that she can present to Random House/Crown (they get first crack at it, as per my contract) and if they balk or drag their feet, well, she will be ready and able to shop it to other publishers. Of course, it would be ideal to have the same publisher for all three books, and I absolutely love my editor so it would be wonderful to work with her again. But the books I have in mind are very timely and I don't want to sit on my hands for the next few months (a few days is long enough for me).

So, today I am beginning the formal proposal writing stage. I like this part. You get to do research on comparable books and come up with all kinds of fun marketing plans. The great thing is that a book proposal is hilarious to look at after the book has been written because your table of contents, title, marketing ideas, EVERYTHING will change. So, knowing that, you don't get too serious--you just have some fun with the possibilities. It's a creative writing assignment that you can really sink your teeth into.

This will keep me busy for a few days, and by then, my editor will send me the edits and we'll get that baby tucked into bed (at least, my part will be mostly finished) and move on to the next. I guess I have a history of moving on to the next baby quickly (four kids born within four and a half years) so I know it works for me.

Total immersion, baby. Eat, sleep, and breathe it for a very intense period of time.

Now, if only that was working for me language-wise.

Anybody Awake Up in the USA?

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:29:00 +0000

In the last few days, I've been amazed to hear from friends and family members in the US that people they know aren't really talking about the financial crisis.

What? Seriously?

I ask, "You mean, they're so worried that they can't talk about it? Maybe they aren't mentioning it to others because it's so obviously the elephant(!) in the room?"

Um, no. Those I talk to are saying that life goes on, people are so busy doing their stuff that it really isn't part of daily conversation or even on their minds that much. Most figure that either there will be a governmental plan that deals with it effectively--or there won't be.

I'm thinking it's learned helplessness. And frankly, I find it quite alarming.

Why am I alarmed that people aren't alarmed? Because it's not just the Wall Street ways that need to change or the federal government that needs to address the causes of this crisis--every American will be affected, and both on a personal and national level, Americans need to change their mindset about what matters most and begin to develop a much more realistic understanding of salaries, savings, and security.

Maybe being away from the US for a few years--and going back to visit recently--makes this seem a little clearer, but there is such a deadly head-in-the-sand syndrome permeating American culture that it, more than anything else, points to the root of the problem--namely, a critical lack of urgency regarding the need to address issues of financial security, health care, education and just about everything else. Now, that's scary.

Honestly, I think my Argentine neighbors are more aware of--and concerned about--the status of the US economy than most of my American neighbors are back in the US. You see, the people here understand what happens in a financial crisis--they've lived through one. While life goes on in the US, Argentines are remembering the past and perhaps fearing the worst for their clueless friends up north. We'll see.

A Different Vote: Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Please join me in supporting the good work that Chessia Kelley's organization, International Medical Corps, is doing to provide nutrition to starving children in Africa. IMC was nominated (out of 1,190 projects) to be one of the Top 25 in American Express' Members Projects with most votes. The five projects with the most votes will be eligible to receive up to $1.5 million.

That would help Chessia and her group feed many, many more children with her simple, low-cost, high-nutrition meals packets.

The voting ends next Tuesday! All you have to do is click on the "Go to MembersProject.com" button now and you'll give IMC your vote.

Fabulous Debate Watching Party This Friday in Palermo with Democrats Abroad Argentina

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:07:00 +0000

I'm really looking forward to gathering with fellow Democrats Abroad here in Buenos Aires this Friday to watch the televised debate between our man, Barack Obama, and John McCain.

Two big screens, one in Castellano and one in English. At Sacramento, a posh-looking location in the heart of Palermo. Tons of interesting people who care about the next stage in our world and who might be a major player. Only 10 pesos to get in, and plenty of social lubricants/political painkillers available at the bar.

Big thanks to our Democrats Abroad Argentina Chairman/Chief Instigator/Blogger Mike "Yanqui Mike" Skowronek for his continuous kicks in the pants to get Democrats here registered to vote in time for this critical election. Oh, and have you read his piece in The Huffington Post? Yes, our own local blogger, right there in the HP with Arianna and friends.

What? You're still not registered? There will be people standing by to help you at the party on Friday night, but don't wait that long-- go RIGHT NOW to www.VoteFromAbroad.org
and sign up! Time's awastin'...and you don't want to be one of those nonvoters who says, "Damn! I coulda made a difference!" It's gonna be a close one and we need all the votes we can muster. Please, please add yours.

See you at the debate. :-)

On Kidney Stones, Calcium, and Lemon-Juice-and-Olive-Oil Shots

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:53:00 +0000

So, on Friday night, I start having these pains. They become excruciating and unlike any I've ever experienced except for labor. They're even intermittent in the same way--crushing and then over, crushing and then over. Not relishing a trip to the emergency room, I have Tom look up some symptoms online. What the hell is it? Appendicitis? (Wrong side.) Pancreatitis? (Wrong symptoms.) Kidney stones? Bingo!

Apparently, kidney stones cause this horrific pain when the hardened little crystals pass from the kidney to the bladder. Most manage to pass without any medical assistance, but the process is, well, rather unpleasant.

Relieved that no organs seem in danger of imminent explosion, I grimace (okay, moan loudly) and bear it. Within the next day, I have three more of these experiences. I write to Dan Perlman of Casa Saltshaker fame, expressing my dismay at missing his grand 50th birthday party the night before and explaining why. He writes back that he's had the damn things himself and the best remedy is to drink the juice of one lemon with about the same amount of olive oil. I drink three of these salad dressing shots during the day, and since then, I have had discomfort but not the horrible pain of the first night. Thanks, Dan!

What causes kidney stones? Well, based on what I've read online, I'd say what caused mine is the calcium tablets I started taking when I went to the US about three months ago. Yes, here I was doing what I thought would be good for me--osteoporosis prevention, etc--and it gives me kidney stones. From now on, I will stick with getting my calcium from my fabulous Tom-prepared meals, thank you very much.

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NOTE: Okay, since I posted this, several people (including Saltshaker Dan) have written to say I should continue taking calcium tablets--that they're not the likely cause--and that kidney stones take a long time to form so they probably didn't just pop up during the summer. Calcium-rich foods can cause kidney stones, and one culprit is meat.

Okay, so I was a vegetarian for about a decade and then about three years ago started eating meat again (the taco cart near our place in Mexico just kept calling to me...what could I do?) and of course, here I am in Argentina, where I would be missing out on a mainstay of the culture if I skipped the beef. I don't eat a ton of it, but perhaps the last three years of meat-eating after so many years of sticking with the vegetarian diet could have a lot to do with it.

Will I give up meat? Well, I'll definitely eat less of it, drink more water, take my calcium tablets and hope for the best. These things can drive you crazy if you dwell on them. I know well the arguments for eating meat vs not eating meat, and I've come to the conclusion that it's best all around not to get too obsessed about eating rules in general. Better to do the best I can on a daily basis (while keeping in mind the causes of kidney stones.)

Here's a big (but not too big) toast of purified water....

Playing With A New Book Idea About Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Well, the day after I turned in my manuscript for The New Global Student, I sent an email to my agent asking, "So, when are you ready to hear about my next book idea?" And Steph wrote back, "Lay it on me!" I did. And she loved it. And now I am having so much fun playing around with the idea of writing a completely different kind of book.

The old-timers among you (I mean that in the most loving way) who have read this blog from the beginning remember that originally I had an idea to write a book about expat women here in Buenos Aires who get together each week for a Spanish lesson taught by a fun, sexy Argentine man. Well, as you may recall, the actual Sexy Spanish Club was too hard to maintain in real life--expats come, they go, they come back again...doesn't make for good continuous story lines! ;-)

So, I won't be using that particular theme.

Then I thought it might be fun to write a narrative/memoir of women expat life here, the fascinating women who choose to start fresh in this wonderful city. But then it became clear that 1) the coolest expats tend to be pretty low-key, low-ego, low-profile types who don't want their stories out in the world and 2) the ones who would be all over it would be the ones I'd least like to write about! So.....

Perhaps a novel? I'm putting together my pitch this weekend after talking to a few more women friends here. Everyone loves the idea of a fictional account with great composite characters so that you just don't know what's true and what isn't. Well, now that would be fun.

I pledge that there will be no tango. That's been done. ;-)

But I do have some other ideas.....

One (I can dream, can't I?) fantasy concern is that expats will say, "Well, life in BA was cool until she wrote that damn book and then people started writing about it and flocking here and now it's ruined, I say...RUINED!" Well, that's already happened if you ask those who've been here for five years or so.

Anyway. The other thing is that there are loads of quite good writers here in BA feverishly typing their novels at this very minute. And I don't have a word and I have never written a novel and what the hell makes me think I can pull this off? Well, perhaps I'm still flushed from the thrill of handing in my first manuscript. Call it new-author endorphins. I'm sure I'm not the first one to succumb.

Of course, next week I might have some sort of author's post-partum depression. Who knows? I'm learning this as I go. I might get my final round of edits and feel like I don't know a thing about writing and give up on the whole idea. Or, I might have turned in my proposal and be all giddy about the new direction (unknown at this point)....

That's what I love about this process. You just never know what will happen next.

Any thoughts to share? I'd love to hear from you.

Pondering Portland, Longing For Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:54:00 +0000

I'm spending the summer in Portland, Oregon along with Tom and our daughters. We decided to converge here--the girls have been working and taking classes at Portland State, I've been finishing my book, Tom has been working on a new project--in order to have plenty of opportunities to spend time together despite varied schedules. It's been great!

I've come to appreciate things about both Argentina and Portland (and the US at large) during the last couple of months. That's always a good thing.

I haven't been back in Portland for two years, so there have been a lot of changes. I think the biggest one for me has been so much more talk about the economy, global warming, and the world in general. To be honest, it's a bit of a downer, but then, we've needed a reckoning and it's about time we all started seeing things a bit more clearly. That being said, I don't think this is the time to feel gloomy--instead, we need to kick things up a notch in terms of our own personal awareness as well as our communal efforts to get creative in order to move forward in positive ways.

I wrote most of my manuscript while living in Buenos Aires, and I didn't realize what a blessing that was until I came back to the US. Just walking into Powell's (Portland's famous block-sized bookstore) about gave me a heart attack. So many books! About so many things! How will anyone even FIND mine, let alone read or buy it? It's been great being in BA, where the only English bookstores are tiny and quaint. I have been free to ignore things like competition and critics. Unfortunately, new-author fear is cranked up a notch for me here in terms of being aware of the bazillion books on the market.

I feel a sense of greater urgency because the headlines seem to be shouting (only to me?) about the student loan crisis, families worried about sending their kids to college, twentysomethings weighed down by huge student debt, the crucial need for foreign language and experience abroad, etc. It's going to be hell sitting on my hands for the next few months while I wait for my book to be published--it's due out in spring by Random House, which doesn't like to put out new books during election time, resulting in a sort of backlog that slows down the process for all authors.

I guess a bad economy is good for my book, which tells students and parents how to get an outrageously relevant global education that doesn't cost a fortune. Still, I wish the book would magically appear in bookstores this fall--I worry that I'm failing a whole year's worth of students who feel they have no choice but to follow the well-trampled path to college via high-stakes testing, big student loans, and a sense of no control over the whole situation. I want to shake them by the shoulders and say, "Wait! You don't have to do it this way! There are some really amazing options that are cheaper, faster, better, more fun and far more advantageous!" But I can't.

I've had a few conversations with parents and students and have been stunned by the fact that they really have NO IDEA WHATSOEVER about the options I'm talking about in the book. Honestly, I was thinking they'd have picked up some info along the way. Nope. And it's because of the panic: when we're afraid, we do what everyone else is doing without looking at the options. So, I do feel like the info will be extremely helpful and save families THOUSANDS of dollars--if they take the time to read it, that is!

While I AM enjoying Portland and environs, the truth is that I really, really miss Buenos Aires. I miss our friends, our neighbors, the pace of life there, the friendliness, the late dinners, the long hours in cafes. I miss the lengthy and passionate discussions--people don't seem to have as much time for those here, even in Portland, land of sustainability, bicycling and people who Get It.

I miss my expat friends who know what it's like to choose to create a different life for themselves. Every day, I meet someone here who, upon hearing that I live in BA, will launch into a wistful reverie about how they used to dream of doing something like that but then gave up. Those can be interesting conversations, but I far prefer the ones about actually DOING it! Tom and I get emails from our expat friends about gatherings, parties, fun dinners and all manner of events that make us long for our BA life. Can't wait to return September 9th!

Though our family has been car-free for three years now, it's just not that easy here, even when you're staying downtown like we are. We've had to rent zip cars here for a couple of hours about twice a week. They're actually pretty great: $9 an hour includes gas and insurance! And there's one parked right outside our building, so it couldn't be more convenient. Though the public transportation is outstanding here (compared to many US cities), it's hard to get a group to various suburban outposts to visit family and friends---yes, we could take the MAX and then the bus and then walk a ways, but for four or five people, it's easy to justify renting a zipcar for a couple of hours.

I even took a Greyhound bus to Newport to visit my mom--something I have not done since college. Most of the passengers were Latino, so at least I felt at home listening to the Spanish! (The next day, I read in the news about a crazy Greyhound passenger in Canada who went berserk and cut off his seatmate's head with a butcher knife. Most of my fellow passengers were napping or listening to their iPods, fortunately.)

This month, the girls are all heading to the East Coast. Teal leaves on Saturday for Nova Scotia, where she will finish her final term of college, graduating in December. Tara, who has been studying at Portland State the last year or so, will be heading to NYC for an internship during her last semester of college--she also graduates in December. Talya leaves in a few days for New York, where she will be transferring as a junior to a college upstate. Taeko is already in NYC--she came out to Portland for a couple of weeks to visit, but is now immersed once again in her clinic work and master's program. Tara will be living with Taeko, which they are both so thrilled about. Tom and I will be empty nesters in BA, but we've got lots of things going on so we're not viewing it with sadness. We're in touch with most of the girls every day and love getting their exciting updates.

That's it for now. Love to everyone in BA!

Guys' Night Out in Buenos Aires--With Argentine Wine?

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:49:00 +0000

The other night, Tom came home at 3 in the morning (yes, on a Tuesday) smelling a bit
grapey. Winey. He had a big grin on his face, and told me all about his great evening out with the guys. Well, here, I'll let him tell it:

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Since Maya is wrapped up in writing The World is Your Campus, her Sexy Spanish Club blog has been neglected. In an effort to solidify my position as “the husband of the lady who writes the Sexy Spanish Club blog”, I am guest writing about something sexy, fun and delicious. How out of character for me.

One of the benefits of living in Buenos Aires is access to great wines at reasonable prices. Though I have done my best to try as many wines as I can, one can only open so many bottles of wine at one time—well, I could open more, but wouldn’t feel very good the next day.

Earlier this year, I went to Mendoza with a couple of friends (leaving Maya in peace) and signed up for the famous (infamous?) bikes and wine tour--an excellent example of a great idea that does not translate into practice. I quickly learned that for an educational (and far more comfortable) wine tasting, one’s feet should be firmly planted on the ground as opposed to one’s face in the dirt. Plus, I never felt like we got a chance to taste the really good wines or talk to anyone who really taught us anything.

Daniel Karlin of Anuva Vinos http://www.anuvavinos.com/ gave our group of assorted expat guys (we gather regularly at local pubs in Buenos Aires) an informative and very entertaining evening of wine tasting earlier this week. At a private apartment in a comfortable setting, Daniel lead us through a series of five wines, starting with a palate-tingling Hom Espumante and ending with a Don Juan Blend that was pretty much the best wine I have ever tasted.

The third wine of the evening was an Ikella Malbec. I know I said the Don Juan Blend was the best wine I have ever tasted but the Ikella was a very close second. Great wine, great company--it was a spectacular evening. Did I mention how nice the Hom Espumate was?

Though there were many experienced wine drinkers in the group, I think everyone was surprised at how much they learned about wine. Daniel is very good at letting people arrive at their own conclusions about taste, smell and looks but has a good teacher’s ability to gently nudge and suggest so the student can get the most out of the experience.

Anuva Vinos exports limited production wines to the US from Argentina. Customers can elect to purchase single bottles from their website or join their wine club for a two-bottle shipment each month.

If you are visiting Argentina and have a group of between three and twelve people who would like a wine tasting, contact Daniel at daniel@anuvavinos.com. Additionally, he will be in the US this summer on his “North American Tasting Tour”.

Teacher, explorer, chemist, entrepreneur and drinker of of great wine, Daniel has what has got to be one of the best jobs in the world.

Coming Up for Air In Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:27:00 +0000

I have been very low profile the last few weeks for a couple of reasons.

One, I've been working on my book. The first big chunk of my manuscript--about two-thirds of the book I'm writing on creative education called The World Is Your Campus--was due on May 1st so I was really digging into that.

And hey, since I was going to do nothing but sit on the sofa and type for a couple of weeks anyway, I thought I'd take care of a little deferred maintenance: I had gum surgery. This means having a scalpel applied to the roof of your mouth--extensively--and then having little pieces of the tissue grafted onto the receding gums elsewhere in your mouth. For me, that was the top front EIGHT teeth.

I'm not sure why--probably just didn't want to think too much about it--but I had this quaint notion that somehow the tissue was going to just sort of magically stick wherever the dentist put it.

Um, no. There are stitches. Lots of stitches. And not the kind that dissolve, either. Picture a smile of terribly scary black Frankenstein stitches, and well, you can imagine why I pretty much stayed home the last couple of weeks. Good for the book, I suppose.

And though vodka, jello and vodka jello are kind of fun for a day or two, eating soft food for more than a week (I can't bite into anything) gets dull very quickly. Still, no point in going out to restaurants--I can barely eat a medialuna! Nothing to do but stay home and write.

It all worked out. Manuscript is turned in, stitches are out, and now I'm digging into the last section of the book. It's due August 1st but hope to have most of it done by the time I leave for Oregon in mid-June.

Right now, I'm looking for AMERICAN FAMILIES (with SCHOOL-AGE kids) LIVING ABROAD AS EXPATS. I've got lots of stories from wonderful families already, but I am always interested interested in hearing a new story to see how it might fit into the book. I'm not looking for corporate transfer situations--instead, I'm looking for brave souls who jumped without a net. Is that you? If so, please contact me at maya@massageyourmind.com

Thanks for stopping by. ;-)

Want To Be In My Book About Study Abroad and Other Ways to Get A Creative Global Education?

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:12:00 +0000

I haven't posted on this blog in over a month! Wow! A new record!

I've been hunkered down in my apartment in Buenos Aires, writing my heart out.

The good news is that I am almost halfway through the manuscript for my book. The first half isn't due until May 1st, so I'm ahead of schedule and feeling pretty good about that. It's going well, though I have to say that there is a certain rhythm to it. There are days when I sit at the keyboard, not feeling terribly in the mood, and those are the times when I'm more likely to muck things up than write anything decent. I've learned to avoid writing on those days.

Then there are the nights. About once a week, I have an almost totally sleepless night. Up to now, I've resisted the urge to just get up and start typing because I think that something good comes from that tossing and turning. Well, maybe not that part, but something good comes from the time my brain spends spinning. The good thing is that after I've finally drifted off for an hour, then jumped out of bed to take a shower and start writing, I'm usually on fire and do my best work. So, I'm learning as I go in terms of creative energy and how to use it.

I spend about two hours a day tweaking, writing, tweaking again. I keep about a third or maybe a quarter of what I write, and then edit it some more.

I take lots of breaks to do Pilates, go out for coffee or a walk with Tom, hang out with Talya, have dinner with friends, etc. so it's actually a very relaxed schedule. I'm so glad I am writing this book here--if I were in the States, I think I'd be a lot more distracted and end up getting busy with silly things. (not like Pilates and going out for coffee!)

Right now, I'm working on the most factual chapter of the book, so I am interviewing experts of various kinds. Harvard professors. Book authors. Heads of education organizations. High mucky mucks. Well, not too many of those. They wouldn't like the book anyway, since it's not in line with traditional thinking. Once I'm done with this section, I can concentrate on interviewing students.

Want to be in the book?

I'd love to talk to you if you happen to be a person who A) is taking a break from college to travel or study abroad on your own, or B) studied abroad as an exchange student in high school.

Please contact me at maya at massageyourmind dot com! I'd love to include your story in my book.

Also seeking students who took the GED and went on to college afterward--especially those who took the GED before the age of 18.

AND: any families out there who are traveling and doing school differently? I would LOVE to hear from you, especially if you have high school age kids!

You can learn more about the book on my blog (I'm posting there almost every day) at
http://www.TheWorldIsYourCampus.com

I'm hoping to finish the manuscript (first draft) by mid-June when Tom and I head up to Portland, Oregon for a couple of months to hang out with our kids. I MIGHT be looking for someone who is interested in staying in our place here in Buenos Aires....while we are in their place in Portland......

Anyone?

Another option: we could stay in your Portland place in July orAugust (go to the beach or something!) and you can come down here and stay in our apartment on your own in December or Janauary (summer here, winter in Portland!)....

Democrats Abroad and Expat Connection To Host Super Tuesday Event in Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:15:00 +0000

Feel that buzz? It's the sound of international excitement mounting for Super
Tuesday!

Here in Buenos Aires, Democrats Abroad Argentina is partnering with Martin Frankel's Expat Connection events series to host a gathering for all expats and friends ready to party and talk politics.

We'll be celebrating--and Dems (new, old, EVERYONE) who
go here to sign up before midnight on January 31st will be VOTING--
at the Super Tuesday event beginning at 8 pm on February 5th at TAZZ in Palermo (Armenia 1744).

No cover. No minimum. Cash bar, cash menu. Big screen/slingbox combo so we can watch the real deal straight from the US (American commercials and all). We'll be upstairs (3rd floor/2nd piso) with plenty of room for everyone!

You don't have to be a Democrat to attend! Everyone is welcome. We like to stir things up--it's part of the fun.

Not sure if you're set up to vote while you're here in Argentina? Well, we can help you with that!

Those wanting to vote Democrat can sign up online before January 31st here and then vote in the first-ever Global Primary via laptop right at the bar on Super Tuesday! Think you're already a member of Democrats Abroad? You might be--but you've got to go there anyway and sign in--you've gotta do it or you won't be able to vote!
You MUST sign up on that page in order to register to vote during the Global Primary between February 5th through 12th. Don't delay! You have just a few days to do this so why not go there right now?

Need help with your Republican/Libertarian/Independent voter registration? We can assist you with that as well! Come to the Super Tuesday event for more info.

Meghan Doran (along with Martin Frankel) has been the mover and shaker behind this celebration. Send her your RSVP, abrazos and questions at md@democratsabroad.com.ar Thanks so much, Meghan!

I'm very excited about this event and look forward to meeting you all there!

New Friends in Buenos Aires

maya@mayafrost.com (Maya Frost) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:42:00 +0000

One of the things I love most about living in Argentina is meeting expats from around the world.

Buenos Aires in particular attracts some very interesting people. For one thing, you have to really WANT to come here because it's not exactly on the way to anywhere else. It's freakin' far from the US, so those who move here tend to be much more independent and okay with the idea of adapting than those who, say, move to Mexico. (At least, based on our experience living in both places.) It's just not that easy to make quick trips back and forth. In addition, you won't find as many familiar chains here. Starbucks is coming but not open yet. Sure, there are the McDonald's franchises but for the most part, Argentines are very protective of their own game and that creates a very distinctive culture here. Those looking for an enclave with all the familiar touches of the US won't find it here. Those who are looking for something completely different--well, they tend to love this place.

Anyway.

Last night, Tom and I went to one of the wonderful dinners that my friend Pericles (he writes a blog called Greek in Argentina) organizes. This one was in our neighborhood at Los Chinos in Belgrano. There were about forty or so people there, and I happened to be seated next to a very interesting couple, Jesse and Laura, from the US who have lived here for about a year. They both work as consultants for the oil industry--but don't hold that against them! They are, in fact, quite keen on discovering new energy sources and they're actually in a position to HELP instead of complain. Laura is a petroleum engineer with a master's from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. They have lived all over the place, most recently in Cairo and Vienna. Laura told me that her daughter, who studied architecture at the University of Oregon, recently married a German man in an Italian castle and they both live and work in London. Her son is a musician living in Seattle.

As it turns out, Laura has been involved with Democrats Abroad for years and had looked into joining the Argentina chapter a few months ago, only to be told by headquarters that there was no group in this country. So, she was thrilled when I told her that yes, indeed, there was a Democrats Abroad Argentina group and we had elected officers (I'm vice-chair) and we're jumping through the hoops to get all set up. She's had experience with voter registration (among other things) and has a wealth of knowledge about the organization.

So, that was cool. You can bet she'll be signing up! If you're a registered Democrat and would like to join together with others here in BA, check out the site for more info. Your vote is so important in the coming election!

And here's a fun small world story. We also met Jake and Giorgia. Jake grew up in Hood River, Oregon, a place we love. In fact, we almost bought a house there--and it turns out that his family had put in a bid on the same place a couple of years previously! Jake owned and sold a flower shop in Goose Hollow, a neighborhood in downtown Portland. Now, he is here teaching some English and doing some real estate work with Pericles' company. Giorgia is actually from Italy. When she was in high school, she did an exchange in Bend, Oregon. She had planned to return to Rome and go to college, but, well, she met people and liked them and loved Oregon, so she ended up staying there. She just finished her master's in linguistics at Portland State University--and it just so happens that our daughter Tara is studying linguistics as an undergraduate there right now! Anyway, they are delightful and we look forward to getting together with them soon.

We met some other cool people last night, but you get the gist of it. This is a great place to meet some fascinating new friends--and some are from our own backyard.