The evening was falling, the astro king was fading. The sun was preparing its retreat, it was time to go to rest. In my room, I was going over the last details, in a few hours it would be the departure. Emotions swirled in my being, stimulated by a wonderful fragrance that permeated the atmosphere of the whole place. There was no doubt, the origin of such a balsam was fully identified, they were the darlings of mom's garden, the gardenias. Mom cared for and pampered them with great affection, they were special and for that reason, she dedicated her attention to them. I closed my eyes in ecstasy, I let myself be carried away by the sonnet of sensations with that distinguished and imperious aroma, which infiltrated my senses one by one. I would miss my mother's garden, full of flowers, colors, and aromas.

At that moment a firm but melodious voice interrupted my thoughts "Are the suitcases ready?", it was mom finalizing the details. "I don't want you to forget anything, Maria" She was always the keeper of the house, the one who kept an eye on everything. I would miss her as well as dad and my little sister.

On the bed, wide open, there were two suitcases, worn out by the hustle and bustle, by the comings and goings of common use, full of traces that proudly expressed their usefulness. They were not large, but they allowed me to include the basics and priorities, there they were waiting to be used once again and so I did, I included: the holy card of the virgin with the child, the image of the venerable one with his white coat, some changes of clothes, personal hygiene items, two pairs of shoes, some texts of interest and items associated with my professional practice.

I would start my first formal job, twenty hours away from what had always been my home. Ambiguous feelings: sadness, nostalgia for what I was leaving behind, my loved ones, my closest family. At the same time, joy and satisfaction, from that moment on I would be economically productive, and financially responsible to contribute and give back to my loved ones.

The long-awaited day arrived and, amid tears and hugs, we said goodbye and thus began my journey into the unknown. The itinerary included four stops by ground transportation to reach the destination, a provincial town called Santa Apolonia, with a population of approximately 1,500 inhabitants. If everything worked out, it would be my stay for 12 months.

With each stop I made to reach my destination, I moved further and further away from what I had always identified as a city: the hustle and bustle, the crowded cars, the buildings, and the freeways. Gone were the crowds and the masses of people. On the contrary, natural landscapes were making their debut and making themselves felt, large extensions of natural foliage, people in agricultural activities, multiple vegetable crops, pastures and animals at free will, mules and horses as a means of transportation, prevailing over the scarce vehicles.

Everything was soft and comforting, flowing in perfect harmony, nothing was missing. I was absorbed and wondered how so much hidden beauty was possible. Of course, the high temperatures were evident, the heat accelerated my heartbeat, I would say that the ambient temperature was over 30°C, and sweat was running all over my body. However, nothing dampened my satisfaction. Pure and untouched nature was expressing itself and manifesting itself before my astonished gaze. It was a welcome feast, just for me.

"We're here, we're here, ma'am," the driver said to me. I glimpsed a few meters away some locals who were waiting for me, with a big jug of juice (panela with lemon) and some traditional sweets from my country called "Catalinas". Hugs, words of welcome, everyone smiled. A lady named Elisa took over the leadership, she told me that she would make sure that everything in my residence was in order and that I should not hesitate to ask her anything I needed. They immediately recognized my exhaustion and politely directed me to the assigned house, right next to the place that would be my workspace. Several children proudly carried my bags.

The residence was modest, but everything was in perfect order and shone in neatness. Its interior released a heat that suffocated, that would be a purpose to overcome in the coming times, acclimatize, there was no other option. To help dissipate the heat there were only two pedestal fans, one in the living room and one in the master bedroom. Left alone in my new home, I quickly took a shower and then went to inspect the kitchen and what it contained. It was stocked with fresh, locally grown, and freshly harvested foods. Catching my eye were the fruits, they looked appetizing. So I took watermelon, melon, papaya, and mango. They harmonized heavenly, in a juicy fruit salad, that was my dinner. Almost immediately sleep came over me between yawns and yawns, and I didn't hear from myself until the next morning.

I started working hard, discovering with joy day by day that I liked what I was doing. Sometimes it was exhausting, including mornings, afternoons, and some evenings; but that didn't make a dent, I sincerely enjoyed it. Whenever I could, I would go for walks and interact with nature in all its splendor. But not everything was complete, I felt nostalgia and melancholy for my family, I missed them very much.

When the time was available, Mr. Joaquin would take me on his motorcycle to the town of Sabana de Mendoza, where there was a public telephone and there I would talk for a few minutes with those who were at home at the time, almost always with my mother. They were punctual conversations, without extension, behind me other people also wanted to use the phone. I missed the long conversations we had at home, but that was the reality, I had to accept it and accept it.

In the evenings under the starry sky, in the courtyard looking for some freshness, with my steaming cup of coffee, I thought that my birthday was approaching, one more year of life, happy and grateful for it, but it would be different, I would not be with the family...

When that day came, I remember it was Friday, a sunny and cheerful day. I dressed with special attention, it was my birthday and I was going to enjoy it in my way. I started my working day with enthusiasm. The afternoon came and it was time to go home. A few minutes after being at home, there was a knock at the door, it was Mrs. Rosa, who called insistently: "I'm coming, I'm going to open the door", I answered from the back of the hallway, trying to calm the woman down.

I opened the door and almost in unison, many voices raised their tone with euphoria "Surprise, surprise, here we are, your family, we love you!" my parents and my sister said excitedly. Everyone expressed "Happy, happy birthday!". It was a very special birthday, and we all had a great time. It is one of my fondest memories in my life. It was the surprise that dissipated the distance.