Sunday

People here have a sixth sense, I swear. As they are walking down the street and I am trying to pass them, they sway to the side I am trying to pass on making it impossible to pass. Then if I go to the other side, they go to the other side. I have tried be quiet and sneak around, very stealth, and they just KNOW when I am coming. They are constantly foiling my plans. So sometimes I wind up walking very slowly. Ugh! And I miss blue cheese dressing!!! A lot!!!

It is Sunday morning, football day, so I have staked out my spot at the internet restaurant and will be here under the television all afternoon. A couple of guys from my class are going to a Boca Juniors game today, sitting in the popular section, so we are all wishing them luck and hoping they come back alive. Those fans are crazy. Tonight the plan is to tag along with them and go see a Queen cover band which should be fun, if it happens. I sort of approach everything with that attitude these days, you just never know...

Yesterday was a really mellow day, didn't do much, slept a lot and read a little, got a paper and started thinking about looking for apartments. I need to find my next place very soon! I am looking at a few options, but if anyone knows anyone here who needs a roommate, please let me know! Then last night Ian called and joined me and Jen for Thai food, which was really good, then we checked out a few of the Irish pubs that are in the same area. Very meat-markety so we just kinda hung to the walls then got home around 4. It was a nice mellow evening, but I hate crowded bars like that so it was just a little annoying by the end. Then today I will be here chatting with Levi for a little while, then I will probably write some postcards and hang out, read some more and get ready for the week!

Missing you...

I am definitley sad and would be lying if all I wrote were all the fun things I have been doing. It is really hard to be so far away from everyone, to live on my own and to be too tired to go out at night. I am definitely lonely sometimes, and it is really hard to not be near Levi, relying only on phone calls and web videos. They are great but it is not the best, not the same as actually seeing and touching someone! It has also been hard because all the kids in the class with me live with host families so they go home for dinner every night, so I am on my own. I met with Gaby and she and I will get together again soon, and Mara I will hopefully see soon, both are women from here. Also I have a job interview next Tues. for some Friday night classes, so that would be good. I am just having a sad week, maybe it's the weather, but it would be great to chat with anyone so if you are free let's talk! You can get cheap phone cards at www.masterbell.com and my phone number here is 011 54 11 4804 0367. I will be at that number until Sept. 10. I hope to talk to you all very soon! Miss you and love you much!

School/City Pics

Here is Karina, one of our trainers, at the front desk of Bridge Linguatec.

Here is the class. From left to right: Toby, Amanda, Davin, ME, Ian, Jen, Kea, Julie (trainer)
The tiled street in front of my building. Isn't it beautiful?
This is what the streets REALLY look like. Only they are also covered in dog poop. And when I walk to school they are washing them with soap, which means I have to walk with extra care! I totally saw someone bail today as I was leaving my apartment. I think you are not truly Argentine until you fall over a loose tile in the street. You alre also not truly Argentine until you think you can navigate these streets in 4 inch heels. Man these people are crazy!

Aug. 24

A typical day in Argentina...

So today was very nice, I had the morning off so I got to sleep in a bit, go grocery shopping, go to the post office and walk around a bit before going to class. I am still in awe at the prices at the grocery store, and today I learned a few important things. First, the grocery stores stock their shelves at 11 in the morning on Wednesdays. This is the exact time that everyone in Recoleta wants to do their shopping. Needless to say I was bumped into and glared at by everyone in the store, and was cut in front of numerous times while I tried to patiently wait my turn, apparently at the wrong end of the line. I also learned that to get vegetables you do not simply put them in a bag and bring them in your cart to the front. You have to get in line in the produce department and have the guy weigh and price it there before going to the line. If you don't to that you hold up the line and Alfonso has to be called to bring all your produce back to the other part of te store then back to you. It can be embarassing if you get embarassed by that kind of thing, like having your ingorance yelled across the store for a poor loaf to come running and help you out. But, you know, if you don't care about those kinds of things then by all means, bring your unweighed veggies to the front! Fuck 'em!

I also learned that to mail a regular letter from here is 4 pesos, yikes, and to mail a little gift is 30! Woah! But the postmaster says that it should only take a week to arrive, so I will test it and see. Other than that I learned that my computer does indeed fit into my new backpack, that the backpack's store gives the most completely useless shopping bags EVER- all 4 parts of the handles popped out of the holes. I mean, the irony- a bag store having useless bags?

So the video isn't working and I can't see or talk to my boyfriend and all I have to say is HALT!!!

Connected!!!

After much searching and a couple of different systems, I managed to get hooked up to the wireless world. AND, I found a cafe not too far away where I can plug in! So I can officially now make chat dates for webcams or skype, but MSN Messenger is actually all you need. I can't wait to get to talk to everyone again!

In the meantime, I hope everyone had a good weekend. I got lots of sleep last night and today will be looking for some spicy food with Jen, a girl in the program. It is not like the food here isn't good, it's just boring. Lots of ham and cheese options, and cheese pizza and empanadas, but not much in the way of real spices or spicy flavors. So wish us luck.

As for the talking over the computer, the people here all think I am insane for looking at my computer screen and talking and laughing and having a conversation. I can see them all pointing and laughing or trying to do the casual over-the-shoulder looking at something else on the wall but happen to look at the freaks kid talking at her computer. But the video thing is AWESOME!!! If you have a chance to get one it is so great to talk with it!!! And my plan is to get a crazy Argentine haircut, so ifyou want to see my Pat Benetar-inspired asymmetrical cut with a lone dread and side rat tail, or whatever they decide to do, I suggest you pick one up.

Apartment Pics

The view from my apartment.
The crazy little buildings on the left are actually the crypts in the cemetary. That is just a tiny of part of it (the cemetary), too. That thing is huuuuuge!












View from the bed. The giant bouquet of roses is from Levi. It knocked my socks off!









View from the bathroom.

Pics!

La Caminita in La Boca.










River soccer game.

















The river Plata in Tigre.











Me and Levi at the River soccer game. It was so cold!!!











The Obelisc at the center of BA.

Out Til Dawn

So much to catch up on, where to begin? Classes are going well, I have six other classmates and 2 teachers who are both really cool. I take the subway all the way now, I have a new route. I am feeling a little mole-like with my crazy busy life, as I walk to the subway, take it with the rest of the sardines to work, walk to work, then am in flourescent lighting all day until I walk back to the subte as the sun sets, and am walking home by dark. I miss the sun! Luckily the days are getting longer so hopefully I will have more time to enjoy the sunshine soon. Classes are keeping me really busy. I am trying to learn the new rules for this school but truth be told I am not in complete accordance with their ideology. They want teacher talk time SO minimal that saying things like "you already did that one, do the next one" is too much and I should just say "next." I am not kidding that was a critique and something to work on for next time. Personally I think that leans on the side of polite and classroom atmosphere more than wasted teaching seconds, but this school tends to disagree with me on this point. So that is a bit of a challenge, but the students are awesome and really eager to learn, so we are doing the best we can. Monday I am teaching the difference between I usually go but instead I am going. Should be hard. We will see.

Last night was my first foray into the bar scene and let me tell you, it is a crazy little scene out there! So the peeps from my class came to my apartment at 12 pm. We all napped first. They are all in homestays so my place is sort of home base for now since I am on my own. We had some wine til bout 1:15, then we went out in Recoleta to a bar. The drinks were kind of outrageous--17 pesos for a gin and tonic! so we moved back to my place, drank some more wine and got some more money, then went out to Palermo. In the cab I sat in front and chatted with the cab driver, while the guys in back were in awe of my awesome spanish skills. They kept cracking up and I thought it was because my spanish was bad, but it turns out it was just because I am so damn hilarious. My spanish was fine. Anyway so I am not sure if I have explained the way the cab drivers in this city are, but crazy only begins to describe it. Like, we see 2 lanes they see 5. And I don´t even know why I use the word lanes, because really there is no such thing. It is just a crazy free for all and the only thing that stops total chaos is that they stop for red lights. Sort of. If there is no one around the red lights are ignored. But that is fine with me, I think that should kind of be the rule anyway. SO, back to the cab ride. The little meter that counts the money was really low and close to my head, and somehow, who knows, could have been the sudden stops, crazy dodging of other cars/people/dog shit or something else entirely, but my head managed to hit the meter and wipe out the money amount. Luckily due to my charm the guy laughed and told me "Mi amor, no te preocupes. Dame lo que quiere." I think we might be engaged.?! We gave him 20.

Then we went into the bar and MAN those guys are really pushy and touchy-feely. As an American I got a lot of attention and turns out that "sexy" is one word they all like to use a lot. Apparently I am muy. Who knew? Some of the others left aroud 5 or so, but Amanda, Kea, Davin and I stayed later. I was the first of the four of us to leave and I got home just after 7. I almost fell asleep in the cab, I was so exhausted when I sat down. The I went to sleep as the sun came up. Wow. It was really fun but I don´t think I can do this every weekend. However, I did learn that I can have ice cream delivered to my door, so I can now spend Saturdays very happily in bed! We´ll see.

I will try to mantain this a little better and put some pictures up soon. I think I found a place by me where I can use my laptop. Til then happy reading! Miss you all and don´t forget to add your comments! I love reading those, too!!!

Ciao, besos!

Practice Run

So I realize how boring the pages are without pictures and I will hopefully have some new ones up soon, but in the meantime I will try to describe with my words how the things look. So the airport goodbye was basically a big crying red-faced wet shirt (with a 99.9 percent totally sad about Levi leaving and the .01 percent thought that all my crying might be ruining my cashmere sweater) mess, I won´t go into all the mushy details. Then the ride back was a hundred mile an hour fiasco with the fastest cab driver ever, but not the craziest. The guy who took us to the airport (different guy) crossed himself twice every 10 minutes which was a bit nerve racking, and Levi and I wondered if we should be joining in, if it had to do with with his driving or the car or what...

So then the next day I got up at the crack of dawn to get out of my old apartment and to move to my new one, and it turns out I was an hour early and had to sit outside on the curb on my suitcases until the girl was there to let me into my new apartment. But once she go there and I settled in I was so excited. My new apartment is so cute! It has butter-yellow walls and is on the 14th floor. It has a huge mirror on the wall and the kitchen is recessed into the wall so I can close the doors and you can´t even see it. I also have a tiny closet and a bathroom. I was supposed to have a daybed but they changed it so i have two twin beds pushed together into a queen sized bed. It´s awesome and really comfy with a big beige down comforter. That came in really handy last night because it was insanely windy, the wind was whipping around my apartment and through the windows (no sealing) so I was under there with the heat all the way up. I am also near a supermarket and a farmacy and across from the cemetary so it´s a great location.

Yesterday I met with Gaby who is passing on all her teaching jobs to me which is awesome, and she talked nonstop for three hours. I was exhausted by the end of the afternoon and all I had had to do was listen! Then today I did a dry run of my route to school. Basically I go 2 blocks south to Pueyyeredon or something, then 10 blocks to Santa Fe, in the meantime passing lots of little shops and a tiny old lady who feeds pigeons, then to the subway which I take to the end of the line to Plaza de Mayo, then I take the 64 bus to San Juan and walk another couple of blocks. Without the bus and just walking the last part it took me exactly one hour. I also had a near brush with death as the guys on one block were chipping giant boulders off the roof and I walked right throught their path! but I think with the bus I will be warmer, drier (it rained) and faster. So I will keep you posted on the big day tomorrow. First day of school. Very exciting!

update

The end of Levi's time is coming up and we are both extremely sad. It is coloring our days a bit, sadly, though we are still having a good time. Let me catch you up. Since the barf day we have been sightseeing and eating well, walking around and touring the city. Today we are heading out to the town of Tigre to see the sights on the river. The other day we went by to see my next apartment which will be right next to the famous cemetery in Recoleta.I was so excited, pointing out all the things it's near and all the places I can walk to from it. Levi looked at it, then looked at the cemetary across the street and said yeah, and it should be really quiet. I think he's hilarious!

So Wed. night we went to La Chacra and finally met up with Gina, had a fab steak dinner (3 of us big salads and steak dinner and wine for 50 bucks!) then went to a milongo or tango club where we got to watch tango dancers. It's called Confiteria Ideal and it is beautiful with high guilded ceilings and they have classes at noon and 9 pm. We missed the classes but we got to see people practicing, and then some professionals also danced for us which was cool. Us as in the club, not the three of us. Yeah.

Yesterday we did a tour and saw the different parts of the city which was cool, then tried a brazilian place for dinner but we didn't like it. Oh well, we have had mostly great dinners so 1 miss isn't so bad. well, will catch up again soon.

Barf!

Yesterday was terrible, I woke up nauseated and continued to puke every 15 minutes until about 930 at night. At one point I tried to be a trooper becuase we were supposed to meet Gina for lunch so I got dressed, hailed a cab and got to the hotel where we were meeting. I was late due to a short pre-cab puking session, so we decided to just get some groceries and head back to the apartment. Well, apparently unlike in Spain, there are no rules about letting people use the bathroom. So I had to barf and the grocery store wouldnt let me use the bathroom. So I went across the street to a pharmacy to buy some medicine. I asked for "medicina para vomitar" and the girl looked at me and goes "para NO vomitar?" and I am thinking come on lady, I am clutching my stomach and holding by breath with my hand over my mouth, quit trying to correct my fucking spanish and give me the damn medicine! So then I get in line to pay and I REALLY am going to puke. So I ask someone if I can use the bathroom. No, but she points to a garbage can in the middle of the aisle in the middle of the store! How embarrassing! So then She asked her manager and finally I was led at top speed to the bathroom which I literally sprinted to, burst the door open to the toilet and puked into it in the knick of time. I was then met outside by the girl with a cup of water which I couldn't even drink, sheepishly picked up the vomit medicine which I had dropped on my way into the stall and went back downstairs to get in line. I then found Levi and we got a cab and I went straight back to bed. It was the worst day and I felt horrible for ruining one of the few days he has here but he was a really good sport and just napped and watched TV with me all day. So today we are doing all the stuff we were supposed to do yesterday. I feel much better, luckily. So there is the update for now.

saludos desde argentina!

forgive the spelling and the no caps, but the keyboard here is different and until i master it i amnot driving myself crazy with trying to make this perfect. so we were n the longest plane ride yesterday, and as levi so eluoquesntly put it, there´s a fucking daycare in here which you know means that there was crying screaming and`clueless parents who think their kids ar the cutest things ever. i will give you the example of th woman across from us who was the most rude, ridiculous thing. we were in awe. first the paid for one seat and took 3, ousting two other guys because she wanted a place to put her kid and have him able to watch dvds. then the two guys obliged and she talked incessanly with the people behn her for along time. then she changed her baby and threw the diaper in with the food garbage by sneaking it in wrapped in a napkin after one stewardess tld her specifically that it´s not allowed and compleytely against health cods. but, you see, the rules don´t apply to this one! then the lucky bastard gets the whole row to strech içout in, meanwhile remember she paid for just one! then, the breast fed in the aisle, and wen she woke up asked te guys who she had made give her their seats, hold her breakfast tray while she got herself situated! levi and i were incredulous the whole time. crazy. then wen we got in we saw our apartment which is awesome, on te 17th floor and looks over the whole city. so great. we went and got shampoo, which is not ncludd and which i badly ned, and put on sme other layers because it is freezing here. that sould be in caps but i don´t know how to do it. anyway so then we were talking to the guy in the lobby and his friends because we wanted to go to a football gane today. well, the guy was like it starts soon and you shuld take a cab or the bus, and the other guy was like no, i have a car, i´ll just drive you there myself! so he took us over and gave us a nice tour of the city, then we watched the game ntil we were icicles, then tried desperateñy to catch a cab before finally getting one 30 minutes into our quest. well now we are on our way to dinner, then tomorrow we will be walking and biking through the park close by. we don´t even have to rent them, because our chauffer offered to loan us his! these argentines are the nicest people! we are so lucky! so that´s the day s far, we are probably going to crash soon, but will catch up again soon with our next adventures.

Adios Alexis!

Adios a todos!

Last night Liz threw me a little party and I just have to say that I must be one of the luckiest gals around, because I think I have the best friends in the whole world! So thank you guys for coming, it meant so much to me to be able to say good bye and I can't wait to see you all in South America! Muchos besos y abrazos. Ciao!

My Summer Vacation

MOUNT SHASTA

Here we are in front of Mt. Shasta. We are probably on our way to a hike, as we went on a lot of those. We used the self-timer on my camera. It is such an awesome camera!

Here I am at Shasta!!! My family and I had a vacation in the mountains over the last few days. We hiked, played golf, went canoodling (canoed), explored the caves and the second largest dam in America. In all we all had a great time. It was pretty hot during the day, like in the 100s, but we drank a lot of water. By the way, the water is fantastic there. And as for golf, I haven't lost a thing, which was really exciting, but my brother is amazing. Those balls go about 200 yards! Crazy!!!

We also discovered the latest in mountian fashion when it comes to keeping cool. Overall we had a blast and I am realy glad I got to spend the time I did with my family. They're the best! I love you!