A Cultural Revelation

How does one prepare for culture shock?  I was told that culture shock inevitably happens to  everyone to some varying degree. As an ignorant, and naive American, I thought this would not happen to me. I was going to an industrialized nation, and a big city-how different could it be? This type of thinking undoubtedly landed me right in the middle of an initial struggle to adapt here. Although there were many reasons for this, this post is about one reason in particular---  the people ....and more particularly the men. 

Porteños are very vocal, boisterous and passionate people. People will randomly talk to you, touch you, and pass judgement on you. At first, this really freaked me out. Why are they talking to me? Why do I have to kiss random strangers every time I see them? Looks are exchanged that speak a thousand words when you walk around. Men cat call, grab you arm, and call you names as you walk by. 

"que linda"

"que hermosa" 

"mi amor" 

"princesa" 

"dios mio"

Cars will honk, men will shout from windows or apartments and cars, whistling and purring are also common calls. At first this really freaked me out. I was unnerved, thinking these men would probably abduct or mug me. However, this is a harmless act of Porteño culture. 

Argentine men are very assertive, daring and straight forward. They are blunt, which to me still comes off as rude sometimes. They do not take lightly to rejection. As creepy and overwhelming as this can be I have to remind myself that this is part of their culture. 

Last night I went to my favorite club with Olivia. There was a large group of Americans students there visiting Buenos Aires for a few days. They were all whispering about how scary the men are here. When I went up to talk to these Americans, many looked at me like I was speaking Spanish to them. They gave me looks like "why is she talking to me" and only one girl replied when I began talking to them... And suddenly I realized this is where my reverse culture shock begins. 

Americans can be very cold. Here, everywhere you go you are granted with a kiss, every time you come in to contact with another person. Argentines genuinely want to know how you are, and how was your day has been. When I walked up to these Americans, they radiated the cold, arrogant stereotype we have shamefully earned. I am sure I did too at first, the whole phenomenon of Argentine men really freaked me out too. I used to be very taken aback when random people would came over to talk to me and my friends at clubs, restaurants and on the colectivos and proceed to insert their opinons shamelessly. At some undefinable moment in the past four months, I guess I learned to really enjoy this normalcy. 

The most rewarding aspect of this experience was to be culturally immersed. I can only hope that I return home with some of the warmth of Argentine culture. Their hospitality is unparalleled. They want to talk to you, they are interested and very caring. For example, last night at the club, after many introductions numerous Argentines asked Olivia with concern about her home in Mystic, Connecticut. They were very aware and alarmed about Sandy and wanted to know if her family and home were safe and undamaged. This really touched the both of us. There is so much love and concern here. Most everywhere you go you are greeted by a kind smile and receptive manuerisms. It is also nice to be told you are beautiful on a day to day basis by random men. It is also nice for a man to have enough confidence to come up and talk to you, and be genuinely be interested in your responses. At the end of our night last night (or should I say-at 7am this morning), as we were walking from the club a stranger began talking with us. He asked us where we were from, why we were in BA -the normal stuff. He then hailed a cab for us and made sure it was our cheapest option. He told us he did not want two pretty American girls to get ripped off. It was just so nice, and so common. I can't possibly recount the number of times people have been so willing to help, displaying random acts of kindness. 

As the days shrink in quantity, I cant help but be excited and sad about returning to the American culture. I undoubtedly miss so many things about it and still think it is the greatest place on earth. I have just become a huge fan of the Argentine warmth. The llittle extra attention to detail and little extra respect that they pay to one another is something to be learned and shared. I can only hope that I can take some of it home with me. 

Random Recap

SOOO a little recap of my trip:

I have:

Hiked the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border
Danced with drag queens
Crossed river to Uruguay
Saw one of the 7 Natural World Wonders at Iguazu
Took a journey to Rio and Buzios, Brazil
Played with lions and tigers at the worlds most dangerous zoo
Horseback rode with gauchos and polo players across the Argentina country side
Painted a room for battered girls in a shelter
Was wined and dined by a polo player
Attempted to learn the Tango
Visited the end of the world at Ushuaia
Sat next to a famous Argentine rock band on a plane
Got a tattoo with my crazy best friend Olivia
Improved my spanish
Survived hostels
Made friends with a club promoter who gets me into my fave club for free
Made some crazy friends in hostels
Endured the rainiest year on record in Buenos Aires
Lost a lot of things
Started eating gluten again (needs to change when I return)
Made the best of living with crazy Ivette and Dissys
Have avoided getting seriously lost
Destroyed my travel sneaks (sorry coach hope we are placing a new order this year)
Blown my hair straightner
Read 12 books
Frequently visited cafes alone to relax (no shame)
Avoided and have failed to avoid aggressive Argentine men
Become a fan of salt (another thing that needs to change when I return)
Gotten my camera stolen
Made out with a Brazilian Soap Opera star-okay that was Olivia so it counts


.....10 days to go, what more can I do????

The BIG Lesson

There is just no anticipating what kinds of things will happen when you go abroad. You cannot anticipate the kinds of people you will meet, the troubles you might face and the successes you might find. It is the unknown, that had me in a panic at first. 

Everyone who knows me, knows that I do not do well with surprises and the unknown. I have a problem with patience and stress and I have had this problem since I could barely walk. 

Some very sad examples: 

I was that kid that went searching for Christmas presents weeks before the big day. 

I was that kid (okay still am) that will ask everyone the same question over and over until I get the answers I need.

 I cried every Easter because I did not want the strange bunny entering the house. I screamed until my parents promised the bunny would leave the baskets outside. 

I have puked on every holiday from getting all stressed and excited. 

Most of the time I become stressed trying to finish a book, because I feel a sense of urgency to find out what happens at the end (okay and on occassion I have been the type of person who will read the end first)

My mom admittedly did not want me to come home this summer. She thought I would just be an anxious mess in anticipation of my departure. She was surprised when my melt down never came. Even on the last night home, I slept like a baby. 

I tried to pretend like somehow I had changed and was totallllllyyy unafraid and excited about change and the unknown that was coming (I played it off like I was totally mature and worldy, and small things like leaving the country for extended periods of time was exhilerating and like wicked cool-like come on whats the big deal, everyone does it). 

I managed to play it off, until I got to the airport. I began running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Shaking, crying, and stressing. Flights got messed up (per usual, I am a jinxed traveler) and of course I was freaking out a little (okay-a lot). When I boarded the plane in Newark, I sat down and passed the hell out. Did not even need a drink or a sleeping pill. My body just shut down. For the entire 12 hour flight...I slept like a baby. The second I woke up... stomach ache, light headed, shaking hands yep that anxiety attack I had managed to suppress all summer was about to explode. And it did. 

However, as I reflect on my last three months I find it all a little funny how worried I was. Here, I feel like I have become more calm than I have in years-maybe ever. I feel like I can take on the world. When I told everyone I was coming to Argentina without a single friend or acquaintance, they told me I was crazy. Most people said that they couldn't do it. And most don't. The majority of my friends from school are studying abroad with a familiar face. I am so proud I did it, so, so proud. 

If nothing else, this journey has taught me to stop being so afraid of the unknown. It has been a huge problem for me since I was a child. I am used to getting so worked up about not knowing things. I can't quite describe the feeling, but its just an intense need and if I dont supress the need somehow, I panic. It is a need for approval, a need to be the first to know, the need to feel safe and just a general sense of knowing what will happen. I know I drive my family crazy with it and I am sure as they read this they know EXACTLY what I am talking about (and probably laughing, they think it is funny until they get caught in the middle of one of my fits). I guess I am a bit of a control freak. But I think this may have remedied some of this very weird and usually unnecessary anxiety that I usually pent up until I freak out. 

I have taken a giant leap of faith. New place, no friends, and how about that whole language thing... I definitely did not take the easy, comfortable way out on this trip. I think it was just what I needed. Just the spontaneous and unfamiliar adventure that might have naturally remedied years of stress, anxiety and up tightness. SO the purpose of this post is to apologize to mostly Mom, Dad, Michelle and Maggie   who usually get caught in the sandstorm. But I think... the sandstorm may calm down a bit when I come home. 

A Breathless Trip

I woke up this morning at 11am, and had a feeling of dread wash over me. I have less than a month left. How did this happen? I can not really tell you, but it is such a weird feeling. This whole experience has been full of ups and downs. I came here as a scared (and pretty pathetic) girl, crying hysterically, shaking for days scared out of my mind. Now here I am, finding solace walking around the city alone: unafraid. I have traveled far and wide, booking my own trips, making my own decisions and growing up (okay so I have been a tad dependent upon Big Jim and Big Al for some extra $$) none the less, totally independent. I have made mistakes, friends and gained life experience. It is so amazing how far I have come since I was crying myself to sleep the first two nights in BA. 

Part of me is ready to go home. Part of me yearns for the normalcy of training for lacrosse and working. I am excited to see all of my friends, and go college hopping  (something I have never had time for before). However, part of me is freaking out... normalcy seems so mundane now. Now that I have lived an exhilerating, fast paced, surreal lifestyle these last few months. I just want to go to fake school forever, and just live a lavish city life, booking vacations around South America, going to coffee at 11 pm on a school night, and flirtingly shamelessly with Argentine men as they twirl me around the dance floor of some of the best night clubs in the world. Who wouldn't want to do that forever? This is where the dread comes in, my fairytale life that holds little responsibility and a skewed sense of reality is quickly coming to an end, whether I like it or not. 

"Life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"- Unknown 

(Thank you Mama Iorio)

I guess the full weight of this quote never hit me until I got here. I felt this feeling of my breath being taken away in the depths of the Andes Mountains, on the top of the Iguazu Falls, but nothing quite like my trip to Brazil. There isn't a moment I would like to freeze, but my whole trip. From the time our trip started when we had the idiotic idea to order an expensive bottle of wine at the airport while we waited for our severly delayed flight. All the way to our final night drinking CapriVodkas, laughing until we cried at our favorite sea side shack, while the sun set over us in Buzios, Brazil. I can't remember ever being so happy, so relaxed, and so in awe of my life. I am so lucky. Let's just say, dragging my butt to school yesterday was almost impossible. 

However, I still have one trip left!!!!!!!!!!!  I am going to Ushuia, the most southern city in the world in Patagonia in a couple weeks. This weekend I am volunteering at a battered womens shelter, then going out to the country side to build houses with a program like Habitat for Humanity for a couple of days. The next weekend I am going just north of here to the Tigre River (not pronounced Tiger, Mom), to go swimming, kayaking and you know all that outdoorsy stuff I love. Throw a couple of finals and papers in the mix, then I am home. Twenty-Nine more Dinners, as Hannah would say (and I cant say Ivette's dinners will be something I miss, the fact that I still have 29 of them left makes my stomach curl a bit). See you soon.

=) 

Politics, Lions, and Polo Players

I have just been so busy, I have completely (and rudely) neglected my blog. Anywayyy where to begin!?

As time goes on, I fall more and more in love with my time abroad. Not necessarily the city itself (lets just say I am longing to go back to the peaceful mountains of Vermont) however, I have been up to some very cool things and have met some very amazing people along the way.

First of all just to catch you all up, I have been in midterm mode for two weeks now. So there was kind of a lag of events, so my blog was not missing that much action.

However, I have caught up on my share of experiences this past week....

Let me start this post with some political boringness. First of all, the Brazilian Embassy HATES Americans. As some of you know WEDNESDAYY (I cannot wait) I am going to Rio and Buzios Brazil for 7 days!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those of you who want to know why, please search the 10 day forecast in Buzios, Brazil..... But jeezz what a pain in the ass getting a visa as an American citizen is.

Second of all, sending in my absentee ballot another headache. I go to the international Correo Argentino (mail service) to send in my ballot. There is very specific directions to put the ballot in a smaller envalope, sealed and put into a larger envalope with the directions. Well trying to tell the lady all of this in Spanish was an epic fail. She told me "no" and handed me a hot pink, spanish, loony toon, tiny envalope. Loony toon characters and hearts all over. So I try to jam in all the paper in there, ripped the envelope. I asked for another, again she told me no. She handed me a piece of scotch tape and i taped up the side, and there it was.....

My first Presidential ballot, being sent from afar in a hot pink, ripped up the side, loony toon, spanish, valentines day envelope. Well if they dont call in a bomb squad to make sure I did not send them anthrax, they are going to be laughing and simply discard my ballo dismissing it as some sort of joke. Hey- at least I tried. And to be honest, both hopefuls suck anyway.

If you google "the world's most dangerous zoo" you will be directed to all of these links to the Lujan Zoo in Buenos Aires. It is the only zoo where you are allowed to play with the animals. Talk about a crazy experience. It was amazing, however very very sad. It was literally what you would imagine a third world zoo to look like. No glitz and glam like zoo's in the US. Just 2X4 chain link fenses around animals.

Yesterday I got to go horseback riding in the country side at a mansion that served us a big bbq "asado". It was the most amazing day I have had since I have been here. My riding skills even caught the attention of the owner's son who let me ride with him, and he showed me how to play polo.

That is all I have for now. Ivette is okay, same as always....crazy and wine happy. Olivia is still my crazy wing women who influences me to do crazy things.

The City of Opinions

Two weeks ago I sat at my little desk completing my homework, when a murmer of noise began in the distance. It made its way from a low grumble to a dull roar. I had no idea what this noise was, but it was like a wave and it was making its way closer and closer to my apartment. Suddenly, Ivette was yelling for me. She pushed a pan into my hands, as well as a wooden spoon. She pulled me outside onto the terrace. As I stood there alongside here, a pot and spoon in hand I felt ridiculous. I looked around from my second story apartment and as I looked up, all of the decks and patios off of the high rises that surrounded were full of people. They are all banging on pots and pans too. They were howling and yelling in frustration. Ivette tells me that they are protesting the "terrorista" of a president, Cristina Kirchner. The city has errupted and all across the city people are banging and yelling. Ivette calls her an isolationist and socialist (in spanish of course). "Que Disastre" she says about the presidency as she shakes her head.... "What a disaster". The feeling of unrest is felt everyday in Buenos Aires and is heating up.

Cristina Kirchner has some claims to fame. At the time of her re-election in 2011 the Argentine economy was undergoing a period of rapid growth, and a rapidly decreasing unemployment rate.

However here are a list of some things many citizens will tell u has made her an absolute nightmare...
*She has tried to silence the media by passing down heavy handed restrictions.
*She has virtually cut Argentines off from the US dollar.
*She has banned the importation of books from certain countries.
*Argentines are mad about her relentless socialist spending.
*She nationalized the countries leading energy producer...scaring away foreign investment

The people here are more politically minded, open and boisterous with their opinions than in the United States. They do not avoid the topic of politics. They will outright tell you how they feel.

And tonight the banging continues, as one of the biggest rallies and protests since 2001 takes place. People have mobilized through email and the people have gathered in plazas across the city. The banging on the pots has resumed and the honking, yelling and blow horns  show no sign of slowing down. For a political geek like me, it is so exciting to witness such feeling and pride in ones country. But the outside world may never hear about this, because the media is so restricted.

 SO while you all are watching insatiable attack adds and listening to ignorant politicians balk at one another across party lines, I am happily banging on my pan. Witnessing an angry group of people take physical and direct action, how exciting is that? 

Iguanas, Tucans, New Friends and Warm Places

The 19 hour bus ride was so worth it....

 

Every second of it. 

For a country girl, this big old city can be a little overwhelming. Crowded, confusing, bustling and expensive. The lack of green can make a girl from New England pretty sad.

Just 19 hours north of here is literally a whole new world. A tropical world full of warmth and exotic nature. I have been told that this is one of the prettiest places on earth. One of the most amazing things Argentina has to offer, after all it is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. I can cross "seeing a wonder of the world" off my bucket list. I can also cross off "being in three places at once" as I was able to stand at the point where three countries meet, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. I saw monkeys, coaties, iguanas, tucans, and cat fish the size of a small shark. I do not think my pictures do the place justice. It literally was the most amazing place I have ever been. It was the most amazing place I have ever seen. 

The group of friends I went with were equally as amazing. We had family dinners every night in the hostel to cut down on costs. We have turned into quite the Argentines. Chorizo one night and milenessas de pollo the next. We made friends from all over the world in the hostel, who joined us for some late night card games and laughs. We drank Quilmes and Malbec and enjoyed the sounds and surroundings of nature. 

On the last night we "splurged" and went to one of the nicest restuarants in town for dinner to try some river fish. 107 US dollars for 6 people.... talk about a steal. Three of us chose Serubi. We had no idea was to expect but it was a dense white fish that was quite good. Mine was served with palm hearts and shrimp sauce. Best meal since I have left the US. I might be biased though, because I have been craving fish (a very rare commodity in Buenos Aires). 

Back home in Buenos Aires, I have finally found a routine and a confidence in my language abilities. Ivette complimented my spanish just the other night. For a crazy woman, I am really learning to like her. Her OCD does get on every last nerve of mine, but after all these hostel stays....I really appreciate her obsessive cleaning and weird habits. She has been increasingly more relaxed now that her daughter and grandson are here for a month from Costa Rica. She even bought me a giant cookie for the ride to Buenos Aires. She really does care in her own strange way. She has even stopped putting mayo on my food. Thank God. And she now makes my favorite meal once a week, a veggie soup that is just delicious. And muy sano....very healthy. 

I am going into midterms next week. YIKES. So I have a very busy week of studying ahead. Its official less than two months left. And it is such a bittersweet feeling. I am starting to love it here. To love my independence and my routines. However, I have never been so appreciative of home. 

Chau my friends. 

A New Week

This week proved to be an interesting one....

      Just about every tourism guide raves about Thursday nights at Niceto Club. Thursday night the club takes on the name, Club 69, a drag "show". When we heard "show," we thought FUN! However, we surely did not expect what this "show" entailed...

     False preconceived notions have become a very common occurrence for my friends and I. I have never received more "surprises" than I have in Buenos Aires. From day one, Buenos Aires has not been what I thought. I have found that most foreigners think in this same exact way. We expect a warm winter: false. No rain:false. Beaches and views of the water:false. These are just SOME of the expectations my friends and I had when we came to Buenos Aires. And everyday, at least one thing turns into an experience we did not expect....

  For example, this occurrence happens very often while dining out. Many times food comes that I did not expect. Although it is getting easier to read menus, sometimes things come out and we think "what the hell?". For example, ensalada (salad) very rarely comes with lettuce (this took weeks of adjusting to). Caesar salad, however is one of the very few salads with lettuce...cant mess that up right? Wrong: Caesar salad is lettuce with mayo here. The other day I ordered chicken, I am almost positive it was tuna fish. We have all gone through this here. Every trip to a restaurant usually includes at least one unexpected outcome.

    Clubs however, are pretty standard. However, this Club 69 was out of this world, and beyond our wildest imaginations. Upon entering we were knighted by a King. We were surrounded by aliens, mermaids, minions, hes, shes and boths. My friend Olivia and I received champagne from men and were dancing with the stars of the show. As the night progressed, so did this free for all. Around 2, things really began to pick up. A rapper came out, the aliens multiplied, the show, well for lack of a better description, turned into a porno before our very eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing. My friend Olivia, decided she wanted to get on stage. I am still unsure as to what she thought she was going to contribute to the show. I am also scared to know, what would have happened had she sweet talked her way up there. Fast forward to the next morning when I realized my camera was gone out of my purse, and now I am scarred and without pictures of the night to share with you all to help aid the visual of this alien inhabited night club. I am also sadly, without a camera now.... serious bummer.

    Saturday, we ventured to the shores of Colonia, Uruguay. What a cool city. Again, MUCH colder than anticipated. The people of Buenos Aires keep telling us how this weather is very strange. It is much colder, rainier and cloudier than most Portenos (Buenos Airians) can ever remember. Yes, yes just my luck.

   Perhaps this week will provide more predictability, however I am learning to love the spontaneity of life here.

 

MENDOZA

I can finally cross off "Visiting the Andes Mountains" off my bucket list. I have wanted to go since that stupid 6th grade country project in Ms. Buckley's class. This weekend I went to Mendoza with my girl friends, Anneliese, Julie, Olivia, Lauren and Emma. We had an amazing time. A lot of laughs.

Needless to say, this princess learned very quickly that hostel living was not as cool as everyone made it out to be. Gross, gross, gross. But hey, it is all apart of the experience right? We all got a good laugh in about it. My friend Olivia found hairs in her bed, so we shared a bottom twin sized bunk. Meanwhile the lock on the door did not work. My dear friend Anneliese, who has a touch of OCD stayed up many hours worrying about people stumbling in. Needless to say, there were two ocassions my little 115 pound, 5'3 friend nearly attacked some lost drunk guys who waltzed in to our room.

We toured two "bodegas" or vineyards. Mendoza is famous for their Malbec, which is fabulous. We also toured a small olive farm where they make olive oil, and olive oil based cosmetic products. The next day we went on a high Andes tour. We did not anticipate exactly what was going to happen that day. Not only did we not anticipate how cold it would be in the city of Mendoza, we deffinantly did not foresee being stuck in a blizzard. The tour took us through the Andes, all the way to the Chilean border.  Aconagua is the tallest mountain in the Americas. We hiked to the base, which was pretty spectacular. It was a blizzard there, with a good 8 inches of snow on the ground. Luckily we stopped at the Incan ruins on the way. The locals were selling Alpaca sweaters. We layered them on. Our final day we spent walking around the city and taking in the warmth (we were still chilled from the day before). Emma's friends from her school in Buenos Aires are from New Zealand. We all decided to have a picnic lunch in a local plaza. Then we boarded the bus and spent the next 14 hours traveling across Argentina, back to Buenos Aires. School is starting to pick up. I handed in my first  paper in complete Spanish the other day. I am going to Colonia, Uruguay this weekend and I booked a trip to Buzios, Brazil for October.

Everything is going well. I cant believe it is almost September. Time is flying by. Ivette and I have been okay lately. She taught me a new word tonight, quilimbroso. It means pain in the ass. She was bubbly because I think my absence this weekend, allowed her to rekindle an old flame with her ex boyfriend. Her daughter, who lives in Costa Rica is coming next week. She speaks English, along with her 4 year old son. I am excited to meet them. That is all for now folks. Chau.

Soundtrack to Argentina...Some of our Faves....

This weekend was all about immersing myself in the Argentine Culture. 

The Argentina Fashion Week event I attended, was one of the coolest cultural things I have experienced yet. To witness pop culture unfold in front of us, as an outside was just facinating. The event took place in a venue similar to The Garden. There were vendors everywhere, and free stuff at every turn. Designers, camera crews, celebrities, promoters, models were bustling about. Of course, the only thing we recognized was the  O.P.I vendor, offering free manicures. Oh and the E! Network tent, however it was E! Argentina, so Guiliana and Ryan were not the hosts, much to our dismay. We of course, watched as the public gaped at the celebrities being interviewed. We had no idea who these people were. But it was impossible not to feel the excitement. The event cost us a whole 35 pesos....about 7 US dollars. Best 7 dollars I have spent since being here. 

My friend Olivia, has an amazing host sister who is 21. Her and her friends speak English, really well. She took us out the other night and we got to go to her favorite bar. A dive of a place, with cheap drinks, dark lights and American rock blasting from the speakers. A true local place. I absolutely loved it. It is facinating comparing cultures with 21 year old girls here, however we realized quickly a cross-culture dilemma facing girls, boys suck sometimes. Another really funny conversation that came up was shaving/ waxing. A girl named Sol touched my arm, and asked me if I shaved my arms. I told her I did not. She asked if I waxed my legs. I told her I shaved them. She shuddered at the thought. She told me, everyone here waxes everything. Olivia and I laughed and told her waxing everything in the United States....legs, arms, bikini, eyebrows, lip everything...could set you back quite a bit of $$. That is when she told us, she gets her body waxed for 40 PESOS! That is LESS than 10 U.S. DOLLARS. She asked "Why the fuck do they charge you so much in the United States, we dont want people to be hairy, so it is not expensive, does the United States want their people to be hairy?" it was a funny question and not one I had an answer to. It was just a really funny conversation, but on that note 2$ eyebrow wax, I am in.  

That is all for now. Chau. Besos. 

What a busy week it has been! I have completed my first week of classes. Still trying to tweak my schedule, but I believe I am taking: U.S. Latin American Relations (in english), Political and Social Change in Argentina (in english), Tango The Expression of Buenos Aires (in spanish), Spanish (obv in Spanish) and Cultures and Civilizations of Latin-Americans (in spanish). I have 3 classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 2 on Tuesday, Thursdays. No classes Fridays...always a plus.

I am in the midst of planning a trip to Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile for the weekend of the 16th. Mendoza is famous for their wine and vineyards and the beautiful surrounding Andes Mountains. Then I am going to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay the following weekend.... I cannot wait! 

The situation with my host mom is ...well there is never a dull moment. At first it was really cute, having someone who cared so much always looking out for me, not so much anymore. She NEVER leaves the apartment or leaves me alone for that matter, and every night at dinner she tells me how sad and lonely she is. That is the thing about Argentines, they LOVE to talk about their problems. They all have therapists. This is not an exaggeration, we were warned of this during our orientation. It is completely normal for people to talk to you about their therapists and problems, and they all try to access each other's problems. It is a cultural thing. 

These are things I will never understand about Argentines:

1. How they say people from the United States eat so poorly, when their main food groups are bread, salt, beef and mayo. They put mayo and salt on EVERYTHING. It is beyond me. The other night I walked by the kitchen before dinner and Ivette had made milonesa. Milonesa is like the main thing these people eat. Basically it is breaded chicken or beef. She made that and on the side were sliced tomatoes and a hard boiled egg. It looked great...I went to sit down....she had put mayo all over the top. I wanted to die. In that moment, I thought "what would Sydney do!?" and i decided she would scrape it off, even though we have been advised to eat everything. Argentines find it particularly rude if you dont eat food that is offered. But this, I could not do, so I wiped it off, and told Ivette she had to ask me before putting mayo on my food. When I asked her if I could have the extra hard boiled egg for breakfast (they dont eat breakfast here, let alone eggs) ...she proceeded to tell me how bad eggs are for you....while she is stuffing her face with breaded chicken slathered in mayo... Sweet. 

2. Why they get so offended when we refer to ourselves as American. By saying that, I did not say you weren't. You can be American too if you want, I could really care less how you identify yourself. Also, we are called The United States of America. It is just convenient to shorten it to American. You call urself Argentinian, that is the name of your country, not your continent. But you want me to call myself North American? Sorry, I stand my ground. I am an American. But hey, you can be too. 

3. Now I understand and accept, that maybe Americans live a really paced lifestyle. But for god sakes, why in the world is it so painful to get restaurant service, but the second you are paying they stand over your shoulder like a hawk and ask u every .5 seconds if you are ready. Like it took me 30 minutes to get you over here, give me a minute to count my money and tip you in peace. 

4. How a whole race of people can detest spicy food. It is the WEIRDEST thing. They ALL hate spicy food. You cant find hot sauce anywhere. They dont cook with it spice, they like shutter at the thought of spice. It is so weird. Like you would think it is a personal thing, not a cultural thing. But hey, I dont mind it. Big Jim might have a problem if he comes to visit. 

So in interesting news, the Subte (Argentine subway) workers have been on strike for over a week. Imagine if all of the T workers went on strike, and the T was out of use for a week. I cannot even imagine. It is so normal here, everyone strikes. 

Oh more interesting news, one of the girls in my group is from LA. Her dad is an actor on desperate housewives, and her step mom is Hana's mom on Pretty Little Liars. 

Welp that is all for now. Miss you all. Love you all. 

The stupid cat ate my headphones...ugh I hate this cat.

Hola!

I am still loving everything. Everyday is a new experience. Buenos Aires is one of the top ten biggest and most densely populated cities in the world, so there is always a new area to explore.

My host mom, Ivette is still fabulous. She is such a mom, and is always worrying about me. I have to check in more with her then Big Al but it is nice to know someone cares so much in such an unfamiliar place. She loves my company, even if she has to talk very slow and sometimes our conversations are more like a big game of charades. But she is helping me so much with my spanish because I am forced to talk one on one with her everyday. (Mind you hung over spanish first thing in the morning is particularly brutal and painful)

Today was my first encounter with a pickpocketing hopeful. A little kid on the subway I could feel reach around me, and I shoved him and an older man proceeded to publicly embarrass the kid and make him get off at the next stop. It was kind of funny on account of, it was a very miserable attempt. My friends make fun of me because everywhere I go, I hang on to my bag for dear life, so immediately I felt his little hands beside me.

My classes start Monday, but I have to miss my first classes to get my paper work from the courthouse or "tribunales" to get my visa in check. We went the other day, but the workers were on strike. The people here strike a lot. I am taking U.S. and Latin American Relations, Intermediate Spanish, Cultures and Civilizations of Latin America and Tango. Oh and I do not have classes on Fridays =)

Everyone in my group is amazing and friendly. The people of Buenos Aires are really nice for the most part, but some really just hate Americans. The weather is sooo cold and the showers in this apartment are freezing, so I am deff missing a hot shower right about now. The food is pretty basic here. A lot of Italian, a lot of beef, some chicken. Ivette is a really great cook, so that is always nice. Tonight we had vegetable soup with a papas tortilla, which is a Spanish dish. Its just potatoes and onions layered into some sort of pie like thing. I dont really know, but it was good. Last night we learned how to make empanadas. The night before I had a tango class, which was a lot of fun. That is all for now.

Chau.

Hola mis amigos!

What an adventure this has been so far. Getting here was a bitch...

However after lost luggage, standbys, and delays on the tarmac...I am here, alive.

I had a massive freak out the first day. Sheer panic all of a sudden had me emailing Big Al in tears. On the first day we went right to a hotel. We met the group, enjoyed the company of a roommate and hung out for 4 hours to rest. Well needless to say I was bawling my eyes out. Later that night we went to the director's apartment for dinner her name is Carmen. All the kids got to bond and it was fabulous. Needless to say from that moment on, I have yet to panic or cry.

The second day we learned how to use the public transportation system, called "el sube". We then went home with our host families. Now let me tell you, Ivette...my host mom is literally just like big al or ardie (mormor). She is such a know it all and she does not hold back her thoughts. She is a hoot. She does not speak a word of English, and let me tell you...this dialect of Spanish is nothing like what we have been taught in school. They call their language here "castellano" it is spanish with a few rule changes and a THICK accent. To the untrained ear and it is hard to understand because words like llamar or pollo ...pronounced yamar or poyo in the classroom, are pojo and jamar here. Also they leave out "s" in the middle of words where theyre supposed to be. For example... siesta is nap....they just leave out that middle s all together. Ivette talks a million miles a minute, she just keeps talking and talking. At 1am I had to lock her out of my room because she kept wanting to talk. Mind you I could only understand about 20% of what she was saying to me. I think the combination of lonliness and too much wine has her all excited to have a friend. Even a friend who responds very slowly and sometimes stares at her blankly.

She is all upset because ...
A. I cant open the lock here. She kept yelling "por que no lo entiendes"...or why dont you understand it!? Um because it is a lock from the old days and literally you have to turn left once, the right once, push, and then turn half way.. like sorry Ivette I have never seen a lock like this in my life.
B. I like the subway better than the bus. She is refusing to let me take the subway tomorrow to school because that would require me to walk 4 blocks to the station, when the bus stops 1 and a half blocks. Okay but all my friends take the subway and I like to walk. But nope she walking me to the bus tomorrow and putting me on it because she hates the subway. I dont get it, but whatever.
C. I left my tide to go on the bed (closed mind you) and she is convinced even with it closed it will ruin the sheets. Whatever.

But dont get me wrong. I love her and she is so patient with me. She is going out of her way to talk with me and help me get around and I love her for that. She also made a fabulous dinner tonight and she loves to take care of her huge terrace full of plants. My room has a door leading out to it. It is gorgeous.

Today we took a tour of the city. The city is huge, like overwhelmingly enormous. It is such a mix of rich and poor, it changes from block to block.

I have made three really good girl friends, all three go to Stonehill. We have an exam really early in the morning to help us be placed into the appropriate course levels.

Everything is so new and exciting...I cannot wait to start traveling around the country. Some of the kids who have already been here for a month have a break this week and are taking a bus to Mendoza (wine country) and then to Santiago Chile. We hope to do the same and are also hoping to go up to Rio.

I love you all. I will keep you updated about everything. XOXO