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.