Just wanted to say feliz día de acción de gracias a todos (Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!). Tonight I´m going to eat dinner with my host family. We´re having chicken, which is more or less similar to turkey (not that common and pretty expensive here) and mashed potatoes and I don´t know what else. I´m going to make pumpkin pie as well =)
It´s strange to think of everyone back home celebrating "normally" with their families and whatnot. Oh well. I´ll be celebrating with my surrogate family here.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Spanish and English are the same,right?
So today I went to lunch with some people. As I was casually looking over the menu I was thinking in the back of my head, this is too complicated for me right now, I'm just going to "cheat" and read the English underneath. As I started reading, I realized how much easier it was.
Then I also realized that the first line was in I talian and the second in Spanish.... Go figure.
Today was pretty eventful. Got up early and went to the airport to meet Sarah and her sister and get my ATM card before they headed off to Barriloche. Found my way there on a bus, which I was pretty proud of myself for. From there went to do a dress fitting for my dress for Rach's wedding. Apparently their power had been out though and they didnt have time to finish. They tried to call me but I never got the message since I didn't hear my cell phone ring and they talked to Elvira but I wasn't at home (and our house phone doesn't call cells, her cell didn't have minutes,etc). Oh well. Now I'm going back tomorrow.
Did some work. Went to lunch. Did some more work. Had a meeting with my tutor for my independent study (I dont think I ever wrote this but I switched tutors a couple weeks ago. Not so cool considering how close it is to the end of the semester, but things are much better now). Things are really starting to click and I'm getting excited. Finished/turned something in for lit and talked with the professor a bit about the final paper. I have some ideas for that now as well. So overall a good day.
Had a bit of a headache when I came home so I napped and now I'll do a bit of work and eat dinner and whatnot.
And to end on a completely random note, apparently back home my cat jumped out of the second story window today while my mom was painting. He's fine though. Crazy cat.
Then I also realized that the first line was in I talian and the second in Spanish.... Go figure.
Today was pretty eventful. Got up early and went to the airport to meet Sarah and her sister and get my ATM card before they headed off to Barriloche. Found my way there on a bus, which I was pretty proud of myself for. From there went to do a dress fitting for my dress for Rach's wedding. Apparently their power had been out though and they didnt have time to finish. They tried to call me but I never got the message since I didn't hear my cell phone ring and they talked to Elvira but I wasn't at home (and our house phone doesn't call cells, her cell didn't have minutes,etc). Oh well. Now I'm going back tomorrow.
Did some work. Went to lunch. Did some more work. Had a meeting with my tutor for my independent study (I dont think I ever wrote this but I switched tutors a couple weeks ago. Not so cool considering how close it is to the end of the semester, but things are much better now). Things are really starting to click and I'm getting excited. Finished/turned something in for lit and talked with the professor a bit about the final paper. I have some ideas for that now as well. So overall a good day.
Had a bit of a headache when I came home so I napped and now I'll do a bit of work and eat dinner and whatnot.
And to end on a completely random note, apparently back home my cat jumped out of the second story window today while my mom was painting. He's fine though. Crazy cat.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A weekend of firsts
This weekend has been quite eventful and full of new experiences.
Well, Friday wasn't too terribly exciting. I had a meeting with my tutor for my independent study (very little time left and lots to do--eek!), did some work, then went home and went for a run (about time!) around the ecological reserve in Puerto Madero. That night I went to dinner with Alex at Cumana, which has food more typical of norhtern Argentina. We both had yummy empanandas and shared desserts--including an empanada filled with dulce de leche! I had heard a lot about the restaurant and finally went. It was packed! Lots of people waiting outside for a table. It's not that big of a place and the menu is very simple (empanadas, pizza, tamales, etc) but we found out what the big deal was all about....
Saturday I went to the Argentina v. Boliva futbol (soccer) game! It was my first soccer game I've been to in Argentina. It was fun and Argentina won 3-0. They played in River stadium (the biggest stadium in Buenos Aires/Argentina, which is the Buenos Aires team River Plate's home stadium). One of the guys in our group is from Bolivia and proudly wore his Bolivia jersey sitting in the middle of us. We were in a calmer section though, so fortunately there weren't any problems. It was interesting to see/hear all the chants and random traditions of the games. I usually couldn't make out the words completely though (a bit harder w/ the stadium echo effect). During one though everyone jumps and says something about if you dont jump, you're English. Haha, fair enough. The other interesting thing of note was that at one point during the game they used firehoses to spray the crowd. It was really hot in the sun (fortunately we were in the shade), so they did it to cool people down. Apparently they do it when there are problems in the crowd as well though.
After the game I rode the subte D line the entire line to get home--first time I'd done that. It was slightly difficult walking home to my house because there was a HUGE parade of Comunidad Homosexual Argentina going through Avenida de Mayo. I hadn't seen a parade here before either and this one was huge.
Saturday night I went out to dinner with Michelle and Amanda. We went to Meridiano 58, where I had gone with some girls at the beginning of the semester (and wanted to go to with my parents, but they went there for lunch just as a coincedence). I did wear my new dress though, which keeps me on the weekend of firsts theme. After dinner, Sarah, Michelle, and I attempted to go to Acabar (a restaurant/bar where you can play boardgames) but it was way too crowed. We found a fun spot called Sonomans and relaxed on the patio outside. Apparently we picked a good place because it got packed!
Today I went to the Feria de Mataderos with Sarah, Kate, Amanda, and Michelle. Mataderos is the barrio/neighborhood its in, which is in the southwest corner/limits of the city of Buenos Aires (almost out of the Guia T!). Mataderos means slaughterhouse. This feria is similar to a lot of the others, but this one has more of a folk/provincia feel to it. There was music and folk dancing all afternoon. They had a lot of food typical of Northern Argentina. We ate tamales and some kind of cornbread with cheese. They also had some kind of horse races. It started late because there were cars in the path. They found the owners for some and then just pushed a taxi out of the way (which had to be good for the car?). We watched for a bit (they rode so fast on the pavement and without real saddles!), but it looked like it was about to pour any moment so we left. From there we took a bus back into the main part of the city and I took the subte home (We took the subte--the entire line of E--plus a taxi ride to get there. From the bus I then rode the entire A line minus 1 stop to my house. I'd never ridden the whole line and now practically 3 times in 2 days!).
I took a nap for a bit, but now its time to do homework. Lots to do! Its so strange how everything is starting to come to an end. I don't like it. I'm just not ready yet. I'm not sure if I ever will be. Some people are staying for an entire year (a lot of them decided to do it while they were here this semester). I'd love to do that or study somewhere else for another semester, but its just not really possible. There'd be a lot of things I'd miss out on next semester as well. Oh well. Alright, time to do work!
Well, Friday wasn't too terribly exciting. I had a meeting with my tutor for my independent study (very little time left and lots to do--eek!), did some work, then went home and went for a run (about time!) around the ecological reserve in Puerto Madero. That night I went to dinner with Alex at Cumana, which has food more typical of norhtern Argentina. We both had yummy empanandas and shared desserts--including an empanada filled with dulce de leche! I had heard a lot about the restaurant and finally went. It was packed! Lots of people waiting outside for a table. It's not that big of a place and the menu is very simple (empanadas, pizza, tamales, etc) but we found out what the big deal was all about....
Saturday I went to the Argentina v. Boliva futbol (soccer) game! It was my first soccer game I've been to in Argentina. It was fun and Argentina won 3-0. They played in River stadium (the biggest stadium in Buenos Aires/Argentina, which is the Buenos Aires team River Plate's home stadium). One of the guys in our group is from Bolivia and proudly wore his Bolivia jersey sitting in the middle of us. We were in a calmer section though, so fortunately there weren't any problems. It was interesting to see/hear all the chants and random traditions of the games. I usually couldn't make out the words completely though (a bit harder w/ the stadium echo effect). During one though everyone jumps and says something about if you dont jump, you're English. Haha, fair enough. The other interesting thing of note was that at one point during the game they used firehoses to spray the crowd. It was really hot in the sun (fortunately we were in the shade), so they did it to cool people down. Apparently they do it when there are problems in the crowd as well though.
After the game I rode the subte D line the entire line to get home--first time I'd done that. It was slightly difficult walking home to my house because there was a HUGE parade of Comunidad Homosexual Argentina going through Avenida de Mayo. I hadn't seen a parade here before either and this one was huge.
Saturday night I went out to dinner with Michelle and Amanda. We went to Meridiano 58, where I had gone with some girls at the beginning of the semester (and wanted to go to with my parents, but they went there for lunch just as a coincedence). I did wear my new dress though, which keeps me on the weekend of firsts theme. After dinner, Sarah, Michelle, and I attempted to go to Acabar (a restaurant/bar where you can play boardgames) but it was way too crowed. We found a fun spot called Sonomans and relaxed on the patio outside. Apparently we picked a good place because it got packed!
Today I went to the Feria de Mataderos with Sarah, Kate, Amanda, and Michelle. Mataderos is the barrio/neighborhood its in, which is in the southwest corner/limits of the city of Buenos Aires (almost out of the Guia T!). Mataderos means slaughterhouse. This feria is similar to a lot of the others, but this one has more of a folk/provincia feel to it. There was music and folk dancing all afternoon. They had a lot of food typical of Northern Argentina. We ate tamales and some kind of cornbread with cheese. They also had some kind of horse races. It started late because there were cars in the path. They found the owners for some and then just pushed a taxi out of the way (which had to be good for the car?). We watched for a bit (they rode so fast on the pavement and without real saddles!), but it looked like it was about to pour any moment so we left. From there we took a bus back into the main part of the city and I took the subte home (We took the subte--the entire line of E--plus a taxi ride to get there. From the bus I then rode the entire A line minus 1 stop to my house. I'd never ridden the whole line and now practically 3 times in 2 days!).
I took a nap for a bit, but now its time to do homework. Lots to do! Its so strange how everything is starting to come to an end. I don't like it. I'm just not ready yet. I'm not sure if I ever will be. Some people are staying for an entire year (a lot of them decided to do it while they were here this semester). I'd love to do that or study somewhere else for another semester, but its just not really possible. There'd be a lot of things I'd miss out on next semester as well. Oh well. Alright, time to do work!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wednesdays are long days...
Today as been a bit of a long day, as usual on Wednesdays, but a good day none-the-less. I was up late studying last night so I´m pretty tired, but life is good.
I took my parcial for Anthro this morning and I think it went well. I´m not quite as confident as I was at the end of the last one, but I think I did well anyway and that I won´t have to take the final. I talked with some of the girls after class and we´re hopefully going to get together next weekend or something. That would be fun.
Went from there to Lit, as usual. Today we had we had someone come in to speak with us. Don´t know how much you know about the 70´s in Argentina, but basically there was a genocide in which the government detained/sequestered "insurgents," who where then tortured, killed, forced into exhile, or "disapeared." Lots of students, intellectuals, artists, etc. Today José Sculman came to speak with us. He is a survivor who was captured/detained/tortured twice and now he writes about the experiences and the time period and whatnot and works with a human rights organization. It was really powerful. And intense. He read us some of his stuff, which gave it a whole new dimension. Good class. Scary stuff that happened.
(Sorry, I feel like my English is really awkward right now. I´ve been in classes in Spanish all day and I´m having hard time coming up with the right words)
Anyway, in a bit I have choir and then I´m painting tonight--yay!
Tomorrow I´m going on a tour with my Culture class to see French influences in the city. While part of this includes architecture, etc, it also means the methods or torture used in the 1970s, so we´ll be seeing some pretty powerful stuff tomorrow as well.
It´s so strange that, when I´m learning about things that happened during the time there are so many references to places in and around the city that I know. I have my own associations with these places and to put them in the context of such horrible events is just.... such a strange and disconcerting thought.
It´s hard to imagine the people who lived through the time or are survivors. First, that its real and they lived it and its not just a "story" or a "far away history" and second to think how so many places in the city have memories or history attached, but its everyday places all around the city.
I´m not really sure if that makes sense or not....
I took my parcial for Anthro this morning and I think it went well. I´m not quite as confident as I was at the end of the last one, but I think I did well anyway and that I won´t have to take the final. I talked with some of the girls after class and we´re hopefully going to get together next weekend or something. That would be fun.
Went from there to Lit, as usual. Today we had we had someone come in to speak with us. Don´t know how much you know about the 70´s in Argentina, but basically there was a genocide in which the government detained/sequestered "insurgents," who where then tortured, killed, forced into exhile, or "disapeared." Lots of students, intellectuals, artists, etc. Today José Sculman came to speak with us. He is a survivor who was captured/detained/tortured twice and now he writes about the experiences and the time period and whatnot and works with a human rights organization. It was really powerful. And intense. He read us some of his stuff, which gave it a whole new dimension. Good class. Scary stuff that happened.
(Sorry, I feel like my English is really awkward right now. I´ve been in classes in Spanish all day and I´m having hard time coming up with the right words)
Anyway, in a bit I have choir and then I´m painting tonight--yay!
Tomorrow I´m going on a tour with my Culture class to see French influences in the city. While part of this includes architecture, etc, it also means the methods or torture used in the 1970s, so we´ll be seeing some pretty powerful stuff tomorrow as well.
It´s so strange that, when I´m learning about things that happened during the time there are so many references to places in and around the city that I know. I have my own associations with these places and to put them in the context of such horrible events is just.... such a strange and disconcerting thought.
It´s hard to imagine the people who lived through the time or are survivors. First, that its real and they lived it and its not just a "story" or a "far away history" and second to think how so many places in the city have memories or history attached, but its everyday places all around the city.
I´m not really sure if that makes sense or not....
Monday, November 12, 2007
Visas and ATM cards
So this morning I spent about 3 1/2 hours in the Migrations Office for my visa. It was the 3rd time, but we had to go to extend the date and whatnot. The people who went last week said it only took about 1 1/2 hours, but I guess the fact that today is Monday as opposed to Friday helped. I overheard some of the staff commenting about how many people there were and that, even for a Monday, there usually aren´t that many people. Needless to say, I didnt go to class at 11. Oh well.
Saturday night I lost my ATM card. Boo. Very out of character for me. I realized right as I was about to go out, so tried to refrain from freaking out and made phone calls to cancel it and have a new one set to a friend´s sister who will be visiting next week. Today I went to the bank and asked about it and the card is there, but I need my original passport to get it out. I had a copy of my passport and my original visa form (from this morning), but had stopped by my house to drop off my original passport so I didn´t have to carry it around. Oh well. They said that if I don´t come back for it in 48 hours they´ll destroy it. I figure I´ll let them do that and just get my new one from Sarah´s sister since I´ve already cancelled it. Oh goodness...
Right now they´re finally repairing our appartment. They´ve been supposed to for a while now, but they just started last week. So... lots of things are rearranged. New painting. Soon the light will be fixed in my room--woohoo!
Anyway, thats my "fun" news for now. Haha. Now its time to get some studying done. I have my 2nd "midterm" in anthropology on Wednesday!
Saturday night I lost my ATM card. Boo. Very out of character for me. I realized right as I was about to go out, so tried to refrain from freaking out and made phone calls to cancel it and have a new one set to a friend´s sister who will be visiting next week. Today I went to the bank and asked about it and the card is there, but I need my original passport to get it out. I had a copy of my passport and my original visa form (from this morning), but had stopped by my house to drop off my original passport so I didn´t have to carry it around. Oh well. They said that if I don´t come back for it in 48 hours they´ll destroy it. I figure I´ll let them do that and just get my new one from Sarah´s sister since I´ve already cancelled it. Oh goodness...
Right now they´re finally repairing our appartment. They´ve been supposed to for a while now, but they just started last week. So... lots of things are rearranged. New painting. Soon the light will be fixed in my room--woohoo!
Anyway, thats my "fun" news for now. Haha. Now its time to get some studying done. I have my 2nd "midterm" in anthropology on Wednesday!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The last few days...
Hola again!
Life is good in BsAs. Last night Sarah hosted an empanada and wine party, which was lots of fun! Sarah and Kate baked us yummy desserts and everyone else brought their favorite/ "the best" empanadas and wine. My empanandas never actually got eaten because somehow the box got overlooked in the kitchen (Sarah thought I was crazy, but I found them afterward. Haha. They really are good though!) There were about 10 girls and Sarah's host parents hung out with us for a while as well. Good, quality (and slightly crazy) time spent together talking and laughing.
I started a painting class the other day, which I'm very excited about. I always said I wanted to learn to paint and now I'm working on an oil painting! I'm trying at least, we'll see how it goes.
Today I went out with Sarah and Michelle to find a dress for Rachael's wedding. Success! I'm getting one custom-fitted/made for a price I'd spend in the U.S. on a dress. Afterward we wandered a bit, looking at shops and at the feria.
And now I'm going to read a bit before dinner and going out. =)
Life is good in BsAs. Last night Sarah hosted an empanada and wine party, which was lots of fun! Sarah and Kate baked us yummy desserts and everyone else brought their favorite/ "the best" empanadas and wine. My empanandas never actually got eaten because somehow the box got overlooked in the kitchen (Sarah thought I was crazy, but I found them afterward. Haha. They really are good though!) There were about 10 girls and Sarah's host parents hung out with us for a while as well. Good, quality (and slightly crazy) time spent together talking and laughing.
I started a painting class the other day, which I'm very excited about. I always said I wanted to learn to paint and now I'm working on an oil painting! I'm trying at least, we'll see how it goes.
Today I went out with Sarah and Michelle to find a dress for Rachael's wedding. Success! I'm getting one custom-fitted/made for a price I'd spend in the U.S. on a dress. Afterward we wandered a bit, looking at shops and at the feria.
And now I'm going to read a bit before dinner and going out. =)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Bomb threats and the education system...
My host brother, Joaquin, has had bomb threats at his school since last Wednesday. There have been multiple a day, so that they have to evacuate each time and wait until everything is investigated until they can go back to school. One day there were 4 bomb threats. Elvira just didnt even send him to school on Monday because more time has been spend going in and out of the building than in class. Terrible, no? Its probably just a joke, but you can never take it that way.
A lot of the schools work on interesting schedules here, with different students going during different sessions. At Joaquin´s school there´s a morning, afternoon, and evening session. He goes to both the morning and afternoon sessions so that he has more time with each class and can also take French. As of a few years ago, a law was passed that every school has to teach English, so now if students want to take another language its in addition to English or through a private organization/school.
My class went well today in UBA. I´m almost done. Next week we have our second parcial (kind of like midterm?) and if I get a 7 or higher I get direct promotion and don´t need to take the final. So...that´s what I´m going for. I feel like I´m finally starting to connect more with some of the people in the class, which I´m excited about but wish it could have happened sooner since class is almost over. I was talking with 2 of the girls after class today though and we´re hopefully going to hang out after parciales and whatnot are out of the way. They told me that I definitely have to let them know before I leave.
I think I wrote a bit about UBA before, but in general it still just makes me laugh. Today we moved classrooms because there was construction or something that made a noise so loud no one could hear in the classroom. The walls are covered with posters and banners and graffiti. Lots of socialist propoganda. And graffiti paintings of Che. Not exactly Elon. That´s what I wanted though and it´s really interesting to experience things that are different.
Anyway, just thought I´d share. Speaking of classes, thats where I need to go now....
A lot of the schools work on interesting schedules here, with different students going during different sessions. At Joaquin´s school there´s a morning, afternoon, and evening session. He goes to both the morning and afternoon sessions so that he has more time with each class and can also take French. As of a few years ago, a law was passed that every school has to teach English, so now if students want to take another language its in addition to English or through a private organization/school.
My class went well today in UBA. I´m almost done. Next week we have our second parcial (kind of like midterm?) and if I get a 7 or higher I get direct promotion and don´t need to take the final. So...that´s what I´m going for. I feel like I´m finally starting to connect more with some of the people in the class, which I´m excited about but wish it could have happened sooner since class is almost over. I was talking with 2 of the girls after class today though and we´re hopefully going to hang out after parciales and whatnot are out of the way. They told me that I definitely have to let them know before I leave.
I think I wrote a bit about UBA before, but in general it still just makes me laugh. Today we moved classrooms because there was construction or something that made a noise so loud no one could hear in the classroom. The walls are covered with posters and banners and graffiti. Lots of socialist propoganda. And graffiti paintings of Che. Not exactly Elon. That´s what I wanted though and it´s really interesting to experience things that are different.
Anyway, just thought I´d share. Speaking of classes, thats where I need to go now....
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