That's right folks...you read it. I have not had any Freddo today...I don't even know how this happened, but I'm going through withdrawals. I WANT CHOCOLATE SUIZO. So, that's basically all I can think about on this night, but I have had a lot of fun these past few days that I should probably expand upon...
So, Monday was my free day while the newbies took their placement test and had orientation. I slept until 11. I wandered down the street for a little while and checked out some of the bookstores. We all know how I love books...they smell good, they look nice, they have lots of fascinating things in them! I enjoy browsing through all the stores around here...they have used books, new books, and some English books. There are a lot of famous Latin American books that are translated...sometimes its hard to get your hands on stuff like that in the states. Then, I returned and waited for Aidi. We had a sushi date and we planned to go to Recoleta...we met up at 3.
First, we wanted to have our delicious sushi, but unfortunately that was a no-go. The place I looked up on the computer is only open from 12-3 and then 7-11. The sushi places around here are funny like that...they are never open! Only late at night...it's very strange. So, we had some fast food and headed for Recoleta.
We also visited El Ateneo Grand Splendid which is a huge bookstore. El Ateneo is a chain of bookstore, but this particular store used to be a theater where Carlos Gardel performed. They turned it into a bookstore, but it still looks like a theater. All the boxes on the side were turned into parts of the store and the stage is a coffeeshop. There are A TON of books and all kinds of places to sit and read and browse. It's a very beautiful bookstore...their English section sucked kind of a little bit, but that's normal here. As American as it sounds, I wish there was a better selection in English! My brain gets fried after searching for too long in Spanish.
Then, we headed to the Recoleta Cemetery. What a beautiful, but creepy place. It's a strange feeling...you just want to marvel at the beautiful mausoleums...they are new and old...it's very beautiful architecture. But, then it's also strange to think that you are hanging out in a cemetery...morbid, huh? You can see the caskets of these people...some are on shelves...like 10 of them row after row. There are pictures and trinkets and flowers...some caskets have lace doilies on top. There are stairs to the downstairs and you can see even more caskets down there! It's crazy...some of the glass is broken, so you could literally reach in there and touch the caskets. Stray cats wander all over the place. It's a very interesting place...and very unique. The States probably doesn't have anything like that. I also saw Evita's tomb. She has a very plain tomb hidden away in Recoleta...its the Duarte tomb...her mother's family. Her burial place is not as decorated because there were so many problems with her body after she died...the military regime stole her body and hid it for many years, but finally she is at rest. They were so worried about her body being taken again they created secret passages, multiple cement barricades, and replicas of her coffin. Crazy stuff. She has three plaques and there were tons of flowers all over it. I got chills just standing there!
Then, we went to the Palais de Glace which is an old skating rink that is now an art museum, but it is closed on Mondays...so I didn't go in. I just stood on the outside. After that, we took the bus home. That's right...I TOOK A BUS AND DIDN'T END UP IN BOCA!!! That's good news! We are making progress! To celebrate, we had Freddo. It's 2 for 1 on Mondays. :)
For dinner we had spaghetti. Alex and I got to know each other better...it's nice having a friend! I think that we will have a lot of fun together. And Aidi is dying to meet her. Haha.
Today, was my first day of my new class. It is from 10-3 like my last one. My teacher's name is Germán and he is working on a masters degree in Latin American History in New York and teaches here in Buenos Aires during the summer. He is not as lenient as my old prof, Alejandra, because he knows the ways of a true American university. He NEVER allows English, which I like a lot. I think he will be able to teach me a lot and it will be a good class for me. It's very fast paced and I feel challenged.
For lunch I had a super pancho (aka hotdog) with fries. I love the UB cafe...they have many options for pretty decent prices.
After school, I took Alex to Calle Florida. She wanted a coat and I love that place and it was good bonding. I bought the coolest red leather jacket...ON SALE. They also altered the sleeves...for free. Like, that was a legitimate lucky find. I can't wait to wear it around. My life is now complete. I have boots, a leather jacket, winter Argentine clothes, scarves, and my mate cup. I just have a few more gifts to pick up and then I'm pretty much done shopping. Which, let's get real, I'm never done shopping.
I found my boyfriend today on Calle Florida. Poor Alex...she got to experience these aggressive Argentine men. We were walking along and some guy called out to me, but as usual I ignored him. However, that was not enough for this guy...he followed us! And then, he kept grabbing my hand and asking, "Querés novio?" That means do you want a boyfriend? AHAHAHAAA. So, I started talking to the guy...like being nice...and he kept asking if I wanted a boyfriend! He asked me to go for drinks...but then I said I can't because I am with my friend right now. He kept holding my hand blah blah blah, but I told him that we needed to go shopping for a coat for Alex and he gave me his business card and told me to come back and look for him so he could take me out...His name is Mariano and he is 22 years old and he works at the leather shop as a salesman. So, I went to give him a kiss on the cheek (because that is the polite Argentinian thing to do) before we parted ways and he kissed me on my mouth! The nerve of this guy...like I just met you. Not that he wasn't cute or anything or that I wouldn't be willing to meet him for coffee, but it's not attractive when they are so aggressive. Like, forcing me to kiss you in the middle of an outside shopping street is not romantic. So, I just laughed and said I will see you later and kept walking, but he kept chasing me asking me if I was going to be his girlfriend! And he kept trying to kiss me! The ISA experts say that sometimes you have to kiss these people to get them to leave you alone, which okay...but he tried to use tongue!!! I can't believe it...American boys are nothing like that. They need about 6 months to decide if they even like you...let alone kiss you. Here, they have no qualms about going after what they want. Anyway...all I can say about this guy is WTF? So, we walked away and continued shopping...but we were both baffled. It was crazy.
So, after we had bought our new leather coats and stuff we were walking back and this guy was waiting for me!!! He kept asking me to kiss him and leaning in and asking me if I would have a drink with him now...yadda yadda yadda. Alex and I literally had to push this guy away and promise him that I would return so that we could have a drink. It was very strange...I'd never heard of anyone being so aggressive. But, I guess it's all part of the experience...and it's a pretty good story now. At the time, I was pretty much in shock.
I taught Alex about the subway...she thinks I'm pretty badass because I know how to get places and where to go. It's fun being the smart one who can help other people out. :) In fact, the other day a Brazilian asked ME for directions...and I could give them to her! That's pretty good! We came home and watched some tv with Mercedes and Jorge. We had some sort of pot roast for dinner with mashed potatoes and tortilla (it's basically like egg and zucchinni cooked on the stove...like paella). We had peaches for dessert.
Tomorrow Aidi and I are going to MALBA (an art museum)...and let's face it...prolly Freddo, too. ;)
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