Happy Friday...TGIF.
I wish I could say that I get to sleep in this weekend, but it appears that I won't be. Que triste. But I am in one of the world's most beautiful (and busy) cities...I can sleep when I'm dead!!!
Today I got to sleep in a whole extra hour before my class!!! It took me five minutes to get there, and let me tell you I felt wide awake! It's funny how one hour can make such a difference. I fear that I might be turning into a porteño because I was cold last night. Even with the heat on!!! And I was also cold in class this morning and walking the streets this afternoon. Hopefully, my thick Michigan skin kicks in and I don't need to buy a parka while I'm down here like the rest of these crazy people. That would be a shame considering it has been like 62 degrees Farenheit everyday.
I just adore my Spanish teacher. She is very good at what she does. We were assigned an exciting project today with a group. We have to visit a barrio after we have researched it and made a list of the things for us to do while we are there. Then when we are there we have to interview at least 2 people who live in that barrio about life there...what a great way to interact with people! After we have thoroughly researched our area of Buenos Aires we have to present our findings to the class and come up with an activity. I think this will be a good way to explore, make new friends, and talk to Argentinians...I never thought I would be excited for an assignment. Haha.
I also was excited when I started using the preterite tense without even having to think about conjugating...to some this might not make sense, but I have been struggling with the preterite tense for years. It is so hard to remember all the irregulars and the endings are so weird and confusing. However, today I was able to use it on demand. Imagine what two months will do!
After class we had an orientation. The U.S. embassy came to tell us some things about Buenos Aires...too bad they are about one week too late. I already knew everything they had to tell us! Also, I wasn't too impressed with their presentation...I kind of felt like they didn't really know the city the way I did and they had been here for 2 years and I for just one week! The one chick kept using the wrong term for a very popular tourist attraction...and then someone corrected her. Thank God...she could have really confused some people. It seemed as if they didn't actually live here. Also, their Spanish didn't exactly impress me, either. They sounded very American...I hope that when I am done with my 2 months here I speak better than they do...no offense to them. They didn't even get the Argentinian greeting right!!! Actually, the whole thing was very American. They also talked about becoming foreign service officers (which I already knew about thanks to Michael McLelland). Honestly, these people were kind of boring and uptight and a little bit self-richeous...nothing like I think foreign service officers should be. Especially in a city as beautiful and cultured as Buenos Aires. McLelland's presentation at Adrian College was far more interesting and exciting. I hope that they start living a true Buenos Aires-esque lifestyle sooner rather than later.
We also talked about our trip to El Tigre tomorrow. I am now taking souvenir requests. Haha!!! But really...I hear that gifts in El Tigre are very cheap and authentic Argentine merchandise...so we will see what I can find. :)
Then an American/Argentine psychologist came to talk to us about the culture gap and everything. She is actually quite interesting and her english is so perfect. She sounded American!!! She practiced in San Diego for 20 years, but was born in Argentina and returned here a while ago. She had some interesting insight for us...I really enjoyed her take on the culture and her tips for adjustment. However, American youngens continue to disappoint me. About 15 kids just got up in the middle of her presentation and left...the kids behind me got all pissy when Guillermo said that a psychiatrist would be talking to us this afternoon. I think a lot of it was because there is such a stigma attached to psychiatrist, but she wasn't even being a psychiatrist. She was just there to share her knowledge and input about Americans fitting in with Argentinians because she understands both cultures so well. In fact, most of them left to go to the bar!!! Like, wtf?! How rude!!! Even if it doesn't interest you it is SO RUDE to treat an elder and a professional like that. Some of them even interrupted her in the middle to tell her they had to leave...like, if you are going to leave then do it silently. I literally have no words...
After our orientation I went to look for the currency exchange store. Unfortunately, they were closed...what a joke. Everything closes at like 3 around here...and isn't open on weekends. So I had to use an ATM which was super confusing. A) There are three different kinds of ATM's. The one I have to use is called a cajera electronica...or an electronic cashier. I don't know what the other ones do, but I tried to use one and it was just overwhelming and I thought I was screwed for life and I didn't know what the heck to do. B) The things are tempermental and the first few times it said that I couldn't withdraw money. So I had to do three separate transactions. Things can be so inefficient around here...but I guess that's the lifestyle. Then I came home to relax and read some tour books, so I can plan my trips around town.
I have been talking more with some girls in my program. They are like me. I'm not here to be a disrespectful, loud American teenager. I am here to learn the language, the culture, the people. I want to see all that Buenos Aires has to offer. These kids go to the bar every night...and American bar no less. They skip out on events and talks because they are drinking...no wonder people frown upon Americans. Look at the way some of us behave! As if getting drunk is the only priority! We are in Buenos Aires...granted drinking and having fun is an important part of the culture, but not so much that we completely miss out on the beautiful history that there is in this city! So, there are a few girls who share this perspective and I look forward to getting to know them better and spending time in El Tigre with them tomorrow.
Lunch today was pizza...I didn't eat it all. Not enough sauce and they don't have American pizza...I think I will stick with empanadas. Which Mercedes brought home for dinner. Yummoooooo. She also made soup, but I am never in the mood for it, so I didn't have any. I did, however, eat a banana with dulce de leche for dessert again. I will be bringing tubs and tubs of it home to share. Mercedes also told me about the delicious wine that Argentina has to offer...and now the gears in my head are spinning. I would love to go wine tasting or something sophisticated like that. Who knows? Maybe I will be shipping a bottle or two back to the states...unfortunately, I won't be able to take it home on the plane because I am still underage. But if it is as delicious as they say I will for sure be finding a way to have it when I return to America.
Still searching for my Argentinian husband...they are such beautiful, passionate, decisive men here...it's a beautiful thing!!! Don't worry...if I get engaged I'll invite you all to the wedding!!! Haha.
I'm going to bed early tonight so I can be awake and energized for an exciting day in El Tigre.
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