OVNI's.

Well, word on the streets is that alien life forms have appeared here in Argentina. They are called OVNIs (objetos vueltos non identificadas). Or to us Americans, UFOs. Last night when watching the news with Jorge they were showing the pictures of said OVNIs and I have to say that it basically looks like an airplane...I'm pretty sure I won't be experiencing an alien invasion any time soon. I tried to explain about Area 51, but they didn't really understand what I said. Anyway, this stuff has been all over the newspapers and television shows today. How funny.

Last night, the twins, Manuel, and their dad joined us for dinner. It's fun when they come around because they are so young and funny! Raquel doesn't even look remotely Latino...she has light brown hair, ivory skin, and big blue eyes. I think it is kind of funny. A lot of people down here are very light and have light brown, red, or even blonde hair. We played with play-dough for a while. Also, Manuel had his dad make some weird concoction...it's 2 egg whites, cream, and sugar all whipped together and eaten...just like that. I forget the name, but I guess a lot of people eat it down here. I wonder how their aren't salmonella outbreaks all over the place.

I passed the embassy of Norway today on the way to the subway. I also got to try out my new sube pass...at first I didn't understand how it works and I tried to do feed it to the machine like I did with the disposable cards. Unfortunately, that made me look like a total idiot. So, I thought I would wait for someone to come along and use they sube pass, but no one came along (just my luck considering it was rush hour.) Thankfully, a police officer showed it to me...you just have to hold it over the reader and it reads it! Just like that! So easy!


I went to class and arrived just on time. During the break I found the coffee shop inside the university...thank god, because now coffee is just a few seconds away as opposed to a block down the street. I felt like we had to wait forever for lunch...she finally let us go around 1:40. A group of us girls walked into a resturaunt...what a mistake. I knew that in Latin America sitting down takes a while, but I figured that some places would be quite quick. I was wrong...no matter where you go, if you sit down, expect to be there at least an hour. I didn't even get to properly eat my meal because by the time it got there we were already late for class!!! The few bites I did have weren't good anyway...I ordered a salad, but here salads don't have lettuce. Instead it had shredded carrots, boiled eggs, chicken, beets, and some pickled thing. I want to barf just thinking about it...no joke. Note to self: stick with empanadas. However, some kids were eating chorizipan which smelled quite appetizing...so I'd like to try that. It's a sausage sandwich.

When class got out I went with some of my friends to the Museo Nacional de Bella Arte. It's the Latin American Art Museum. It's free on Wednesdays. We walked a ways through Palermo...it is such a beautiful barrio. The art was very interesting...much of it is abstract. I think that I could understand and appreciate more if I understood the context and knew more about the history. It was an experience all the same. I also enjoyed seeing another part of Buenos Aires and getting to know people better. I feel that it is especially hard for me to make friends in the program because everyone has roommates or lives in the same building. I am the only one in this area of Belgrano and I don't have a roommate. So this was a good change to find my footing with some people. After that, we walked to the subte and rode home.

After I arrived home, I chatted a little bit with Jorge. He told me that I am a quick learner and already my Spanish is getting better...what a relief! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how much I need to learn! I decided to stay in Intermediate 1. I talked with the teacher and she said she thinks that I should stay in her class. I notice that 5 hours a day is a great way to learn Spanish, because you are practicing the same thing over and over until it becomes second nature. She said that between Intermediate I and II I should learn a lot. She also explained that the Advanced class is really just Intermediate I and II squished into one session...so this is a slower way to learn things and this way they will stick. She also said that the reason people have such a hard time with grammar is because we learn it all in one semester...some of it in one class. This way we have a lot of time each day to devote to taking our time and learning it until it is literally branded in our brains. I think that it will be a good thing.

For dinner we had roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. The usual banana con dulce de leche for dessert. I am talking more with my family...which I think is a nice thing. Tomorrow is laundry day already!!! My body is extremely tired from all the walking and exploring...I am probably going to go to bed soon...I especially need my rest because Thursday is Tango Day!!! :)

Can't wait to fill you in on my first tango lesson of the program...hopefully, I don't make a fool of myself. Take care everyone, and watch out for those OVNI's.