So I didn't even know but I have been done with class!!!!! I don't even have class to go to for my biology class. I found that out when I thought I was running late for class today and no one was there. I was like "What the heck?" Well I didn't go to the last class, which was two Mondays ago because my parents were here and I decided to ditch. lol. And last week was 'feriado,' a holiday for Argentina. So...this is weird and very exciting. But kinda sucky because I was hoping to not spend money, which I still plan on doing, but it's a bit more difficult when I have nothing really do to officially. I need to sit down and figure out what to do with all this free time...hmmm...I guess I will do that now! I mean I have nothing else to do...haha
1. Go to Olivos, the neighborhood right next to mine, to explore.
2. Go to the Rio to drink mate. With or without company.
3. Read.
4. Write in my very blank journal
5. Stop buying things so I can go crazy when Max comes.
6. Take pictures all over the city, so pretty much look like the ultimate tourist.
7. Stare at the wall.
8. Cook something. (Chocolate Chip Cookies??)
9. Dance the tango.
10. Figure out how to do the male part for tango. ahhhh. (It's because I want to teach when I get back...it's good to by dynamic)
11. Dance in general.
12. Stare at the ceiling.
13. Watch Desperate Housewives!!!!!! (It's a new obsession)
14. Draw in my blank journal.
15. See if my stuff will actually fit in my suitcases to bring home. (Ojalá que sí)
Well I'm pretty satisfied. I found 15 things that don't cost money to do in my spare time. The best ones are probably 7 and 12. Mhmmmm.
I dunno. I think it's pretty interesting that everyone has pretty much left. I don't know what to think. We're getting all new meat at Belgrano haha. They're going to have a good semester. I know I have! I feel that I'm so different. Is it because I've been in a different place? Was I just different here because of that and then I'll be the same when I get back? Or did Argentina really change me? I guess I shouldn't worry about it, but either way it will be interesting to see happens.
besos,
Julia
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's been a while.
This past month has been intensely busy for me which is a poor excuse for not writing. Anyway, I have now officially been here for 4 months and nearly 2 weeks. My family came to visit me for two weeks and left last Tuesday. We had sooooo much fun together. When they first came we went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant in my neighborhood called Vicente Lopez. It's a restaurant and a confiteria (a confiteria is a bakery filled with croissants, pastries, and little pastries called masas). Unfortunately they just tried the restaurant even though the desserts alone at Vicente Lopez are enough to make you die of happiness. You can then imagine though how good the food is. That night my dad tried his first Argentine steak, an ojo de bife (ribeye steak). Okay... is this my ADD. Sorry. Well I am going to discuss this (as in me eating more red meat in the last 4 months than I have in one lifetime) a little bit more.
I have been trying to discover what I want to order when I get a steak here because I barely know what I like in terms of steak in the states in regards to all the options of how to cook it and which cut I like. I know nothing, which is embarrasing since I worked at a freaking steakhouse for 2 years. very sad. Well, I have enjoyed my meat-eating here in the sense that no matter what you order it's good, there are only a few options in which to choose (ojo de bife, bife de chorizo, bife de lomo), and only two ways of ordering a steak as opposed to like 5 (rare, med. rare, medium, medium well, and well...gives me a headache even thinking about it versus jugoso or rare o cocido or done). Well now I know I love red meat. Well at least in Argentina. I rarely eat it in the states and now I'm afraid to invest in it because I probably will be very disappointed (plus it's really expensive in the states!)
Now, onto the rest of the trip. We took a city tour the next day and went to see La Boca, Recoleta, and somewhere else. It was a great tour. I was glad I went because I got to see the city all over again. The reality is that Buenos Aires is so big that it's mind-boggling. It's unexplainable just how big it is. Just come here someday. It is a well worth it.
That night we ate at Cabrera and the food was AMAZING. My sister and I shared chicken stuffed w/ sundried tomatoes and cheese. Not only was the portion ridiculously large, but it was the most tender, juicy chicken ever. (Dang. I'm really sorry if vegetarians are reading this. I'll stop soon).
Now I'm just going to summarize. We went to an overpriced tango show (though it was nice) and just explored 9 de Julio (the sixteen lane street. I believe it's the widest in the world). Then my parents and sis went to Iguazu falls and saw these crazy animals attack a woman w/ a banana in a plastic sack. Then they came home and a few days later my sis and I went to Cordoba to visit Ivi. It was super relaxing and very much needed because I had so many exams to write and study for. With Ivi we talked and talked. drank yerba mate, went clubbing, ate an asado, watched a good but sad movie (The Boy with the Striped Pajamas), ate lomitos (sandwiches w/ tenderloin, tomatoes, lettuce, egg, mayo, peppers...anyway you get the point). It was soo worthwhile and jess and I had succcch a great time.
For the past couple of days I have been finishing up my Latin American studies classes (I have my Tango paper to finish and that's that!), which means that I only have one class to study for for the rest of my time in Argentina. The better news is that my final exam is on July 13, meaning that 4 days after Max arrives, I am officially DONE with eleven days to do whatever I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!! Super super exciting. Then I (sadly) go home to CO, but it's not really that bad because I get a month more of summer before starting a new year at Cornell.
At the four month mark, I feel like I have learned so much Spanish. I feel equipped with a tool that I will be able to use the rest of my life, my personal, career, and private life. I also like that I can communicate in nearly all settings. I pretty much feel very good about coming here, especially because I began college resigned that I would never study abroad because I'm a pre-med student. Well for those of you out there in the same position, do not limit yourself like I almost did. Ya...I'm behind by a year for my studies, but I planned on taking a year off anyway. What is one year behind with all the great memories and experiences I've had here?
Also, this has been a growing experience for me. I have learned more about myself than I ever thought I could. I've learned the following:
1. Always be there for friends and family
2. Distance can separate people but it doesn't have to
3. I'm not in control of making everyone happy and I am learning to be okay with that
4. Not everyone likes me, and sometimes it's not worth it to try to get them to like me
5. I can still respect people who don't like me but I don't have to be fake around them
6. I try to find the best in people
7. I can be friends with all sorts of people, which means I learn from all of them.
8. I can be/need to be honest with myself so that I can be honest with others
9. Love can get deeper in the wierdest of circumstances (This is directed towards my wonderful, supportive, and loving boyfriend)
10. Smile at everyone
11. Trust people but be street smart
12. Don't take coins for granted when survival depends on them haha
13. Listen to people and the impression you give off. Learn from it but don't change who you fundamentally are because of it.
14. Therapy is good and necessary whether official or unofficial
15. Music is beautiful.
16. My experiences are different from other people's experiences
17. I have never been more humbled here.
These are a drop of water of an ocean of my own learning. As I read the list above, I laugh that I had to take a step back and realize this stuff since a lot of it is common sense. But at the same time, it's easy to take for granted the simplest stuff, so I won't be too hard on myself. Well this has been long enough. Sorry to make your eyes tired.
Les mando mil besos,
Julia
I have been trying to discover what I want to order when I get a steak here because I barely know what I like in terms of steak in the states in regards to all the options of how to cook it and which cut I like. I know nothing, which is embarrasing since I worked at a freaking steakhouse for 2 years. very sad. Well, I have enjoyed my meat-eating here in the sense that no matter what you order it's good, there are only a few options in which to choose (ojo de bife, bife de chorizo, bife de lomo), and only two ways of ordering a steak as opposed to like 5 (rare, med. rare, medium, medium well, and well...gives me a headache even thinking about it versus jugoso or rare o cocido or done). Well now I know I love red meat. Well at least in Argentina. I rarely eat it in the states and now I'm afraid to invest in it because I probably will be very disappointed (plus it's really expensive in the states!)
Now, onto the rest of the trip. We took a city tour the next day and went to see La Boca, Recoleta, and somewhere else. It was a great tour. I was glad I went because I got to see the city all over again. The reality is that Buenos Aires is so big that it's mind-boggling. It's unexplainable just how big it is. Just come here someday. It is a well worth it.
That night we ate at Cabrera and the food was AMAZING. My sister and I shared chicken stuffed w/ sundried tomatoes and cheese. Not only was the portion ridiculously large, but it was the most tender, juicy chicken ever. (Dang. I'm really sorry if vegetarians are reading this. I'll stop soon).
Now I'm just going to summarize. We went to an overpriced tango show (though it was nice) and just explored 9 de Julio (the sixteen lane street. I believe it's the widest in the world). Then my parents and sis went to Iguazu falls and saw these crazy animals attack a woman w/ a banana in a plastic sack. Then they came home and a few days later my sis and I went to Cordoba to visit Ivi. It was super relaxing and very much needed because I had so many exams to write and study for. With Ivi we talked and talked. drank yerba mate, went clubbing, ate an asado, watched a good but sad movie (The Boy with the Striped Pajamas), ate lomitos (sandwiches w/ tenderloin, tomatoes, lettuce, egg, mayo, peppers...anyway you get the point). It was soo worthwhile and jess and I had succcch a great time.
For the past couple of days I have been finishing up my Latin American studies classes (I have my Tango paper to finish and that's that!), which means that I only have one class to study for for the rest of my time in Argentina. The better news is that my final exam is on July 13, meaning that 4 days after Max arrives, I am officially DONE with eleven days to do whatever I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!! Super super exciting. Then I (sadly) go home to CO, but it's not really that bad because I get a month more of summer before starting a new year at Cornell.
At the four month mark, I feel like I have learned so much Spanish. I feel equipped with a tool that I will be able to use the rest of my life, my personal, career, and private life. I also like that I can communicate in nearly all settings. I pretty much feel very good about coming here, especially because I began college resigned that I would never study abroad because I'm a pre-med student. Well for those of you out there in the same position, do not limit yourself like I almost did. Ya...I'm behind by a year for my studies, but I planned on taking a year off anyway. What is one year behind with all the great memories and experiences I've had here?
Also, this has been a growing experience for me. I have learned more about myself than I ever thought I could. I've learned the following:
1. Always be there for friends and family
2. Distance can separate people but it doesn't have to
3. I'm not in control of making everyone happy and I am learning to be okay with that
4. Not everyone likes me, and sometimes it's not worth it to try to get them to like me
5. I can still respect people who don't like me but I don't have to be fake around them
6. I try to find the best in people
7. I can be friends with all sorts of people, which means I learn from all of them.
8. I can be/need to be honest with myself so that I can be honest with others
9. Love can get deeper in the wierdest of circumstances (This is directed towards my wonderful, supportive, and loving boyfriend)
10. Smile at everyone
11. Trust people but be street smart
12. Don't take coins for granted when survival depends on them haha
13. Listen to people and the impression you give off. Learn from it but don't change who you fundamentally are because of it.
14. Therapy is good and necessary whether official or unofficial
15. Music is beautiful.
16. My experiences are different from other people's experiences
17. I have never been more humbled here.
These are a drop of water of an ocean of my own learning. As I read the list above, I laugh that I had to take a step back and realize this stuff since a lot of it is common sense. But at the same time, it's easy to take for granted the simplest stuff, so I won't be too hard on myself. Well this has been long enough. Sorry to make your eyes tired.
Les mando mil besos,
Julia
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Getting a Student Visa
So today I went to finally get my student visa. I left really early because I usually always get lost so I need time to figure out where the heck I am and how to get where I need to go. This is what I love about studying abroad. I talk to random people and make awesome connections. Period. I was walking towards this yellow high-rise building because my friend said I couldn't miss it once I was at Retiro. Well it ends up that is not the Migrations building lol. This is where my story comes in. This one woman stopped me and asked me where migrations is and I was like "ni idea porque necesito encontrarlo también" (I have no idea because I need to find it too) and then I said "si querés podemos caminar juntos para encontrarlo" (if you want we can walk together to try to find it). So we ended up walking together and I found out that she's Uruguyan w/ 4 kids, two of which were with her (twin boys!) and that she's been living in Argentina for 5 years.
So we get there and it's just like this big warehouse looking thing with numbers/chairs/computers all scattered with little direction as to where I should have started. So I just asked around and found the registration table. I was kinda surprised because there were supposed to be 10-15 CEA kids there and I didn't recognize anyone. Well, I asked the registration table what I needed to do since I had an appointment (fyi this means something different than what I imagined). She said just sit and wait until 2:00. So all of the sudden, I saw a mad rush of people flock towards the registration table without hearing what they announced since I had my Ipod on. Well I, the sheep I am, flock after I see everyone else flock to sit in a line to get a number. I guess an appointment here means first come first serve stand in line to get the final order, not so much a one-on-one appt that I was anticipating.
After getting a number, you go to another area and wait for it to be called. I realized that if you don't react instantly to the number that flashes, they skip your number and you are screwed, so I'm like sitting on the edge of my chair, ready to pounce.
So as I'm talking to the guy when my turn finally comes around, I'm surprised to see him like all over his must-be girlfriend, like grabbing her hips and kissing her on the job in front of me. At one point he started eating a granola bar in front of my face and I was like what the heck! Well it turned out that at that point I had to go to a caja (a box) to pay. He looked at me and was like "what are you still doing here? you gotta go to the box to pay." I prolly looked so confused. Well anyway, I loved my little student visa adventure even though it's not over yet. I was told to come back in 20 days to "confirmar" everything, whatever that means.
Well, this is my anecdote for the day, but I really am going to write more often because I do enjoy it.
Besitos,
Julieta
So we get there and it's just like this big warehouse looking thing with numbers/chairs/computers all scattered with little direction as to where I should have started. So I just asked around and found the registration table. I was kinda surprised because there were supposed to be 10-15 CEA kids there and I didn't recognize anyone. Well, I asked the registration table what I needed to do since I had an appointment (fyi this means something different than what I imagined). She said just sit and wait until 2:00. So all of the sudden, I saw a mad rush of people flock towards the registration table without hearing what they announced since I had my Ipod on. Well I, the sheep I am, flock after I see everyone else flock to sit in a line to get a number. I guess an appointment here means first come first serve stand in line to get the final order, not so much a one-on-one appt that I was anticipating.
After getting a number, you go to another area and wait for it to be called. I realized that if you don't react instantly to the number that flashes, they skip your number and you are screwed, so I'm like sitting on the edge of my chair, ready to pounce.
So as I'm talking to the guy when my turn finally comes around, I'm surprised to see him like all over his must-be girlfriend, like grabbing her hips and kissing her on the job in front of me. At one point he started eating a granola bar in front of my face and I was like what the heck! Well it turned out that at that point I had to go to a caja (a box) to pay. He looked at me and was like "what are you still doing here? you gotta go to the box to pay." I prolly looked so confused. Well anyway, I loved my little student visa adventure even though it's not over yet. I was told to come back in 20 days to "confirmar" everything, whatever that means.
Well, this is my anecdote for the day, but I really am going to write more often because I do enjoy it.
Besitos,
Julieta
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Córdoba and Catamarca!!!
Hey all!
I just got back this morning from Catamarca to visit Ivi and her family. Ivi is my REALLY good friend from high school when I was a sophomore when she studied abroad. I decided to go really last minute and had to miss most of my classes this week but it really was totally worth it. Anyway, I went to Córdoba first to meet Ivi and then on Friday we went to Catamarca together. When I saw her I was sooo stoked!! We hugged a bunch and it was just amazing! I arrived early in the morning and we took a taxi to her apartment. It's really awesome. She lives alone in a two- bedroom apartment with a lovely kitchen, and a huge patio. I took some photos so I will upload them to facebook. We had a great morning, we had mate on the patio and talked all morning. Later, we went out for a walk and to eat lomito sandwiches, which are the best in Córdoba, so I had to try them. Sooooo good. We tried the vegetarian one with eggplant and the regular one. I was so full after that. That night we meant to go out clubbing but before we went we decided to take a nap. Well...we never really woke up lol. It's cool though because I got a lot of needed beauty sleep. On Friday, we just hung out again and took a walk. Before our trip to Catamarca at midnight, we decided to get a beer hehe ; ) We shared two bottles of Stella, the beer that beer haters love. I definitely realized how amazing Córdoba is and how I have to go back. Our bus trip was great. I fell asleep and pretty much stayed asleep the whole time. Nine hours later, I was in Catamarca!
We then took a taxi together to her house (It was only 6:00 am). Her house is gorgeous! She has a pool in the backyard, a hammock, ect. Unfortunately I meant to take pictures but I didn't. So we watched TV and went to sleep. I met her family when we went to my first Argentine asado (Barbeque…it was seriously the best barbeque I have ever had in my entire life). There is Ivi’s father, Carlos, Ivi’s mother (I don’t know her name bleh), Juan Agustín, the 17 year old brother, and Matias, the 7 year old brother. There was steak, ribs, and sausage but it's really nothing like anything I have ever tried, so don't imagine what it's like...just come here someday and try it ; ) Also, I got to try this great regional wine that was so smooth and velvety, a perfect addition to my asado.
The next day, we went to el Rodeo, a beautiful scenic drive through the mountains. I took so many photos, so you'll be able to see what I am talking about. One fun thing was this little aqueduct that looked like the water would flow up the mountain, but when we tested it, the water went the opposite way I thought. We ate lunch at this nice restaurant and I ordered Pollo con Salsa Marsala (Chicken Marsala). It was super yummy, and the chicken was just so much better quality than I usually eat in the States.
I also got to try Alfajores Cordobeses after dinner one night (Alfajores are cookies filled with Dulce de Leche in the middle...they are yummy). Alfajores are very regional, so the ones from Córdoba have a sugar-type coating on the outside of the cookie part.
On Monday night, there was a party for Arcor, the company that Ivi's dad works for commemorating their achieved goals last year. It was really fun and the food was good too. I ended up dancing which was a super fun.
Yesterday, before I left, we decided to make brownies, so I grilled my brain about what we needed to make them and they turned out to be great!! Also, Ivi's mom just happened to make plum preserves, so we had homemade brownies with plum sauce.
Well this is definitely not everything but it’s some highlights of my trip!
Chau,
Julia
I just got back this morning from Catamarca to visit Ivi and her family. Ivi is my REALLY good friend from high school when I was a sophomore when she studied abroad. I decided to go really last minute and had to miss most of my classes this week but it really was totally worth it. Anyway, I went to Córdoba first to meet Ivi and then on Friday we went to Catamarca together. When I saw her I was sooo stoked!! We hugged a bunch and it was just amazing! I arrived early in the morning and we took a taxi to her apartment. It's really awesome. She lives alone in a two- bedroom apartment with a lovely kitchen, and a huge patio. I took some photos so I will upload them to facebook. We had a great morning, we had mate on the patio and talked all morning. Later, we went out for a walk and to eat lomito sandwiches, which are the best in Córdoba, so I had to try them. Sooooo good. We tried the vegetarian one with eggplant and the regular one. I was so full after that. That night we meant to go out clubbing but before we went we decided to take a nap. Well...we never really woke up lol. It's cool though because I got a lot of needed beauty sleep. On Friday, we just hung out again and took a walk. Before our trip to Catamarca at midnight, we decided to get a beer hehe ; ) We shared two bottles of Stella, the beer that beer haters love. I definitely realized how amazing Córdoba is and how I have to go back. Our bus trip was great. I fell asleep and pretty much stayed asleep the whole time. Nine hours later, I was in Catamarca!
We then took a taxi together to her house (It was only 6:00 am). Her house is gorgeous! She has a pool in the backyard, a hammock, ect. Unfortunately I meant to take pictures but I didn't. So we watched TV and went to sleep. I met her family when we went to my first Argentine asado (Barbeque…it was seriously the best barbeque I have ever had in my entire life). There is Ivi’s father, Carlos, Ivi’s mother (I don’t know her name bleh), Juan Agustín, the 17 year old brother, and Matias, the 7 year old brother. There was steak, ribs, and sausage but it's really nothing like anything I have ever tried, so don't imagine what it's like...just come here someday and try it ; ) Also, I got to try this great regional wine that was so smooth and velvety, a perfect addition to my asado.
The next day, we went to el Rodeo, a beautiful scenic drive through the mountains. I took so many photos, so you'll be able to see what I am talking about. One fun thing was this little aqueduct that looked like the water would flow up the mountain, but when we tested it, the water went the opposite way I thought. We ate lunch at this nice restaurant and I ordered Pollo con Salsa Marsala (Chicken Marsala). It was super yummy, and the chicken was just so much better quality than I usually eat in the States.
I also got to try Alfajores Cordobeses after dinner one night (Alfajores are cookies filled with Dulce de Leche in the middle...they are yummy). Alfajores are very regional, so the ones from Córdoba have a sugar-type coating on the outside of the cookie part.
On Monday night, there was a party for Arcor, the company that Ivi's dad works for commemorating their achieved goals last year. It was really fun and the food was good too. I ended up dancing which was a super fun.
Yesterday, before I left, we decided to make brownies, so I grilled my brain about what we needed to make them and they turned out to be great!! Also, Ivi's mom just happened to make plum preserves, so we had homemade brownies with plum sauce.
Well this is definitely not everything but it’s some highlights of my trip!
Chau,
Julia
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Last Few Weeks
Hey,
So I´m going to try to go in order but I may not. tehehe. So the first thing I can think of is talking about Tigre. It was very beautiful even though it was lightly raining during our boat ride in a catamaran. It´s only a train ride away from Buenos Aires, and is well worth the time to visit. I got a smoothie before we left on the boat and later we went to Puerto de Frutos where there was a nice open-air market. I bought my first mate pronounced (Mah-tay) for yerba mate, my new addiction! I also bought a CD with tango music that was only $25 pesos.
Then, that week, one interesting thing was stepping in cat vomit one day that I woke up. It was gross but pretty funny at the same time. Also, Marcela´s birthday party was on Monday, Feb. 24 and I bought her a bouquet of flowers which she ended up really liking. I really am loving soaking up the culture here, and I realize how important family and friends are. I don´t take you all at home for granted.
On Thursday, I had my exam which I felt pretty good about. Often, that´s not a good feeling to have because usually that means you messed up royally. Anyway, that didn´t happen to me luckily because I got a 9! That´s a really good grade here in Argentina. Also, on Thursday, I signed up for the classes I am taking this semester. Here they are:
1. Tango Danza
2. Tango Teoria
3. Los sistemas politicos latinoamericanos comparados
4. La literatura argentina y latinoamericana
5. La base biologica del comportamiento
6. Arte argentina contemporanea
and maybe
7. Psicologia educacional
The best part is that I only have class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!!! That will be nice when my parents/sister and possibly my boy visits me.
Anyway, I now am in Mendoza. Today is Tuesday, so I have one more night here at the hostel. So far, we have done a lot of fun things! The first day, we explored the city a bit and found out that there was a wine tasting in the city that night. We got cafe, and then went to dinner (I got a delicious steak, wine, and a peach daquiri). For $20 pesos, we got to try 8 glasses of wine...soo good! I marked down all the ones I liked which was fun. I really only drank 6 of the 8 to not get drunk haha.
The next day, we took a long hike to see the large monument dedicated to San Martin, the character in Argentine history that liberated Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay I think. It was very beautiful and I took a lot of photos. I realized that day how out of shape I am...so I think I will work on that. We then made Chorizo sandwiches with peppers and onions, a good way to end the night.
Yesterday, we went on a tour on bike to check out some vineyards in the Lujan region of Mendoza. I was expecting to ride in the countryside and just have a very chill day. It turned out that we had to ride our bikes on the road with busy traffic (without helmets), which freaked me out a definite few times. Though overall it was a great way to do a tour of 4 to 5 vineyards. I ended up bringing my backpack in case I wanted to buy any bottles, so I bought a rose, a malbec and regular, nonalcoholic grape juice. Man, did the bikeriding get much harder after that. jaja.
Today, we are pretty much taking it easy. Tonight at the hostel there is a BBQ which includes alcohol so that should be fun. I am getting excited for Mar del Plata too which will be here in a few days. Woot woot. Hopefully the trip back to BsAs wont seem too long.
Un beso,
Julieta
So I´m going to try to go in order but I may not. tehehe. So the first thing I can think of is talking about Tigre. It was very beautiful even though it was lightly raining during our boat ride in a catamaran. It´s only a train ride away from Buenos Aires, and is well worth the time to visit. I got a smoothie before we left on the boat and later we went to Puerto de Frutos where there was a nice open-air market. I bought my first mate pronounced (Mah-tay) for yerba mate, my new addiction! I also bought a CD with tango music that was only $25 pesos.
Then, that week, one interesting thing was stepping in cat vomit one day that I woke up. It was gross but pretty funny at the same time. Also, Marcela´s birthday party was on Monday, Feb. 24 and I bought her a bouquet of flowers which she ended up really liking. I really am loving soaking up the culture here, and I realize how important family and friends are. I don´t take you all at home for granted.
On Thursday, I had my exam which I felt pretty good about. Often, that´s not a good feeling to have because usually that means you messed up royally. Anyway, that didn´t happen to me luckily because I got a 9! That´s a really good grade here in Argentina. Also, on Thursday, I signed up for the classes I am taking this semester. Here they are:
1. Tango Danza
2. Tango Teoria
3. Los sistemas politicos latinoamericanos comparados
4. La literatura argentina y latinoamericana
5. La base biologica del comportamiento
6. Arte argentina contemporanea
and maybe
7. Psicologia educacional
The best part is that I only have class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!!! That will be nice when my parents/sister and possibly my boy visits me.
Anyway, I now am in Mendoza. Today is Tuesday, so I have one more night here at the hostel. So far, we have done a lot of fun things! The first day, we explored the city a bit and found out that there was a wine tasting in the city that night. We got cafe, and then went to dinner (I got a delicious steak, wine, and a peach daquiri). For $20 pesos, we got to try 8 glasses of wine...soo good! I marked down all the ones I liked which was fun. I really only drank 6 of the 8 to not get drunk haha.
The next day, we took a long hike to see the large monument dedicated to San Martin, the character in Argentine history that liberated Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay I think. It was very beautiful and I took a lot of photos. I realized that day how out of shape I am...so I think I will work on that. We then made Chorizo sandwiches with peppers and onions, a good way to end the night.
Yesterday, we went on a tour on bike to check out some vineyards in the Lujan region of Mendoza. I was expecting to ride in the countryside and just have a very chill day. It turned out that we had to ride our bikes on the road with busy traffic (without helmets), which freaked me out a definite few times. Though overall it was a great way to do a tour of 4 to 5 vineyards. I ended up bringing my backpack in case I wanted to buy any bottles, so I bought a rose, a malbec and regular, nonalcoholic grape juice. Man, did the bikeriding get much harder after that. jaja.
Today, we are pretty much taking it easy. Tonight at the hostel there is a BBQ which includes alcohol so that should be fun. I am getting excited for Mar del Plata too which will be here in a few days. Woot woot. Hopefully the trip back to BsAs wont seem too long.
Un beso,
Julieta
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Lluvia ("you viahh" normally but "shoe viahh" in Buenos Aires)
Okay so I'm updating my blog once again.
Today, we are going to Tigre!!!!!!! I'm super stoked!! And then tonight we're going to a boliche (a club) called Asia de Cuba to eat and then dance allll night til 4-5 am or later (earlier?). Should be fun! I don't know what to wear, but no worries.
The first thing on my mind is the 15 mosquito bites on my legs and ankles. Last night I couldn't sleep for like 3 hours because they itched so much, so I decided I had three options.
1. Wake up Marcela and ask if she had any cream to make the itching go away
2. Suck it up
3. Look online to see if I can find something that I already own to make the itching go away.
I chose three because I didn't want to wake Marcela up (even though I'm sure she wouldn't mind), I wanted to sleep, and I didn't want to itch anymore. So this is gonna sound crazy but I found a website of alternative medicine for mosquito bites, which suggested putting toothpaste on the bites...something about the Fluoride? Anyway, I put a ton of toothpaste all over each bite and then covered the bites with tape, so I didn't ruin any sheets or anything. Well, in the end, IT WORKED!! So now you know that if you don't have anti-itch cream, toothpaste works just fine.
Yesterday was the UB orientation, which was pretty interesting. I am definitely excited for the porteños (people from Buenos Aires) to come back to school when the semester officially starts. Then I can make more friends and be more immersed in the culture. It was great that we had the orientation because when class got out, it was pouring outside, but by the time we were through, it stopped raining. It really stinks because I have a really nice raincoat but I never know it's going to rain, so I never have it. After school, I was debating whether I should go shopping or not. There are really good sales and I need to buy some shorts, but I'm also trying to save money for my upcoming trips. So I ended up just getting a manicure since my nails were looking disastrous. It was my first french manicure and it's lovely...and cheap! I only paid $20 pesos ($5.71 USD) and it looks great. Then last night, Annelise and I went out for her to eat something and I got a smoothie. Mmmm the smoothies here are sooooo good!
The day before was really weird. There was a bomb threat at the University of Belgrano, but it was a false alarm in the end (Don't worry....this is not typical). We evacuated the school and waited around, but since my class was ending anyway, I went back home. Luckily my friend Shary picked up my backpack later since I left it in the classroom during lunch. To make really no story short, nothing happened but I was glad that the University took it seriously.
Well those are pretty much the highlights of my week! I hope you laughed at the toothpaste part ; )
Con amor,
Julieta
Today, we are going to Tigre!!!!!!! I'm super stoked!! And then tonight we're going to a boliche (a club) called Asia de Cuba to eat and then dance allll night til 4-5 am or later (earlier?). Should be fun! I don't know what to wear, but no worries.
The first thing on my mind is the 15 mosquito bites on my legs and ankles. Last night I couldn't sleep for like 3 hours because they itched so much, so I decided I had three options.
1. Wake up Marcela and ask if she had any cream to make the itching go away
2. Suck it up
3. Look online to see if I can find something that I already own to make the itching go away.
I chose three because I didn't want to wake Marcela up (even though I'm sure she wouldn't mind), I wanted to sleep, and I didn't want to itch anymore. So this is gonna sound crazy but I found a website of alternative medicine for mosquito bites, which suggested putting toothpaste on the bites...something about the Fluoride? Anyway, I put a ton of toothpaste all over each bite and then covered the bites with tape, so I didn't ruin any sheets or anything. Well, in the end, IT WORKED!! So now you know that if you don't have anti-itch cream, toothpaste works just fine.
Yesterday was the UB orientation, which was pretty interesting. I am definitely excited for the porteños (people from Buenos Aires) to come back to school when the semester officially starts. Then I can make more friends and be more immersed in the culture. It was great that we had the orientation because when class got out, it was pouring outside, but by the time we were through, it stopped raining. It really stinks because I have a really nice raincoat but I never know it's going to rain, so I never have it. After school, I was debating whether I should go shopping or not. There are really good sales and I need to buy some shorts, but I'm also trying to save money for my upcoming trips. So I ended up just getting a manicure since my nails were looking disastrous. It was my first french manicure and it's lovely...and cheap! I only paid $20 pesos ($5.71 USD) and it looks great. Then last night, Annelise and I went out for her to eat something and I got a smoothie. Mmmm the smoothies here are sooooo good!
The day before was really weird. There was a bomb threat at the University of Belgrano, but it was a false alarm in the end (Don't worry....this is not typical). We evacuated the school and waited around, but since my class was ending anyway, I went back home. Luckily my friend Shary picked up my backpack later since I left it in the classroom during lunch. To make really no story short, nothing happened but I was glad that the University took it seriously.
Well those are pretty much the highlights of my week! I hope you laughed at the toothpaste part ; )
Con amor,
Julieta
Monday, February 16, 2009
El Lavado
¡HOLA! So today was a good/bad day. It was bad when I heard that Hugo Chavez (who I didn't have strong opinions about) got reelected, and not only did he get reelected, but he passed a referendum so that he can be in office for an unlimited amount of terms. Soo...needless to say, that's pretty bad because extremes are bad. But otherwise it was really a good day. The highlight that made me laugh a ton was when I called the Lavadería and I understood everything she was saying on the phone, except when she asked for my name and I thought she asked for my number. So the conversation pretty much went like this:
La Sra: ¿Y qué es el nombre? (And what's the name?)
Yo: ¿Mi numero? Bueno no sé exactamente...un momento, no recuerdo...ammm okay cuarenta veinte nueve...(pausa de más o menos 5 segundos) (My number? Well I don't no exactly, one moment I don't remember oh okay here it is 40 29...) There was a five second pause so she did think I was crazy.
La Sra (interrumpido): ¡No! ¿Qué es el NOMBRE? (No! What's your NAME??)
Yo: OHH! Ammm lo siento, es Julia. (Oh I'm sorry, it's Julia)
Anyway she prolly thought I was on crack because I said I didn't know my name. LOL. I almost peed my pants when I found out I did that. Soo embarassing.
Okay I hope you thought that was funny. If not sorry. I'm no comedian. Anyway, I went to the grocery store with Marcela to get sandwich meat for lunch this whole week. Mmmmmmmm and much cheaper. I got cured ham and something else plus cheese and bread. I also got Pringles (pronounced Preen gless) which is hilarious.
On Sunday I went to the Feria de San Telmo and I bought postcards and a cute little poster thing (but really small). I eventually want an Argentine flag (a big one) to put in my room when I go back to the states.
Last week...what did I do? Hmm I went out to lunch one day with friends, and really pretty much just went home after school.
Tomorrow I'm going to a Leather Factory which should be a blast. Hopefully I don't spend too much. Well that's all for now!!!!
Un besito,
Julieta (July)
La Sra: ¿Y qué es el nombre? (And what's the name?)
Yo: ¿Mi numero? Bueno no sé exactamente...un momento, no recuerdo...ammm okay cuarenta veinte nueve...(pausa de más o menos 5 segundos) (My number? Well I don't no exactly, one moment I don't remember oh okay here it is 40 29...) There was a five second pause so she did think I was crazy.
La Sra (interrumpido): ¡No! ¿Qué es el NOMBRE? (No! What's your NAME??)
Yo: OHH! Ammm lo siento, es Julia. (Oh I'm sorry, it's Julia)
Anyway she prolly thought I was on crack because I said I didn't know my name. LOL. I almost peed my pants when I found out I did that. Soo embarassing.
Okay I hope you thought that was funny. If not sorry. I'm no comedian. Anyway, I went to the grocery store with Marcela to get sandwich meat for lunch this whole week. Mmmmmmmm and much cheaper. I got cured ham and something else plus cheese and bread. I also got Pringles (pronounced Preen gless) which is hilarious.
On Sunday I went to the Feria de San Telmo and I bought postcards and a cute little poster thing (but really small). I eventually want an Argentine flag (a big one) to put in my room when I go back to the states.
Last week...what did I do? Hmm I went out to lunch one day with friends, and really pretty much just went home after school.
Tomorrow I'm going to a Leather Factory which should be a blast. Hopefully I don't spend too much. Well that's all for now!!!!
Un besito,
Julieta (July)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Unos dias pasados
Hey everyone! There's so much to tell! Okay I'll start the other day and just try to remember everything. On Friday, I was planning to go to the zoo with a few people but I didn't get in contact with them to go, but we're going on Monday so I'm really excited! Instead, I went to the top of the University of Belgrano and took many pictures of the view. It's really incredible! I then went with a few people to go check out Chinatown in Belgrano, the neighborhood where my school is. It was really fun, but a little difficult to order. For example, lo mein is fideos salteados (salty noodles), which I thought was funny. I then went to check out where the Hostel is where a bunch of students are living (CEA set it up so it's legit) so I know where to meet them. Later that night, I got a text message saying we were going out at 12 pm leaving from the Hostel. I got ready (I wore a black shirt, jeans, and earring) and took the bus to the Hostel. It took about an hour before we left to call and wait for all the taxis. The club (boliche) was really expensive! It was $25 pesos for each drink with turns out to be nearly $10 USD per drink! I was like "well I'll just not come here next time." I ended up ordering a Sex on the Beach and a Bellini. I think I liked the Bellini better mmmm. So I got my first taste of Argentine clubbing and was out til 6 am. hahaha. It was a blast to say the least. I took a taxi back to the Hostel and then caught the bus back home and slept til noon. I was sooo tired yesterday though. The city tour (yesterday) was at 2 pm, and that was one of the highlights of the trip so far. I got to see the entire city and all the neighborhoods. The tour was on a bus, so some of the pictures didn't work so well because there's reflections and stuff, but I'll take better pictures later ; ). We got to get off the bus and explore La Boca, the neighborhood with all the colored houses and everything. There is so much cool stuff there for sale! Something funny was taking a picture with this guy dressed in tango attire, which I ended up having to pay for. lol. I'm kinda stupid. But it is a cool picture! I'll put it as my display picture on facebook. Today, I slept in til 10 am, and ate breakfast (always the same...pan tostada, dulce de leche, manteca, y jugo de naranja...mmmmm). And later I plan to go out for lunch with Annalise and then go to the river (Rio) to tomar el sol (sunbathe). I also have some homework to do, like prepare a presentation about Evita Peron to the class for 5 minutes, do a take-home exam to see whether I learned this week, and read a story.
Those are the logistical things I did and now I'm going to explain the experience of learning a language in this environment and little observations about the general feel of BsAs.
My favorite thing is having long conversations with my host mom Marcela. She and I always end up talking about books, school, politics, friends, family. Pretty much anything is fair game which I really enjoy. For me it's a great way to practice, and I get immediate feedback.
Also, I take the bus (colectivo) to school which I actually enjoy doing. I go by myself with my purse in my lap just looking at all the different places on Avenida Cabildo. The people on the bus are so friendly, but as always, I have my eyes and ears open. One thing that struck me as so incredibly nice was this little old lady who was sitting in the frontmost seat told me to come close so I leaned in and she said she was leaving in one stop so I should be there to take her seat. I thought it was so cute and generous of her, but in reality, I'm not really surprised because Porteños are always so nice. Also, the other day, I stood up for my bus stop and I guess I looked confused because this girl rang the bell and said "Are you getting off here?" It was very sweet.
So I went shopping and got new shoes (I'll take a picture and put it on facebook). They're super cute and go with everything. I also got something cute for my sister that relates to Mexico, so I think she'll like it. It's hard to resist the shopping here because there are so many sales. I have to tell myself that I'll be here for 6 months, so I don't have to do all of my shopping all at once. Plus, I want to save my $$ for side trips and stuff.
So I love that I understand what everyone says to me in Spanish. It's pretty much an amazing sensation. I feel like my goal is to be able to speak well without having to think at all about the grammar and expressions consciously. That's why the advanced class is the right place for me. You don't know how happy I was to move into that class. I just think about it and realize that I'm in the right place in this chapter of my life. I love the city and the life here.
Te quiero much (TQM),
Julieta
Those are the logistical things I did and now I'm going to explain the experience of learning a language in this environment and little observations about the general feel of BsAs.
My favorite thing is having long conversations with my host mom Marcela. She and I always end up talking about books, school, politics, friends, family. Pretty much anything is fair game which I really enjoy. For me it's a great way to practice, and I get immediate feedback.
Also, I take the bus (colectivo) to school which I actually enjoy doing. I go by myself with my purse in my lap just looking at all the different places on Avenida Cabildo. The people on the bus are so friendly, but as always, I have my eyes and ears open. One thing that struck me as so incredibly nice was this little old lady who was sitting in the frontmost seat told me to come close so I leaned in and she said she was leaving in one stop so I should be there to take her seat. I thought it was so cute and generous of her, but in reality, I'm not really surprised because Porteños are always so nice. Also, the other day, I stood up for my bus stop and I guess I looked confused because this girl rang the bell and said "Are you getting off here?" It was very sweet.
So I went shopping and got new shoes (I'll take a picture and put it on facebook). They're super cute and go with everything. I also got something cute for my sister that relates to Mexico, so I think she'll like it. It's hard to resist the shopping here because there are so many sales. I have to tell myself that I'll be here for 6 months, so I don't have to do all of my shopping all at once. Plus, I want to save my $$ for side trips and stuff.
So I love that I understand what everyone says to me in Spanish. It's pretty much an amazing sensation. I feel like my goal is to be able to speak well without having to think at all about the grammar and expressions consciously. That's why the advanced class is the right place for me. You don't know how happy I was to move into that class. I just think about it and realize that I'm in the right place in this chapter of my life. I love the city and the life here.
Te quiero much (TQM),
Julieta
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Buenos Aires
So I haven't written much for the past few days, so here's a summary of what I've been up to
Monday
We had the placement exam and I placed in Intermedio 2. I wanted Avanzada but I didn't get it.
Tuesday
I went to class in the A.M. and then my profesora gave me the option to move up, so I went to Avanzada in the P.M. that day. I decided today to stay in avanzada.
Wednesday
I went to class, then for lunch I found a place that sells tarta (quiche). But I decided to go with some girls to an organic place for lunch. It was pretty expensive but really good! I don't know if I'll go back though...
Thursday
Here I am!
Okay sorry I know this is brief but I'm a busy girl with tarea (homework).
xxoo
Chau,
Julieta
Monday
We had the placement exam and I placed in Intermedio 2. I wanted Avanzada but I didn't get it.
Tuesday
I went to class in the A.M. and then my profesora gave me the option to move up, so I went to Avanzada in the P.M. that day. I decided today to stay in avanzada.
Wednesday
I went to class, then for lunch I found a place that sells tarta (quiche). But I decided to go with some girls to an organic place for lunch. It was pretty expensive but really good! I don't know if I'll go back though...
Thursday
Here I am!
Okay sorry I know this is brief but I'm a busy girl with tarea (homework).
xxoo
Chau,
Julieta
Saturday, January 31, 2009
La llegada
So I made it! The flight was long and my feet swelled, which was really painful. I decided that I LOVE traveling but I do not like the entire process. It's too long and uncomfortable haha. I had a 5 1/2 hour layover at JFK in NY which was pretty boring. I just tried to read a lot and do sudoku.
Anyway, let me fast forward to the actual arrival. When the plane landed, the agent for Delta was MIA which resulted in us practically being held hostage in the plane for about an hour; without the agent, the airport did not know which doors we were permitted to enter, so we couldn't get off the plane. Right about now I was really claustrophobic and just wanted to get out! The couple sitting next to me said that this would happen "only in Argentina" with resignation in their voices which was funny to me ; )
After we finally exited the plane, we were piled in three buses to go through customs and then get our luggage. I found my bags immediately, and was not stopped by customs after I got my luggage. The CEA sign was easy to find and Pamela one of the coordinators led us to a shuttle with a bunch more CEA students. Not gonna lie, my first impression of the girls was that they were catty, but then the girl I sat next to opened up to me. I was the second person to be dropped off at their homestay, so I wasn't nervous at all on the shuttle, but as soon as they told me that I needed to pay attention to where the girl lived that got dropped off first, I became really nervous.
I wonder if being in a homestay is going to be okay with hanging out with people. I'm sure everything will be fine, but so many people are in the residencia master that I wonder if it will be harder to make friends. But in actuality, I don't really care because I LOVE my host mom.
Okay, let me tell you about my family. Marcela and Mariana greeted me at the door and helped me bring my luggage inside and into the room where I would be staying. But before this, I got to meet Marcela's nieta (granddaughter) Renada who is 2 1/2 years old. She is soo precious, though it took her a while to warm up to me. But I told her that I have a gift (un regalito) for her. I gave her sidewalk chalk and she really liked it because later she was scribbling all over her board. Then, I went up the stairs which were really steep to climb with my heavy luggage. My room could not be more perfect. It is larger that I ever thought it would be (yay closet space!), and the best part is that I have a terrace connected directly to my room. I dropped off my bags and Marcela asked if I was hungry, so she made me an omlette with tomatoes and cheese, toast, and juice. Then later she made me my first (of many I'm sure) café. We talked and asked/answered questions about each other and then Dolores came back from the peluquería, where she got her hair permanently straightened. She had Renata's sister Caramela who is only 3 months old. It was fun to see her big eyes peer at everything, and they do this thing that makes the little one laugh : ).
I then went upstairs to take a shower and unpack completely. It felt good to shower after being on a plane so long. I took my time unpacking and writing in my journal. It was really laid back and nice. So far, I don't think there's been too many awkward moments but what do I know?
When I went downstairs, I gave Marcela her gift, a book of photos of North America and a card. She seemed to enjoy it and she helped me through some grammar issues I had in the carta (letter) that I gave her. Gosh...not taking Spanish for a year makes things a bit difficult but it's coming back to me. I figure that this is why I'm here...to learn. We then took Lila, the golden retriever, on a walk around San Vicente, the neighborhood where I live. Marcela treated me to helado (ice cream), and I ordered Tiramisu. Let me tell you that the Argentines know ice cream. Lila who was outside managed to bite through her leash completely which was hilarious! Marcela kept saying ¡qué verguënza Lila! (how embarrassing Lila). When we returned home, I asked if I could go to the cajero automático to get smaller bills, and we proceeded to take a tour of San Vicente Olivos, y el puerto olivo. The weather was just beautiful!
Okay I'm almost done. When we got home, Marcela made milanesa and vegetables. Milanesa is simply breaded meat and I really liked it. We ate and talked a little politics which was fun, and then we had tea and talked about everything really. It's been a memorable first day for me, and now I just will take it one day at a time.
¡Ciao!
Julieta
Anyway, let me fast forward to the actual arrival. When the plane landed, the agent for Delta was MIA which resulted in us practically being held hostage in the plane for about an hour; without the agent, the airport did not know which doors we were permitted to enter, so we couldn't get off the plane. Right about now I was really claustrophobic and just wanted to get out! The couple sitting next to me said that this would happen "only in Argentina" with resignation in their voices which was funny to me ; )
After we finally exited the plane, we were piled in three buses to go through customs and then get our luggage. I found my bags immediately, and was not stopped by customs after I got my luggage. The CEA sign was easy to find and Pamela one of the coordinators led us to a shuttle with a bunch more CEA students. Not gonna lie, my first impression of the girls was that they were catty, but then the girl I sat next to opened up to me. I was the second person to be dropped off at their homestay, so I wasn't nervous at all on the shuttle, but as soon as they told me that I needed to pay attention to where the girl lived that got dropped off first, I became really nervous.
I wonder if being in a homestay is going to be okay with hanging out with people. I'm sure everything will be fine, but so many people are in the residencia master that I wonder if it will be harder to make friends. But in actuality, I don't really care because I LOVE my host mom.
Okay, let me tell you about my family. Marcela and Mariana greeted me at the door and helped me bring my luggage inside and into the room where I would be staying. But before this, I got to meet Marcela's nieta (granddaughter) Renada who is 2 1/2 years old. She is soo precious, though it took her a while to warm up to me. But I told her that I have a gift (un regalito) for her. I gave her sidewalk chalk and she really liked it because later she was scribbling all over her board. Then, I went up the stairs which were really steep to climb with my heavy luggage. My room could not be more perfect. It is larger that I ever thought it would be (yay closet space!), and the best part is that I have a terrace connected directly to my room. I dropped off my bags and Marcela asked if I was hungry, so she made me an omlette with tomatoes and cheese, toast, and juice. Then later she made me my first (of many I'm sure) café. We talked and asked/answered questions about each other and then Dolores came back from the peluquería, where she got her hair permanently straightened. She had Renata's sister Caramela who is only 3 months old. It was fun to see her big eyes peer at everything, and they do this thing that makes the little one laugh : ).
I then went upstairs to take a shower and unpack completely. It felt good to shower after being on a plane so long. I took my time unpacking and writing in my journal. It was really laid back and nice. So far, I don't think there's been too many awkward moments but what do I know?
When I went downstairs, I gave Marcela her gift, a book of photos of North America and a card. She seemed to enjoy it and she helped me through some grammar issues I had in the carta (letter) that I gave her. Gosh...not taking Spanish for a year makes things a bit difficult but it's coming back to me. I figure that this is why I'm here...to learn. We then took Lila, the golden retriever, on a walk around San Vicente, the neighborhood where I live. Marcela treated me to helado (ice cream), and I ordered Tiramisu. Let me tell you that the Argentines know ice cream. Lila who was outside managed to bite through her leash completely which was hilarious! Marcela kept saying ¡qué verguënza Lila! (how embarrassing Lila). When we returned home, I asked if I could go to the cajero automático to get smaller bills, and we proceeded to take a tour of San Vicente Olivos, y el puerto olivo. The weather was just beautiful!
Okay I'm almost done. When we got home, Marcela made milanesa and vegetables. Milanesa is simply breaded meat and I really liked it. We ate and talked a little politics which was fun, and then we had tea and talked about everything really. It's been a memorable first day for me, and now I just will take it one day at a time.
¡Ciao!
Julieta
Thursday, January 29, 2009
My Pre-Departure Blog!
Hey everyone! So I was told by a cool person that I should write a pre-departure blog (ahem Jessica), so here I go. First of all I'M SOOO STOKED! Second of all, I'm really nervous too, but I think stoked wins this one. Just a warning before you get too excited about reading my silly blog...it's just that...it's going to be very random because I just write whatever I think about in that order (freewriting), so no complaining about how it's all over the place. I can't help it...
Anyway, I leave Denver tomorrow at 10:30 am and fly to NYC (JFK if you're interested). I then get to do sudokus and read until I fall over since I have a really long layover with no cell phone and no outside communication (5 1/2 hours! AHHH!) It's okay I'm used to it because I had a long layover when I went to Spain that was 5 hours (I had to beat my record this time around). I then have an 11 1/2 hour flight and arrive on Saturday...icky. Wish me luck!
Well my bags are packed full, and I think I have everything that I need. Hopefully I'm not forgetting anything but it's going to be too late once I leave I guess. Also I can buy stuff there, which I plan on doing. I need a hairdryer, a curling iron, a Cosmopolitan en Español to name a few. That's right. I NEED all those things, especially the Cosmo. tehehe
So another goal is to write in this marvelous blank journal everyday, where I can tape in ticket stubs and other things (I have to thank my amazing boyfriend for that!!). Pretty much an authentic, awesome scrapbook/travel journal to document all the fun/memorable/hilarious things that come my way. I might even draw little pictures in it. If you're lucky, I'll show it to you when I return to the Estados Unidos.
Okay well I don't want to go on and on so I'm going to stop here. The next entry will be about my first experiences in BUENOS AIRES!!! I can't wait! (But unfortunately I have to wait a loong time) ¡Ciao!
Anyway, I leave Denver tomorrow at 10:30 am and fly to NYC (JFK if you're interested). I then get to do sudokus and read until I fall over since I have a really long layover with no cell phone and no outside communication (5 1/2 hours! AHHH!) It's okay I'm used to it because I had a long layover when I went to Spain that was 5 hours (I had to beat my record this time around). I then have an 11 1/2 hour flight and arrive on Saturday...icky. Wish me luck!
Well my bags are packed full, and I think I have everything that I need. Hopefully I'm not forgetting anything but it's going to be too late once I leave I guess. Also I can buy stuff there, which I plan on doing. I need a hairdryer, a curling iron, a Cosmopolitan en Español to name a few. That's right. I NEED all those things, especially the Cosmo. tehehe
So another goal is to write in this marvelous blank journal everyday, where I can tape in ticket stubs and other things (I have to thank my amazing boyfriend for that!!). Pretty much an authentic, awesome scrapbook/travel journal to document all the fun/memorable/hilarious things that come my way. I might even draw little pictures in it. If you're lucky, I'll show it to you when I return to the Estados Unidos.
Okay well I don't want to go on and on so I'm going to stop here. The next entry will be about my first experiences in BUENOS AIRES!!! I can't wait! (But unfortunately I have to wait a loong time) ¡Ciao!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Before my Trip
Hey all! Welcome to my blog for my upcoming trip to Argentina. I will be leaving at the end of January, so stay tuned for my first experiences when I get there. A few of my goals for my 5 1/2 months abroad are the following:
1. Obviously become fluent in Spanish.
2. Talk to strangers as much as possible (I know, I know...they tell you never to do this when you were a kid).
3. Volunteer with children (maybe something medical related?).
4. Talk to a Mother who walks on the Plaza de Mayo to honor her children.
5. Learn how to make dulce de leche and empanadas.
6. Learn to TANGO!!! (hopefully really well...I love ballroom dancing)
7. Be more familiar with Buenos Aires than any other city I've known or been in.
8. Meet lifelong friends.
9. Travel around Argentina (Bariloche for chocolate, Mendoza for Malbec wine, to name a few).
10. Have a ton of fun!! (whatever that may be)
To be continued...
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