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

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)

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

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