Just a little colder

Living in Buenos Aires means being constantly freezing, and I mean ALL the time. You go from being inside your freezing cold classroom, because they don't have heat, to walking outside in the bitter cold and wind and then eventually go home to your freezing cold house, where there is again, no heating. I do get "warm" from a combination of a space heater, down booties, fleece sweatshirts, and my bed (which has bout 5 blankets on it. There is still a strong draft from the window next to my bed, and from the door, in my extremely small room.

Warm is still a relative term, and this just means that I'm somewhat warmer than before, which is a good thing. I know that in a few months, it's going to be unbearably hot and I'll be complaining about the heat!!

There are various cultural things that help us warm up here in Buenos Aires. Porteños (Buenos Aires citizens) drink Maté. It consists of leaves and small pieces of the coca (think cocaine) plant that they pour hot water over. They drink this through their gourds with a straw that has a filter in the bottom. I'm not super fond of it; it kinda tastes like tobacco. But everyone is pretty much addicted to it (and smoking) here.

Cafés are fun to visit in the afternoons. You can find them on pretty much EVERY street corner, and a few between. Café con leche or a nice cappuchino really helps to warm you up as well (though you still have your jacket on in you unheated café).

Third and finally, they always do save the best for last: red wine strangely has a nice way of making anyone and everyone feel warm and toasty inside. Bottles in restaurants run about ten bucks (for a good bottle) then you can buy the same in the supermercados for about four dollars. I'm going to take a wine class with the girls soon, then I can really experience and enjoy all the good local wine that I'm drinking.

I will be taking a trip to Mendoza at some point, mmmm, wine country. I'm really excited. Should be one beautiful, buzzed trip.


I think I'm getting adjusted to city life pretty well. I've decided that the people are are nocturnal, they're up all night. but unlike hamsters, they don't sleep all day long, they work. Dinner is usually between 9:30 and midnight, then after you finish, it's time to go out! Clubs open at like 1:30 or 2 (AM). For some reason, I was surprised when I looked at my phone and it was 5 am, and I was still having fun dancing! They just really use all hours of their day! Must be all that maté they are drinking :)