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 :)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Priemero semana en Buenos Aires
¡Hola! After an eventful trip down to Argentina, the first week has been pretty boring. However, the city is huge and full of life. I've had many fun adventures so far, and have enjoyed navigating this crazy city with my "Guia T" map book with all the bus and subway (Súbte) lines.
We have had meetings/orientations everyday so far. They get out around four (1600) so I've had time after to explore. One day we went on a walking tour and ended up with a group of about 10 people in the middle of some random neighborhood. The tour guide pretty much said peace out and we were left alone. So a group of 7 of us went into the corner cafe/bar and enjoyed an afternoon café con leche or bottle of wine (sharing of course).
The other afternoons, I have wandered the city with friends. Yesterday, Kate and I went to the mall...it was HUGE. They had so many (brand name) stores and everything was SO cheap. I couldn't believe it. I had to indulge.
I found a great gym last night and bought a 6 month pass. I now have no excuse, there's gyms close to my house, to FLACSO (one school I'm going to) UBA, and UCA (all schools). Good times.
I'm living with a single woman, Mara, and her dog, Frida. She's 36 years old and is a literature teacher and a personal trainer. The first night, she told me that she doesn't eat breakfast or dinner. GREAT. So one night, she "cooked" for me... and it was awfu.. Because she doesn't eat, she doesn't know how to cook. Then, she watched me eat. She didn't eat, she just cringed with every bite I took. Annoying. Also, she doesn't ever go out, she just sits at home in her freezing cold house and reads and smokes. It's really not as bad as I'm making it out to be, but it's not what I was expecting, at all. I've already talked with the lady that organizes housing, and I might change. We'll see. I do live in a pretty cool house. My room is detached, and I have a really pretty terrace and view off of my room. The downside to it all is that when I have to go to the bathroom (and If you know me, you know that's a lot) I have to go OUTSIDE to get there. Let me remind you that it's FREEZING here, it's the middle of winter. So coming back from the shower...yeah, outside. Peeing in the middle of the night, outside. We'll just see how it goes.
We're getting orientations for our classes this week, and there are so many to choose from! It's almost overwhelming. I just have to make sure that I am going to get credit for the classes that I end up taking here.
Pictures to come... the security on the wireless here won't let me post them!
We have had meetings/orientations everyday so far. They get out around four (1600) so I've had time after to explore. One day we went on a walking tour and ended up with a group of about 10 people in the middle of some random neighborhood. The tour guide pretty much said peace out and we were left alone. So a group of 7 of us went into the corner cafe/bar and enjoyed an afternoon café con leche or bottle of wine (sharing of course).
The other afternoons, I have wandered the city with friends. Yesterday, Kate and I went to the mall...it was HUGE. They had so many (brand name) stores and everything was SO cheap. I couldn't believe it. I had to indulge.
I found a great gym last night and bought a 6 month pass. I now have no excuse, there's gyms close to my house, to FLACSO (one school I'm going to) UBA, and UCA (all schools). Good times.
I'm living with a single woman, Mara, and her dog, Frida. She's 36 years old and is a literature teacher and a personal trainer. The first night, she told me that she doesn't eat breakfast or dinner. GREAT. So one night, she "cooked" for me... and it was awfu.. Because she doesn't eat, she doesn't know how to cook. Then, she watched me eat. She didn't eat, she just cringed with every bite I took. Annoying. Also, she doesn't ever go out, she just sits at home in her freezing cold house and reads and smokes. It's really not as bad as I'm making it out to be, but it's not what I was expecting, at all. I've already talked with the lady that organizes housing, and I might change. We'll see. I do live in a pretty cool house. My room is detached, and I have a really pretty terrace and view off of my room. The downside to it all is that when I have to go to the bathroom (and If you know me, you know that's a lot) I have to go OUTSIDE to get there. Let me remind you that it's FREEZING here, it's the middle of winter. So coming back from the shower...yeah, outside. Peeing in the middle of the night, outside. We'll just see how it goes.
We're getting orientations for our classes this week, and there are so many to choose from! It's almost overwhelming. I just have to make sure that I am going to get credit for the classes that I end up taking here.
Pictures to come... the security on the wireless here won't let me post them!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Longer trip than expected...
So I got off to Argentina just fine. After a nice brunch with my family, I headed to the airport about 3 hours early to go standby for an earlier flight (to avoid having a brief 30 minute layover before my international flight). I got my seat on the flight, realized that I was on the plane with Annie (the only girl I know in the program) and was on my way. I got a free bottle of wine on the plane, watched Meet the Robinsons, took my melatonin, then fell asleep with anticipation of waking up in Argentina.
Not quite. I was awakened from my slumber by the captain who was informing the plane that we had turned around and would be returning to Houston. WHAT?!!? It must have been the drugs. I rubbed my eyes and continued listening. Apparently the air traffic controls in Brazil are down and we were not able to fly over the country. Who knows if it’s a strike, war, etc. All I knew was that I was on my way back to Texas. After the announcements were finished, in both Spanish and English, everyone is awake in the cabin, and moving around and pretty much freaking out. Welcome to South America.
This is something I would have expected to happen to like Costa Rica, or Nicaragua. I mean, seriously. Who knows what REALLY goes on in those countries. But no, of course it had to be the biggest country in South America, and of course there’s no way to fly around it!
So Annie and I hung out in the Houston airport from 3 in the morning until 4:33 that afternoon.... then back on our way to Buenos Aires. LONG F*ing day.
Not quite. I was awakened from my slumber by the captain who was informing the plane that we had turned around and would be returning to Houston. WHAT?!!? It must have been the drugs. I rubbed my eyes and continued listening. Apparently the air traffic controls in Brazil are down and we were not able to fly over the country. Who knows if it’s a strike, war, etc. All I knew was that I was on my way back to Texas. After the announcements were finished, in both Spanish and English, everyone is awake in the cabin, and moving around and pretty much freaking out. Welcome to South America.
This is something I would have expected to happen to like Costa Rica, or Nicaragua. I mean, seriously. Who knows what REALLY goes on in those countries. But no, of course it had to be the biggest country in South America, and of course there’s no way to fly around it!
So Annie and I hung out in the Houston airport from 3 in the morning until 4:33 that afternoon.... then back on our way to Buenos Aires. LONG F*ing day.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
My First Deal
Is official. Deals = $$$ = Sarah :)
Enough said. I think I'll take tomorrow off.
Pura vida baby.
Enough said. I think I'll take tomorrow off.
Pura vida baby.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Keep on keepin on
Greetings from the Gold Coast! Life has been good, but not too much new news.
Back to the normal routine now that all our guests are gone. Kellie’s parents were here for a week, then my dad and the Garels were here the following week. The Garels came down to buy a place, and they found one, with Greg, that they really liked, put an offer in, so I’m crossing my fingers that they get it, big $$ for me! YAY.
Back to reality again. We all drove with dad in his rental car up to Liberia to drop him off for his 7 am flight (we left the house around 5am.) So we drop him off at the airport, then drive into Liberia, not even considering the fact that there’s like NOTHING open on Sunday morning at 6am. So we found an open restaurant, had some comida tipica and tried to figure out what we were going to do for the rest of the day. Our restaurant was right across the street from this HUGE church, and people were flowing into the church. We were bored and curious, so we decided to go. It was actually really cool. It was all in Spanish, obviously, but regardless, it was cool.
Afterwords, we drove around for a bit, found a SUPER COOL candy shop (pics to come) and then asked where the movie theater was. It gets boring in Tamarindo without any entertainment. We drove to the “mall” to find the movie theater, then walked around the “mall” for a bit. There were like 5 decent stores, but we still had a few hours before our movie started. The kids, (as I call them, and as they are called around my office) Kellie, Gabster (as Miguel calls her) and Miguel hung out at the mall, but I had a few errands to run. So I drove around Liberia, then went into the Supermercado. I found my rainboots, finally (pictures to come) and bought a few groceries. On my way out, as I was putting all my stuff in the trunk, I witnessed a shooting. Nobody got shot, but this guy fired three gunshots. It was super crazy, so I just got into my car and drove away.
I met the kids back at the mall, we went to lunch, then back to the movies. We were planning on seeing Pirates of the Caribbean. We get into the theater, and THE MOVIE WAS IN SPANISH! Typically, it’s an English movie with Spanish sub-titles. Let me just say, it was an experience. I was impressed with how much I could understand, but I know that there was a lot that I missed. Guess I’ll have to catch it when I get back to the states.
So it’s Friday again, and that means MONKEY BAR. And for those of you that haven’t caught on, Monkey Bar = Shit show. Every week, regardless of who goes/whatever.
I’ll update tomorrow, when I’m not at work, on my comp with my pics.
Miss you guys lots, it’s hard living on my own. Please write/keep in touch. Love you all.
Pura vida.
Back to the normal routine now that all our guests are gone. Kellie’s parents were here for a week, then my dad and the Garels were here the following week. The Garels came down to buy a place, and they found one, with Greg, that they really liked, put an offer in, so I’m crossing my fingers that they get it, big $$ for me! YAY.
Back to reality again. We all drove with dad in his rental car up to Liberia to drop him off for his 7 am flight (we left the house around 5am.) So we drop him off at the airport, then drive into Liberia, not even considering the fact that there’s like NOTHING open on Sunday morning at 6am. So we found an open restaurant, had some comida tipica and tried to figure out what we were going to do for the rest of the day. Our restaurant was right across the street from this HUGE church, and people were flowing into the church. We were bored and curious, so we decided to go. It was actually really cool. It was all in Spanish, obviously, but regardless, it was cool.
Afterwords, we drove around for a bit, found a SUPER COOL candy shop (pics to come) and then asked where the movie theater was. It gets boring in Tamarindo without any entertainment. We drove to the “mall” to find the movie theater, then walked around the “mall” for a bit. There were like 5 decent stores, but we still had a few hours before our movie started. The kids, (as I call them, and as they are called around my office) Kellie, Gabster (as Miguel calls her) and Miguel hung out at the mall, but I had a few errands to run. So I drove around Liberia, then went into the Supermercado. I found my rainboots, finally (pictures to come) and bought a few groceries. On my way out, as I was putting all my stuff in the trunk, I witnessed a shooting. Nobody got shot, but this guy fired three gunshots. It was super crazy, so I just got into my car and drove away.
I met the kids back at the mall, we went to lunch, then back to the movies. We were planning on seeing Pirates of the Caribbean. We get into the theater, and THE MOVIE WAS IN SPANISH! Typically, it’s an English movie with Spanish sub-titles. Let me just say, it was an experience. I was impressed with how much I could understand, but I know that there was a lot that I missed. Guess I’ll have to catch it when I get back to the states.
So it’s Friday again, and that means MONKEY BAR. And for those of you that haven’t caught on, Monkey Bar = Shit show. Every week, regardless of who goes/whatever.
I’ll update tomorrow, when I’m not at work, on my comp with my pics.
Miss you guys lots, it’s hard living on my own. Please write/keep in touch. Love you all.
Pura vida.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The days keep rolling
So the daily "grind" will continue. I hurt my knee last Friday night after walking home wasted after monkey bar. I fell on a rock (which is completely possible even when sober) and banged up both legs, got all bloody, then my knee was swolen and ugly. My knee is back to normal, at least I think so, so I will start running again tomorrow. yay. I am also going to start doing Yoga on the beach. :) STOKED.
More to come, including our recent field trip, pictures, and possible fun weekend plans.
I miss everyone at home, so please comment/email/skype/whatever!
Love you! Pura vida.
More to come, including our recent field trip, pictures, and possible fun weekend plans.
I miss everyone at home, so please comment/email/skype/whatever!
Love you! Pura vida.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Skype
I'm impressed with technology. Check out Skype. If you get it, we can talk, just like talking on the phone, but over the internet, FOR FREE. Freakin SWEET!
ps. It's a great Friday. After a fun night at Babylon last night, I woke up early, went for a run, surfed for a bit, layed out for a bit. I'll go into work, with my hot boss :), then come home and hang out with my girls. Gotta love life. Pictures to come soon.
Pura Vida.
ps. It's a great Friday. After a fun night at Babylon last night, I woke up early, went for a run, surfed for a bit, layed out for a bit. I'll go into work, with my hot boss :), then come home and hang out with my girls. Gotta love life. Pictures to come soon.
Pura Vida.
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