WEIRDO

So, the other day my friend Kristin and I were sitting in Parque Rivadavia which is a park in between our apartment buildings. We're just sitting there eating sweets, having a nice conversation, and enjoying the weather when, all of a sudden, this random guy walks up and starts speaking a bunch of gibberish. Now I know it was gibberish because, since I've been here, my comprehension skills have gotten so much better. And, even though Castellano is the most ridiculous form of Spanish that I've ever heard, I can now understand it a lot better. However, we couldn't understand a single word this man said. So we looked at him with our confused little faces and he asked if we understood Castellano. We answered yes and he did the gibberish thing again aka NOT spanish. And then, when we told him we didn't understand, he literally stared at us for 2 straight minutes. I staged a fake coughing fit in hopes of him leaving, but his creeper ass just stood there watching us intently n smiling, therefore showing off the few teeth he had which happened to be at least 8 colors. As the minutes continued to drag along, his crazy behind stayed there staring. I knew he was trying to sell something so I told him I had no money but he stayed there and smiled the creepiest smile I've ever seen. I was so close to getting up when he finally walked away. What a weirdo! And then I watched him do the same thing to another woman! CREEPER!

Classes in BA

So, my real classes haven't really begun yet. Currently, we are attending classes that interest us and we get to pick the ones we want. It's okay, I guess. But all the classes here are soooooooo long! They are only once a week but all are at least 3 hours long. Usually, there's a 15 minute break in the middle but that doesn't help too much because by the time the break comes, your butt is already numb and/or you already stopped taking notes because you fell asleep.

So, in the US, most professors recognize that we have different styles of learning and they try to cater to all three. Here, it's a different story. Most of the professors just talk for 3 straight hours without writing anything down. Are they crazy? It's so hard for me just to listen and write. I need a powerpoint presentation or writing on the board or something visual! Looking at someone for 3 hours straight while they speak with the most monotonous voice is the best way to put me to bed.

Another HUGE difference in my classes here and in the US, is the way the students act in class here. They are rude. If I was a professor I think I would tell them to get the heck out. They talk so loudly the entire time class is being taught. Or they interrupt the professors while they are teaching to ask a question even after the professor tells them to wait a minute. I will never fit in the classes here! lol, I'm too nice.

Anywho, ttyl.

RUDE PEOPLE

There isn't much that bothers me in life, but rude people definitely make me angry!

People here DO NOT know how to say excuse me! They will plow you down on a street and not even pay you any mind. If I even think I'm going to get too close to your personal space, I will say excuse me, point blank. The phrase is shorter in spanish too! Freaken lazies! lol. All they have to do is say permiso n I'd completely forgive them.

At the club I went to on Friday night, this one girl kept smacking me with her hair and stepping on my toes. I wanted to die because her hair was wet with her sweat and it smacked my arm like 5 times! Absolutely disgusting. I was ready to pull her hair out of her head when my friend Diana pulled me away to a spot with less people. lol.

Another thing, when you smile at people here, they never smile back. lol. I've played myself so many times smiling at people. haha. At least in Philly they smile back at you, regardless of how hood or gangsta a person is. lol. This is terrible.

Anywho, until next time, besos!

BEST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE, NOT JUST IN BA

So, this weekend was absolutely amazing! It started with Thursday and has been great ever since. Too bad it ends tonight! :'(

Thursday: I went to go see a Tango show called Tramatango! It was ridiculous. Made me want to get up and dance with them. We saw it on Avenida Corrientes which is the Broadway of South America. They even have some of the big ads like on Broadway in New York. Just being on the street felt so amazing. And to top it off, I sat in the 4th row from the front! What the heck?! You couldn't even understand how happy it made me to be able to get lost in the dance of passion and watch as the couples danced all over the stage. I wanted to be them in that very moment. I wanted to be on that stage smiling and dancing that gorgeous dance. It truly made an impression on me and inspired me to learn the tango as flawlessly as they performed it.

As if that wasn't great enough, Friday night I went to a Cuban salsa club! If you know me, you know I am in love with salsa, BUT Cuban salsa is soooo different from the salsa I know. So, I went with two friends of mine and we decided to go to the lessons beforehand. Little did I know, a GOD would be teaching the lesson for the group I decided to join. It was love at first sight for me. lol. But really, he's hot. Anywho, so we learned a bunch of fun spinny stuff and then had to move around to partners so we could dance with everyone and I kept getting paired with (can you guess) the HOT instructor. lol. And he learned my name and said it like a million times that night. And then, he kept using me to demonstrate moves to everyone. Tell me that's not heaven! After all the lessons, when the club opened, the night was just amazing. Danced for 7 hours, talked to the instructors, met other Americans, met Argentines, and had an amazing night. As I was leaving, I turned around to wave goodnight to my favorite dance instructor. He looked offended that I'd leave without walking over to him, so he ran over to me and told me goodnight. Then, he kissed me on my cheek and told me how pretty he thinks I am! oh heaven! Love it! lol, so you see, perfect night!

Saturday: a very inspiring day. While the rest of the world is focused on helping out Haiti (understandably), the Southern Cone of South America is more focused on helping out our neighbors in Chile. Argentina threw a benefit concert with a few very famous and grammy-winning Argentine bands in order to collect water and food for those who lost everything in the 2 earthquakes they've had in the past month. The concert was so amazing. They had so much to give to Chile as well. It was called Argentina abraza a Chile (Argentina hugs Chile is a direct translation). If you know anything about Argentina, you'd know that Chile and Argentina have never been the best of friends but it's amazing how much Latinos will support each other. Afterwards, we went to dinner and hit up a local bar and then I went home to bed!

Sunday: Very chill day. I've just been walking around and exploring more of my area. I went to another open air market where everything was even cheaper than the last. I bought a pair of sandals for 15 pesos. In American dollars, that's about $3.90! Go me! I also bought 2 pairs of earrings for under one American dollar! Then I came home, chilled, ate dinner and now the weekend is over! :'(

BUT WHAT AN AMAZING WEEKEND IT WAS.

The Zoo in BA

So, yesterday my friends and I decided to take a trip to the zoo, which was sooooo fun! BUT I have a few funnies for you!

1. They have COWS in the zoo. COWS I said! Haha, never thought I'd see the day.

2. They have CAPYBARA walking around the zoo outside of cages! They just walk up to you and sniff you. I didn't even realize a capybara was a real animal! Oh, ignorance is bliss.

3. There were monkeys and birds in the same cage! Who the heck would ever put those animals together? oh, Buenos Aires!

4. They also had donkeys and deer! WTH! I'm about to tell these people just to go to North America and they'll see it all. Haha

Anywho, it was a great time for sure. Between laughing at the random animals in the zoo and at the monkeys cleaning each others' butts, it was a great time! They also had your typical zoo animals aka the ones from Africa! ie: Lions, tigers, elephants, wild cats, and tons of monkeys! I had so much fun and it was fairly easy to get to!

Falling in LOVE with Art

So, yesterday I went to San Telmo which is a barrio (neighborhood) in Buenos Aires. On Sundays, they have an open market for the public. They sell antiques, art, clothing, jewelry, and everything else you can possibly think of. Then there are musicians, dancers, and singers scattered on different streets performing for the crowds of people who are filling up the streets. There are mimes and the people who look like statues as well.

I got the chance to see an older couple doing the tango and I couldn't control myself. I fell in love with the Tango. I already know that I wanted to learn the tango but after seeing them perform, I felt it was more a calling than anything. If I don't learn the tango before I leave Argentina, I will not leave. My determination to achieve is at an all time high and I will be doing the tango when I return to the states. For those who don't know, San Telmo and La Boca (another barrio) are known for the tango in argentina. It's where the best have learned and practiced.

Also, words can't express my feelings about the art that was presented for sale. There were photographs, paintings, and mini murals all over the barrio. The colors were so vibrant and every piece of art was an attraction for me. I wanted to buy it all. The art really screamed out to me and expressed every bit of culture that is hidden behind the walls of the beautiful homes here. Just being able to experience this opportunity has really opened my eyes to all that I want to achieve. The expression of the art was so evident and made me fall so deeply in love with this rich Argentine culture. Previously, I compared a lot to my own culture but after that experience, I realized that the differences are obvious but neither culture is more supreme than the other. And now both cultures hold a special place in my heart.

While at the market, I couldn't help but to dance a little and to smile at those performing. If I was ever to have a bad week here, I know that San Telmo is the place that I would need to be to life my spirits. I had such an amazing time and I will never forget that remarkable experience.

Wish you all could have experienced it with me.

Fun Facts About Life in BA

They drink coffee at all hours! Breakfast, lunch and dinner. BUT, they don't have coffee to go here, the waiters deliver coffee to businesses in the area and come back to get the glasses afterwards. What the heck?

Coffee isn't the only thing they have all the time here. Dulce de leche is this sweet and delicious treat that is smeared on everything. And they also put a thick layer of cheese on everything! Sounds great to most, BUT not to someone who's lactose intolerant! oh boy, it's horrible because I love both things!

Clearly as Americans, we rush too much. Argentines take their time for everything! Nothing starts or ends on time, which can be frustrating. Time is not of the essence here. People stop to look in store windows regardless of if they're running late already.

Music! Where is it? In the US, there's music playing in every store and every car that drives by. Here, it's not that common. And that very fact is driving me nuts! lol, as an American, I NEED music 24/7. Although it's a rare occurrence here, I heard someone blasting music yesterday and HE was jamming. To what, you ask? Beyonce's Put a Ring On It. lmao... wtf?

Social class is pretty evident here as well. I live in a middle class neighborhood and I have a maid! She comes 2 days a week and it's amazing! I don't have to clean anything! whooo! lol. The homeless people here remind me a lot of the ones in Philly; sleeping all over the place in the streets but many have torn up mattresses. Also, a lot of them send out their small children to ask foreigners for money which works normally I suppose.

Appearance doesn't seem too important here. I mean, everyone dresses nicely but very rarely do I see girls with styled hair which is a little weird to me. I stopped doing mine so I fit in and it actually works. When I did do my hair in a tight ponytail one day, everyone stared at me all crazy! lol.

Public transportation is interesting. The supte (subway) is wooden and really old school. It's always super hot because there's no air conditioning but it's a convenient way to travel. During rush hour, however, it gets pretty hard to breathe. I like the bus but that's hard during rush hour as well. What I have noticed is that people always give their seats up to older people and I really like that.

Class registration is HORRENDOUS and I'll never complain again about how hard it is at Temple. Everything is just so unorganized and you can never find out where your class is supposed to be and many times it changes the day it begins without warning.

Politics are very much alive in Argentina. They hate the President here and say she's like a female Bush. Since I've been here, I've seen 2 protests against her. It's actually super interesting.

Anywho, hope you enjoyed! Besos til next time!

Partying in Buenos Aires

Sooooo, let me offer to you a few pieces of advice before partying at the boliches (night clubs) in Buenos Aires with Argentines.

First of all, ask them what time of music will be played.

Second of all, if you've never heard of that type of music, youtube it to see what it sounds like and then decide if you be able to stand it.

Thirdly, if they say the word electronica, don't bother looking it up and definitely don't go!

It's 5:15 am and I'm just getting in from a few hours of "partying". I went out with my friend Kristin (from Texas) and her host sister and her host sister's friends. Now, I love them all but we went to the most awful club I've ever been to. The music was like rave music and reminded me of White Chicks where the guy was half naked on the floor using a whistle. The crazy thing is that this club is supposed to be exclusive, like you have to be important to get in and clearly we were with the right girls. Or in my case, the wrong girls. The strobe lights went nonstop and were killing my eyes. Argentines love smoking so the place was filled with smoke, the music was terrible and it got entirely too packed. So now I know never to go to another electronica club again. Lesson learned...