A day with a friend

Yesterday I got up early- like every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for my 9am Spanish class. I planned on going with Sam to get her nose pierced in Palermo so I took the bus in after class to meet her.

We went to the Face Tattoo shop but realized they were closed until 1. So Sam and I walked around a bit until we found this cool-looking Arab place. It was a bit expensive but so worth it! We each had a falafel sandwich.

When we were paying the bill, a woman came in with her two little children, a boy and a girl that looked like she was about 2. The woman came up to us begging for money- it made us so uncomfortable. Here we are, just finished a delicious, kind of expensive meal, and we're saying no to a woman needing money. Her son didn't even have an ear! Her daughter was even trying to take things out of Sam's backpack. The store owners made her leave eventually.

Later walking down the street, we saw the family again but her son was eating an ice cream from McDonald's... super healthy meal, ma. Good use of your money.

It's funny, I was talking to mi mama (my host mom) about the slums of BA. She said a quote that is also said in English:

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.  

Mi mama, who is very strongly against their president, Christina, does not believe in giving gifts.  She believes that people should work for their money but it is very difficult with a corrupt government and police force. The government only started recognizing that the slums existed 2 years ago... doesn't mean they help.

Corrupt government, developing country, makes me happy to be an American.

So anyway, I digress.

We walked around trying to recharge our SUBE cards (the cards we can use for the buses, trains and subways) but it was impossible! All of the kioskos that normally recharge them wouldn't. I was in negative pesos so I had to get it charged!

Possibly it is because of the recent rise in inflation? It's up to 9.7 pesos to 1 dollar on the blue market! Doesn't really make a difference, though, cause all the other prices will go up as well.

Back when the inflation was unbelievably high in Argentina, the inflation would rise over 2,000 times in one year! That's incredible compared to our 2% or so.

Again, I digress.

We had to go to a museum in Recoleta at 3 for a tour for our Visual Arts of Buenos Aires class. We took the bus but it took so long! Argentina is terrible with their road and sidewalk construction. There are always delays and you can't walk 5 feet on the sidewalk without stepping on broken or tiles. It sucks the worst after it rains cause there's puddles everywhere.

Luckily it has only rained 1 or 2 times in the last month that I've been here!

So we took the bus to about where we needed to be and Sam and I just hung out at a nearby park until we had to be at the museum. We did some homework, talked a bit, then headed to the Bicentenial Museum. It was all about workers of Argentina and their poverty.

Basically, it was pretty boring. So Sam, Julie (a girl from our class) and I got coffee and two medialunas at McDonald's for $13 pesos! That's insane!

Went back to IES, watched a movie I need to watch for my Drugs and Violence class for Monday (Elefante Blanco) and headed home for dinner. We had lentils!

The day before, my abogado friend asked me if I wanted to go out for a drink. I said I probably had a lot of work to do for school. He said that I do work until 11 then he'd pick me up and we could go to a bar in Palermo called Isabel... um... I don't think so.

This was starting to sound like a date.. and I'm not into that. So last night I told him that Sam and I were heading to a bar called Canalbar and he could meet us there if he wanted. Even after a few happy hour wiscolas, he didn't show. I'm cool with lunch or coffee as long as he's not hitting on me, but things need to stay sober.

Sam and I had an awesome time! Mindee and Carla came about an hour later. It was great, the four of us! We went to Tikibar which was right next door and had a few more happy hour drinks.

It was a great night out with my girls!!!

Until next time! Chau!

PR girl in BA

I had my first full week at Uplifted! 

I take the bus into Palermo (down Cordoba Ave.). 

The office is great! I think it was the second floor of an old duplex. The accounting team has their room and the marketing team (us) has their room.

There's no heating or air conditioning but it was so beautiful this week that we had all the windows open! last week, tough, it was so cold! We had to use space heaters!

There's a kitchen with endless amounts of tea and coffee. The founder, apparently, is obsessed with tea which is right up my alley! 

So when I get into the office, the full time intern, Lance, is usually already there. I have a daily to-do list from Nora, who is the manager (I guess). She seems like the person in charge of the marketing department. 

The last week of every month is our "batch week" where we create all the tweets, Facebook posts, and blog ideas to schedule out for the following month. 

So far, I've written Video tip tweets for one of our clients, Revolution Productions. One of the things the company does is it makes videos for other companies. 

I also wrote tweets for another one of our clients, Hear Congo which helps women and children in the DRC. I also created some blog ideas for their website. I'll probably write the blogs next week. 

Nora also brings her puppy into the office a lot. His name is Dante (Antonio) and he's a cute little mutt. A SPCA-like organization just gives puppies out for at parks-no background check needed.

There are so many strays in this city! And they're all so nice. They'll just follow you down the street like you're it's owner. 

Dante is a cute puppy but can definitely be a distraction to us and especially to Nora- it's so worth it though. He beings something special to the office :)

The people I work with are awesome. It's an American company with mostly American workers. Running a company in Buenos Aires is a lot cheaper than in the States. But it's an American company because it's very hard to register a new company in Argentina. The government changes the rules so much that it makes it impossible.

Nora is from the States and worked at a few PR agencies in DC after graduation. She lived with a bunch of girls (that I think she went to college with) and it was basically college but instead of classes, they all went to work. 

She said after a few months, it got very old. She hated her job and she wanted something different. So she got a job in Rwanda with a nonprofit and just left! It was against all of her friends and family's wishes but she just went. 

To me, that's freaking awesome. I wish I was that brave. So she worked there for a bit, I think went back to the states, then got this job in Buenos Aires. 

Now she's been here for a couple years and loves it. She has a boyfriend, an apartment, a dog, another language under her belt, everything!

Katie, on the other hand, came to BA for love. She studied abroad in Mexico and met an Argentine man on her program. They started dating, he came to the states for a few months, she went to BA for a few months--then she just stayed here! This was also against her family's wishes but she was brave enough to do it!

Lance also needed a change. He got his MBA at Drake University in Iowa. He's lived in Iowa his entire life and, like Nora, just needed a change. So he found this full time internship position on craig's list, bought a ticket to BA and just came! He's heading back to the states in a few weeks though. I honestly don't know how he spent all this time at a job that doesn't pay him. But again, he's braver than I'd ever be. 

Working with these guys really opens my eyes to what a person really needs in the world- to do things for themselves. Like Vimi from the Uruguayan hostel, she got bored of her job and decided to travel for almost a year by herself all over South America. 

I wonder where I'm going to be in 7 years. I'll be 27, graduated from college and maybe graduate school and working at a job that I may or may not enjoy. Will I be happy? I don't know. But if I'm not, will I be brave enough to change my situation? Maybe work for a nonprofit in Rwanda if that's what I really feel passionate about doing. I'm not sure- but I hope so. 

Here's an awesome quote I tweeted on behalf of Hear Congo:

A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Garage Olimpo

I'm taking a class called Drugs and Violence in Buenos Aires and it's super interesting.

On Monday our class went to an old detention center from the last military government (from about 30 years ago) in Argentina.  It looked like any other building on the street which made the truth about it that much shocking.

The government would kidnap any activists or anyone speaking out against the government and take them to a detention center like Garage Olimpo. There they would detain and torture them. The conditions were terrible and no one could help them since it was the government doing this.

They were called los desaparecidos because of their sudden disappearances. Their families usually did not know where they went. Their families would go to the police station saying their son or daughter was missing. Families would go to the police station and find other families in the same situation.

Eventually, the families understood, somewhat, what was happening and began meet in la Plaza de Mayo. At the time they were not allowed to meet in groups so the police said they had to move or else they would be arrested. So the mothers began to walk, silently in a circle around the obelisk in the Plaza de Mayo in protest for their disappeared children.  They became known as Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo.

Today, the mothers still walk around the obelisk weekly in protest for their missing children.

Monday was a very cold day—which, I think, added to the eerie feeling of the center. However, there unfortunately wasn't much to see because towards the end of the military rule, most of the structure was torn down.

There were no more cells or visuals of anyone to have ever lived there—let alone tortured prisoners.

The only thing left was a gutted building where, apparently, held the torture chamber and recently kidnapped prisoners. Other than that, there was evidence of cell-like structures in the concrete under the cement the government laid down after tearing everything down.  They also found toilet holes in the ground in the cells under the newer cement.

It definitely had a great impression on me to imagine what these people went through but I just wish I could have seen the actual cells—that would have made the experience unbelievable. For example, if the people at the center re-built the walls of the structures I think it would have affected me more deeply.

I enjoyed the tour very much. I’m glad it was in English, though, because I was able to understand the important details of Argentine’s dark era.

We all heard about the terrible happenings of the military government but I don’t think, unless living here at that time, one could truly understand it. Going to the old detention center really helped me realize that the terrible things that happened during that time period were real.  Those people were tortured and killed just for speaking, dressing and acting the way they wanted.

It was a great, but heavy, experience. It really showed me what a corrupt government can do to the people.

Until next time!

Feria de Mataderos

Today we all met at the IES center at 12:30 and took a bus to the neighborhood of Mataderos for the artisan fair!

It was so nice- tons of streets lined with vendors the authentic and beautiful things to buy. The food was also incredible.

I had locro and a chicken and veggie empanada! We also all split a bottle of red wine.

Here's a recipe for locro! Here's another!

Below is miss Barbie Mindee with her Argentines. Argentine men LOVE blondes! They always call her Rubia or Barbie. She gets so much for free or discounted. Mindee got a candy-covered strawberry with popcorn for free and a big bag of roasted nuts for $5 pesos.

When I tried to get the same bag of nuts I have him a $5 peso... he took the bag from me and gave me a tiny bag. He also said they were $6 pesos for the small bag. WTF.

I asked why Rubia got to have a discount and he said it was for a "promotion"...

PROMOTION MY ASS!!

I need to dye my hair blonde or something.

There was also musicians playing and dancers! Tons of people in the crowd even did some kind of an Argentine line dance. 

Since the shoes Toms were created here by the Argentine gauchos, I obviously had to get some. Total $8 USD. Hell yeah!!

Matador fair was a success!

The chicas and I are now in the process of planning Spring break! Machu Picchu and Rio anyone??

My bank account is literally going to be zero dollars and zero cents by the time I get back to the states... kill me.

San Isidro

Yesterday we went to San Isidro which is a town in the Buenos Aires Province right outside of the city. It's a beautiful town with cobbled streets and old single-story colorful houses. Some were Spanish colonial looking even though after Argentina got their independence the citizens tore down a lot of the Spanish looking buildings.

We started at the heart of the town which is Plaza Mitre with it's neo-gothic San Isidro cathedral. The cathedral used to be Spanish-colonial looking but they renovated it after the independence so it looked more European.

We walked around the town and saw the river as well.

FUN FACT: Many of the houses are pink because back in the day, people couldn't get colored paint so they mixed white paint with cow's blood. Delish...

After our tour we were able to get lunch and walk around the feria (fair/market). There was such good food!!  I got a huge ham and cheese crepe at a food stand and it was DELICIOUS!! They made it infront of me and put seasonings on it and everything. 

Then we walked around a bit- I got a ring and alpaca socks!! They're so comfy and warm! Costed me about $50 pesos but they're worth it.

Then we went to Villa Ocampo which is a house that used to be owned by a woman named Victoria Ocampo who was a writer and intellectual from the early 1900s. She loved modern architecture and design and learned how to drive a car before it was acceptable for women.

She moved form her modern-looking house in Palermo into this house after her aunt died.

I honestly wish I knew more about why we went here but I really don't. I think it was just another thing to do and see in San Isidro.The property was very beautiful and relaxing though.

After that we took a bus to a really nice restaurant on the water. It was such a pretty view and they gave us unlimited tea, coffee, hot chocolate (which here is just hot milk and a chocolate bar), ham and cheese sandwiches, and pastries like croissants and cookies. 

Stole some sandwiches for dinner tonight!!

We all met up that night to go out for Sheridan's 21st birthday! We went to this Mexican restaurant called La Fabrica del Taco. It was nice but a bit pricey. One big chicken taco was about $24 pesos which is like $4 USD. It also took about an hour and a half to get our meals. Oh well!

We had margaritas, daiquiris and mojitos and had a good ole time! 

After that we went to a bar next door called Chuppito. It was fun and pretty inexpensive. There were TONS of shots which my girls gladly took advantage of. We also shared a huge margarita!!

The birthday girl and we were getting a bit tired so we decided to head home a little early (aka like 2am).

Lame chicas :(

First Day at Uplifted

Today was the first day of my internship (pasantia)!!

It was awesome, Alex (the other girl from IES that got the internship) and I got there around the same time. It was Nora, Katie, Lance and us at the "marketing room" table. We were going though the clients to learn more about them.

There's one I'm really interested in called Hear Congo. It's a nonprofit for women and children living in DRCongo. It was started by a woman in Miami who is Congolese and escaped the Congo after her family was killed.

The nonprofit helps with genital reconstruction surgery and education for women and children.

Alex and I write some Facebook and Twitter posts, picked out some pictures for the blog, and a couple other things. It was definitely an easy day.

It was great cause everyone there is so chill.They ordered food while I had my rice cake/peanut butter/jam/banana lunch. Lance went out and got us all chocolates as well! Overall I enjoyed it.

Unfortunately since we had no class Monday we had to reschedule my Monday evening class for Friday... boo!! So I had my Drugs and Violence class at 4:30 (left Uplifted at around 3:30).

After class I walked home with Valerie and had yummy ravioli for dinner. Mama also gave me this dessert called Membrillo. It's a fruit that I've never heard of before that they use a lot for desserts. It was basically a block of that and cheese. It was pretty good!

The gals and I met at Santa Fe and Uruguay to go to an Americanized bar called Alamo. First we got coffee at McDonalds- good choice.

We had to pay $50 pesos to get into Alamo but we got two free drinks when we went in.I had two screwdrivers.

It was pretty fun but it was SO CROWDED!

And Sheridan turned 21 at midnight!! Woo! Shout out to her!

And Ana (the German girl we met in the hostels in Colonia and Montevideo) came out with us which was fun!

Yup that's about all I have to say about that. Going out to dinner for Sheridan's birthday now. Dinner at 10pm... how portena of us.

Later.

Awesome afternoon in BA

So one of my main goals of this trip was to get killer boots. I mean, it's Argentina, you gotta get that leather where it's plentiful. The day I got back to BA I was walking around the city when I saw these awesome pair of boots in a store window along Santa Fe. It was a holiday so everything was closed--but I took note of where it was.

Yesterday I got up early, went for a run, showered, and went on a hunt for those boots.

I got THE LAST PAIR and they were IN MY SIZE!!!! It was fate. So basically, I loved them and bought them right away. They were about $400 pesos which is like $50- nice price.

I put them on and headed for my Visual Arts of BA class at 3pm.

Today was equally as amazing. I had my Spanish class at 9-11am, did some homework, then met Carla at a falafel place on Rodriguez Pena and Santa Fe. It was awesome! And only $20 pesos.

I brought a thermos of hot water and she brought her mate and yerba she brought in Uruguay. We walked to the park I pass everyday walking to IES and just relaxed.

It was great! We felt like we were on cloud 9... Carla swears there was something psychedelic in the yerba cause we were so happy. Colors just seemed richer and the world seemed so pleasant. Idk- weird to explain, but mate makes you feel great.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the health benefits:

A variety of studies have indicated the antioxidants and nutritional benefits combine to help improve many things:

• immune system
• detoxify the body
• relieve allergies
• reduce the risk of diabetes and hypoglycemia 
• burns more calories
• acts as an appetite suppressant and weight loss tool
• increases the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart
• may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes
• increases mental energy and focus
• improves mood
• promotes a deeper sleep, however sleep may be affected in people who are sensitive to caffeine

HELL YEAH! I'M GONNA BE FREAKING IMMORTAL BY THE TIME I GET BACK TO THE USA!

And what could be better than an afternoon hanging out at a park drinking mate with a good friend? An hour of yoga perhaps?

IES has a yoga class every Wednesday at 3 so Carla and I went to that. It was so relaxing! Awesome afternoon!!

After yoga my friend Christina and I were walking home (she lives in Recoleta as well) and we decided to go on a hunt for peanut butter.

It was not as easy as we thought.

We searched for about an hour before we found a "Different Diet" store on Sante Fe. I guess it's like an international food store for BA.

Guess what? CHRISTINA AND I FOUND PEANUT BUTTER!! It was about 30 pesos but it was so worth it. And the store is only a few blocks from my apartment.

Mission accomplished.

Montevideo, Uruguay

We arrived in Montevideo pretty late on Saturday night. We got a taxi to our hostel in Ciudad Vieja. The other group had a slightly earlier bus and the Duke kids were already there so they were all there hanging out when we arrived.

We relaxed in the common room and played Kings with some German students studying in BA.

After a bit of pregaming we all headed out to Montevideo shopping area for the bars. Mindee and I went straight to Jameson because they said they'd open the kitchen for us... oops- I thought we were supposed to eat at 12:30am.

We had strawberry daiquiris and mojitos. My daiquiri tasted like a smoothie so I asked for mas fuerte (more strong)... by the time Rodrigo (one of the bartenders) was done with it it was mas mas mas fuerte!

Finally everyone else that was at the bar next door (21) came to Jameson. It was awesome hanging out with everyone. A few people bought a round of shots and pitchers.

Sam and I got tequila sunrises and (apparently) we shared a pina colada... don't exactly remember the pina colada. And what's better? Rodrigo said they were free!! Hell yeah love being una chica!!!

Everyone left for the boliche (club) called Lotus but Sam and I stayed to enjoy our free drinks. But when we left we told Rodrigo to meet us there because Jameson was closing (it was around 4am).

We walked to Lotus danced a bit and took a cab home with Sam and Scott.

I walked into my room- pitch black cause everyone was already sleeping since it was about 5:30am and I realized I didn't make my bed yet! It was so difficult, I had to get Matt (who was sleeping in the bunk above me) to give me a light from his phone.

Next day I woke up at 10:30.. breakfast ended at 10 :( boo! It's OK cause I had no hangover!

I realized the day before that I accidently bought a ferry ticket home that was for 4:30am the next morning. Hell no was that gonna fly. So Sheridan, Matt, Scott and I took a cab to the bus terminal to exchange my ticket and for them to exchange money.

It's so weird, in BA I can walk out of my door and flag down a taxi but in Montevideo (the capital of Uruguay) there aren't any taxis anywhere! After walking a few blocks we had to go into a hotel for them to call us one.

The ferry everyone else was on (7:30pm on Monday) was full so I had to exchange mine with the 10:45am one. Better than 4:30am... I also bought my Buquebus bus ticket.

A bit later Mindee, Carla, Sam and Kris came to exchange money and pick up their Xoom money. Carla, with her terrible luck this weekend, had trouble with Xoom and was freaking out. All was resolved, though, after a while.

There was a market/fair going on not too far away so Matt, Scott and I walked over to look at things. We got churripan and oranges from the fruteria!! Scott got a mate. Matt got La Boca socks. It was a great market- they even had puppies!

We met up with Sheridan and Sam and walked to the beach. We basically haven't seen many people in Montevideo except for the market... well now we know why. They were all at the beach!! It was so beautiful. It kind of reminded me of SoCal.

It was so warm as well. We took off our shoes, rolled up our pants and just relaxed in the cool sand.

There was a carnival going on next to the beach as well with rides and freshly made churros! The line was super long so we didn't get any.

Sunset was soon so we decided to find a prime viewing spot. There was a really really really really really steep hill on the other side of the bay with people on it so we headed that way.

Literally this hill was so steep. Sheridan and I were struggling to climb it. It was actually kinda scary at parts cause you had to grab onto the no so sturdy grass to climb up it. I really needed some climbing shoes but unfortunately I only had my fake Sperry's. Sheridan had her heeled boots!! Didn't work too well so she took them off.

When we finally go to the top we could see all of Montevideo and the beaches. It was gorgeous!

We also all took turns sliding down the hill on jackets, cardboard, anything we could find! I was only the photographer, unfortunately, cause I had light color jeans and was not about to ruin a pair of pants on this trip. Clothes are precious when you didn't pack your whole closet!

Climbing down the hill wasn't as bad as climbing up. We searched a bit for a place to eat then decided to take a taxi (which, remember, is kinda tough to find one to flag down in this city) to the area we were the night before cause we knew there was tons of stuff there.

Unfortunately because it was Sunday, either places weren't open or they wouldn't open until 8. Luckily Jameson was open! Damnit... Sam and I completely embarrassed ourselves there the night before but we were just so hungry! Oh well- Rodrigo here we are!

We got drinks (daiquiris, mojitos, margaritas, beer, etc.) then food. We split nachos, Sam and I split a Japanese burger which had teriyaki sauce on it and chicken quesadillas.

We also split some with Sheridan's house burger which had fried egg and ham on it! It was so good! Matt and Scott had taco/burrito type things.

Total my bill was like $450... big spenders huh? Not really, it was in Uruguayan pesos. It was really like $20USD. That's pretty awesome for a daiquiri, nachos, half a burger, chicken quesadilla, tip, and a service fee. It's weird here, a bunch of restaurants have a service fee for the bread or number of glasses you use at a bar. WTF man! Not cool!

Sam was totally eyeing Rodrigo all during dinner and we finally talked to him as we were leaving. Apparently he told us to wait for him outside the bar last night to go to Lotus... oops... our bad... lost in drunk translation I guess.

So we said our goodbye's cause we were heading back to BA the next day. He shook our hands... no one shakes hands here. I wanted a big kiss on the cheek like normal! Oh well. See ya Uruguay!

We took a bus back to the hostel and everyone was prepared for a chill night. Everyone was exhausted from their Uruguayan weekend. We played a bit of kings and just relaxed.

My bus for Colonia was for 7:30 so I had to wake up early the next day, unlike everyone else. Traveling alone sucks.

ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING WITH THE GROUP YOU'RE TRAVELING WITH! I learned that the hard way.

So I made some tea and went to bed around 2am. Got up the next day around 5:30am, the hostel front desk man made me coffee and gave me toast and cereal which was super nice of him since breakfast wasn't supposed to be served til 8am.

I got all my stuff together (in the dark since 5 other people were sleeping in my room), had the hostel man call me a cab, and I headed off to the bus terminal to head home!

After my bus ride and ferry (I got the 1 hour ferry on the way home), I took a taxi and bus back to my apartment.

It was strange, when I arrived back in BA, I actually felt relieved. I felt a sense of home when I returned. I loved the feeling. It shows I'm actually feeling comfortable in this city and I'm happy with everything.

I finally got home around 12:30pm. I Skyped my mom, Julia and Steve, posted pictures on Facebook and did a bit of homework. I need constant stimulation when I'm in the apartment or else I get super lonely :( So if you ever wanna chat while I'm here I'd love to catch up!

Well- that was my first weekend trip! I have to say it was a success! Can't wait for the next one!

Chau chicos!

Colonia, Uruguay

Those of us that didn't have class Friday decided to take an early start on our Uruguay weekend trip!

Sheridan, Carla, Sam and I boarded our Buquebus ferry at around 9:30. I took a bus to Sheridan's place then we all shared a cab to the ferry terminal. 

The ferry was awesome! It had cafeterias, gift shops, casinos, a great deck view, arcade, etc. Plus we were on the slow ferry so we had over 3 hours to kill before arriving in Colonia, Uruguay!

We walked around, napped, and chatted about Spring break. How does this sound for our 10-day Spring break in September/October: Machu Picchu and Rio de Janiero!

Gotta work out the details but I'm SO excited to get started! We decided 10 days is a long time and we want to see as much as possible.

We also found other IES kids on our Ferry which was fun but they were going to Montevideo later that day.

We finally found our hostel (El Viajero) in Colonia, through our stuff under our beds, withdrew USD and Uruguayan pesos, bought locks for the suitcase storage under our beds, then found the other group to have a pasta-filled lunch. Unfortunately they had to run to catch their bus. We were supposed to stay in the same hostel in Montevideo the next couple nights anyway so we got to hang out some.

We met a girl from Canada named Vimi and invited her to lunch with us. She's been traveling around South America for 8 months now!! She was in the north (Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, etc). She's planning on spending another two months here!! She's 33 and by herself! I'm so envious of her bravery!

So after lunch Sheridan, Vimi, Sam, Carla and I walked down to the water. No matter where you stand in Colonia--and Montevideo for that matter-- you can see the water. It's so beautiful. We walked around the fortress area and historical Colonia and watched the sunset by the lighthouse. It was absolutely beautiful!! 

After sunset we walked around Colonia a bit more-- it's honestly the smallest town ever. And we barely saw any people! We felt so safe--which is quite different then we're used to in BA. It started getting chilly so we went back to the hostel and sat by the fire, split a bottle of champagne we bought at the duty-free store on the ferry and just enjoyed each other's company. It was so nice and relaxing. A dog that was hanging out with us at the sunset followed us home and kept us company by the fire as well. 

The other half of our group (Chloe, Mindee, Jessie, Scott, and Matt) showed up about an hour later. They had class on Friday so they needed to take a later ferry. Right when they came, though, Carla went in our room to check something and realized that her iPhone and Vimi's iTouch that were charging on the side table were both missing.

Apparently the other group saw a guy walk out the door when they were walking in so it was probably him because the man at the front desk (Fredrico) said he didn't recognize him as a guest. We tried to call the phone, GPS track it, everything. No use :/ Poor Carla! 

Fredrico called the police and they came but really how much could they do in that situation?

THEN I realized Matt and I booked the wrong hostel in Montevideo. It was the same El Viajero chain but a different hostel. So we had to get Fredrico to cancel our Downtown hostel booking and we got the last two spots at the Ciudad Vieja hostel location. Fredirco was a lifesaver!!! 

HELL YEAH!!

But after that we went out to dinner a close restaurant called Drugstore. It was great!! They cook everything right in front of you. We had super strong sangria and Sheridan and I split a steak dinner and a vegetarian Japanese dinner. Such a good choice! We felt so Argentine because we had dinner at midnight!

Some of the group wanted to go to the ONLY club in town. I was freaking exhausted, so was Sam and Carla. So Sam went to bed and Carla and I stayed up by the fire for a bit. We were so tired though it didn't last long.

In our room was Sheridan, Carla, Vimi, two girls from France (I think), an older woman, a man, and I. For one night it was only about $12 USD which included breakfast. 

Colonia was so nice to get away from the city. There were very little people on the streets and barely any cars.

The next morning we woke up and had breakfast which included:

• coffee
• tea
• frosted flakes-type cereal
• milk
• tangy OJ
• small pastries
• break/toast
• dulce de leche <-- YUMMM
• jam

Sam, Sheridan, Carla and I went horseback riding after that! We made reservations with Fredrico the night before. Unfortunately there were only 4 spots so the other group couldn't sign up. They rented bikes instead.

We walked to another hostel to pay then a man picked us up about 45 min late-- Uruguayan time!

Sheridan, Sam and I have horse experience but Carla barely had any. She kept freaking out and saying "tengo miedo! tengo miedo!" She was given the most calm horse and Sam got the most energetic because she plays polo and has the most experience. The man that went on the trail ride with us was named Edwardo.

My horse was white and named Rosanante (from Don Quixote). He was awesome- pretty much did everything I asked him to and wasn't too testy.

We kept telling Carla that she had to be calm because the horse will test her and can read her. Yet, at every different move of the horse, she freaked. 

Carla had the worst luck this weekend.

The second her horse stepped onto the sand, he sat down and Carla jumped off right before he rolled over all in the sand. Poor chica. She switched horses with Edwardo and didn't have too much trouble after that. We just felt bad cause we kept reassuring Carla that as long as she kept calm, she'd be fine. I've NEVER seen a horse do that.

(Photocred: Sheridan)

We walked through dry plains, marshy parts, rich vegetation parts, and beaches. A 2.5 hour horseback riding session for $35USD... awesome deal!

We went to a small part of town with a part dirt part paved road so Sam, Sheridan and I could trot, canter and gallop. It felt so good to run on a horse again!!

The stirrups were very shallow so it was tough to keep my feet in. I definitely feel the soreness in my calves and thighs today.

After horseback riding we stopped at a grocery store to get wine, pasta, tomato sauce, peas and a sandwich to bring back to the hostel, cook and share.

We just drank wine and chatted so much. We drank a little more and that's when we started REALLY getting to know each other. Who knew friends who only knew each other for a couple weeks will start talking about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll?

We also met a woman from London who was traveling by herself and was going to Buenos Aires next. She asked if we had any suggestions on what to do for the week- we said definitely Bomba de Tiempo on mondays!

We then bought bus tickets from Fredrico for later that evening- we got the last 4 seats! Hell yeah! Everything seems to be working out on this trip, except for maybe Carla...

The whole crew then made some tea/coffee and hung out on the rooftop patio of the hostel. It was so nice out- probably around 60 or 65. It was so relaxing. 

We walked around the historical part one last time, got our stuff, said bye and thank you to Fredrico, and headed off to our Cot bus for 7pm. 

Plot twist! The bus left like 5 min early!! What the heck?!?!?! I thought this was South America!

The bus was SO FREAKING COLD!! The draft was horrible and the drive was over 3 hours long. It was about 60 degrees outside but only like 40 on the bus... not cool.

Next post: Montevideo, Uruguay! 

Besos

So today was a tad stressful- but nothing the new Argentine Shelly can't handle. Nothing goes the way you want it to in this city and I've learned just to relax and let it be. No need worrying about things you can't fix.

Printer wasn't working, missed another Visual Arts of BA class, couldn't log into the Argentine government website to print out my reciprocity fee receipt to bring with me to Uruguay this weekend, found out how much reading (in Spanish and English) I have to do by next week, etc...

Great part of my day- chilling at a small restaurant on Libertad doing my Spanish homework with a huge Milanesa de pollo sandwich in front of me. This thing was literally bigger than my head.

I was excused from Tuesday's Visual Arts class because of my Uplifted interview. No one told me that on the second day of class we were going to have a field trip to two museums! Who takes a field trip on the second day of class??

So I was sitting in our class looking like an idiot for a while, left and found Carla in the hallway. She said Sheridan is in that class and she had to meet at a museum for class that day. How the heck was I supposed to know??

So I went to see Juan Manuel and he said he apologized because he didn't know we were going in a field trip today or else he would have gotten the information for me to go. I was wondering what my responsibilities were for missing the class and he said nothing- it was just a misunderstanding.

Sweet. Class #1 and #2 missed.

He wrote my professor an email excusing me from class. Let's try with class #3 on Tuesday.

So later that night after I figured out the printer and the reciprocity fee receipt I left IES around 7:30.

I met a man on the elevator that worked a floor below IES because he asked me (in English, I was too stressed to speak in Spanish at that moment) how my studies were going.

We were walking down Santa Fe in the same direction and we had great conversation. He asked me if I wanted to stop and get some coffee or a drink.

People just do that here- they stop what their doing and just make plans on the spot, changing all their other plans in the process.

So I'm like- OK, gave Mama a call to tell her I'd be a little late for dinner and had tea with this man I just met.

He was super interesting. He is a corporate lawyer and studied in Argentina, North Carolina-Wake Forest (1 semester), and Germany (6 mo.).

We talked about life and my time here. It was great conversation and he said he wanted to come to Temple Bar Happy Hour with us next weekend! Woo!! Party on!

So after he bought me tea and a pastry (which I insisted on paying the tip for but he wouldn't have it), he gave me his business card and we walked our separate ways.

It really showed me how interesting, open and nice people are here. And not just to hit on women but to really enjoy their company.

He made me appreciate my current city of BA that much more.

For dinner we had delicious salad (with lemon, oil and salt like always) left over milanesa de pollo, soup with carrots and squash I think and empenadas. Yum yum!

Mama is a great cook! I always enjoy her dinners for me!

Until next time!

Chau!

End of my Internship Search!

Great news! I got the internship I wanted! I took the bus into Palermo (down Santa Fe) with Sam yesterday. We stopped to charge our sube cards and Sam went home to take a siesta- this means alone shopping time for Shelly!

I was about two hours early for my interview for New Wave that was on Scallibrini Ortiz y Mansilla. So- obviously, I took the opportunity to explore shops along Armenia. Got a great cute little change purse/wallet thing. It can fit in my bra which is what I need! The key to not getting robbed everything is to split up your money! Hiding extra money in your bra is a VERY smart idea.

So I went to my interview a half hour early since I wasn't sure exactly where it was. The woman interviewing me seemed nice but honestly, she didn't seem very interested in being there. I also didn't like the interview questions, they seemed super up tight. Like... when was a time you were faced with a difficulty and needed to overcome it? and stuff like that.

My Uplifted interview the day before was so so much more relaxed- it was more like a conversation than an interview. New Wave definitely seems more strict- with the projects as first come first serve, upkeep with the main intern lady, and mandatory 4:30 Friday meetings... what??? I don't have class on Fridays so I can travel if I want to. I'm not about mandatory afternoon/evening Friday meetings... sorry.

Also- Uplifted has about 5 or 6 people in the office where New Wave has about 20. I like a smaller office because that means there's no hierarchy. I won't be doing stupid intern jobs. Everyone does every job. And Nora (the lady from Uplifted) brings her puppy into the office a lot!! How cool and laid back is that??

Anyway, New Wave gave me the job on the spot. I told them I'd email them my response ASAP.

So I emailed Nora last night telling her I had this other interview but would really prefer the Uplifted internship. She said she already emailed Juan Manuel yesterday (our internship guy at IES) and told him I was hired! Juan didn't tell me!

I start my unpaid internship with Uplifted next Friday and I can't wait!! It's very tough to find internships in BA- let a lone paid ones.

Wish me luck in this communications/marketing/PR world, guys!

Besitos!

Internship Interview #1

Ahh, internships. Great experience and resume booster for me, great free help for the company.

Today I had a interview with a company called Uplifted. It's an American PR/marketing firm for start-up businesses. Here's their website.

I researched the company, translated and printed my resume, and found out what bus I needed to take (which is usually the most annoying part).

So I walked about 9 blocks to my bus stop on Cordoba y Pueyrredon then took that all the way to Palermo. I'm always very nervous about the buses because I feel like I'm not in control. I never take the bus at home since I don't live in the city so I'm still trying to get used to it.

What's worse? I forgot my map... So I had to stare at every single street sign to figure out when I had to get off. That wouldn't be that bad if every street had signs on it... Cordoba was pretty good with that though.

While waiting for the bus stop, THREE of my buses passed us because they were too full... THREE! I was so nervous I was going to be late. Luckily I left a full hour before my interview.

Finally one stopped for us but only a few of us could get on cause there was so many people on it. It was gross, I never want to touch that many people at one time again. I couldn't move at all and I was standing right next to the front door- couldn't get much farther than that.

So I finally got off at my stop and started looking for the building. Couldn't find it. I asked people, I walked up and down the block (both sides) and still couldn't find it. So I called one of the Student Affairs administrators of IES so they could get me in touch with the internship guy.

By the way, it was 4pm... aka time for my interview and I was going to be late.

On the phone with him I realized I wrote down the incorrect street number!! I wrote down 5101 and not 5110... Silly me.

So I finally found the place. I failed miserably at using the buzzing/intercom system but they finally let me in.

After all that mayhem, THEY SPOKE ENGLISH! Woo!! I was relieved at time but I know if I get this internship it won't help me improve my Spanish which kinda sucks.

But the internship went really well! I spoke with Nora Leary and another woman named Katie. They told me about the company and it seems super relaxed. I'm not going to be doing "intern jobs" like getting coffee, getting lunch or running errands.

They said I can do as much as I want to do.

If I want to compose tweets for a client, I can. If I want to write blog posts for a client, I can. If I want to call a reporter and do some PR work that way, I can! And If I don't know how to do something, they'll train me for anything.

There also isn't any hierarchy system. Because the company is so small (there's probably only about 5 of them at the office) everyone does every job. They work together for creative pieces or tedious tasks which I think is awesome.

Nora also said she brings her new puppy into the office a lot which is so much fun!! That right there shows how laid back they are.

She said she got her puppy from an organization that gives them out at the park. It's like the SPCA but without background checks or fees. You go to the park, pick out the puppy you want and walk away- it's that simple!

I also talked to the full-time intern there named Lance. He gave me the 411 on what happens on a daily basis there. It was pretty much what I expected: writing blogs, calling clients, interacting with clients on Facebook and Twitter to share their info and get them a bigger audience, etc. It seems like it's a lot of social media stuff.

They were super impressed when I said I have three different blogs!

They also do Pinterest. I LOVE PINTEREST!

So all in all the interview went really well. Lance said their other intern is leaving soon so they are going to want to hire soon. Probably I'll hear within the week.

I was so impressed with myself cause I got home with nothing but the bus number. I needed to search for the bus stop. Since most of the streets are one way it took a while cause I had to cross over a few blocks.

The bus didn't go home on the same road that it came (because everything is one way) so I had to figure out where the heck I was and once I got off the bus, figure out which way to walk I wasn't familiar with the road we drove on. But I got home on my first try!!

For dinner, we had guiso de lentejas which is basically cooked lentils with chunks of churrizo-- que rico!

So now I'm trying to Skype my mom. The fam is currently down the shore so they're running all over Stone Harbor trying to find wifi since our house doesn't have it. They're at a McDonald's now because they needed a password for the wifi outside of the library so let's hope this works!

I wanna get to bed somewhat early tonight cause I have Spanish at 9am then my second interview in Palermo for New Wave at 4! So excited! I like this "trying to get an internship" life.

Chau!

Study Abroad Tips and Packing

So for those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I am studying abroad in Buenos Aires for the Fall of 2013 semester!!!

But with traveling comes A LOT of preparation.

My mom, who used to be an avid traveler, is very knowledgeable about these kinds of preparations and helped me so much though this process.

To save you some research time, I made a list of important tips for traveling abroad and study abroad!

Health & Security

• Sign your passport and fill in the emergency info: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, visa (if required), and fill in the emergency info page of your passport.
• Leave copies of itinerary and passport: Leave copies of your itinerary/passport with loved ones at home so you can be contacted in case of emergency.
• Sign up for STEP through the State Department: This will help the US State Department contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S. or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.
• Check with your medical insurance about overseas coverage: If it does not apply overseas, consider supplemental insurance.
• Check with the CDC for any inoculations needed for the country which you are traveling: You might also want to go to an international travel medicine office to go over where exactly you will be traveling and when to go over the vaccines you may need. Note: the vaccines usually aren't covered by insurance.
• Do not be a target of crime! Don't wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. If you are bringing a purse, make sure it can be put over your body (not just on your shoulder) and has a zipper! No one likes pickpockets!

Money

• Look up any monetary conversion before you go: Make sure you do your math so it's not a surprise that 1 Indian Rupee equals 0.017 U.S. Dollar.
• Visit a bank/ATM in the country you're visiting: Conversion centers in the airport or around the city tend to be complete rip-offs. With the ATM or bank you won't be charged as many fees and the conversion will be exact.
• Receive local cash before you go: A few weeks before you leave make sure you stop at your home bank to order and exchange the foreign currency you will need. Not every place takes credit cards--especially trains or buses. Don't get out too much because usually the exchange rates are a rip-off.
• Bring lots of USD: At least in Argentina, you can get a much better exchange rate on the streets (called the "blue market") than through a cambio place. Ask around where you can change your money once you get to the country.
• Sign up for Xoom: Xoom will give you a better exchange rate than the cambio places will but worse exchange rate from the cambio on the blue market. It goes through a bank account or credit/debit card. All you have to do is sign up, put in how much money you want, then find a pick up location to pick it up. It's pretty simple. This way you don't have to carry thousands of USD with you to the country. Also- look up promotional codes for Xoom. I found one that allowed me to have my first transaction without any fees attached.
• Call your bank or credit card provider: If your bank sees sudden transactions happening in Copenhagen when you're from Philadelphia, they may think that fraud is occurring and will turn off your card as a security measure. Let them know where you are traveling and when.
• Check the country's entrance/exit fees: These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket and can range from $25 - $200. My entrance fee to Argentina is $160 but will last for 10 years.

Local Research

• Buy tickets now for places you know you want to visit: Buying in advance will avoid lines and you may find more deals.
• Get guidebooks: Guidebooks usually include maps, key words/phrases in the native language and will give you enough information so there is no need to purchase any other pamphlets.
• Download apps before you go: Avoid downloading charges from your wireless carrier.
• Research events going on while you're there: Make sure don't miss any events going on in the city like festivals, ceremonies and natural events. Also be sure to research national dishes to try so you can truly experience the culture!

Electronics

• Bring a charger adapter: Countries have different size plugs and voltage so if you want to use your iPod, make sure you can charge it.
• Check the voltage of your electronics: It would be a bummer if you purchased an adapter and still can't use your blow-dryer because the voltage isn't high enough for that country.
• Activate your phone's global capabilities: There is usually a charge in doing this but it is much less than roaming charges you'll get if you don't.  If you are traveling for a long period of time (like my 4-month study abroad trip) you might want to just wait until you arrive in the country to purchase and activate a cheap cell phone to use locally.
• Download the Travelzoo app: The Travelzoo app can help you find great deals in a variety of countries.

Packing & Luggage

• Pack extra clothes in your carry-on bag: You'll be kicking yourself if your checked bag got lost and all you have to wear is your decked out airplane apparel.
• To check a bag or not to check a bag: Make sure to look up your airline's rules about the number of bags that can be checked or carried on for free to avoid any incremental fees.
• Bring a duffle bag that can fold up: Most likely you're bags are going to be packed to the brim going abroad and you're going to buy tons of stuff while you're there. Bring a fold-up duffle bag so you can have extra room for your return home for gifts for yourself and others.
• Bring snacks! Eating in a foreign country is fun but it can be difficult sometimes. Bring snacks that will hold you over until you find that perfect restaurant or food cart!

Studying Abroad Specifically

• See if your school hosts study abroad programs: I go to Elon University and over 70% of students study abroad at least once.  Many students take advantage of my school's study abroad programs all around the world. It makes things (credit transfers, paperwork, etc.) easier when it is though your home school.
• Do research on other study abroad programs: I chose to go on a Non Elon-affiliated study abroad program because it was significantly less expensive. JUST DO YOUR RESEARCH! What classes do they provide? Does it include excursions or service learning trips?
• Check with your Registrar's office for credit transfers: Make sure you figure out what credits will transfer back to your home school before you leave because it'll be a kicker if you come back from study abroad and only a few credits transferred.
• Visit with your adviser: Your adviser should be your best friend, and if he/she is not, get a new adviser! Your adviser will be able to give you advise and make sure everything is lined up and will work out before going abroad.
• Get all of your meetings and paperwork done while you're on campus: It's a pain in the rear to try to communicate and get people to sign documents that are on campus if you already went home for the summer. Get as much as you can done before you go home!

The most important thing to remember is to be as informed and prepared as possible. The more informed you are, the better you'll feel leaving the country.  But as a good friend told me before I left, you won't feel fully prepared until the drive to the airport; and even then you'll probably feel like a dog forgetting her bone.

It Gets Better

Two weeks in Buenos Aires. Finally I feel comfortable.

To all of my study abroad friends: unless you are a traveling chameleon that adapts to any environment in a nanosecond, the first week is going to be difficult; especially the first few days. Most likely you will feel homesick and uncomfortable. IT GET'S BETTER! You will learn how to live with your host family and learn to appreciate where you are. Most people in the world will never have the opportunity you have. There are so many people who will never get the chance to study at a university, let alone study abroad!

I've met so many amazing people on this trip already and I'm so grateful to have them. We're even planning a trip to Uruguay for next weekend!

You get used to the changes. For a semester you have to carry around a crappy, non-color brick of a pre-paid phone because it's the cheapest. For a semester you have to learn to keep your hand bag in front of you and try to not look like a tourist as much as possible so you don't get robbed (which is harder than you might think). You have to learn how to keep yourself occupied; especially if you are living with no other students and classes haven't started yet. You have to learn how to read a map and ask for directions because your new city is so confusing you can't even pronounce the street names. You have to learn to appreciate your temporary home as well as the home you left behind.

I can now say I am genuinely happy in my current home of Buenos Aires, Argentina. That's not to say I don't still enjoy a text from my mom, a snapchat from my best friend, or a skype sesh with my boyfriend every so often :) So keep 'em coming!

I've been thinking of something to fully symbolize my developing feelings. Now Mom and Julia, don't freak out, but I think a tattoo of a dream catcher with a compass in the center would be really cool. Most likely I won't get it-but it's something to think about. For me, it symbolizes guidance and hope as well as my passion and dreams for traveling. I've had a dream catcher hanging over my bed at home for as long as I can remember. It's always been the last thing I look at before I go to bed. It's comforting and gives me a sense of invincibility. Nothing can truly hurt me as long as I don't let it. I can always overcome difficult experiences with time, effort and a bit of help from my loved ones.

I don't know. Just a thought.

However, it is one hour later here so I must away.

Until next time, chau. 

Cultural Differences

1. A man will not verbally ask you to dance but simply pull you to the dance floor. If you do not say no or if you say no in a cutesy way, you have then accepted his invitation. Argentine men are EXTREMELY aggressive towards women, especially if they find out you're American. You have to look them in the eye and firmly tell them NO for them to go away; and even then they will probably come back and try again.
2. People don't obey street rules- pedestrians or cars. I'm so suprised I haven't seen an accident yet but I hear they happen all the time in this city.
3. People like to touch you and get into your personal bubble. If someone likes your earrings they will actually touch your ears while saying "Que liiiindaaa!!"
4. Men stare--ALL THE TIME. Their favorite line is "Que linda" which technically means "How nice."
5. Going off of #4, LOS PIROPOS! Men will cat call women all the time! For example, this morning I had my 30 minute walk from my apartment in Reocleta to my school in Retiro and I received 4 cat calls! Men will honk at you and say things. Some of the things they say can be very nice and beautiful (linda) and some can be just gross! Luckily my Spanish vocab isn't advanced enough to understand the gross stuff yet.
6. Lots of time pet owners don't pick up their dog's droppings. 
7. The dog walkers here are CRAZY! It's normal to see a dog walker with 15-20 dogs. And they're not just small dogs. Yesterday I saw a mastiff in the group- huge!
8. There is very little customer service at most places. You may be waiting in line to buy something but if the cashier is in a conversation you will wait there until their conversation is over. Also waiters will rarely come over unless you grab their attention.
9. Argentines LOVE their change. For some reason they hate large bills even though their largest bill is 100 pesos which is only about $15-$20.
10. They have dinner at 8:30-11pm then go out to the bar/boliche until 5-7am. Sometimes they even go to a cafe for breakfast right after going out.
11. People love to kiss. You see this is in Spain and other Latino countries as well. When you say hello or good bye to people--if you know them or not-- they will give you one or two kisses on the cheek. If someone is going in for it, don't be awkward like me, just let it happen and act like it's normal to kiss someone you don't know on the cheeks.
12. Speaking about kissing... couples make out anywhere at anytime. You'll see a couple ferociously making out at an intersection waiting to cross the street, laying down in the park or up against a building. These people are not afraid of PDA.
13. Fashion time: women here love their platforms. This morning I saw a women riding a bike through the city with a maxi dress and  6-7 inch purple platform shoes. That's what I call fashion. 
14. Argentine women are EXTREMELY theatrical. For example, when my host mom starts talking sometimes she speaks super super fast and gets really emotional and into what she's saying. Since she's talking so fast sometimes I don't know if she's mad, happy, upset, yelling at me, or simply stating a fact. It's tough sometimes but Argentine women definitely know how to get a point across, as long as you know the language.

Tango! Tango!

Just finished my first week of Spanish class!! Two hours of Spanish Monday, Wednesday and Thursday is gonna get old after a while but it was nice today. I love my teachers. They are going to take turns with the class.

I went out to lunch with Ryan after to Il Gufo down the street. I had a yummy Milanesa sandwich with tomato and lettuce. Milanesa is a type of breaded beef or chicken. It was very good! That with cafe con leche was only 37 pesos! About $7 USD!! I love cheap but yummy restaruants.

Then I had my first tango class!!!! It was so much fun! My partner was Liam and he is super into music so he picked everything up super quickly. It was hard for me not to lead but I got used to it- expecially when we did an exercise where I had to close my eyes and just go along with Liam's movements. It was great.

The music was also very wonderful. I think Liam and I did a pretty good job for our first times! I hope I have another opportunity to take another tango class soon!!

Until next time, hasta luego!

La Boca

If you look at any guide book for Buenos Aires, most likely the front cover is going to include bright, colorful houses. I've been in BA for a week, visited many different towns but no multicolored houses... until today!

The town is called La Boca. It's one of the poorer towns in BA along a now unused port so tourists only walk three different streets. The rest of the town is dangerous and mainly shantytowns. 

The houses are made of cheap iron metal and are painted different colors because the inhabitants were so poor when they built their houses that they used all they could scrap up from the ships coming into port. Piece of wood this part of the wall, cheap iron sheet for another, yellow paint on one part of the wall, blue paint for another... the beauty came from the poverty. 

Here there are many shops and cafes along the tourist roads that are all about Argentine culture. I bought my very first mate gourde! I'm excited to buy some yerma and socialize like a true Argentine!

Until next time, hasta luego!

La Cinacina Estacia

We went to the countryside, specifically San Antonio de Areco. It was definitely nice getting away from the city for a day. The city is tiring!

The countryside is where the gauchos traditionally inhabited and La Cinacina is a gaucho ranch. We took rides on the carriages, looked at the horses, saw them play games on the horses.

One game the gauchos played (it was actually a father and son) was called Sortija. They started off at a gallop a bit down this dirt path and had to get a piece of wood shaped like a pen in a very, very small ring that is suspended from rope above the path. It looks extremely difficult and the son (about 25 years old) needed a couple tries to get it.

They also did some races on the horses.

We then had asado... yumm! Asado is the Argentine version of a BBQ. Lots of beef and chicken and chorrizo (sausage). After the great feast a gaucho band played music as two dancers performed the tango and some other dances. We had flan con dulce de leche and cafe during the performance.

Right after the carriage ride, though, a bunch of IES students and staff played a game of soccer with a couple of the gaucho kids that were there. It was super good and I got some good pictures from it!

After the asado and performance, we had mate and just relaxed--it was so nice to be 1.5-2 hours away from the city for a bit. I love BA but I am not a city girl.

Who knows, maybe I'll turn into one ;)

Chau!

The Argentine Experience

Our instructions: "Meet at The Argentine Experience in Palermo Hollywood at 8:30."

Ummm... OK... So the gals and I all met in Retiro (where most of them live) to take the bus 108 to Palermo.

Four words: I hate the bus. Trying to find the bus stop is a pain in the butt by itself but trying to follow the route to see where you are and when you need to get off is quite difficult. Alas, we gringos did it.

We found our hole-in-the-wall restaurant called The Argentine Experience. It was gorgeous inside! Two floors of beautiful wood made the place very comfortable. Our program was split up in two groups, the first group went on Wednesday. There was one long table downstairs and two long tables upstairs for us to all sit.

The hosts were all very nice and outgoing and spoke fluent English. Two were from Brazil and one was a porteo (what people from BA call themselves).

We were greeted with chilled mate (Argentine tea) in champaign classes when we walked though the door. We were about a half hour late but it didn't matter much because according to the Argentine clock we were right on time.

My friends and I took a seat at one of the upstairs tables and put on the chef's hat and apron that the hosts set out for us. We knew it was going to be a great night.

First the hosts brought out ingredients for the empenadas (cheese, beef, vegetables, and caramelized onions). They taught us how much ingredients to put in the empenada (which is a lot less than you'd expect because the empendad shell is quite small).

We stuffed our empenadas with as much deliciousness as we could and learned how to fold them. Depending on what kind of meat you put in the empenada, the fold is different. With beef it's the normal-looking fold: a half circle.

We put those on a tray to be put in the oven then we were able to make our "novelty" empenadas which were judged by the "master chefs" in the back. We had to be as creative and artistic as possible with the shape of our empenada. Mine looked like some kind of pastry dessert... I wasn't very creative. But Jessie made an eye, Chloe made an Eiffel tower, Mindee made a bloated dead man, Sheridan made a cat and Carla made a purse. Carla's purse empenada won the novelty competition. The empenadas were so so so so good!!

They also gave us roasted vegetables (carrots, zucchini, etc.), mashed potatoes and chimichurri. Chimichurri is an oily sauce for grilled meat (usually) made with a bunch of herbs that's from Argentina. I thought it was OK on the empenadas but Sheridan thought it was too oily which was understandable.

We then had dessert and mate. The dessert was two vanilla wafers with dulce de leche in between dipped in chocolate-- YUMM!! We also learned how to make and socialize with mate.

We each got one mate gourd per two people; I shared with Chloe.

To serve mate, you need to fill up the mate gourd 3/4 with the mate leaves. Pour in some hot (not boiling) water in the mate to get it wet then put in the straw (with the strainer at the bottom of the gourd) diagonally.

Fill up the gourd the rest of the way with the warm water and it's ready to serve. Usually with tea you have a small tea bag with lots of water, with mate you have lots of tea with a little bit of water that you keep refilling.

Now, there are rules to mate. It can be shared between one, two, or twenty people. One person is in charge of the hot water. They prepare the mate and take their turn. Usually you can get 3-4 sips out of the mate before you need to add more water and pass it onto the next person. Once the next person finishes the water, they pass it back to the water leader who then fills it up and passes it to the next person. Make sure when you're done your sips and it is try, pass it back to the water leader so they can pass it to the next person.

Also, do not move the straw! For some reason, Argentines get angry at that.

Mate is everywhere in Argentina and a great way to socialize with others. It's also very yummy. Because there is so much tea, though, it is very strong. Especially for the first few sharers. But as people drink more, the taste becomes more mild.

After dinner and mate we all took pictures and went downstairs to share bottles of wine and take a couple shots. It was about midnight at this point and everyone decided to go to a place called Sugar Bar in Palermo.

A few students leading about 30-40 other students was a sight to see so my friends and I decided to go to a small bar across the street from Sugar Bar so if we did decide to go later on we could. We split a couple pitchers of beer and chatted. I became so, so exhausted so Mindee, Carla and I took a taxi home.

The second I got in my bed I PTFO'd. I need sleep even though I think I do in this city that never sleeps.

Until next time, hasta luego!