Mis Aventuras: 12

¡Hola todos!

Wow, what a shock to be back in the States -- no noise in the house, no busy street noise, and no Spanish.  I am having trouble adjusting to all the changes and not being around my friends all the time, but it is only the first couple of weeks.  I suppose this is what they call 'reverse culture shock'..something I thought was a load of rubbish when they talked about it during orientation.

Anyway, my final days in Buenos Aires were spent soaking up any last minute sights and spending time with my API family.  On Thursday, the girls and I went to Esma, a concentration camp during the Dirty War in Argentina.  Sadly, we were only able to enter two buildings so our time there was very limited.  We then went out for lunch and then off to class to receive our final grades.  I am pleased to say that I received all As!!  Afterwards, we walked around the botanical gardens which quickly turned into a photo shoot of the three of us (sorry I have no pictures as Becks has yet to upload them!!)  That evening we joined the rest of the API group at Magdalena's then we ventured on to Crobar with our VIP entrance.

On Friday I cleaned my room and finalized all of my packing.  It was an extremely sad day as I also had to say goodbye to my host-mother as she was traveling to visit her mother who is ill.  She had been absolutely wonderful to me over the past four months and I have been assured that I have an open home in Buenos Aires and to visit soon!  That evening all API members went to our resident director's house for a despedida dinner, where we met the summer students.  I still do not understand why anybody would study abroad for 1-2 months.  It takes that time to adjust to the new country, meet new friends, and navigate the streets.  Anyway, the food was tasty and the new group was great!  Sarah, Rebecca, Lauren, and I went to my friend's house party afterwards.  Later that evening, we met up with the rest of the group, however Lauren and I did not wish to hang out with everybody as they were constantly upset about leaving and dragging out the goodbye.  So Lauren and I decided to meet up and say goodbye to a couple of our Argentine friends over a drink.  It was a great way to spend our last night in BA with good friends and good conversation which kept our minds off the dreaded idea of leaving the next day.

Saturday was the day everybody was not looking forward to.  It started fairly early when I met up with Sarah and Rebecca for Obelisk and 9 de Julio pictures.  It was also my turn to say goodbye to Sarah.  I knew saying goodbye to my two best friends would be difficult, but nobody can ever be prepared for it.  After a few sheds of tears we went our separate ways and I went home to have lunch with my host-sisters.  After lunch, my sister handed me the phone with my mother on the other line and all three sisters came into the living room.  They handed me a bright pink box with my name written in glitter.  Inside was chocolate with dulce de leche (my mother knew this was my favourite) and various sweets for the plane.  It also contained a box with the pink Argentine stone pendant for a necklace in the shape of a heart and a note written from my mother.  It was all a great surprise and all five of us were in tears.  It was very difficult saying goodbye to what is now my second family!  Before I knew it, Rebecca and I were in a taxi headed for the airport saying goodbye to the city we had grown to know and love (sadly we were not joined by Sarah as her flight was cancelled so she did not leave until Sunday evening). 

(my 3 amazing sisters!!)

I arrived late Sunday morning and was welcomed by 100 degree weather, perfect weather to lounge around the pool and catch up on my tan which I have missed out on for the past month or so!

This blog was intended to keep my friends and family informed of my time here in Argentina, as well as for me to remember for the future. No matter what I write, words and few pictures do not even come close to what my life was really like. There are no words to describe my experiences. So a big thank you goes to all of my new Argentine friends, my wondeful host-family, my amazing API family, and finally to my parents for being able to financially allow me to fulfill my dreams of traveling and expanding my language skills.

I hope everybody enjoyed my updates and I hope my experiences and adventures in Argentina have influenced your thoughts and opinions of South America and perhaps you will make it your next vacation hot spot!  Until next time, ¡hasta luego!

Mis Aventuras: 11

¡Hola todos!

Well the day has finally arrived.  I am extremely sad to announce that this will be my last post from Buenos Aires.  I have absolutely loved my time here and I am so thankful I was able to have this once in a lifetime opportunity.  I have learned so many new things, met so many amazing people, and I feel like I am returning to reality in the States as a brand new person.

The majority of the last week and a half has been filled with exams, essays, and presentations, all of which have gone very well.  I received an A in three of my four classes, and I will find out tomorrow my grade in the fourth class.  I surprisingly received an A in my history of economics course!

On Thursday I took my family out for dinner as a thank you for all they have done over the past four months.  I took them to La Querencia, a common restaurant for the girls and I, which serves typical Argentine food.  My host-mother and I bonded on a whole new level over a bottle of wine.  We spent the evening boy shopping throughout the restaurant with my mother consistantly asking why she has not received a free drink from the abundance of men in the room.  Afterwards, I went out with a group from API to Palermo.

Sadly, our last weekend was filled with despedidas (going away parties) for some friends as well as for ourselves.  Friday's night at Crobar turned into an unofficial despedida with about half of our university in attendance.  It was great to spend it with them!

On Saturday we received medals as a graduation from our univeristy.  Only in Argentina will you graduate to Shakira's "Waka Waka" song.   

On Sunday a group of us went to the Boca v. Arsenal match.  Boca matches are known to be very dangerous, so we went with a tour guide.  We met the group in Palermo and took a bus to what we were told was a bar about a block from the stadium.  This bar was actually a laundromat look-alike,   but they did serve us tasty food and drink for nearly three hours before the match started.  As game time approached, more and more tour groups joined us.  If Boca won the match they would win the league cup, sadly they lost 3-0.  They did not play well at all as Arsenal's goals were made due to the silly mistakes of Boca players.  Although they lost and the weather was chilly and drizzly, the atmosphere was incredible.  Everybody in the stadium was constantly chanting, shouting, or jumping.  I would highly recommend attending a match for anybody visiting Buenos Aires! 

 

On Monday a group of us had a despedida for Madison, a friend in API, at her apartment with dinner and champagne.  She left yesterday to spend the next three weeks traveling around Bolivia and Peru before going back to the States.  This  was just the start of the good byes I will face this week. 

Last night was my despedida which my family arranged with some friends.  We had an asado (variety of grilled meats) and everything was delicious!  Kansas may be meat country in the States, but there is no competition when Argentina is in the game.  The meat here is fabulous!  It still amazes me how lucky I am to be with this family, I could not have asked for a better host-family.  They, along with their friends and family members, are incredibly generous.  Afterwards, I met up with the girls at the wine bar where we met a group of French professional rugby players who were, by the looks of their table, trying to consume every bottle of hard liquor the bar had available.  We met up with a couple of Lauren's friends and spent the rest of the evening in Palermo.

Today is a national holiday, so everybody is off work and school.  For me, it has been spent packing and buying last minute gifts..the day I have been dreading for the entire time I have been here.  It has been a tough week as I am starting to face the realization that my life and the people that have been in it for the last four months will soon change.

My final post of my last few days here will be written poolside from the States.  So Argentina, this is not a chao, but an hasta luego because I will return soon.

¡Hasta luego!

     

Mis Aventuras: 10

¡Hola todos!

My life has not been nearly as exciting as it was several weeks ago when Laura was here.  Sadly, I have school projects and presentations to blame for that.

Last weekend we had a movie night at our program director's home.  We watched Secretos de sus Ojos.  It received several awards and we all really enjoyed the film!  I highly recommend it to anybody who enjoys watching foreign films.  That evening, a group of us went to Jet Lounge as VIPs.  It is located on the water surrounded by yachts and is described as an exclusive lounge which apparently has been the hot spot for designer parties.  We had a great time enjoying two hours of free appetizers and drinks as well as a live band.  However, once happy hour finished we left as we knew the prices of everything would be a little out of our range, so we took a visit to Crobar, a local bariloche.  On Sunday the girls and I went to La Boca to visit the market.  I must say, I am really going to miss the weekend markets with local trinkets and people's artwork and personal creations.

This past week has been fairly busy with school as tomorrow marks the start of finals week...where has my semester gone?!?!?  On Thursday we went to an orchestra show at Colon Theatre.  Despite not being able to see over the balcony, it was a great time soaking in the arts and the magnificent theatre.  Afterwards we ate empanadas for dinner -- which have made me ill for the last three days -- and went out with Madison and Lauren in Palermo. 

Friday was a day of R&R and homework.  That evening we watched the Lucky One at Sarah's house.  It was a little too sappy for my taste, however the girls tell me I need to read the book as it is far better than the film.  Yesterday morning we decided to finish writing our papers at El Ateneo, an old theatre that is now a bookstore/cafe, but sadly we had to leave after 30 minutes as we were told off by our waitress that we were unable to use the outlets for our computers, any my battery was almost dead.  How they expect customers to buy food and get their work done is beyond me.  Luckily, Buenos Aires is full of little coffee shops, so we had endless options on where to spend our lunch money.  That evening, I had a delicious vegetable soup for dinner.  Soup is not very common here and despite having a few Campbells soups for sale at the grocery store, it is very expensive.  Needless to say, we were in heaven after spending two months trying to find real soup. 

Today we spent the afternoon at the markets in San Telmo and Plaza de Mayo for some last minute shopping.  I finally purchased my tango art piece!  I cannot wait to frame it and hang it in my apartment! 

Fingers crossed all goes well with my exams! 

¡Hasta luego!

Mis Aventuras: 9

¡Hola todos!
Wow, what a busy yet very eventful last two weeks I have had!  I will start where I left off on Sunday 13, which was my host-sister's 20th birthday.  The girls left to spend the day with their father so I spent the afternoon baking cakes and preparing dinner with my host-mother.  It was great to finally bake/cook after not having much of an opportunity for the past three months, as well as a great conversation with my mother.  That evening, about 12 family and friends came over for dinner.  It was somewhat awkward as I didn't know anybody, but it was still a good time.

I know mum and dad will be pleased to hear that I passed all my mid-terms!  I received three As and one B.  Not too shabby! 

Sarah's parents and sister were in town for a majority of the week and on Thursday they took Rebecca and I out to dinner.  It was great to finally meet her parents who I have only spoken to via Skype.  Afterwards we went to the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl, similar to a bar hop.  There is a meeting point and then as a group spend an hour or so at five different bars throughout the area.  I was surprised, it was very enjoyable.  Thursday was international night so we met a mixture of English and Spanish speaking people.

On Friday we had an API tour of La Boca, the poorest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires.  We toured the city visiting people who live there, admiring the multi-coloured houses, and ate lunch at a local cafe.  The cafe was started by a woman back in 2001 during the economic downturn when the government gave money to new companies to try and keep the economy alive.  This woman decided to start an alfajor shop, hiring young boys and girls trying to keep them out of trouble and off the streets of La Boca.  Now she has expanded to an actual restaurant with employees which are still youngsters.  They also make hand-made boxes for the alfajores where one person puts the box together, another paints, and another decorates.  It's a great cause and I bought a bright yellow one for my kitchen! 
This was also the day Laura arrived!  It was great to see her!  I met her at her hotel after La Boca.  My mother invited her over for dinner and made my favourite coconut and dulce de leche dessert, it's to die for!

On Saturday Rebecca joined us for the touristy sites of Buenos Aires.  Sadly, the whole time Laura was here it was either raining or overcast, but we made it work!  We started with Casa Rosada where Cristina Kirchner works.  It is a beautiful building with so much history.  All we could think about was the Evita movie with Madonna and expecting CFK to jump out and say hello, sadly it never happened.  Fun fact: she takes a helicopter to and from Casa Rosada everyday..wonder if my future employer would pay for that?  We then walked around Puerto Madero.  That evening Laura, Rebecca, another Rebecca from our group, and I ate at our usual Argentine restaurant.  We then went over to my friend David's house and then showed Laura the Palermo night life.  It was a great time, although Laura needed a bit of adapting to this way of life.  No worries, she was fine by the end of the trip.

On Sunday Rebecca joined us again to visit the Recoleta cemetery and market.  To our surprise, the cemetery was massive!  Obviously, our main reason for going was to see Evita's tomb, but it was interesting to see the elaborate workings on different people's tombs.  The market was great and we were all able to buy hand-made, Argentine items.  That evening Lauren's family invited a few of us from the group over for drinks and appetizers.  It still amazes me how nice everybody's family in API are!

On Monday we walked around the various plazas throughout BA and did a little shopping.  For dinner, I introduced Laura to real empanadas.  She loved them and I was informed how terrible OTB empanadas were compared to the real ones.  Afterwards we met Rebecca and Sarah for Laura's introduction to our friends at the wine bar. 

Tuesday was a very relaxed day.  Since I have class in the early afternoon we were only able to walk around the parks in the Recoleta area.  That evening we went to Cafe Tortoni for the tango show.  Laura loved it! 

On Wednesday we had originally planned for a trip to Tigre, but weather was not permitting.  So, I still decided to take the day off from school and we spent the day shopping, visiting El Ateneo, and Havana.  We both were able to buy gifts for friends and family in the States and I finally found my boots!  I have been searching since last autumn for brown boots in the States and could never find any.  I walked into one shop tried them on and I was sold!  El Ateneo is a bookstore which used to be a theatre.  It's a stunning building!  Laura also experienced Havana and their famous alfajores.  I sent some to mum for her birthday and I have been told to bring her another box when I return..they're delicious!!

Starting Tuesday or Wednesday, Laura was starting to get the sniffles so Thursday was very limited. We went to La Flor, a metal flower which opens and closes when the sun rises and sets and the Hard Rock Cafe for a last minute gift for her father. Afterwards I sent her home to rest as we had plans that evening. We went out with some of the girls from the group to 69, a gay/drag club. It was great! I've never been to anything like it before, but we all had a great time!

Friday was Laura's last night in Buenos Aires so we spent the day visiting the Evita museaum.  It was also my host-mother's birthday so she was busy cooking for another group of friends and family for dinner.  I bought her some flowers and Laura and I ate a delicious meal with the family.  I can't wait to try the recipe when I get back!  We then went to the wine bar with Sarah for a relaxed evening.

On Saturday we went to an API welcome lunch for the summer students.  There are four new girls here for the summer.  It's strange as two of them are here for one month and the other two for two months.  The ones here for a month are leaving on the exact day we are, something we all found odd.  I still can't understand why you would study somewhere for a month as it takes the best part of that time for you to settle down and learn your way around the city.  I'll be here for four months and that is no where near long enough!  That afternoon Laura and I did some last minute touring around 9 de Julio with the Colon Theatre and Obelisco de Buenos Aires.  That evening I went with her to the airport, very sad day!!  But, it was great to see her!!

Well I'm not sure if any of my other posts will be this full of festivities!  But, I only have a month left, so I'm going to make the most of it.

¡Hasta luego!