I didn’t realize how challenging it was going to be completely changing languages. My host mama knows zero english and in the past two weeks, especially the past few days, I can feel a shift in my thinking. It’s probably all the spanish talk radio, conversations at dinner about anything, and reading the newspapers in Castellano. I’m not translating in my head with commonly used verbs, I’m picking up the flow of how people talk, and the small pieces of slang that Porteños use for their type of Spanish. It’s really interesting because language/dialect/slang can, of course, be related to any other language. Whenever I hear a new word that I can’t find a literal translation for in the dictionary, I just think about “hyphy”, “hella”, “slaps”, “real talk”, “lightweight”, “ghostin”, and “out of pocket”. Damn, it must be tough being an international student in the Bay. Anyway, it’s great that every culture, area, city develops its own character according to what is popular. I guess that’s just humanity at its finest.

I played basketball at a gym with my neighbor’s son last Sunday. Really competitive run. About 20-25 people all with some sort of basketball IQ. The biggest difference in the style of play is that there isn’t that one dude, like in the states, who wants to go one on one…er, one on FIVE, everytime he touches the ball. The argentines do a lot of cutting, off ball screening, and attacking the bucket. Rarely is anyone hoisting a quick three in transition or early in the possession..and it’s pickup! I think..no I definitely hoisted the most three’s, but that’s just the American in me. Another different nuance is they call tons of fouls and when there is a stoppage, they take the ball out wherever the foul happened, under the basket, sideline, etc. Anyway, it’s basically just like the recreation center at the UA, except there’s no oiled up, tank top frat bro’s.

I went out last night with Allie Harbert’s host sister from ‘06, Aylin, and I felt like I was re-living my experience of meeting Allie in Ms. Dwyer’s jr year English class at MCHS. I can see why they’re very close and get along well together. I had a lot of fun with Aylin and her friends, but I didn’t realize it was the same bar that I went to while I was staying at the hostel with Rachele.  Before coming to BA, I heard a lot about porteños being stuck up or unfriendly, but I haven’t encountered any of that. All the Argentines are really personable.  

Orientation is on the 19th, fast approaching, I’m excited to meet international students from all over the world. Most likely in some cases, only communicating with them in our secondary language, Spanish, which I think is really incredible. I kinda forgot that I was here for school. Hasta luego

Chau

This city is the definition of a non-stop megapolis. The cars don’t obey the general rules or philosophies of driving. I mean, there are lanes and stuff, street signs, street lights, but every single car merges without signaling, people high-beam each another, and speed through intersections with pedestrians in the crosswalk (or out of the crosswalk too). There’s massive amounts of people at all times of the day and night: crowding the Subte (metro/subway), rapidly pacing the streets, sprinting in and out of restaurants and small places to shop. 

Yesterday, my friend Rachele and I went to visit the UCA in the barrio (district/neighborhood) of San Telmo. San Telmo is kinda like the financial district/downtown of Frisco. At least we appear to fit in, one of the porteños asked us for directions to another street. It’s dirtier compared to the other barrios, there’s more working people around the area, there’s trash everywhere on the streets and I guess at night the city’s workers collect all the trash bags and just put ‘em on the street corners to pick up later. We got cell phones too, which you pay for as you go through minute cards or “Tarjetas”. The main company here in Argentina is called “Claro”. 

My homestay advisor Adriana and her husband Ignacio invited us over for dinner with their two daughters, host daughter, and another international student who had used their company to find a homestay as well. I feel like my Spanish really improved at the dinner table, just listening to them speak and then having to respond in Spanish instantly at least made me feel like I’m not on vacation and I have a goal I must accomplish. For dinner, we had Empanadas stuffed, some stuff with ground beef, others with straight veggies, and others with onions and cheese. I stuck with the ground beef ones because it’s safe, solid, and I wasn’t gonna regret that. The two other international students from Madison, Wisconsin and Buffalo, New York were relatively fluent in Spanish. Both had been in Buenos Aires for 6 months. They were really good at responding quickly and when I couldn’t understand they were easily keeping the conversation going, which gives me hope because I want that bi-lingual characteristic.

Today, Rachele and I woke up pretty late and went to try and find my school, Universidad de Belgrano, in the barrio of Belgrano. The directions were a little off and we ended up not being able to find my school, so we’ll try tomorrow. We did eat at a small cafe that served panini’s and sandwiches. We were the only ones eating lunch though at 4 p.m. everyone else was having tea, coffee and a pastry, or a soda. I think that’s around the time that you’re supposed to have a siesta or small break/snack because dinner ends up being so late (around 9:30/10). We watched the U.S. vs. Ghana game at Café Martinez and many of the people there were rooting for U.S., but the real game they watch is tomorrow with Argentina playing Mexico in the second day of the round of 16.

We’re about to find a bar tomorrow to watch the game at, I really want to see how people react to soccer, how serious it is in Argentina, and the passion of the fans for the country as opposed to America’s lack of passion towards patriotism or simply the world cup team. We’re currently staying in Recoleta which apparently is the safest neighborhood in Buenos Aires, and it feels that way. Belgrano (comparable to the Sunset district) was pretty nice too, very residential large, tall, high-rise apartments. Recoleta / Belgrano seem to be the same with more residential areas, high-rise apartments, and then a few main streets with the businesses attracting a lot of attention.

Tomorrow, we’re about to head to Palermo barrio in between Recoleta/Belgrano—which apparently is the spot for trendy, hipster, things to do and great places to eat.

It’s basically amazing to be here and I’m excited to move in with my homestay family on Monday in Belgrano. I just want to get things started already with my homestay, school, and everything else. I’m thankful for the opportunity.

Ciao