One Big Holiday

Hola Todos!

Well now I’m on my 40^th day in Argentina (WOW), and I figured what better way to celebrate than with a much anticipated blog? (Cheesy I know, but so me)

It’s long, but trust me it’s entertaining. My life here is one really long game of charades or catch phrase (minus the drawing board and beeping respectively)

Day to Day

Okay well, since my last and only post, I’ve started to form somewhat of a routine. Sleep until about 9:30 or 10, run some days, shower (sometimes it’s even a warm shower), ride El Colectivo, get almost run over walking 100 yards to school, get to school around 12, hang out in the Cantina to use the wireless, eat a sandwich, yogurt with cereal, or onion/steak flavored chips (told you everything had to do with meat here),do my homework that is due that day (again, so me), go to class at 2, hang out in the Cantina to use the wireless, leave campus, almost get run over walking 100 yards to the bus stop, ride El Colective, hang out in a coffee shop/go shopping/wander aimlessly/wish it was dinner time, go home, still wish it was dinner time, actually eat dinner between 9 and 10, watch a telenovela, pretend to do homework, and then go to sleep in a twin bed with Hansel & Gretel themed sheets.

On the weekends that we stay in Cordoba we will usually do a small day trip on Friday or hang out at El Centro (downtown). This past Friday we took a small bus to Alta Gracia and visited a house that Che Geuverra lived in and a museum about him. There’s a ton of bars and boliches in El Centro along with great shopping and there’s always some sort of cultural even going on in the main plaza. Every Saturday that we’ve been in Cordoba we’ve gone to this little café that has an open rooftop terrace for coffee/ drinks (the beer here comes with a small dish of peanuts, genius) then we go walk around a really cool artisan open market called Paseo de los Artes. Everything is hand crafted and some of it is funny, but most of it is beautiful. It’s really cool because it’s lit by Christmas light looking lights and it’s only on Saturday nights. This past Saturday I got my ear pierced here (surprise mom!), it’s a tiny-tiny dot in my right ear in the bottom quarter of my ear lobe. Considering she germ-x ed the earring right before she pierced my ear with it, probably not one of the most sanitary decisions I’ve ever made. haha

But in the words of Widespread Panic, “Ain’t Life Grand?”

Oh and btw, we are an hour ahead of EST, not some crazy time difference even though it’s the other side of the world. So when it’s 12:00 noon in Clemson and the Carillion Bells of Tillman are ringing with the Mario theme or “My Heart Will Go On”, (sorry, had to say it) it’s 1:00pm here.

TV

They say telenovelas are like soap-operas, but they are nothing like them! Telenovelas are SOO much better. Even in another language it’s easy to pick up on who is in love with who, who is going to sleep with who, who is going to end up being someone’s brother, and who is plotting to kill who. This one is called Malperida and the main character would probably be on a hybrid of the Real House Wives of New Jersey, Chelsea Lately, and the Real World. She’s like all the other girls here and is a size 0 with hair almost down to her butt (even in a braid). Needless to say, it’s my favorite Argentinean TV show.

There’s also this dancing show that I can never remember the name of, but it supposed to be like Dancing with the Stars. Key word: supposed to. It’s more like a car accident, where you don’t want to look, but you can’t look away. The girl dancers basically wear less fabric than that which comprises a wash cloth and just kind of jump around while the guys stand there and clap and try to stay out of the way. Warning, if you get motion sickness easily do NOT watch this show. The camera angles move faster than a moving Remis (green Argentinean taxis that I don’t think even come equip with brakes).

Music

Since, I just happened to be on the topic of TV, I figure I should mention the music too. If you don’t like Daddy Yankee (said here like Dadi Jhankey), just do yourself a favor and don’t travel south of the equator. They have three genres of music here, first, Daddy Yankee, second, Lady Gaga, third Reggaeton/more Daddy Yankee. Flip a coin to guess which one is playing at any location or anytime of the day, coffee shop, club, sushi restaurant, no where is safe. haha

My personal favorites (if you ever feel in the mood for latin tunes) “Llamdo de Emergencia” by Daddy Yankee (of course) and “Nina Bonita” by Chino & Nacho (how stereotypical can you get with a name like “Nacho”?). Don’t worry both are available for purchase on iTunes so you don’t have to keep playing them on YouTube over and over because we both know you will. Oh I almost forgot, Shakira “Waka Waka” and the entire Madanonna concert from Buenos Aires is what plays in-between Daddy Yankee and Senora Gaga.

On a completely different music note, I bought tickets to Dave Matthews Band in Buenos Aires on Monday!!!!!! If you know anything about me, you know this will probably rank in top experiences of my life, right after the other DMB concert I’ve been to. We got tickets on the floor right in front of the stage. The concert is October 14^th and I’m literally already counting down the days. Dave, if you ever happen to read this: 1^st: sincere thank you for having one of your last concerts for the next two years in the same country that I’m studying abroad in (I appreciate you working your tour around my personal schedule) 2^nd: I love you, please divorce your wife, and 3^rd: Marry me?

What the Brochures didn’t say

Whenever I saw looking to study abroad, I thought Argentina looked great because it “is the Europe of South America”. And it kind of is compared to like Venezuela, Bolivia, or Guatemala, but it’s a looong way from Paris or Brussels.

The things they forget to tell you about studying abroad or Argentina forget to include are as follows (in no particular order of favorites):

-There’s a decent amount of traffic on the main streets, and it’s not just taxis and buses. There are random horses with ramshackle carts stuffed with garbage. Literally a small mountain of garbage in a cart the size of a standard truck bed. The garbage isn’t secured with ropes or anything and I’m sure unloading it is like a really dirty/smelly game of Jenga. I’ve tried to sneak a picture of these just so everyone can have the privilege of seeing them, but like every-other mode of transportation here, they move quickly and unpredictably. Another curious sight in the streets of Argentina are the mopeds. There’s nothing strange about the actual mopeds, its more about who is on the moped…or for that matter, how many people are on the moped. I’ve literally seen entire families on a moped, 4 or 5 people/kids. So much for car seats and “Baby on Board” stickers.

- While studying abroad you will have awkward moments with your host family, it’s just of those facts of life things. I’m just lucky enough that I’ve got to have many.

This week alone: the maid that comes once a week walked in on me naked (but in her defense, I’m not allowed to turn the lights on during the day so how was she supposed to know), your host mom will mix up you and your host sisters underwear (this will be funnier after the following underwear story), somewhat electrocute yourself and see sparks coming out of a plug converter and have your room smell like burnt plastic for hours hoping no one asks “what’s that smell?”, and last but not least, forgetting the word for “point” (which is really punto) and accidently saying punta (a bad word), followed by puto (another bad word), while having a confused “I’m sorry I don’t know what I’m saying” look on your face while smiling and nodding.

-This is one of the few moments in my life that I am so, so glad I over pack for literally everything. For whatever reason I felt the need to bring over 40 days worth of underwear, I will be forever grateful. I still haven’t quite figured out how they go about washing their skibbies. I’ve seen some hanging up in the bathroom, but I don’t really know how/who washes them. We have a maid that comes once a week to make the beds, sweep the floors, etc and I don’t know if she does the laundry or if my host mom does. So far jeans and t shirts have just magically appeared clean folded on my bed (one thing I’m definitely going to miss).

- I don’t know what I miss most: milk that doesn’t come in a plastic bag, a clothes dryer, peanut butter, having a car, hot showers, hair straighteners that don’t vibrate, toilet paper or my white clothing being whiter after it’s washed. I think the winner might be toilet paper. Who knew Charmin was such a luxury? The toilet paper we have at my host-house is about ½ to 1 ply and a lot of times, the bathrooms at school or in restaurants don’t even have toilet paper. This all might be TMI for some, but I felt it my duty (no really bad pun intended) to spread the word in case any of you plans to visit Argentina soon.

But truly, I’m really having the time of my life and trying to try everything and soak it all in while I’m here! For example, in my first class today we rode horses by a river and made empanadas. (I’m going to dedicate a whole blog to food at some point where you’ll get an in-depth explanation of what this is/how delicious it is) It’s already been a life changing experience and I still have almost 3 months left. Everything is about having an open mind and being here now mentally and physically. It's wonderful feeling like you are in the right place at the right time. My Spanish has also already improved so so much, but I know I still have a long way to go!

I love and miss you all! Muchisimos besos!

PS Go Tigers!

The Beginning!

Hola Chicos!!! (Hey y’all)

First, let me say sorry for just now posting something! I’m on my 22^nd day in Argentina and it’s been a whirlwind so far. December is going to come and I’m going to wonder where all the time went.

There’s a saying out there to learn something new everyday, well I learn about a million new things a day. Just when I think I’m getting the hang of something I realize it’s supposed to be done a totally differently. You know how when puppies tilt their heads when they are pleasantly confused? Well imagine having that feeling/look almost everyday haha. I find myself in a lot of short games of charades. This post is going to be long, but just bare with me; I’ll try to stick to some of the highlights. Pictures are coming!

My House/Family

Mayor Arruabarrena 110- Urca Cordoba Argentina

My house is one-story and has one bathroom and three bedrooms. There’s a living room and a kitchen but I’ve determined that virtually all the living rooms in Argentina are just for show. Every time I walk through with my obtuse amount of luggage/book bag I’m deathly afraid I’m going to break something. Kind of like a museum/ creepy relatives house where you aren’t supposed to touch anything. Well needless to say, I’m more or less a bull in a China shop. After getting to the airport and to my house for the first time, I meet my host mom and not two seconds later do I accidently knock a picture off the wall and get stuck in the doorway. I know, I know, what an entrance.

My School

Universidad de Blas Pascal

It’s a really small private school with about ¼ the size of campus that Clemson has. I spend most of my time in the Catina (cafeteria) (big surprise I know haha)and in classroom 206. It’s the room that every single one of my classes is in except Taller Cultural. Almost all the international students are in the same classes because the International Office here runs them all. That’s also the office that makes sure we get our visas, we like our host families, etc. All of my professors are extremely nice and helpful and so is everyone in the international office. Everyone wants to make sure you have a really enjoyable time.

My favorite classes are Espanol and Literatura. We had our first paper due today and I’m still in the habit of putting everything off until the VERY last minute. I guess some things just never change.

The Bus

If you know anything about me, you probably know that I can get lost in a paper bag. My sense of direction is basically non-existent. For this reason I take roads that I know even if it add extra time, have to ask questions like is there a McDonalds or Starbucks near the intersection, have to make u-turns like its my job, and I avoid public transportation at all costs.

After briefly toying with the idea of buying a car, scooter, or bicycle (trust me if you saw the way these people drive you would quickly drop any of these options too) I realized that I’m bus bound for the next for months. The bus hear is called El Collective and the only thing is has collected is huge amounts of my time and money. I have to use the bus to get from my house to school, my house to the main street, school to downtown, downtown to home… you get the picture.

The first day I took El Collectivo it took me a modest 3 and half hours to get to school. (Whereas now it usually only takes me about 30 minutes) I went to the right bus stop is just about 100 yards from my house and even the right bus. I got on and it wasn’t too crowded and I sat at the front just incase I had to ask the bus driver a question. I went on the theory that I would be able to see campus from afar and would be able to get off in plenty of time. This would be my first of many mistakes. During my prolonged original trip I neglected to look for a few certain items that are critical to exit a bus. For example, where the button is to signal the bus driver when to stop, and how to actually exit the bus.

The Food

There are about 9 food groups in Argentina. Beef, bread, alfajores, beef, dulce de leche, eggs, salt, matte and more beef. Beef is part of everything imaginable here. And it’s not just your token hamburger and steak either. If you’re looking for a career, Argentina could probably use an influx of cardiologist. Despite their diet, I’ve only seen one or two overweight people here. Pizza, pasta, French fries, lomitos (basically a philly cheese steak with eggs and ham) and ice cream are all really popular too. So I have all of my personal favorite food groups covered.

On a healthier note, the apples, bananas, and other fruit here are amazing. Not a single waxy/pesticide flavor at all. The fruit evens out all the beef right?

On another side note, whatever you do, don’t eat the hamburgesa de Shrek. We went to McDonalds for the first time here last week and of course I just HAD to order the cheeseburger with tortilla chips on it….don’t make the same mistake I did if the Shrek burger ever makes it to the States.

Okay that’s all for now, about my kind of day to day routine here. And I’ll try to post again soon about my trips to Buenos Aires and Mendoza. I love you all and thanks for reading!

Chio Chicos :)