Hola Chicos!!! (Hey y’all)
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 :)
