ENCONTRE TRABAJO!

I have two jobs! One starts right away (next week), starting w/ only 4 hours, but week by week, I accumulate more hours, and can work up to 30 hours a week. The other starts in March, and is much better paying, but is only 2 or 3 days/week. In one of my interviews, I had to prepare/give a 20 minute lesson. It centered around the drought in Buenos Aires, and the relationship between the president and the farmers here. The person I taught expressed some negative sentiment against Kirshner (the prez), and explained that most Argentineans felt the same. Kirchner's husband was the last president, and people believe that he is his wife's puppetmaster. I have to find out more about why people have negative feelings about Kirshner.

The Tea Connection is one of my favorite places in Recoleta. They have every type of tea you can imagine, and they bring you a whole pot of it. They place a sand timer on the table, and when the time runs out, your tea is ready to drink. I ordered hot cakes, which came with bananas, cream cheese and honey!

FASHION OBSERVATION: The women wear flower barretts to keep their hair back, and they color coordinate with their clothes. They'll wear purple from head to toe. They also have close-toed shoes with a slit in between the big toe for men and women! Will this make it to North America? I hope so!!

LATEST NEWS: 4 kids threw a glass bottle off their balcony, hitting a young guy walking below on the head, sending him into the hospital. They haven't found the 4 boys yet. They fled.

lavaderia

Laundry-time was long overdue. For $6, three loads of laundry were neatly pressed, folded and bagged for me! I've never seen my laundry come out lookin' so good (sorry mom!)

We have no hot water right now, so I had to go to my interview looking a little greasy. Not a big deal - I got a job, but unfortunately it won't start until March.

Shipping things to and from Argentina is EXPENSIVE. One small package mom sent me was $9, and my friend Amy got a package with some mac and chz and clothes for $50. Talk about heavy duty!!! :)

BOOKS AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION

PDA is strong here - I mean, hardcore making out right in the middle of the street. It's just accepted.

Buenos Aires is a literature-loving city. All over, free newspapers are handed out, people are reading novels as they walk, and there are bookstores everywhere. I still need to visit the Biblioteca Nacional right in downtown Recoleta. It was actually built on top of the Peron's old house. For three decades, architects argued about the structure and politics of the library. Not until 1994 did they actually complete the project. It's beautiful, but I've only seen it from the outside.

I passed the TEFL course! Yay! Tomorrow, I'm teaching my first High Intermediate class (and it will be my last class in training). There are normally four adults, and I'm showing an interview of Obama as he discusses the bailout.... we'll see what they say about that! Friday we have a class dinner to celebrate our "graduation".

I'm appreciating my car a lot more now that I have to rely on public transportation (the Subte mostly, where everyone packs in like a bunch of hot sardines, our skin melting onto the scorching metal handles -- I try not to touch those because hundreds of people touch them a day, so I just let my body fly all over as the train brakes or speeds up, letting other people's bodies stop me as I say "perdon!", "disculpa!" or "ay! lo siento!") or walking (where I look straight down at the sidewalk avoiding cat calls and cries for coins from hobo's - but the worst are the little kids that lean on your restaurant table for five minutes pleading for just one cent).

As I think I said before, I have two interviews this week to teach. That will determine whether I'm going to extend my trip, and also whether I will travel to Iguazu Falls sometime soon.... SO BEAUTIFUL!!

Last night, we had a huge group potluck dinner - rice, stew, salad, bread, meat, cheese, and LOTS and LOTS of wine. It was picture-perfect: out on a terrace in Buenos Aires listening to music around a table having a really nice, relaxed time. Joe played guitar, and I sang some made-up funny songs, and then we danced for awhile.

Today, I'm going to Starbucks (cross my fingers it's open on a Sunday) & working on lesson plans.

Adding more pictures to the blog soon, but check out facebook for the latest pics.

Livin' In a Big City

Last night I stayed out til 6 am for the first time!! The bars get busy around 3 am, and the cover increases, too. Not sure if I mentioned, but the bars stay open until 6, so people really don't start going out until 2 am. I have to get adjusted to that - people order dinner here between 10 and 11 pm! I'd have to eat four meals a day to start getting into that. But last nite was a blast and I danced my buns off.

A lot of the stores here are closed on the weekends, so you have to do your shopping between 10 and 7 during the week. It's kind of a hassle. I've been going through books like crazy, and I really want to get some more, but the Biblioteca Nacional (in Recoleta) is never open! It is an Argentina holiday - they take January and Feb. off as their summer months.

This morning I read for a little while in the park, and then just sat observing the people around me. I started crying - sometimes it hits me hard that I'm actually in Buenos Aires, and it's so beautiful and peaceful here. I wish I could share this experience with everyone. I took a long walk alone and was really enjoying the weather! It was nice and breezy.

SIDE NOTE: I've been hailing taxis like a big girl! So fun.... guess that's just life in a big city, but I get a rush out of it every time I stick my hand out :)

today we had a job seminar. i have an interview next wednesday, so i'm excited about that, but it sounds like the countries to make the most money are dubai and south korea. what does everyone know about these places? please tell me if i should avoid these places, because otherwise it's very tempting.

OBSERVATIONS: buenos aires is DOG town - dogs and dog poop everywhere. I actually did read about that before I came here - Recoleta is known for its dog parks. Jason likes to call Recoleta "Ritz-oleta" because there are so many rich people here.

MONEDA MAFIA

I wondered for awhile why whenever I buy something in Buenos Aires, the cashier always asks for exact change. Apparently, there is a shortage of coins/"monedas" around here. So all businesses have been stocking up on monedas. In fact, I was informed there is a "Moneda Mafia" here. They hoard coins and sell them back for more than they're worth.

OBSERVATION: There is a strong Italian influence here. Their accent along with their food is said to be very similar to Italy, and I see that now. Also, they give a whole new meaning to a "bar of soap". In the bathrooms, there is usually a bar of soap ON the end of a metal bar coming out of the wall. So everyone touches the same bar to clean their hands.

Today, I took my TEFL class test. I'm pretty positive I passed, but no harm in keeping my fingers crossed! I actually feel prepared to teach. I sent my resume to a company that was recommended by our TEFL director. A few of the TEFL students have already gotten interviews. Meanwhile, my internet's not working, so I have to use Marisol's computer when it's not inconvenient for her.

Tonight, I'm going over to a few of the girls' apartment for dinner in Palermo. Apparently they cook up a storm!!

INFLATION IN ARGENTINA

Today I taught a low intermediate class. It was probably the most challenging thus far, because I didn't know what to expect. I've only taught high beginners, but altogether the teaching experience has been really good for me.

OBSERVATIONS: Due to inflation, the price for the Subte has gone up 30 cents, and a small cup of coffee is $2.25 (more than normal). Unbelievable! Gas station coffee at home is a buck! :(
The university here gives a free education. So, you pay more for coffee than for an education?

Argentina has a woman president named Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. I think the inspiration for having a woman president came from their beloved Eva Peron. I can't believe I missed the inauguration today for lesson planning -- I was disappointed about that. We had a little debate about whether the president has a double/stand-in or not, for big speeches and places where security is questionable. Is that just a myth?

MODES OF TRANSPORT

I walked to class for the first time today b/c I needed exercise. It took me an hour, and I was uncomfortable the whole time. I was hoping for a nice, scenic walk. Instead I was breathing in the polluted air, dodging Argentines on the crowded sidewalks, and I was told to put my iPod away by some locals. They said motorcyclists like to snatch keys, iPods or phones right out of your hand and keep driving. I think I was a bit overwhelmed by the size of Monserrat (the location of our class), but I'll try walking again sometime this week -- maybe 2nd time's a charm?

Today's class theme was theatre. We got to make up scenes with a group using random objects (a ball, a die and a maracca). I had a lot of fun with this - I love being the center of attention! The whole class also acted out the same scene with different emotions (hystical, sad, confused). Tonight is the first night I've worn long sleeves - it's a little chilly.

Jason and I took the bus home. The bus drivers are ERRATIC. They will run people and cars over, and if you don't hurry up to get off, they'll just keep driving when you have one foot out the door. Jason's claim was "I take the bus all the time". So I trusted he would know when our stop was. We got off and he said, "Oh, wait, I think we have like 12 more blocks to go." No more bus rides for me.

OBSERVATIONS: Apartment security here is very good. The outside entrances are always locked, sometimes they have a security guard, and the doors to the individual apartments have deadbolt and key lock.

MATE and BATHROOM ETIQUETTE

Yerba Mate (ma-tAy) is a very popular tea here, so my friend Jason and I bought the special mug for the mate, which comes with a bamboo straw to drink it out of. We had a "Mate-off" yesterday, to see whose mate mug was cooler and whose tea tasted better (as we bought two different kinds). Turns out, both of ours tasted pretty bad. The mugs came w/ scrolled directions, which we threw aside and thought we'd create good tea w/out them. Today, we added a few packets of sugar, and whaddaya know?? I love mate!! The market where we bought them is set up every Sunday in Recoleta. All the stands have hand-made crafts, and every 4 stands has mate mugs.

I just killed a cockroach in Jason's apartment, but apparently the only right way to kill them is to burn them. If you squash them, their eggs will go everywhere and wreak havoc on your home. Sorry Jason.

OBSERVATIONS: All the apartments here have bu-dais (sp?). I'm too afraid to try it out. Often, their toilet paper is pre-torn in the little squares. That makes things quite tedious in the bathroom! They deliver food FAST! We walked to a pizza shop, ordered it for delivery, and by the time we walked directly back to the apartment, the Motorbike Pizza Man was at the door!

WHAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY: Did you know that one-third of all American meals are consumed in the car? Me either, but I believe it.

I'm finding out more and more that of course, I enjoy my alone time, but I really enjoy the company of others and learning about everybody's lives in our class. If I'm alone for more than a couple hours, I get really bored and always want to know what everyone else is up to. Today I'm working on a lesson plan for Tuesday, and it's about 85 degrees here. They measure in Celsius, so I'm not sure what temperature that would be.

LUCID DREAMS

I exposed my freakish nightmare routine to the class the other night, which is that about three times per week, I have a nightmare. Some people are able to control their dreams through lucid dreaming. I have not been able to. Most people are shocked that I have that many scary dreams. Jason, a student in my class, recommended that I try flipping a switch in my dream to affirm that it is IN FACT a dream, and nothing can hurt me. Or you can look at your watch, and the watch will not tell time but it will simply display a bunch of symbols. These approaches are easier said than done. Last night I had a nightmare that a guy with a bag over his head stopped on him bike, telling me he was going to kill some girl named Sarah. He proceeded to show me her address on a piece of paper, then laughed as he rode on toward her house. I walked away, very disturbed. Only until three blocks later did I realize I might be able to prevent the murder (this may have been part of my consciousness that it was only a dream). I started running toward my apartment in Buenos Aires to call 911. I couldn't for the life of me remember my address. And my dream ended. So, any advice for a troubled mind??

There are a lot of things I miss about the US - family, friends, the food, the fast pace, the conveniences and luxuries like WalMart and driving a car. I can appreciate all those things more now. Last night, we went to a bar called SUGAR. The bar's website slogan is "Everything you miss about America" - they have hot wings and cookies, yummy!! But I definitely appreciate the culture here. I asked a local how the girls here stay so skinny and model-like with food staples like ham, cheese, and pastries. Apparently, the women here are vain and always eat in moderation. In the US, places like TGIFriday's don't really help our figures with their heaping portions. Plus, the Argentines walk everywhere. In one of the lessons, an Argentine student was asked to elicit modes of transportation. He said "skates, bus, taxi, plane....". The teacher pushed for a very important one. He couldn't think of anything else. CAR, hello???!! I miss driving my jeep, but apparently, EHEM.... I think somebody's selling it back home :(

Tomorrow we might go to Tigre, which is by Mar de la Plata - a one hour train ride. I'm ready for an adventure!

TEACHING

I taught one lesson today, one yesterday to high beginners. The first day, I only had one student. He was about 60 years old, but better than the guy I taught today. He was very difficult to teach, but now that my teaching's over for the week, I'm stress free!

Argentines talk and drive fast (CRAZY fast... I've almost been run over a few times - they don't obey the PED signs!) but their everyday life is slow. They don't have to get to work until ten in the morning, and they don't bring the bill at restaurants until you ask them to (you could sit for hours and they still won't bring it to you).

Last night, I fell off the bed for the first time in my life. It was pretty strange. The mattress fell on top of me, and a glass sitting on the nightstand broke. I laughed at myself, and I'm still laughing about the situation.....

LESSON PLANNING

All day I worked on my first lesson plan. I understand why teaching is not as easy as everyone thinks. Everything has to be regimented - down to the last minute. It's very tedious, but I have one down and one more to go for this week. I just got home about an hour ago from class, so I'm exhausted. Also a little frustrated because our classroom was supposed to be in Recoleta, which is why Marisol and I picked this location for our apartment. Five days before class started, we got an email from the director saying due to construction, the classroom would be in a different location, which added 40 minutes travel time for us, and we're in a more expensive barrio. Should we raise hell? We were also promised Wifi, free coffee, printers, copiers -- but we're in a dump with none of those things accessible. Trying to organize a lesson plan w/out the right resources is VERY difficult.

Observations: Argentines are very approachable. However, it is custom that if an Argentine woman looks at a man for more than a second on the street, it means she is interested in him. So the guy will approach the woman and begin to make small talk if her eyes meet his gaze.

What I'm most excited about: A Starbucks in Buenos Aires DOES exist. It has specialty items like the Mate Latte and medialunas, and my favorite -- the CHI LATTE. I believe it's the 2nd Starbucks in Latin America?? So that will be my next adventure: finding coffee to go!

LA PISCINA (the pool)

Last night, some of the girls in our class had a party at their apartment. They had made pizza and jungle juice - we never got that kind of treatment at college parties! This morning, Marisol (my roommate) and I went for breakfast across the street for a banana/leche smoothie. I went to the Supermercado for the first time, and I FOUND CEREAL! YAY! then met up with the rest of the class to walk to a park w/ a swimming pool. There's a line to get in the pool because you have to get checked between your toes and fingers (no fungus allowed!). There was music blasting and it was the biggest pool I've seen in my life! They call Americans at the pool "diapers", because we have full bottom bathingsuits. All the Argentines wear thongs - we saw a lot of cheeks today :)

Argentina inventions: the ballpoint pen, ketchup and mayonaise in one bottle.
Observations: #1: You're always offered a straw w/ your drink. #2: Mullets are IN!

Tonite Mari and I are meeting some of her Argentina friends for a bbq, so I should get the opportunity to speak some Spanish.

THE CLASS

Everyone in my class is between the ages of 22 (I'm the youngest) and 30. We learned Portuguese the first few days of class. I wish we had more lessons - I was started to like it!! There are 20 students, and Jason and Amy threw a party last night to declare that we were ALMOST done with the first week of class. For some reason, everyone comments that it feels like we've been here for a month. It stays light out til 9:30 pm. This is one of my favorite things about Argentina, along with "medialunas" (croissants that cost 3 pesos or $1), the "subte" (subway), and the weather (people have pointed out that I'm so dark! So I told the class I'm 1/2 Mexican). So far, the most interesting thing I've done is go on a bike tour through all of Buenos Aires. It was a 3 1/2 hour tour, and San Telmo is probably the coolest barrio I've seen thus far. Today on the subte, I met a guy in administration at the local university, and he said come February, he would help me get a job as a T.A. I still can't believe I'm in Buenos Aires - my dream come true!!! I think I'm going to change my flight back to December :)