Last night I had a particularly good pub crawl. It was 2 argentine girls' birthdays, so it was a big one. I was the bartender last night for the first time (movin' on up in the STAFF status). I met some amazing people with really good travel stories about Chile and Peru. I met a young couple that fell in love in two weeks after meeting here in Buenos Aires. At one of the bars, an ex-ballet teacher taught me a dance move. She made fun of me quite a bit, but I finally got the steps down.
A girl from Cali told me her parents used to own a chain of successful carwashes, but just last week they called and told her they went bankcrupt. They lost everything because their other daughter has disabilities that insurance will no longer cover. Now, the girl tells me, her dad can't even get a job at Home Depot. This confirms the wildfire effects of the economy. This is obviously the best time to travel -- I'll stay wayward until the economy is stable again :)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A CHANGE IN B.A. LIFESTYLE
The Spanish family I babysat for went back to Spain, so that job is over. Also, I will only be working three nights a week for the Pub Crawl rather than four since they are hiring new people (which will be better for my body, anyway). To fill the rest of my time, I met a guy yesterday that's going to be teaching me castellano (the Argentine dialect). Today, he spent three free hours with me while we drank mate, and I filled a page-worth of notes on new phrases I learned. I'm extremely excited about this new schedule - I would rather be learning more Spanish than earning money... it's what I came here to do!
Unfortunately, my roommates are dropping like flies (even though I just moved in with them to the Palermo neighborhood). In less than 3 weeks, I have to find yet ANOTHER place to live because they either can't find jobs or they can't afford to stay in this apartment. Even though I despise the move-out process and looking for a new place, it will give me another opportunity to find Argentines to live with.
I am tired of getting stood up by my students. I can't tell you how many classes I go to where they just never show up. And it's just their lifestyle -- it's acceptable for them not to give any forewarning. And it's obnoxious.
There is a street called Libertad on which, for about 10 blocks, you will find only gold and jewelry vendors. Doesn't this make it difficult to make sales if you're entirely surrounded by your competition for 10 blocks?
Unfortunately, my roommates are dropping like flies (even though I just moved in with them to the Palermo neighborhood). In less than 3 weeks, I have to find yet ANOTHER place to live because they either can't find jobs or they can't afford to stay in this apartment. Even though I despise the move-out process and looking for a new place, it will give me another opportunity to find Argentines to live with.
I am tired of getting stood up by my students. I can't tell you how many classes I go to where they just never show up. And it's just their lifestyle -- it's acceptable for them not to give any forewarning. And it's obnoxious.
There is a street called Libertad on which, for about 10 blocks, you will find only gold and jewelry vendors. Doesn't this make it difficult to make sales if you're entirely surrounded by your competition for 10 blocks?
Friday, March 20, 2009
PICK ME A WINNER!
I've been asking everyone about the crisis. They say it's not that big of a deal because Argentina has been in numerous crises. I asked people what they think would happen if Argentina was interdependent, cutting all ties to the outside world. They seem to think Argentina has everything it needs, and would survive just fine.
I've been reading the newspaper everyday and using my dictionary to figure out words I don't know. Then I ask my students to explain words I can't find in the dictionary. It's been a really good way to remember commonly used words here.
Now that all the Argentines are back from vacation, the subway is insane. It's a good thing I'm at a different altitude than most of them -- I can at least breathe a LITTLE bit of my own air. Recently a lot of locals look at how tall I am, and out of my peripheral I see them look down to my feet to see if I'm wearing eight inch stilettos.
People are very comfortable in public. Not only is there a lot of PDA, but people will dig for boogies right out in broad daylight, even if they see you looking at them. I also saw a guy peeing on a tree during the day right on the sidewalk.
I've been reading the newspaper everyday and using my dictionary to figure out words I don't know. Then I ask my students to explain words I can't find in the dictionary. It's been a really good way to remember commonly used words here.
Now that all the Argentines are back from vacation, the subway is insane. It's a good thing I'm at a different altitude than most of them -- I can at least breathe a LITTLE bit of my own air. Recently a lot of locals look at how tall I am, and out of my peripheral I see them look down to my feet to see if I'm wearing eight inch stilettos.
People are very comfortable in public. Not only is there a lot of PDA, but people will dig for boogies right out in broad daylight, even if they see you looking at them. I also saw a guy peeing on a tree during the day right on the sidewalk.
Friday, March 13, 2009
TIRANOSAURIO REX
We convinced our landlady to let us stay 4 more days at our apartment in Recoleta. Marisol is struggling to find a good place to live, and I need to find a mattress to live with my friends. I will really miss the great location, but it comes down to finding something cheaper. I will save $US 100 a month at my new place, but in the morning I work in Recoleta. It's not the best situation.
I have a babysitting job, now, too for an Argentine family. This job will only last a few weeks, but it's good for me to practice Spanish. There's a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. The kids are adorable, but the other day they asked me to read them a book about dinosaurs. YOU try reading words like "tyrannasaurus rex" and "stegasaurus" in spanish without sounding like a 2-year-old. That's when I give up and say "Let's turn the page!"
So I've only done the pub crawl twice, but I have to work again tonight and tomorrow night. I didn't even go out this much in college. We'll see how long I can keep this up. It goes from 10-2:30 in the morning. Crazy. The week seems like it will never end.
I have a babysitting job, now, too for an Argentine family. This job will only last a few weeks, but it's good for me to practice Spanish. There's a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. The kids are adorable, but the other day they asked me to read them a book about dinosaurs. YOU try reading words like "tyrannasaurus rex" and "stegasaurus" in spanish without sounding like a 2-year-old. That's when I give up and say "Let's turn the page!"
So I've only done the pub crawl twice, but I have to work again tonight and tomorrow night. I didn't even go out this much in college. We'll see how long I can keep this up. It goes from 10-2:30 in the morning. Crazy. The week seems like it will never end.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
GOOD LUCK vs. BAD LUCK
Yesterday may have been the most odd twist of fate I've encountered yet. I had some really wonderful things happen to me - so much so I was considering buying a lotto ticket. I found a place to live AND I got a job at a Pub Crawl, which hopefully will completely change my considerably dull social life in Buenos Aires. I will promote the local Pub Crawl, and I get to drink on the job for free while meeting people from all over the world and getting people involved! I will make more money in this job than teaching anywhere.
I had a great big smile on my face for the first half of the day, and the 2nd half turned on me.
1. Arrived at Subte 2 minutes too early for it to be free.
2. Stepped in giant puddle of mud
3. Screamed when guy creeped out of hole of franchise on street....?
4. Stepped in dog poop
5. Almost wiped out because of dog poop on shoe
6. Found out I wasn't getting paid to work last night at Pub Crawl - I'm on a two week trial period
7. Tried to make good impression on workers at Pub Crawl. Put my arm around manager and called him wrong name.
8. Tried to walk home by myself. Ended up running because was scared. Car followed me. Yelled for cab.
9. Cried in cab.
So, you tell me, where did I go wrong? I must've been gloating too much about my luck earlier in the day. I won't make that mistake again.
I had a great big smile on my face for the first half of the day, and the 2nd half turned on me.
1. Arrived at Subte 2 minutes too early for it to be free.
2. Stepped in giant puddle of mud
3. Screamed when guy creeped out of hole of franchise on street....?
4. Stepped in dog poop
5. Almost wiped out because of dog poop on shoe
6. Found out I wasn't getting paid to work last night at Pub Crawl - I'm on a two week trial period
7. Tried to make good impression on workers at Pub Crawl. Put my arm around manager and called him wrong name.
8. Tried to walk home by myself. Ended up running because was scared. Car followed me. Yelled for cab.
9. Cried in cab.
So, you tell me, where did I go wrong? I must've been gloating too much about my luck earlier in the day. I won't make that mistake again.
Friday, March 6, 2009
HOW A HOBO WINS MY HEART
I have asked about 6 different students if they could travel anywhere in the US, where would they go? "DISNEYLAND!" They shout. If not, they say New York. But I have asked students' top five places to travel in the world, and normally one of the top 3 is the US.
Nick and I had quite the taste-testing experience while he was here. We tried just about every restaurant in Recoleta. He treated me like a queen. We ate Dulce de Leche and Banana Split ice cream, I had Strawberry Daquiris while he fell in love with empanadas and rekindled his love for pizza. In this way, he perfected his Argentina Restaurant Etiquette - asking for the menu, the bill, ordering drinks, AND asking where the bathroom was ALL in Spanish. We figured out together what most items were on the menus, since I usually only order what I'm already familiar with. Nick, on the other hand, was always curious (even if he didn't want to order something... he wanted to know what it was).
Some of our adventures included: taking the subway (where Nick was robbed of his sunglasses), asking for directions (in which we discovered that people don't hesitate to tell you the wrong way. They may not even know what street you're talking about, but they just want to make tourists miserable), and a Pub Crawl around Palermo (in which Nick may have coerced the managers to give me a job that involves a social life). We also discovered that in order to become a hobo magnet, all you have to do is eat outdoors, and homeless children and adults alike will beg and stink up your table until you have shooed them away. Some actually made us laugh - one told me I was good at Spanish, but Nick, not so much. Another sang us a song about Detroit once I told him I was from Michigan. Moral of the story: A hobo can win my heart if he makes me laugh really hard.
I lost my debit card after taking out $400 pesos from the ATM (a blessing in disguise?). Now I will be living off of about 700 pesos until my new card arrives. Wish me luck!
Nick and I had quite the taste-testing experience while he was here. We tried just about every restaurant in Recoleta. He treated me like a queen. We ate Dulce de Leche and Banana Split ice cream, I had Strawberry Daquiris while he fell in love with empanadas and rekindled his love for pizza. In this way, he perfected his Argentina Restaurant Etiquette - asking for the menu, the bill, ordering drinks, AND asking where the bathroom was ALL in Spanish. We figured out together what most items were on the menus, since I usually only order what I'm already familiar with. Nick, on the other hand, was always curious (even if he didn't want to order something... he wanted to know what it was).
Some of our adventures included: taking the subway (where Nick was robbed of his sunglasses), asking for directions (in which we discovered that people don't hesitate to tell you the wrong way. They may not even know what street you're talking about, but they just want to make tourists miserable), and a Pub Crawl around Palermo (in which Nick may have coerced the managers to give me a job that involves a social life). We also discovered that in order to become a hobo magnet, all you have to do is eat outdoors, and homeless children and adults alike will beg and stink up your table until you have shooed them away. Some actually made us laugh - one told me I was good at Spanish, but Nick, not so much. Another sang us a song about Detroit once I told him I was from Michigan. Moral of the story: A hobo can win my heart if he makes me laugh really hard.
I lost my debit card after taking out $400 pesos from the ATM (a blessing in disguise?). Now I will be living off of about 700 pesos until my new card arrives. Wish me luck!
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