First few days

Hi Family!

Now I'm reluctant to do this, I've never considered myself the blogging type. I mean come on, I'm too cool for this. But this seems like it'd be easier than sending emails. I'll try to update it as much as possible...

So the day finally arrived, after more than a year of preparation and anticipation I was heading off to South America. I was a little nervous the night before, but it all turned to excitement when the big day was here and as we heading to the airport. I go to college an hour away from where I live, so needless to say this was going to be a different experience. I'm pretty sure I'd still be back in Michigan if it wasn't for Mom, who had a detailed prep checklist for every step of the way including picture descriptions and exact mapquest locations. I love her, and I'm taking my claritin every day!

A few months ago, right before I purchased my plane ticket, I was waiting in line at Ricks, a bar on campus. I began talking to my friend Stacey, who at the time was more like a friend of a friend. We established that she was flying down to Buenos Aires to visit friends right around the time I wanted to go. She sent me her flight confirmation on her blackberry, and the next day I was booked on her flight. This was a fantastic move, as having someone with me for the long flight and more importantly arriving in a foreign country was amazing. The flight was uneventful, besides the fact that in our enormous plane, my seat was one of about 4 in which the video monitor didnt work properly. Everyone around me was watching movies and playing video games, and I had nada. I was a little frustrated, but I took my advil (not tylenol) PM and slept most of the way.

The bus/shuttle that took us from the airport was very cheap, but the guys' apt where I was staying was just outside their boundaries. However, I put my Spanish skills to use for the first time and was able to bribe the driver to break some rules for a whopping 20 pesos, or 5 dollars. I was worried that  once I arrived at their place, which was around 9 am, that they would all be sleeping and not answer the door. Luckily they were prepared, and slept on the couch by the door for just that reason.

So after hanging out at the apt for a while, we decided to meet up with people at la plaza armenia near by. There aren't really beaches that close, but lounging at this park is almost as good. There seem to be very few rules here, as we grabbed some beers and some food and laid around in this beautiful park, which is surrounded on all sides by restaurants and little stands on the street selling food, clothes, art, and other items.

That night we invited some girls over to the apartment and went out on the town for the first time, to a boliche (club) called Crobar. This is when I truly realized the difference in time schedules in Argentina. We ate dinner around midnight,  the girls arrived around 1, we went to Crobar around 330, and returned around 7...a fairly average night? It'll take some adjustment to say the least. Crobar was awesome:

But the next night, at la Terraza, was even better. This place just opened and is HUGE, big enough that there were about 6 different genres of music playing in different places. The best part is the outdoor portion by the water where everyone goes to watch the sunrise...yes sunRISE, not sunset.

The next day I met my host family, and it could not be a better situation. The house is gorgeous, and I live with my housemom Gogo (real name is Elvira but everyone calls her Gogo) and the maid Gra, short for Graciela. Here are some pictures of my place. I have my own room and bathroom, and Gra is a great cook.

Yesterday and today have been pretty dull, as the orientation is long and detailed. The highlight was a walking tour of San Telmo, one of the oldest barrios in Buenos Aires:

 But I did manage to successfully maneuver the Subte, or subway, by myself. It was intimidating at first, and I did take it one stop in the wrong direction, but it worked out great. Very cheap and easy, and I know I'll be an expert in no time.

A few things to note. I now have met people in 3 different study abroad programs, and every program has about a 5 to 1 girl to guy ratio. Not sure exactly why that is, but I think somehow I'll manage. Also there is a huge lack of efficiency here. Since the servers don't really get tipped well they have little to no motivation to do a good job, and it shows. It takes forever just to get menus, and ages to get food. At the bars, you wait in one line to purchase a drink, they give you a ticket, then you wait in another line to get your drink. It truly makes a lot of sense...But in the end, how mad can I be? Take your time Señor Terribleservice, I'm just chillin in South America.

And just for Uncle Jim...we met Brazilian girls on our first night