Things I Miss...

So, my experiment last week failed miserably. I haven't gone to school all week because I am been pretty sick. At first the NYU doctor thought it was the flu, but then, after going to get X-Rays at the private hospital close by, it turns out I have a lung infection! YESSSSSS! Don't worry, Grandma, I am already getting better on antibiotics. I have been bored out of my mind this past week though, there are only so many shows you can watch on the computer, so I came up with a list of little things that I miss from the good ole' USA.

1. Napkins. In Buenos Aires they believe that giving you a piece of wax paper suffices as a napkin. Somtimes they won't even give you napkins and just except that the paper they wrapped the empanadas in should work perfectly. This is incorrect.
2. Good Gum. Here, I really understand that I am just chewing gum paste. It looses flavor in 5 seconds and is just gross in general.
3. 24 Hour ATMS in Delis. Not only are ATMs not extremely easy to come by, they all take a siesta from 3 to 4pm. I didn't know ATMs needed to rest.
4. Locks on Doors. No doors seem to have locks. Sure your front door has a lock, but bathroom doors in restaurants? Forget it. There is only one bathroom in our entire academic building where the door locks. Safe to say, everyone tries to pee in that one.
5. Bagels. You would think that the city with the largest population of Jews after NYC would loveeeeeee bagels. Incorrect. The only place that has bagels in Buenos Aires is McDonald's, on the breakfast menu. One day I got out of class early and was able to order a ham, egg, and cheese on a bagel, it was so very perfect.

These 5 are the most blatant ones. I'm sure there are others. I really enjoy Buenos Aires, but if I return I am going to bring them some Gum, Napkins, and Bagels.

Long Time Coming...And Going...

Hello faithful readers, so sorry for the delay in my posts, but i have just been so busy. Seriously, I do a lot, but then during the week feel like I do nothing at all. I have class at 9 every morning (which blows) and then nothing at all on Mondays and Tuesdays. I sit in the Academic Center and sleep, and talk with my friends, and eat empanadas. ANYWHO. Here are some highlights of my past couple weeks:

Getting lost on the Colectivo for 3 hours- I love public transportation. I think every city should have it and every person should use it. I particularly love buses because you can see things and it's great and I love bus culture (I think I get this love from my Grandma). So, while in BA i have been trying to use public transportation. One bus ride is about 30 cents. 30 CENTS! But, the buses are very confusing and I get lost on them a lot. On this particular evening I missed my stopped, and not knowing the city at all, didn't realize it. This also has to do with the bus map (Guia T) and how confusing it is. It's helpful, but you don't know the exact cross street of where to pick buses up and where to get off. Anyway, I missed my stop and the bus driver realized after we had arrived in to Boonies. I was really freaked out because I thought he was going to make me get off and I would have to go ask the prostitutes (the only people I saw) how to get home. But, this guy was great, he drove me until we saw a passing bus go the other direction and then told the other driver where I needed to go and to tell me when we arrived. But then I got off early to take a cab and meet my friends at a Brasilian club for the first night of "Carnaval." It really has no importance in BA, but does in cities close by. Anyway, cabs here don't take large bills so my friend Renee said she would pay once I got there. When I got there she wasn't there. I had to pay with my large bill and get almost no change back. Then my phone ran out of minutes. Then I went into the club and couldn't find my friends (I was later told that they went into the wrong bar by accident). Then I went home. $85 pesos for a SUPER FUN evening!

Las Cataratas de Iguazú- Last weekend I went to the infamous Iguazú Falls. It is a huge huge huge collection of waterfalls that is on the border of Brasil and Argentina. They were incredible. I left on Thursday night at like 7pm with my friends. We took the buses that Alex so fondly spoke of when he returned from Brasil and let me tell you, the bus was great. Our chairs reclined all the way. We had two meals. And of course a complementary glass of champagne. They played Mamma Mia but I fortunately fell asleep before it was over. To get to the Falls from Buenos Aires it is about 16 hours. We luckily stayed in the Sheraton, FOR FREE, because my friend Sam's parents had lots of unused points that we capitalized on. The Sheraton is on the edge of the park (and is the only hotel inside the gate) and from the balcony of our rooms we could see the Falls. It was incredible. On Friday we took the "Gran Adventure" which drives you through the jungle to a boat which you ride and can see the smaller Falls from. The big finale of the adventure is when you put your camera away in the waterproof bags and they drive you into one of the Falls. It was like taking a shower, we were so soaked. It was also like an awesome amusement park ride. On Saturday we lounged around the pool, where my tan got even darker, and then we took the tram (think DisneyLand) to La Garganta Del Diablo (The Throat of the Devil). It's impossible to explain how beautiful, yet intimidating it was. La Garganta is super wide and is just amazing. I will try to figure out how to post a picture. I was super happy just standing there and watching the water for as long as I could. And at night the sky was the clearest I have ever seen it. I am pretty sure I saw some galaxies and stuff (Is that even possible, Grandpa?). My friend Ilyana summed up the Falls the best. It looked like CGI animation. So beautiful.

San Telmo Times- There is a section of the city called San Telmo. Last week Dana and I went and walked around. It is similar to La Boca, because it is similar for their "fairs." Basically it is the Takoma Park Street Festival. After getting home from the falls I met Dana and Tirzah and Renee in San Telmo where Dana was attempting to sell some jewlery she made. It started pouring once I got there so we fled to a café, but not before Dana and I danced in the rain and freestyled on the street. On our way to the café we met some cool vendors who were selling drums and other things. After the rain stopped we went back and hung out with them for a long time. We bought beer and sat on the street making music. The didn't sell anything, but they didn't really seem to want to. They just wanted to hang out and jam with their friends. One of the guys gave me a necklace for free. I also got to speak a lot of Spanish.

The Week of Partying- This week, starting with San Telmo, I decided to participate in a little experiment. I decided to try and go out every day this week from Sunday to Saturday. Thus far I have been successful. Monday I got to finally see Sydney! We (and Dana and a couple of our friends from the hostel) met at a bar close to me and I am so happy she is here. Tuesday I went out with a few friends after being taught (and winning) an Argentinean card game called Truco. Wednesday I met Sydney and her house sister, Vanny, who is Argentinean, and her house cousin, Paz, who doesn't live with her but is from Buenos Aires. A friend of Sydney's from her program came along and brought her house brother, who is also a porteño. Syd left early and by the end of the night it was me, Vanny, Paz, and 3 guys Vanny works with. They were all really nice and fun, but I had no idea what was going on. I couldn't understand anything they said, so Paz, who speaks 5 languages, kept simplfying the Spanish into phrases I could understand. It was fun. Last night was crazy, I saw a girl I have known since elementary school (Julie-Anne Spatz) outside the bar. We then returned to the club where I got the steaming beer, and it was just as uncomfortable and not fun as I remember. Tonight I am going out with Syd and Vanny and Paz. AND TOMORROW a bunch of my friends from school and Syd and Dana and I are going to this drum show called La Bomba Tiempo, where you dance around and listen to this drum band. It is going to be great.

I am really enjoying the city. The people are great. My classes are fun. I have some really good friends. There are some things I really miss, but I will see them shortly (I can't believe I have been here a month). Now I shall take a nap to make up for the 18 total hours of sleep I have had since Monday. Chau.

Word of the Day: Acuchillar- To stab. I enjoy this word because in Spanish class we always make up stories and write stories to practice certain things we are learning. One day we made up a story about a ghost in a hotel room. Se acuchilló. He was stabbed.