Tengo Tango!

The title of my blog is my first spanish pun- for those of you who speak nadie, it means "I have tango!" Because, I went to a tango dance and dinner. Thus, I have it. The place we went served dinner, which was appetizers, drinks, a main course, and postre (dessert). There were two singers, one a man and a woman, and they always were singing about buenos aires...I feel like the pride people have living here outdoes anything in the US. People who were born and raised are called "porteños." Sort of exotic...I am a fan. My favorite picture here. I ALSO went and saw the black knight tonight...and it was basically the best thing I've seen in my life. Heath Ledger's last performance was indeed one to remember. 
In other news, I also visted "la museo de la ciudad" which was less of a museum than a toilet exhibit. Really, there were all sorts of toilets! There were old toilets, new toilets, painted toilets, holes in the ground. However, there was also a really old record player which we got to listen to. And that was neat. I had to miss class for it, and for a literal shit hole I would say that it wasn't worth it. We celebrated my friend Jacqlen's birthday the other night (sam birthday as my mom), and she picked out a very suave wine bar. So cool, right? Bla bla, no, but the IRONIC part of it all is that my mother's friend Jim visited her recently and he told my mom about this place that she absolutely had to go to. Turns out it's the same place! How ironic! I love it. AND I was going to take her there anyways. As of right now, I have no had dinner, because no one is home to cook, so an apple and a cereal bar will have to do.

Or I could always just go to the McDonald's across the street, although the thought is making me sort of nauseated. I guess Sunday night will be a night in, which I don't mind too much. There is a cafe right next to my house with wonderful postres, but I think I will have to pass on postre for ever. That's okay. Well, except for my host mom's bread pudding.
As far as al campo vs. la ciudad goes, there's some heavy drama! The president's husband is the past president, and also the current vice president. The congress was up all night voting, and when the last ballot was dropped it was his, and he voted against his wife for al campo. At about four in the morning I heard pots banging and people screaming and honking horns. Although I am not sure why I was so surprised...I hear that every night. School: took my midterm exam on friday and I think that it went quite well. Just one more week of intensive spanish, and then school starts for real! I am excited to meet the rest of the student in the university, and at least try to communicate with them. I felt like I had so much news, but now that I write this I realized I really only wanted to post pictures. 

One more: from the tango bar. Okay two...I fell in love with the accordian player. He was so cute!!

Day 12 and it seems like a lifetime

hellooooo Buenos Aires. This picture is my view from the balcony outside my room...this was the first day that I was here. It seems like forever ago that I got on a place to fly to the otherside of the world! But, alas, it has only been twelve days. However, those twelve days are better than I expected...it's hard being here, not knowing how to speak the language, the most simple things seem impossible. Phone calls are about the price of a pair of prada shoes, so you can imagine how many of those I make. Regardess, I am doing well.

Besides the first incident I had with the subway where it bit me...Meaning I didn't mind the gap and fell in between the subway and the platform, and the night I walked about a mile in heels and bled all over my shoes- physically i am fine. Although, already getting a little fat. The food here is all carbs, and all fried. But it's good, getting home cooked meals every night has its pros and it's cons, I think I will just have to stop eating all together...besides dinner that is. Right now I am in a basic level spanish class, for three weeks, and then school starts for real. My host family is great, my host mother is very loving and all the fears that I had about staying in a homestay are quelled. She has nine children! (Catholic, much?) But only two of them live at home, and a third is visiting with her own children as well. I love eating dinner and listening to the conversations that my family has, I am understanding more spanish every day, and I remind myself that I am here to become fluent in the language. My room is small, but nice. It is less than a quarter of the size of a room in Braden...remember that funny old dorm guys? It's okay though, i have a door to the outside, and besides the city constantly radiating sirens and horns and god knows what else, it is a prime location. Yesterday, I went to a demonstration of the people "del campo." Of the country. Right now there is alot of tension regarding agricultural taxes and the like...it seems like this new president of theirs is making things much worse...although she is a woman. The demonstration allegedly had over one million people! I took my camera and took pictures-- my favorite below.

This boy was standing on top of this statue for about half an hour, waving the argentine flag like his life depended on it. The vibe was great as well, venders wandered around selling ice cream and these funny sweet nuts they sell on the streets. People bought flags....I did! and waved it around (que claro). I also found that although i was told to be very careful with my personal belongings, watch out for people trying to rob me, the people of the country were very good natured. Whenever I stopped to ask someone if I could take their picture, they asked me where I was from, and were never cruel because I couldn't speak spanish too well. More pictures to come...more words too. I find that my english is depleting and I cannot write nearly as well. I have also started thinking in a bad spanish accent, because that is they only way I ever hear english spoken! I also tend to substitute words in english for spanish...maybe it's a blessing in disguise, but I am worried about how my essays will sound when I get back! Missing every one of you.....

besos.