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.