Exploring Argentina

Viva la noche, Viva la fiesta

holagatita — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 01:55:00 GMT

Its seems that so far all I have blogged about has been volunteering! Well theres soo much more going on here. Yes during the day I've been volunteering but at night....there is always a fiesta. I don't think I've ever danced so much in my life! As they say in one of the popular songs that I've heard over and over again in the boliches, La Gente Esta Muy Loca! and its true, they like to party here! Going out usually consists of hours of dancing, more dancing, looots of Reggaeton and then finally leaving the club just in time to see the sun come up. It gets exhausting after a few times, but thats the way it is here...I have to experience the local culture right??

I feel like I've been here for so much longer than 3 and a half weeks! I've done a LOT in three weeks, its almost hard to remember it all but I'll try.... Some of the most memorable moments in Argentina so far:

1)Dancing my butt off at La Bomba, TWICE!

La Bomba is this really amazing percussion group that plays every week, tons of people go to hear them play and dance dance dance. They are AMAZING, and it was such a great vibe. Nothing I love more than live music!

2) Brazilian Club

Someone recommended that we go to this Brazilian club where the locals go to dance. WOW. They weren't lying. People really know how to dance here. As far as I could tell it seemed like we were pretty much the only locals there. People were dancing the Zuke, which is this really sexy dance, I have no idea what the basic steps are but I do know that it consists of a LOT of hair flipping and dipping.

3) Rollerblading in the park

This was one of my favorite days. A few of us walked over to the park to get some sun, we ended up enjoying a free La Bomba style drum circle practice, saw people practicing circus tricks in a tree next to us and we rented rollerblades. One fun thing about Argentina is that it seems like people can pretty much do what they want here. You want to sell rollerblades on the street? go for it! I love it! at the park you can rent rollerblades, longboards, and bikes for pretty cheap!

4) San Telmo Market

OMG, I want to buy everything at this market! its every Sunday (im going again today) and they have so many great things, especially jewelry, my weakness.

5) Steak Dinner

Surprisingly I havent gone out to eat too much since I've been here, but of course, one of the first places that I went was a place where I could get one of Argentina's delicious steaks.....and yes, it was amazing.

6) Dinner with my spanish class

I started spanish classes this past monday. So far so good. One of the great things about the school is that the events coordinator plans tons of fun stuff. Last Thursday, after the crazy rainstorm ended, I got dinner with a big group from my spanish school at this great Mexican restaurant.

I actually didn't eat at the mexican place....but later that night, after going out to a few terrazas, I made the STUPID decision to buy a hot dog (or Poncho, as they call them).....Yup, I definitely got food poisoning. I spend the whole next day curled up in bed, and "Calling to Hugo" as my roommate called it. Worst Argentina experience so far. Lesson learned.

7) Dia en la pileta!!! Day at the POOL!

Yesterday we went to a pool at an army base that one of the guys we know was able to get us into because his dad works there. It was sooo nice to get out of the busy city and spend the whole day sitting by the pool, and grilling. I loved it.

Well, its time for me to go to San Telmo market again, and then a movie in the park :) I'll write again soon!

Besos!

L.I.F.E in Argentina

holagatita — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:05:00 GMT

Well, its been about a week since I've posted last. And what has happened since then? So so much. I've met some pretty cool people here, from all over the world. The majority are from England, and France, as well as a few from Norway, Australia, Canada, the US. I spend most of my time here either volunteering or exploring the city. I'm still trying to get to know BA, its so big! I still haven't gotten around to see La Boca! I can find my way around by walking places, which I do A LOT! but I'm still working out the bus system here. The buses are great because they run all night, are VERY cheap and go pretty much everywhere, but they don't have the most intuitive bus system ever. One day I decided to explore the city center, which turns out to be less picturesque a MUCH more crowded and busy than where I live. As I was walking the 20 minute walk from my apartment to the city center I noticed another girl who seemed to be going the same rout as me. I knew she was a tourist too, she looked like me, a little sunburned, carrying a big bag with a Lonely Planet book stuffed in it, trying to find the nonexistent street signs at every street. Eventually I just went up to her, asked her if she spoke English, and like magic we became tourist buddies and spent the day exploring together. I love it!

Volunteering has been a very interesting experience for me...the villa is such a tough place, all the kids there seem to have a shield up, and I don't blame them. The games they play are rough, usually we play soccer with them on a cement court in the middle of the Villa, almost none of them have shoes to wear. Yesterday some boys were having a great time playing with an old rusty wire they found, some girls were laughing over a dead rat they found...stuff like that. At least twice a week we try to take them to the pool. Its very strange because to get to the pool we take a big group of kids through the tiny alleys of the villa until finally we get out. As soon as we get out of the villa there is a busy street and right across the street are normal, nice houses. The Villa is called the "Hidden City" because you cant find it on a map, a town with a populations of 150,000 people, and its not even on the map. Its really sad. Yesterday we took them to the pool again, all the little girls were tugging on my arms, making me pull them around in the water, and begging for lots of attention. It was hard for me because yesterday was my last day for a while and I finally started to feel like I was making a good connection with the kids. They are so used to having volunteers come for a short time and then just disappearing. Yesterday was such a good day, I'm really going to miss the kids at the Villa, and the other volunteers, but as soon as my Spanish classes are over I plan on going back.

My Spanish classes start on Monday!! I can't wait for those, soo much to learn!!

La Primera Semana!

holagatita — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:51:00 GMT

Here I am, one week into my stay in Buenos Aires, and finally writing in my blog. Its hard to believe that I've only been here for a week, it feels more like a month already. Its been nonstop from the first day I got here. Already I have been to the the Villa (the slums of BA), where I played a pretty intense game of soccer with the ninos and other volunteers. I am volunteering with a group called L.I.F.E, and it seems really great. There were 10 other people at the orientation, which I somehow managed to go to only a few hours after I arrived in BA, that was a long day. A few of the other volunteers speak English, although I haven't met any other Americans yet. The villa that we went to was an eye opening experience for me. It was the first time that I have seen so much poverty: The kids playing the dirt roads without shoes on, perros sin duenos roaming around, little babies who are barely old enough to walk playing on their own outside. Although it is a tough place to live in the city the kids all seemed so happy, they loved playing soccer with us, and so far it has been the best experience that I've had in BA.

My living situation is pretty good too. I've got a nice mix of people in my cute little aunt inhabited apartment. One Argentine chico, a girl from Spain, one from Holland and my other flat mate is a 57 year old Australian woman who acts like a 22year old. We all get along pretty well, and have bonded over music, the chico plays the Uke and the chicas pretend to sing. I live on a very busy street called Santa Fe, and everyday I walk with crowds of people past the tempting tiendas and zapaterias. The lights have already gone out twice, as well as the water, and I know it wont be the last time, but thats all a part of the adventure.

Only a few days after arriving in BA I met up with my Argentine friend whom I met Europe over the summer. She lives outside of the city and I took a collectivo (a cheap air conditioned van) to her house. From there we went to Mar Del Plata, where the Argentines go to the beach. During my mini vacation from my vacation, I learned a LOT of Spanish. Well, who knows if I actually did, but I certainly heard a lot. Total immersion is without a doubt that is the best way to learn, although after a while of concentrating on the language and trying to figure out what the heck is going on, it does get a little tiring. Not only did we go to the beach but we went to a concert on the beach!! David Guetta! I saw David Guetta in Chicago before.....there is no comparison. Here, he played until the sun came up, and even after he was done everyone stayed and danced some more. They really like to party all night here, a bit of an adjustment for me, but I can't complain.

Today I decided that I should explore the city. I've been in BA for almost a week and have barely seen any of it. I ventured out a little and found the famous cemetery of Recoleta, where Evita is buried. There are so many pretty parks and buildings everywhere, its nice to just walk around. After my trip to Mar del Plata I was pretty tired, and it was nice to just cook dinner with my roommate, and after he taught me a song on the Ukulele. Good times in Buenos Aires. And more to come.

Tomorrow more volunteering....Hasta luego!

Vaaamos!

holagatita — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:29:00 GMT

Well here I go...I'm only a short 15hr day of travel away from being in sunny, beautiful BA! My bag is packed to the max, tickets printed out, Spanish for Dummies in my carry on, I think I'm ready. But right now I'm spending my last night drinking coffee and watching some junk on tv with my two best friends. NO time for blogging, just thought I'd get it started....more to come!