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!!
