Monday was by far one of the most exciting days of my life. Well during the day at IES we rode the subway out to plaza italia (where I had been less than 12 hrs before) and explored around there and then I ate lunch at a little parrilla. This are cheap restaurants with basic Argentine food. I am officially in love with empanadas and I know I will miss them when I get back to the US. The highlight of the day was the Wofford game. I was unsure of whether I would even be able to get coverage on the internet but then the Wofford people realized that El Alamo, an american sports bar, had ESPN2 and was going to show the Wofford game! Even though I hadn't planned on going out there was no possible way that I would miss the game! It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. It was all of the Wofford people glued to the tv, drinking Quilmes beer, and enjoying the fact that we were able to cheer on our team and watch them WIN all the way in Argentina. There is no other word to describe us than happy. We were in a beautiful city in South America and were able to make a whole bar full of Argentine people become enthralled in American college basketball. By the end of the game everyone was into it and we all were standing up cheering hoping that the terriers could hold out until the end! It was the best feeling to be able to be around friends from home, enjoy an exciting game, and be in South America all at the same time! I bet that even at the end of the semester this will still be a highlight of my trip.
Tuesday morning was a bummer. We had to take a placement test to see which Spanish level we are going to be in. It was pretty hard and took almost 3 hours. I probably placed into the lowest level but at least I won't be the worst in my class! After lunch I went to visit IUNA which is where I am going to take tango class. It was very interesting and seemed more of a dance studio than a university. It is definitely going to be an adventure to say the least! I rode the subte home and got out alone at my stop and although I should have been only a few blocks away from home I got completely turned around and had no idea where I was relative to my apartment. Then as I was already getting upset my sandal broke and I couldn't walk! I ended up having to get a cab to take me home. This was the first real time I realized that I am alone in a HUGE city and am not always able to adequately say what I need or want to. I was scared and crying but I learned a lesson that it'll be ok, just call a cab and make sure you have cash! You aren't supposed to tip cab drivers here but I tipped that guy! Then on Tuesday night we went out for Amanda's birthday who turned 21 on Wednesday. I can't believe it'd been just a week since mine!
Wednesday IES only had for us planned to go to the Museo del Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. It seemed like MOMA in the United States. Some of the art in there was very interesting and unique and I was able to see a painting by Frieda Khalo and Fernando Botero, both famous South American painters. After we got back from the museum Megan, Daniella, Meagan and I headed to lunch and then to the zoo! But before we met to go to the zoo I dropped off my laundry for the first time!! I figured that I should get it done before my first week of classes. I didn't know much of the vocabulary to talk to the lady working at the lavanderia but I managed to drop it off and learn that it would be ready the following day. The zoo was beautiful! Lots of trees and open land and lots of cool animals! There were these small animals that looked like a mix of a rabbit and a dog and something else and it turns out that they are called Patagonian hares so it all made sense! I got to see elephants and giraffes again but it was nothing compared to Africa! Still a fun way to spend an afternoon in beautiful weather!
Thursday morning we went to La Bombonera which is the Boca soccer team's stadium. Soccer (or football as they call it) is a HUGE deal here. All the kids play soccer or rugby and the biggest rivalry in town is Boca vs. River. Boca's colors are yellow and blue so everything near the stadium was those colors. I've never really been into soccer, but after visiting the stadium I am now a Boca fan! Even my host mom Sandy loves soccer and Boca and she is not the type of lady that you would think would love sports!! Yesterday morning while we were visiting the stadium we made a decision that we definitely wanted to go to Mar Del Plata this weekend. Lots of other IES students were going and it is starting to be the end of summer so we don't know how many more warm weekends we'll have. It took some work to get bus tickets and hostel reservations since we were so last minute, but there are 4 boys and 7 girls staying in a hostel so it will be an adventure!! Last night IES had a dinner for all of us at La Bisteca in Puerto Madero (the most upscale part of town) as an ending to orientation since we start classes Monday! Great food, good wine, good conversation, and lots of excitement about the weekend!Today I had to be at IES at 10:30 to register for classes. I am going to take Spanish 300 M/W 11-1, Argentine poetry M/W 2:30-4, Service Learning M 6-8, tango T 6-10, and either History of Argentine Environment Th 1-4 OR Cultural Icons T 1-4. I will explain more about each one as I learn more!! The whole register for classes thing is pretty relaxed around here so I am glad to have that done!! In 30 minutes I am going to hop in a cab and head to Retiro bus station to get on my 4:25 bus to Mar del Plata. It is a 5 hour bus ride so we will all be anxious to get there and get our stuff in our hostel and head out on the town!! Keep your fingers crossed for beautiful weather and a great time!!
Hasta domingo! (until sunday...)
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