Más BA

Everything is still going really well, and I´m having a good time. It´s very overwhelming, I´ll admit - everything is new, and nothing is the same as it is at home. The food, the people, the language, the cultureñ they´re all different. But, I´m enjoying them all. In terms of Spanish (castellano, as they call it), my comprehension has increased infinitely. I´m able to figure out what poeple are saying, even if I´m not always quite sure I´ve got it 100% word for word. On the other hand, my speaking doesn´t feel like it´s increased as much, and I tend to get very frustrated by my own lack of capability. For example... in the COPA building, one of the toilets was running. I tried tot ell the lady that one of them was broken, but I couldn´t explain exactly the problem. It wasn´t a flood, it just needed to get fixed. Those sorts of things are frustrating.

This weekend was a lot of fun. Went to synagogue, and got to talk to people in Spanish! That was fun, because I usually only talk to people who are used to talking to Americans, and therefore talk slowly and speak clearly. A bit harder, but lots of fun. Friday night I went out to dinner iwth my friend Cara from Penn - it was great catching up with her, and hearing about her experience in BA so far (she´s not in my program). Satruday afternoon I went to the mall (Alto Palermo Shopping is it´s name!) and bought Harry Potter with a friend. Then we went to a cafe, ordered some coffee, and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying HP7. If you´ve read it, I want to hear what you think! I finished it Sunday night. I had plans to go to the Fair in San Telmo on Sunday (antique market with tango dancers in the street), but it was gross out. Instead, my friend and I met in another cafe, and then went to the MALBA, the Museum of Latin American Art. Really interesting, and really nice. We only did about 1/3 of it though - it´s free for students, and we´ll go back another week. Then I went back home - it was FREEZING outside, and I had no interest in leaving la casa. So, I hung around and enjoyed the warmth of our heat!

This week is more orientating, with the added fun of registration. I´m debating what kinds of classes I should take. Right off hte bat, there is a mandatory Spanish class that I need. Right now I´m pretty sure I´m goign to take a seminar (40ish people) at the University of Buenos Aires, and 2 classes at the Catholic University, ideally both classes in the same year, same major. That way I´ll get to know the kids in that carrera (the word for major). However, that plan is under some debate, because I´m also thinking about taking a lit class that the program runs instead. Oh, the craziness of registration. luckily, we have a long shopping period, during which we´re encouraged to take as many classes as we want.

Right now, I´m at a locutorio (phone&internet for a charge), because I´m waiting for my pcitures to be processed. I need to get two pictures of myself 4 cm by 4 cm to prove to the government that I´m not a criminal. How these two photos will help them I´m not sure, but it´s supposed to ensure that I won´t get deported (I´m kidding). But seriously, if I don´t take at least 12 credits, I can get deported! Craziness. We had the fun lecture about visas too. Luckily, the program directors go with us to get our visas - we break up into 4 groups, and get to spend a morning in a governemnt office waiting. Think DMV (for non-NJ people, that´s the Department of Motor Vechicles), except DMV gone crazy.

Okay, that´s all for now. And please leave me comments - it lets me know who´s reading :-)

PS. I finally found a place where I can buy pretzels, though I'm still on the lookout for Cheerios and skim milk!