Thursday, June 19, 2008

And so it begins...

I've made it safe and sound to my host family. The trip took about 22 hours total, 15 in the air and the remaining due to layovers and delays. Still have a bit of a cough, but hopefully that will go away within the next few days...

It's raining here today, but I guess it's the first time in a while. I was told the farmers have been praying for it- reminds me of Seattle actually. The weather is very similar to what I just left behind; at least I have that bit of familiarity. As most of you know my spanish has plenty of room to improve and I have been struggling to communicate the moment I stepped off the plane. I knew this was going to be hard, especially at the beginning. Already I have already experienced moments of despair in trying to understand and be understood, but I guess the only way to go from here is up.

On the flight from Houston to Buenos Aires I sat next to an old woman returning home from visiting her family in the states. We talked for a while (yes, in English) and I asked her what Buenos Aires is like, her immediate response was: "It's dirty- it is a dirty city". I thought she would follow with: "but still beautiful" and instead, she told me "but everybody loves the city where they come from." Now I'm sitting here wondering what my impression of Buenos Aires and Argentina will be. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, no?

The house is really cute and I have a nice room. Chichi has been so patient with me as we try to communicate. I met a couple of her friends who came over for lunch and it was really fun to laugh over my attempts at Spanish and theirs at English. It's only my first day here and I've been fed so much: gnocchi, empenadas, and this sweet caramel-like treat called dulce de leche. My host sister has already told me to reserve Sunday for a barbecue with her friends where I will eat some of Argentina's infamous asados.

Well, I'm looking forward to get out and about tomorrow. Plan on going to see la universidad and buy a sim card for my phone, maybe pick up a few books. Promise to keep this updated and upload pictures too. Buenas noches mis amigos.

7 comments:

phylly said...

Tiffany!!! Te echo de menos muschisimo, ojala que estes bien!!! :) :) I will throw a disc around for you this weekend (hopefully you brought yours over to Argentina to show them the ropes hahhahahaa....or i mean "jajajjajajaa")

Unknown said...

That is so wonderful!  Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.  I, for one, will look forward to many pictures. 

awd said...

Yay! Haha you'll be okay with the Spanish, don't worry =] Time and immersion, y no problema haha.

Jealous of the food! Ah sounds so good..mmm...haha. Looking forward to more pictures and hearing about your life down in Buenos Aires! When you come back, you'll be the one teaching ME espanol, shoot...haha.

Enjoy yourself and have fun!

Cindy S. said...

ohhh. sounds like ue having fun! I'm glad u got there safe. hurry with the pictures! -cindy

Unknown said...

Mi hermosa, duerme con un arma de fuego durante la noche. Mis amigos me dicen muchas cosas malas sobre los gauchos de argentina....es muy peligroso en el barrio...

OldMac said...

Tiffany, the tango lesson reminded me of one great Peace Corps experience: during a summer intensive-English program at a university (l965), we discovered that only one of the Americans knew the tango, so we decided to teach the rest and our Thai university students how to tango. We never got good, but the whole group went to a dinner-dance place to eat, then dance, and when the band (from Philippines) played a tango, we all went out to dance - nobody else! Never pretty, but fun! - Mr. Mac

Anonymous said...

good experience!! Argentina is amazing! now, I am in apartment for rent in Buenos Aires. any special recomendation to visit there?