Monday, August 24, 2009

Remember what your mama taught you-mire ambos lados!

So getting place to place nearby you have options. There is the option of walking, colectivo(bus), subte (subway),bici(bike), radiotaxi (taxi). Rather common, however Buenos Aires has its unique transito (traffic) that makes every crosswalk an adventure. "Remember to look both ways!" (Mire ambos lados)
Ever day you are sure to see heavy traffic (common in cities) combined on the lanes with bike riders who are in the same lane as traffic, no helmet, perhaps carrying a child, a dog on their lap or many boxes and bags. Also there are the motorcyclists who do the same. Saaafe.
Our mass transit autos, buses and semis are hitting the pedal moment turns green. Crossing the intersections takes skiiiill. MIRE AMBOS LADOS for sure! There are street lines, but these are more like guidelines, not a rule. haha. so, i can't even imagine why people are riding bikes in the lanes, when the buses are pulling sharp stops at any moment.
Today I went to Corrientes with Alanna and witnessed: a 3 car pile up! Then later a motorcycle skidding off with a mans briefcase. He was getting out of a taxi when on eman shoved him, took his bag- the bike pop-a wheelie, the robber jumped on back, and the victim kicked the robber as it skidded off thru the intersection while the man raced after! Next block down, 2 men were juggling in a 4 lane intersection. Throughout the day, multiple motorcycles came onto the sidewalk (when there's heavy traffic) and since the walk is bustling too, they almost are driving into little children pedestrians. Also, haha earlier today my colectivo bus was just chillaxin in the middle of the intersection...soooo I think i'm gonna go home with less a traffic fear. just sayin'.
Just wanted to blog this constant occurring chaos. enjoy ur one man passing you on the thruway at home. haha it's not comparable here.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

one month!

A month ago today I arrived in beautiful Buenos Aires. So far I have come to make wonderful friends, and plans for my.. get this schedule... no classes after noon on thursday till tuesday! so i have long weekends to travel about the country! I've joined a youth orchestra! Called Orquesta Juventil de San Martin. our first concert is 5th of September and we may be going to tour in CHILE! Classes started at UCA. I am taking Acoustics.. which is physics of soundwaves and ..well acoustics, History of classical music, Industious Computation III, Spanish and Music Production II. Professors are really nice and classes are relaxed. Argentine's are almost proud of their tardiness :) Classes usually begin about 10 min after set time. The music students are so easy to get along with and super helpful. The classrooms are a bright yellow and there are a bunch of windows and courtyards. really tranquil. Tomorrow I am going to see the Symphony Philharmonic of Israel! Earlier in the day I plan to go to San Telmo for an outdoor Feria.. an artisans market. Every weekend these go on. Really great to see local artists work and cultural objects from the area to buy. Went to a tour of Teatro Colon on Wednesday. The second acoustically best theatres in the world. It has been under reconstruction since '04, so the tour group and i wore hard hats and scaled under construction equipment to see the hall. Quite impressive how self sufficient this theatre is. Under the ground it has several grand rooms for building costumes, stage equipment and scenes. Another grand adventure I had was a spontaneous trip to San Antonio de Areco. It is a small town about 2hrs northwest of BA. Went with my SUNY girls in a double decker omnibus. This town appeared deserted when we arrived. As we walked about, we immediately fell in love with it's gaucho (cowboy) camp (countryside) charm! We made a best friend there! Her name is Pepita and it's an estancia's (ranch) dog. She came in to the shops, walked with us around the blocks, and even stayed under our table during lunch and dinner in restaurants!!! quite the adventure with her :) We went horseback riding! for an hour.. gaucho style! (that means ropes for harness and fur for a saddle). I trotted/almosst galloped for the first time!
SKYPE has been a life saver! Really great to have charlas (chats) with friends and family back home.
OH yesterday I paid rent for the first time! haha i was pretty excited about that. gotta love city rental fees tho. haha :/
My family here is a dream! I can not even stress how happy i am with them. Super comforting, helpful, funny and an all around good time.
Besides all this, I think there are too many lil memories to write down. I am keeping a journal so I can never forget each lil moment, but I hope you are able to check out my fotos (on facebook, or photobucket).
LOVE YAs all.
<3>

Thursday, August 6, 2009

17TH day .. it's la lengua

Today .. i believe is the 17th day since I left the Buffalo airport. The day I adventurously left my hometown for a new place. I felt ready, and was convincing myself this is what I need to do. In the past days, I have been feeling so many different emotions. Happy to say the majority is high with positives :) If I look too into things, is when I start getting shaky. I need to just relax and let Buenos Aires be lived.
Orientation for college came and went and from that I met a world full of new friends- literally. I have my SUNY group of friends to go touring about with, and a start to new friendships from tens of countries.
I have seen barrios of Recoleta, Palermo, La Boca, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, Retiro, Centro. And more to come. Fotos attached to this blog will be of these areas and more.
Being here, I have felt as though I am just in New York City, and I have also felt that I am a million miles from home. It is the language that can connect or disconnect the feeling.
SO-- this is my overall observation. My life lesson learned: LANGUAGE is.... ______.
and from there i am not sure. I do know language is , and sometimes I will walk in a store, and without even speaking, the sales rep will begin to speak to me in English. Is it for how I look?Perhaps, but am i wearing "I SPEAK ENGLISH" t-shirt. No.
When I begin to speak, it is that connector. And on a good day, no one knows Castellano is not my first language. I just can not wait to never have that doubt. My goal here is to be able to not have to think about the translation. Just say. I want to be completely sure of what I am saying, and not feel so dumb and insecure.
Communication is key. Language can make or break you. So i've foung out.
So, for now, i have come to conclude this. It's La lengua. or .. it is el lengua?!

Argentina

Coming here has me realize all the culture in the United States. Before arriving I had not too much to say about US culture. This blog is about Argentina however, but I do want to make the point that I -yes I, I had taken a lot for granted prior to arriving here.
In this blog, I want to write more of my general observations and life learning. I am not going to write a day by day journal. However, any questions you have.. feel more than free to comment to me. :)
So, I arrived here July 21st 2009, and I will be returning home December 31st 2009. :)