Polo

Apparently Argentina's top sports are as follows...
Soccer...☑
Polo...☑
Tennis...'tis the season.

So I went to a Polo match. it was so relaxing.
The skill was unbelievable. The coordination with the horses and equipment to score. very cool
it was a nice sunny day, and after we got right up close to an ESPN interview with the players!
Learned that in Polo, a lot of the teams are family members, who play at their estancias (ranches). so the team who won this game, were 4 brothers. very cool
Also learned that Argentina is so good with Polo, that's where the men get their fashion mode from and Prince Charles' Polo coach is Argentine.
pretty neat huh.
Later, we, Alex (Germany), Tomas (Argentina), Alanna and I went to all you can eat sushi :D

Halloween in a country where there is no celebrated Halloween

Happy Halloween
I spent thursday night, and saturday night in costume. Carved 'pumpkins' and dressed up. For thursday night, the international students went on a boat party. Costume mandatory. A fun time, I decided last minute to dress up as Helga from "Hey, Arnold!" series. Many creative costumes were seen. The boat was fun, live band inside and a lot of good conversation all around. We even had a group of German Power Rangers who saved two guys from France out of the water.
Saturday I carved 'pumpkins' with Alanna and Julia. I say 'pumpkins' because we only found japanese squash.. but it worked :) Left for dinner at a Chinese restaurant where my Argenitne friend Tomás met up. Dressed up and put on spooky make-up. Saw a group of 'ghouls' in the streets, but only about 10 people and it was a group of U.S study abroad students. ha
Overall, a very fun night, and good memories. Can't wait for the next US holiday we'll celebrate here... Thanksgiving. ..stay tuned ;)

FUTBOL!

FUTBOL!

So i really wasn't planning on going to an Argentina soccer game while here. I know that is ridiculous since Argentina has amazing soccer skills, but it just wasn't in the plan.
Best things happen without plans!

Sunday morning, i wake up to Alanna at the foot of my bed with 2 tickets to RIVER vs BOCA Futbol! To try and compare this to what us US folk know.. it's more intense than a world series Red Sox vs Yankees game.

River and Boca are THE biggest two Buenos Aires soccer team rivals.

Be sure to check out the videos at the bottom of the blog to see what I mean.
The crowds have so much spirit and love for their team.
The game ended 1-1.
It was awesome. End of story.

91st day below the equator!

MY TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY!

What did you do to celebrate your 21st? Where did you go? Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdez you say? Thought not, not unless you are me :) 5 friends and I bussed our way 20 hrs south of Buenos Aires, Argentina to have a one of a kind birthday!
These girls are incredible!
We arrived saturday to our hostel about 3pm ish. Booked a guided ride right away to Punto Lomo. We saw Sea Lions relaxing on the bay!
Later went to a restaurant called "Margarita". At midnight the waiter surprised me with a brownie ice cream dessert. The girls sang bilingual "happy birthday". All the girls were there: Alanna, Arlene, Emily, Julia, Sarah and Shata!
Had an "Argentina Mia"
Bed minuted later to be fresh for our full-Sunday excursion starting at 8am come home about 12hrs later.
WHALES! I went on a whale watch in Punto Piramides on my 21st!
Saw Franco-Austral whales, which jumped and swam all about the crystal blue water.
Then drove in our guided tour bus to see Sea Elephants!
These guys are big! and silly!
*Be sure to check out my videos at the bottom of my blog page. *
Ate lunch atop the hill, with a breathtaking lookout of the water and dessert brush land.
Later, drove to see Penguins! These aren't the snow sliding penguins we see in movies. These were cute, puffy black and white penguins that nested under bushes and climbed up rocky sand hills.
Puerto Madryn is a small city alongside a sea coastline, and a place where the rain does not see. The roads are made of dirt, and while you drive you see the dust collect behind the car.
Had dinner at about 11pm at Los Colonas.. a seafood restaurant in the theme of a boat wreck. Lighthouse outside, Boat lights, a boat as a restaurant. Good atmosphere. Celebrated the big 21, and Argentina's mother's day holiday with some white wine, and the waiter gave us each a glass of champagne.
At 9am Monday, we woke from our adorable hostel to walk the sidewalks of the 'lil city. Went to our bus stop.. when we came upon the news that we will be staying here for another few hours. Our bus was to leave at 2pm, however we left port at 10pm.
Why you ask?
Well, in Argentina a lot of times the people of the country are not happy with their government.. so they protest. This particular day, the petroleum workers in the south decided to cut the bus route road, so no one could pass by.
So, like suerte, saw a few friends from UCA (Argentina University). We spent the day together as a group of 11. Played soccer with locals alongside the shore, and had lunch outside in the beautiful weather.
We got home at 5pm Tuesday.
In all ... an AMAZING birthday! To top it off however, i came home to a strawberry cake and 2 packages from my NY loved ones!!
I love you all ! Thank you for each of your kindness and thoughts! Love you
<3

to keep you up to date

Sorry it's been a while since the last post. Been just living here, no special trips lately. Busy with music :) Playing in rehearsals, concerts and ...a special premiere soon ! :)
I enjoy playing bassoon here. A lot of friends take interest in hearing it for the FIRST time. it's beautiful to share that.
I'm about at the halfway mark of being here. Learned a WORLD of new things. Really feel like i've developed so much way mentally. Been taking a huge interest in cooking and new exercises. I'm using running as a way to sightsee and to have an excuse to eat lots after. haha, Enrolled in a fitness program. Taking all sorts of pilates, yoga classes. Bought a few cookbooks and check out tons of restaurants. I take mental notes of how to cook the authentic dishes here.
Besides this, been putting my head in the books. This week was Mid-Term week. So chillaxed here! had one open book/open comp test that consisted of 2 QUESTIONS! and my other one is an essay on classical music, that's due whenever i want. Classes r hard, but i like that they give internationals a break. too cool! not gonna be ready for the loooong class days at fredonia when i come home. hahah
A lot has changed at home. Heard my mom and eric bought a new home, my sister Amanda headed to California, my other sister Amanda is leaving for New Zealand, Mike will begin a new career, and Jackie is learning all about Germany through Lara our host sister.
Back home is the time of 21st birthday's. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all my friends. I expect a fun time when I come home :) For my 21st, my friends and I down here plan to head down south to Chubut province. You'll hear all about it for sure :)
In all, really enjoying my time here (minus the fact I wish YOU were all here with me!!)
keep it real back there up north.
<3

Primavera has come!

Fall there? Springtime here and the weather shows. Days of rain then sunshine and the flowers on the trees and in the gardens are in full bloom.

The first day of Primavera (spring) is a big festival throughout the city. Free concerts play in the park and people from every side of the city gather together to enjoy to day.

I went to the Japanese Gardens and the neighboring park to see the flowers and city people enjoy this holiday. Most days have been about 21 degrees (celcius) haha, not F.
This past weekend I went up to el tigre, to go to the Buenos Aires Rowing Club with my host father Ignacio and my friend Stephanie. First time rowing. It was a lot of fun, and i'm feelin the burn today. haha
We rowed a 3 man boat through an Amazon looking canal (water trees and homes alongside the canal) to a lil island for lunch. Stephanie and I took on a historical moment as we, the first time rowers, rowed together in time ! we did awesome! 2012 Olympics here we come :)

CHILE

the trip to SANTIAGO, CHILE

On a spontaneous whim, me and several friends decided to buy Omnibus tickets to Chile, some 20hrs west of Buenos Aires. We bought them on a Wednesday and then the next day on Thursday I left, staying until arriving back to BA the following Tuesday.
The trip brought can be summarized by the word "surprises".
Surprises were that I ...
won a bottle of Mendoza wine on the bus ride by playing Bingo.
I rented and stayed in a hostel for 3 nights. and surprisingly it was fabulous. A good time.
I saw the 'whole' city in one day,
traveled 2 hrs west to stick my feet in the PACIFIC OCEAN
& ate some fresh seafood off the shore.
Went up a Funicular (basically a vertical train up the mtside) to find breathtaking panoramic views of the cityscape of Santiago and of the southern sunset hitting the snow caps of the Andes Mountains.
Had many ethnic foods, all except Chilean.
Surprisingly we arrived during their Bicentennial. The air was filled with patriotic decorations of red-white and blue .
Speaking of RWB, we arrived 9/11, which was a historical tragedy there. A conflict against police and civialians. This left the town in a hush and police mounts everywhere.
To our surprise, sundays are a day of deserted thruways and no one to be seen.
After all this excitement, my friend Tina (AKA Latina) and I took our return trip ...
to our surprise, I was an illegal border crosser. Never in my life did I think I would have conflict with the law. Surprised, and concerned, we worked together to figure out how to get back to Buenos Aires.
Speaking our second language to Border officials, after hours of international passport problems, luckily it resulted in us taking the next bus out back home to Buenos Aires...
to our surprise, we arrived 32hrs later.
A long bus ride, but we stuck together , never had such great company and learning so much about myself. :)