Every ten years the entire country of Argentina gets shut down in order for the census people to go around to everyone's houses only once. Argentines are required to stay at their home until the census person has left, and then they are free to roam the empty empty streets. Argentina splits up it's country so that only parts of it are closed down one day and another another region is closed down the next day. Otherwise known as A National Holiday.
For us students this national holiday came right before our exams, so we had a study day on Wednesday 10/27/10. The streets of this bussling city were empty, and hopefully you bought food before hand because literally nothing was open until 7pm that night. Some friends rented bikes from the hostel and biked around the city to enjoy the wide open streets, like the 9 lane highway - 9 de Julio. I heard it was amazing to have it to yourself as a biker.
I went to the park with two friends to study for the written exam. We got to the park only to find out how distracted we would be, so we decided to stay. Turns out the world goes to the park cause there's literally not much else you can do. There was a wonderful drumming session, I learned some tai chi, oh and studied a little bit.
There is a ton of action of going on here: protesting, garbage men on strike (there were some very stinky days here), the subte (subway) was closed for a day, and now the ex-president has passed. Many public schools were closed and there were marches around Casa Rosata. When Argentine's don't like something they protest in front of Congreso, and when they are sad they go to the Casa Rosata, where the president lives.
Last but not least it was on this day that I had my written exam, and yesterday (10/29/10) I had my oral exam. I passed and I'm moving up in the world to level 5!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Living in a Hostel
I moved out of my shared apartment on Saturday and have been living in a hostel that I found out about from some Evergreen students in my Spanish class. It has been a really nice change. I also bumped into someone that I met at a party my first weekend here who is great, she´s teaching an English Business class for the year.
It has changed my days a little bit. Instead of getting home at 8 or 9 and just laying low during the week I come home to a happening hostel with a lot of people all around me and the group of 16 Evergreen students to hangout with. I can come out for the breakfast in the morning not knowing what I will be doing that day and discuss ideas with anyone who is around and then see where my day takes me. It's also nice to have people to go home with at night. This is what the Residencia will probably be like as well.
Last night I went to this amazing show called Fuerza Bruta with some of the Evergreen students. As the audience, we were both participants and bystanders. We walked in to a packed warehouse of people with loud funky music to see a man running on a moving walkway with different colored lights all around him. Then the show began and the other performers came onto the walkway, only to fall off the other side onto big gymnastic mats. We were moved around as different stages came this way and that, we looked up to see people on a clear platform with water moving back and forth and performers sliding and dancing. The platform of water changed colors as lights hit it. It moved all the way down to almost touching our heads and back up to the ceiling of the warehouse. They also had some crazy dance moves and a dj wearing an old judge's wig. I tried to get up on one of the stages when they were bringing audience members up to dance with them, but it was a tiny stage and I moved too late. What an incredible job to have!
I hadn't been home all day and didn't have my camera on me. Luckily, another group of Evergreen students are going on Friday to the last performance so I'll be stealing some of their pictures to place up on the blog.
It has changed my days a little bit. Instead of getting home at 8 or 9 and just laying low during the week I come home to a happening hostel with a lot of people all around me and the group of 16 Evergreen students to hangout with. I can come out for the breakfast in the morning not knowing what I will be doing that day and discuss ideas with anyone who is around and then see where my day takes me. It's also nice to have people to go home with at night. This is what the Residencia will probably be like as well.
Last night I went to this amazing show called Fuerza Bruta with some of the Evergreen students. As the audience, we were both participants and bystanders. We walked in to a packed warehouse of people with loud funky music to see a man running on a moving walkway with different colored lights all around him. Then the show began and the other performers came onto the walkway, only to fall off the other side onto big gymnastic mats. We were moved around as different stages came this way and that, we looked up to see people on a clear platform with water moving back and forth and performers sliding and dancing. The platform of water changed colors as lights hit it. It moved all the way down to almost touching our heads and back up to the ceiling of the warehouse. They also had some crazy dance moves and a dj wearing an old judge's wig. I tried to get up on one of the stages when they were bringing audience members up to dance with them, but it was a tiny stage and I moved too late. What an incredible job to have!
I hadn't been home all day and didn't have my camera on me. Luckily, another group of Evergreen students are going on Friday to the last performance so I'll be stealing some of their pictures to place up on the blog.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Travel Update
This month has been speeding on by. I have another month of classes, and then I am done with Spanish class on November 27th. My parents are coming down to play and travel from the Nov. 27th until Dec. 10th. I have been thinking about whether or not I would like to be in Buenos Aires in December and January full time and I came to the conclusion of no when I was riding home on the subte one day. I was waiting for the subte and one rolled into the station and it was jam packed with people - New Yorkers you haven't seen anything like this. People literally survey the scene to figure out how they can possibly manage and which way they should turn their bodies in order to fit into the subte car already riding low because of the weight of too many passengers. So I waited for the next one. Five minutes later, the exact situation happened again. So I waited for the next one, five minutes later, subtes come really quickly here you never have to wait more than 15 minutes it's beautiful, a jammed packed subte rolls into the station and at this point I just want to get move - one person gets off and I wiggle my way into that same exact spot. The subte was kind of stinky and it was here that I realized that I don't want to have to deal with this as it gets warmer and warmer.
I'm going to wwoof in the north, it's going to be really hot but I just really want to see the beautiful towns and land up there. It is smaller and has a ton of culture because Jujuy and Salta border Peru and Bolivia. It will be a lovely 20 hour bus ride unless I find a cheaper way to travel by plane. I was just chatting with a girl in my Spanish class, and we are going to travel and wwoof together in December.
In January, Kai is coming down. (Kai I've just made it official because it's on the internet) We were thinking about going to Bariloche and maybe El Bolson to wwoof.
Before I came down here I told everyone that my plane ticket on February 3rd could be a temporary ticket or a permenant ticket. Well turns out it is half and half. One of my best girlfriends, who was also a maid with me at Yellowstone National Park about four years ago, has been studying in New Zealand for the year. She is meeting me in the Bogota, Columbia airport, I'll be taking the first half of my ticket, and we are going to be traveling together for a little over a month in Northern South America. I'll be home in March, but don't get too excited because then it's time to explore China with Talia.
I'm going to wwoof in the north, it's going to be really hot but I just really want to see the beautiful towns and land up there. It is smaller and has a ton of culture because Jujuy and Salta border Peru and Bolivia. It will be a lovely 20 hour bus ride unless I find a cheaper way to travel by plane. I was just chatting with a girl in my Spanish class, and we are going to travel and wwoof together in December.
In January, Kai is coming down. (Kai I've just made it official because it's on the internet) We were thinking about going to Bariloche and maybe El Bolson to wwoof.
Before I came down here I told everyone that my plane ticket on February 3rd could be a temporary ticket or a permenant ticket. Well turns out it is half and half. One of my best girlfriends, who was also a maid with me at Yellowstone National Park about four years ago, has been studying in New Zealand for the year. She is meeting me in the Bogota, Columbia airport, I'll be taking the first half of my ticket, and we are going to be traveling together for a little over a month in Northern South America. I'll be home in March, but don't get too excited because then it's time to explore China with Talia.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Housing Update
At the end of this month I will be moving to the dorm for the month of November until Spanish classes are over. I've enjoyed living here, but it has also been a little isolating. There are plus' and minus' to everything. It is a great neighborhood, I definitely enjoy the slower pace of life in comparison to downtown Buenos Aires. It has made me work harder to become friends with people, and I have been self-motivating when it comes to exploring by myself and reaching out more than I would if I were constantly surrounded by people. I will be moving into the dorm which is six stories high, two kitchens on each floor and a lot more commotion and things going on at all times. It is also walking distance to class and to the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
Here are some pictures of where I am living right now before I move. This first picture is of my room.
This is my housemate's room.
This is the living room.
The living room is the first thing you see when you walk into the house.
This is the kitchen. The door leads out to the terrace which is where I stand and eat my cereal and banana every morning.
And that is all.
Here are some pictures of where I am living right now before I move. This first picture is of my room.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Language Partner
Yesterday, 10/16/10, I went to go meet my conversation partner, Roxana. She studied engineering and is taking classes at CUI, the same language school as me, to learn English.
It's always kind of awkward at first when you meet someone. However, the more we talked the more we felt comfortable. I was talking to her in Spanish and she was talking to me in English. She invited me to her friend's birthday party/dinner at acabar, a bar where there are stacks and stacks of board games that you can bring to your table to play.
It was nice to meet her friends, but talking to people individually in Spanish and talking in group settings are two completely different things. I'm definitely not at the group settings level yet. I chatted with Roxana a lot and the girl sitting on the other side of me who gave me some good advice about what to do in Bariloche, but when they began to play trivial pursuit in Spanish I decided that it was time for me to go. I might be going out with her friends again to some armenian restaurant next Sunday. I lucked out with my language partner!
It's always kind of awkward at first when you meet someone. However, the more we talked the more we felt comfortable. I was talking to her in Spanish and she was talking to me in English. She invited me to her friend's birthday party/dinner at acabar, a bar where there are stacks and stacks of board games that you can bring to your table to play.
It was nice to meet her friends, but talking to people individually in Spanish and talking in group settings are two completely different things. I'm definitely not at the group settings level yet. I chatted with Roxana a lot and the girl sitting on the other side of me who gave me some good advice about what to do in Bariloche, but when they began to play trivial pursuit in Spanish I decided that it was time for me to go. I might be going out with her friends again to some armenian restaurant next Sunday. I lucked out with my language partner!
It's been so nice having a job because it makes me feel like I have more of a purpose here than just speaking Spanish. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely great to play - but right now I want something more intellectually stimulating and challenging to think about.
On Friday, there was a volunteer meeting for the education program of the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. I think there were supposed to be two volunteers but only one woman showed up. She came early to the meeting, so we ended up chatting for a bit. I thought she was in her 30's, but it turns out that she is 29. It's crazy how your appearance and the way that you carry yourself impacts the image of yourself that you give out to others.
The meeting went so well. Everything was in Spanish. First they were talking and Lydia was learning the background information about the volunteer and then she opened up the meeting to me to hear what I had to say. Listening to them talk and then being able to put my ideas out on the table and express myself in Spanish felt so good. I could feel all this passion about education and families bubbling up within myself. I learned that the the curriculum is to spread awareness about discrimination by using the history and the story of Raoul Wallenberg's life: teaching tolerance.
When I was heading out I stopped in at Gustavo's, my boss, office. We were chatting about how the meeting went, and about plans for the weekend. I found out he's working on a novel that was too confusing to tell me about and some short stories. But the most important part about talking to him was that I asked why the New York office doesn't have an education program. He said that they couldn't get any steady volunteers to start it. When I get home I'm gonna see if I can take on that project!
On Friday, there was a volunteer meeting for the education program of the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. I think there were supposed to be two volunteers but only one woman showed up. She came early to the meeting, so we ended up chatting for a bit. I thought she was in her 30's, but it turns out that she is 29. It's crazy how your appearance and the way that you carry yourself impacts the image of yourself that you give out to others.
The meeting went so well. Everything was in Spanish. First they were talking and Lydia was learning the background information about the volunteer and then she opened up the meeting to me to hear what I had to say. Listening to them talk and then being able to put my ideas out on the table and express myself in Spanish felt so good. I could feel all this passion about education and families bubbling up within myself. I learned that the the curriculum is to spread awareness about discrimination by using the history and the story of Raoul Wallenberg's life: teaching tolerance.
When I was heading out I stopped in at Gustavo's, my boss, office. We were chatting about how the meeting went, and about plans for the weekend. I found out he's working on a novel that was too confusing to tell me about and some short stories. But the most important part about talking to him was that I asked why the New York office doesn't have an education program. He said that they couldn't get any steady volunteers to start it. When I get home I'm gonna see if I can take on that project!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
No hay, no hay - no es una problema. When I went in to tell my boss, Gustavo, that so far I haven't found anything about Father Horacio Moreno, one of the founders, he simply replied that if there aren't any there aren't any. It is not a problem, relax. Well today I found 2 articles from 1969 that had his name in them.
It's been pretty interesting reading all of these old articles about the organization. I'm slowly learning more about the history behind the it as well. I finished the first folder today of old news clippings.
I chatted with Lydia today who runs the education program. Many of the things that she does with the schools are in the afternoon, but there are some events in the morning that I will be learning more about on Friday. There is a meeting Friday morning with two volunteers to talk about the education program. It's great to just be in a Spanish work environment and to be doing something else besides a 3 hour Spanish class each day and thats it.
The mission of the non-profit organization is this: The mission of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is to develop educational programs and public awareness campaigns based on the values of solidarity and civic courage, ethical cornerstones of the Saviors of the Holocaust. quoted from the website.
It's been pretty interesting reading all of these old articles about the organization. I'm slowly learning more about the history behind the it as well. I finished the first folder today of old news clippings.
I chatted with Lydia today who runs the education program. Many of the things that she does with the schools are in the afternoon, but there are some events in the morning that I will be learning more about on Friday. There is a meeting Friday morning with two volunteers to talk about the education program. It's great to just be in a Spanish work environment and to be doing something else besides a 3 hour Spanish class each day and thats it.
The mission of the non-profit organization is this: The mission of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is to develop educational programs and public awareness campaigns based on the values of solidarity and civic courage, ethical cornerstones of the Saviors of the Holocaust. quoted from the website.
Sunday and Monday: 10/10 and 10/11 2010
This weekend we had a long weekend because Monday was el dia de la rasga - Argentine's take Columbus day off as well.
On Sunday, I meandered around San Telmo. Every Sunday there is an outdoor market with brazilian dancing. I didn't make it to the outdoor market, but I met my friend Karen for lunch and then found an indoor market with very cheap second hand things. It is open every day so I'll will be heading back there soon!
The main reason I went to San Telmo was to go to a Spanglish event. Spanglish is a program set up for people to meet each other and to practice Spanish or English. We did four rounds of a pub quiz in teams of 5 people with at least 1 or 2 Spanish speakers. We ended up getting the least amount of points out of all the teams, but I met some awesome people. After the four rounds were over, only the facilitators left, everybody stayed to chat with people. I ended up chatting with this incredibly nice Argentine woman who is an English teacher in the province outside of Buenos Aires in Spanish for another two hours. It was a great night!
Every Monday there is a drum show called La Bamba del Tiempo that goes on from 7-10pm. It begin with a warm up drum circle and then the main one took the stage. The most incredible part was to see the conductor conduct. He just used his fingers and had tons and tons of hand jestures: kind of like at baseball games but obviously much better. There were two guest bands who seemed to be a big deal according to the reaction from the crowd of Argentines around me. It was incredible to see the guest bands combine with all the drummers.
In this picture I am with Karen, in the middle, and Stephanie, on the other side.
On Sunday, I meandered around San Telmo. Every Sunday there is an outdoor market with brazilian dancing. I didn't make it to the outdoor market, but I met my friend Karen for lunch and then found an indoor market with very cheap second hand things. It is open every day so I'll will be heading back there soon!
The main reason I went to San Telmo was to go to a Spanglish event. Spanglish is a program set up for people to meet each other and to practice Spanish or English. We did four rounds of a pub quiz in teams of 5 people with at least 1 or 2 Spanish speakers. We ended up getting the least amount of points out of all the teams, but I met some awesome people. After the four rounds were over, only the facilitators left, everybody stayed to chat with people. I ended up chatting with this incredibly nice Argentine woman who is an English teacher in the province outside of Buenos Aires in Spanish for another two hours. It was a great night!
Every Monday there is a drum show called La Bamba del Tiempo that goes on from 7-10pm. It begin with a warm up drum circle and then the main one took the stage. The most incredible part was to see the conductor conduct. He just used his fingers and had tons and tons of hand jestures: kind of like at baseball games but obviously much better. There were two guest bands who seemed to be a big deal according to the reaction from the crowd of Argentines around me. It was incredible to see the guest bands combine with all the drummers.
Gaucho Day
I arrive at the meeting spot, a hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, with two other people from my program excited and ready to go. Our bus was not there. We waited and wondered where it could possibly be: could we have missed it? Are we in the wrong spot? No we are just in Argentina where things come when they come. Our tour guide arrived about 45 minutes later, and everyone excitedly hopped on the bus ready to get out of the city for the day.
Some of the houses on the estancia looked like this with beautiful flowers around them.
There's nothing like the old and modern side by side...
It was absolutely beautiful there. We went to an estancia call La Cinacina. We were greeted with delicious empanadas, and the host gaucho who knew about four different languages. We were excited to speak Spanish and he was excited to speak English...he won. He told us some crazy life story about how he sailed down to antarctica on a tiny little boat from the tip of Argentina.
After we walked around a little bit there was a huge asado. Some people went horse back riding, but not me. I found out the difference between an asado and a parrilla. A parrilla is the grill and an asado is the style or the way that you grill things. Yep those are massive pieces of meat.
They put on a performance after we were done eating all the meat we could eat.
This was part of the show at the end. Gauchos went at full speed to try to get a ring that I couldn't even capture with my camera. Some gauchos decided to do their own thing like this one. He was going pretty fast. At the end they all lined up and we took pictures with them. The day wasn't exactly what I expected, but I definitely enjoyed myself and the fact that I could walk around without my shoes on was great!
After we walked around a little bit there was a huge asado. Some people went horse back riding, but not me. I found out the difference between an asado and a parrilla. A parrilla is the grill and an asado is the style or the way that you grill things. Yep those are massive pieces of meat.
Friday, October 8, 2010
I HAVE A JOB!
I got a job today with the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, and will begin on Tuesday the 12th of October. I will be working Monday-Friday from 9:30-12:30 every morning. Class starts at 1, and is a short 20 minute walk from the office - so nice!
As of right now, I will be helping them to finish a scanning things on to the computer about the co-founder, Moreno, who passed away. I will be going through letters written to him and press clippings written about him. I will also be meeting Lydia, on Tuesday, who runs the educational program for the foundation and seeing how I can be a part of that as well.
Yesterday, we had a orientation dinner where everyone from the program, past and present, came for dinner. A few of us went out after and danced the night away. Tomorrow, I am off to a gaucho fest for the day. There will be an asado, grilled meat, and empenadas. As well as a horse show and music all day. Pictures are coming soon!
As of right now, I will be helping them to finish a scanning things on to the computer about the co-founder, Moreno, who passed away. I will be going through letters written to him and press clippings written about him. I will also be meeting Lydia, on Tuesday, who runs the educational program for the foundation and seeing how I can be a part of that as well.
Yesterday, we had a orientation dinner where everyone from the program, past and present, came for dinner. A few of us went out after and danced the night away. Tomorrow, I am off to a gaucho fest for the day. There will be an asado, grilled meat, and empenadas. As well as a horse show and music all day. Pictures are coming soon!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
osada - daring: Word of the Week
I have been in Argentina for three days, but it feels like I have been here for much longer. It has been a little bit of a difficult transition and adjustment to living in Buenos Aires. Every day brings something new, and I am beginning to create a life for myself down in Argentina.
On Monday we had orientation before taking oral exams to figure out what level Spanish class we should be in. There are about ten people that have registered for the class at La Cuidad Universidad de Idomas (CUI) through GIC the same thing that I have done. CUI is a huge language school with students from all over the world, some from Brazil, France, Norway, Britain, and the U.S. There are a many different programs similar to mine that connect and enroll people into the school. The teachers are energetic and encouraging.
It is great to be speaking Spanish again. I am feeling more and more comfortable with the language.
On Monday we had orientation before taking oral exams to figure out what level Spanish class we should be in. There are about ten people that have registered for the class at La Cuidad Universidad de Idomas (CUI) through GIC the same thing that I have done. CUI is a huge language school with students from all over the world, some from Brazil, France, Norway, Britain, and the U.S. There are a many different programs similar to mine that connect and enroll people into the school. The teachers are energetic and encouraging.
It is great to be speaking Spanish again. I am feeling more and more comfortable with the language.
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