i've been thinking about snowboarding for a few months now, and yesterday i finally went to hoodoo. hoodoo is a fun little low-key place outside of sisters, or. i've only been snowboarding once before with my brother. i remember spending a lot of time on the ground, spending a little too much time in the air and not being able to move the next day. today i'm doing sort of a shuffle and knocking things over here and there, but it's not so bad.
we started out our day with a lesson that nearly bored us to tears. it ends up that B hates snowboarding and i love it. i spent the afternoon on the bunny hill by myself, going in a non-stop cycle up the lift, down the hill and up again. i would tell myself it was the last time or that i would rest a moment, but before i knew it i was on the lift again. miraculously i even made it down the hill a few times without falling. i love it. i even love my shuffle today. i want a little mountain in my backyard.
so today is for recovery and knitting. i am working on the mancala board and a little pad for the tea pot. i will beg the cooperation of the washing machine this afternoon to felt. and perhaps i'll get around to knitting some more of the lace. so tedious, but sooooo good.
ineligibility
it seems that i am ineligible for unemployment. why? because for unemoployment qualification they look at your work history/income/hours from two quarters ago. so, they looked only at my work from jul/aug/sep. it just so happens that i started in late july and worked july and august 32 hours/week part time. i can refile for unemployment in april, when they'll look at my work from oct/nov/dec, and then i'll qualify. obviously i'm pissed, i'm not quite sure how to take this. so, please share your unemployment stories with me to cheer me up.
have i ever mentioned how much i hate looking for a job? truly. es lo peor de lo peor. i think i'll look for something in farming... i've been looking at farming internships, but so many of them offer next to no money. i realize they are "learning opportunities," but if i'm going to work my ass off...
i'm open to suggestions for wonderful things to do in the near future. any ideas?
have i ever mentioned how much i hate looking for a job? truly. es lo peor de lo peor. i think i'll look for something in farming... i've been looking at farming internships, but so many of them offer next to no money. i realize they are "learning opportunities," but if i'm going to work my ass off...
i'm open to suggestions for wonderful things to do in the near future. any ideas?
9 months later....
so much and so little can happen in 9 months that it's hard to know where to begin. here's the month-by-month synopsis.
MAY: back in the u.s. after 9 months of travelling. recovery. began the hardcore job search. planted the garden.
JUN: continued the hardcore job search. uneventfully turned 27. tended the garden. obsessive knitting. weeklong camping trip and job interviews around oregon.
JUL: ate an absurd amount of cherry tomatoes in the the garden. family is convinced the cherry tomato plant never produced. officially ran out of money. modified the job search to local. started working pt for prineville public works.
AUG: rode my bike to work. learned that in prineville only people with DUIs and kids ride bikes. started the apartment hunt. learned that in prineville a 27 year old woman looking for a one bedroom apartment is considered a spinster. started a knitting group.
SEP: got promoted to full time. moved into new apartment. like a crazy woman, i started going to every yard sale i could find. furnished my apartment.
OCT: B arrived in oregon. lance and melissa got married. weekends on the coast. discovered yachats.
NOV: thanksgiving with the parents. visited ghost towns of oregon. the dalles christmas parade, seaside christmas parade, newport lighted boat parade.
DEC: winter weather. cold walks to work in the morning. christmas with B in prineville. new years at the sand dunes. knitting group yarn exchange.
JAN: sitka open house. elimination of my job, became unemployed. prineville city council meeting with over 150 people, all irate. filed for unemployment. start the job search again.
this month: uncover local government corruption- finding the information to support the theories. starting to become an actual prineville resident. going on the job hunt, again.
more to come shortly....
MAY: back in the u.s. after 9 months of travelling. recovery. began the hardcore job search. planted the garden.
JUN: continued the hardcore job search. uneventfully turned 27. tended the garden. obsessive knitting. weeklong camping trip and job interviews around oregon.
JUL: ate an absurd amount of cherry tomatoes in the the garden. family is convinced the cherry tomato plant never produced. officially ran out of money. modified the job search to local. started working pt for prineville public works.
AUG: rode my bike to work. learned that in prineville only people with DUIs and kids ride bikes. started the apartment hunt. learned that in prineville a 27 year old woman looking for a one bedroom apartment is considered a spinster. started a knitting group.
SEP: got promoted to full time. moved into new apartment. like a crazy woman, i started going to every yard sale i could find. furnished my apartment.
OCT: B arrived in oregon. lance and melissa got married. weekends on the coast. discovered yachats.
NOV: thanksgiving with the parents. visited ghost towns of oregon. the dalles christmas parade, seaside christmas parade, newport lighted boat parade.
DEC: winter weather. cold walks to work in the morning. christmas with B in prineville. new years at the sand dunes. knitting group yarn exchange.
JAN: sitka open house. elimination of my job, became unemployed. prineville city council meeting with over 150 people, all irate. filed for unemployment. start the job search again.
this month: uncover local government corruption- finding the information to support the theories. starting to become an actual prineville resident. going on the job hunt, again.
more to come shortly....
I drove on the wrong side of the road.
It wasn't in Belfast, it was in Ballyboughal a few days back. We went out in the morning (a quiet morning, thank goodness), I turned out of the driveway of our B&B and began driving on the right side of the road. Right as in the opposite of left, right not as in correct, right as if I were driving a car on another continent altogether. One would think that this may have felt a bit strange, seeing as the steering wheel is on the right (not left) side of the car. I felt nothing of the sort. In fact, I drove this way for 5 minutes or so. (Once again, thank goodness it was a quiet morning.) It was not until we hit a stretch of road of some significant legnth that I saw a car coming at me in what I had thought to be my lane. I will stress that it was some distance away, and we were by no means in any danger. First confusion ran over me, then the realization of what I was doing, and finally the oh shit I'm driving on the wrong side of the road and need to get into my own lane. My mother didn't even notice it. Apparently there is more than one reason why I am doing all of the driving.
Ireland
Things I've learned since being in Ireland:
- The churches here are all amazing, beautiful stained glass and lots of gothic architecture. The only strange thing we've seen with the churches is the occasional statues of saints being all covered up in something that looks like a giant silk sack. If anybody can explain this to me, I'd be forever grateful.
- Driving is insanity derived from the small roads, poor road signs and driving with my mother.
- Ireland is more than green, rolling hills. It's actually has a quite varied and beautiful terrain.
- Sheep in Ireland are EXCESSIVELY hairy. Really. It's almost creepy. I asked for a baby Irish lamb for my birthday.
- Mom needs a pair of bifocal sunglasses so she can read the map (attempt to read the map rather) without switching out of her sunglasses. Hopefully thinking on my part that this would help.
- Castles lose their charm after you've seen a few of them. Unless maybe you grew up dreaming about castles. But I didn't.
- The churches here are all amazing, beautiful stained glass and lots of gothic architecture. The only strange thing we've seen with the churches is the occasional statues of saints being all covered up in something that looks like a giant silk sack. If anybody can explain this to me, I'd be forever grateful.
- Driving is insanity derived from the small roads, poor road signs and driving with my mother.
- Ireland is more than green, rolling hills. It's actually has a quite varied and beautiful terrain.
- Sheep in Ireland are EXCESSIVELY hairy. Really. It's almost creepy. I asked for a baby Irish lamb for my birthday.
- Mom needs a pair of bifocal sunglasses so she can read the map (attempt to read the map rather) without switching out of her sunglasses. Hopefully thinking on my part that this would help.
- Castles lose their charm after you've seen a few of them. Unless maybe you grew up dreaming about castles. But I didn't.
Off again
It feels like I just arrived in the states, and I'm off again. I'm leaving for the airport in 15 minutes for a 7:45 am flight to Shannon, Ireland via New Jersey. 3 weeks in Ireland with mom. And now my dad has to look at the computer to find out how to get us to the airport. Wish us luck.
Back.
I'm back in the United States. There doesn't appear to be anything that I missed terribly or was happy to get back to. Instead there are things that I missing about other places, mostly Argentina. I miss the good coffee. I miss the spanish. I miss my love. I miss the clouds there. I miss things not being so easy, but having small hurdles to accomplish little daily things.
Here I'm seeing that: Americans are quite overweight. Quite. Strip malls are growing at an exponential rate. I had no idea they could pop up so quickly. My hometown is so completely changed that I don't belive I could navigate it, and I have no desire to. Americans talk loud, not only on their cell phones, but to the people right next to them. There is a failing effort to beautify the towns that have grown into small cities. All the cars here are new. All strip-mall parking lots, as well as mall parking lots are designed for people to get into their cars and drive from place to place. Pedestrian traffic is unwelcome and highly discouraged.
I'll be heading up to Oregon on Tuesday. I have a week to prepare for my trip to Ireland with my mother. We're going to Ireland (and hopefully we'll squeeze in Scotland and Wales) for 3 weeks. It's our first time travelling together, so I ask everybody to think good thoughts for us. Perhaps if you make a wish on a dandelion or an eyelash or over railroad tracks, you can make a wish for me. I promise to return the favor when you need a wish. I am thinking positive, that we're going to have a good time and things will go smoothly. The only pending thing that needs to happen before we leave is me getting a new drivers license. I need to take and pass the Oregon driving test sometime over the next week. I'm not worried, but some previous residents of California have been known to fail their first time around...
Here I'm seeing that: Americans are quite overweight. Quite. Strip malls are growing at an exponential rate. I had no idea they could pop up so quickly. My hometown is so completely changed that I don't belive I could navigate it, and I have no desire to. Americans talk loud, not only on their cell phones, but to the people right next to them. There is a failing effort to beautify the towns that have grown into small cities. All the cars here are new. All strip-mall parking lots, as well as mall parking lots are designed for people to get into their cars and drive from place to place. Pedestrian traffic is unwelcome and highly discouraged.
I'll be heading up to Oregon on Tuesday. I have a week to prepare for my trip to Ireland with my mother. We're going to Ireland (and hopefully we'll squeeze in Scotland and Wales) for 3 weeks. It's our first time travelling together, so I ask everybody to think good thoughts for us. Perhaps if you make a wish on a dandelion or an eyelash or over railroad tracks, you can make a wish for me. I promise to return the favor when you need a wish. I am thinking positive, that we're going to have a good time and things will go smoothly. The only pending thing that needs to happen before we leave is me getting a new drivers license. I need to take and pass the Oregon driving test sometime over the next week. I'm not worried, but some previous residents of California have been known to fail their first time around...
2 lessons from me to you
1. Do not, by any means, eat fried empanadas before boarding a bus of which condition and your seats are unknown. In the end, you will be pacing down the aisle of the bus hoping not to vomit. If you are lucky, you will recover after the bus stops and all will be good and fine. However, by experience I will tell you that you will not be lucky. You will befriend the bus station bathroom and delay your future travels for one day. So, even if you're hungry, don't let the empanadas tempt you. Even if they are from Pachamama.
2. Do not, by any means, get too comfortable. If you do, you are likely to have a lapse in judgement. In your lapse of judgement it is likely that some evil person will steal things from you. Something like your bag with your camera, wallet, and new llama pendant from someone special. You will be irritated, blame yourself, and have many annoying logistics to follow. So, even if you're having a wonderful day where you feel like everyone is wonderful and all you want to do is frolic and be happy and relaxed, remember that everyone is indeed not wonderful. Not only are they not wonderful, they will indulge in any opportunity they have to remind you of how unwonderful they are.
Things you might learn:
To be zen and acknowledge that things are just things, that you've really lost nothing of value other than your trust of people. And the llama, because that was special.
That you can speak spanish in a time of crisis. You can find the words you want, use them and people seem to understand you just fine. Thank goodness.
That you still love Argentina. It will take more than vomit and theivery to change your mind.
2. Do not, by any means, get too comfortable. If you do, you are likely to have a lapse in judgement. In your lapse of judgement it is likely that some evil person will steal things from you. Something like your bag with your camera, wallet, and new llama pendant from someone special. You will be irritated, blame yourself, and have many annoying logistics to follow. So, even if you're having a wonderful day where you feel like everyone is wonderful and all you want to do is frolic and be happy and relaxed, remember that everyone is indeed not wonderful. Not only are they not wonderful, they will indulge in any opportunity they have to remind you of how unwonderful they are.
Things you might learn:
To be zen and acknowledge that things are just things, that you've really lost nothing of value other than your trust of people. And the llama, because that was special.
That you can speak spanish in a time of crisis. You can find the words you want, use them and people seem to understand you just fine. Thank goodness.
That you still love Argentina. It will take more than vomit and theivery to change your mind.
Salta
I've finally made it ou t of Buenos Aires. After a 20 hour bus ride I'm now in Salta, which is in the northwest of Argentina. It's a very small city and quite different from BsAs. Everything is beautiful and well kept. The grass is green, there isn't dogshit anywhere, people are friendly and there is fabulous scenery all around. We haven't done much yet, just wander around the city mostly, but we have a week to explore the area. We're both crossing our fingers that the weather.com report is wrong and it won't rain the entire time...
And now...
Went to dinner last night and meet the artist/thinker behind United Transnational Replublics. The website is http://www.transnationalrepublic.org
It looks like my travel plans are starting to take some shape. On the agenda is Iguazu Falls, San Ignacio, Salta, Chaco and Cordoba. If I can possibly get all of that in. I also have a Argentine travelling companion, and I know that we're going to have loads of fun together. I can't wait.
It looks like my travel plans are starting to take some shape. On the agenda is Iguazu Falls, San Ignacio, Salta, Chaco and Cordoba. If I can possibly get all of that in. I also have a Argentine travelling companion, and I know that we're going to have loads of fun together. I can't wait.
Life.
I'm a little behind with the posting... I've started being a bit more settled here. I have a favorite café that I go to in the morning, where I don't have to order anymore. I have my routine of spanish class and tango class. And I've started dating. Yep, dating. It's strange and funny, but I'm loving it. It's so wonderful to be single again and enjoying life how I want to. And so, I've been distracted.
It looks like I may be spending my last 2 weeks in Argentina travelling a little bit around the country. I keep trying to sit down and do some reading about where to go, but my attention span is betraying me. If anybody knows anything about Argentina and has any reccomendations, I will love you forever. I'll take some pictures for you and buy you some cheap plastic souvenir of 2 tango dancers or something just as horribley cheesey.
It looks like I may be spending my last 2 weeks in Argentina travelling a little bit around the country. I keep trying to sit down and do some reading about where to go, but my attention span is betraying me. If anybody knows anything about Argentina and has any reccomendations, I will love you forever. I'll take some pictures for you and buy you some cheap plastic souvenir of 2 tango dancers or something just as horribley cheesey.
I didn't think I've posted in a while... I think it's because I'm settling into a bit of routine. Routine can definetely feel good and nice and cozy, but it also has a tendency to make me lazy. So, I have to fight that and continuously remind myself that I'm in BsAs, and I want to make the most of it.
Last weekend was good, but nothing too crazy. Went out on Saturday night with the intention of going to Klub Killer. I've intended to go there for I think 3 weeks now and still haven't made it. I went out with 2 of my roommates to Fin Del Mundo for a couple drinks before we were going to head over to Klub Killer. We ended up talking to some locals that convinced us to go to another "better" bar. The bar was okay, and it was a long and strange night.
On Sunday I went to a movie in Puerto Madera. They have free outdoor movies. I couldn't believe how many people were there. The movie started at 9:00, and even though it was in spanish it was such a stupid movie that I understood the whole thing. But it was a beautiful night, and I'm glad I went. There's also a market and food and stuff going on at Puerto Madera all weekend. It's crazy that they still have the markets going on at 9:00. Most of the venders were starting to pack up, but I would have expected that they would have been long gone.
Went to tango class on Tuesday as usual. Went to a gay milonga last night. That was interesting. It's a weekly event in a small place. It's very different to watch two men dancing tango together, and I quite like it. People there looked they were having a lot more fun than those I saw at the traditional milonga I went to. It's much more lighthearted. I didn't dance. I don't feel like I know enough yet to even embarass myself. Maybe by the time I leave I'll be able to get my ass on the dance floor.
Last weekend was good, but nothing too crazy. Went out on Saturday night with the intention of going to Klub Killer. I've intended to go there for I think 3 weeks now and still haven't made it. I went out with 2 of my roommates to Fin Del Mundo for a couple drinks before we were going to head over to Klub Killer. We ended up talking to some locals that convinced us to go to another "better" bar. The bar was okay, and it was a long and strange night.
On Sunday I went to a movie in Puerto Madera. They have free outdoor movies. I couldn't believe how many people were there. The movie started at 9:00, and even though it was in spanish it was such a stupid movie that I understood the whole thing. But it was a beautiful night, and I'm glad I went. There's also a market and food and stuff going on at Puerto Madera all weekend. It's crazy that they still have the markets going on at 9:00. Most of the venders were starting to pack up, but I would have expected that they would have been long gone.
Went to tango class on Tuesday as usual. Went to a gay milonga last night. That was interesting. It's a weekly event in a small place. It's very different to watch two men dancing tango together, and I quite like it. People there looked they were having a lot more fun than those I saw at the traditional milonga I went to. It's much more lighthearted. I didn't dance. I don't feel like I know enough yet to even embarass myself. Maybe by the time I leave I'll be able to get my ass on the dance floor.
24 hour make out session
The people here are something else. Public affection is like a religion. Every other person you see is making out. And if they're not making out it's because they're by themselves. In that case, if they are a woman they are most likely pregnant, and if they are a man they are leering at you like they want to make out. I just can't get used to it.
I had a night last night that I've been waiting for since I arrived in BsAs. I was at tango class, the same queer tango that I've been to a couple times before. I'm acquainted with most of the people there by now, but that didn't seem to matter last night. I felt completely isolated from everybody. I couldn't figure out how to say anything that I wanted to, and it didn't seem like anybody wanted to spend their night struggling to understand what the foreigner was saying. I can't blame them. I would rather just have a carefree conversation too, but it's just not possible now. And so I felt like the outsider, completely isolated and alone. It sucked. I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. I didn't expect that the more spanish I learned the harder it would get. I thought it would get easier. I now know just enough to get frustrated when I can't get the words out. It was the first time I wondered what I was doing here in Argentina, why I came to a country where I couldn't communicate with words and how I thought I was going to get by.
We were supposed to take a class field trip to the delta today for a relaxing day of swimming, however it poured down rain. We were going to have class as usual, but after last night I just wasn't feeling up to it. After 3 1/2 weeks of spanish class every weekday I just needed a break. I slept in until 11, went out for coffee and went to see a movie in english. I felt guilty doing it, but it still felt good. It was a much needed escape. And now I can go back to spanish class tomorrow, and in theory I'll be a little refreshed and ready to learn again.
We were supposed to take a class field trip to the delta today for a relaxing day of swimming, however it poured down rain. We were going to have class as usual, but after last night I just wasn't feeling up to it. After 3 1/2 weeks of spanish class every weekday I just needed a break. I slept in until 11, went out for coffee and went to see a movie in english. I felt guilty doing it, but it still felt good. It was a much needed escape. And now I can go back to spanish class tomorrow, and in theory I'll be a little refreshed and ready to learn again.
My view
Off of my bedroom I have two little balconies. From one balcony, I have a view into the city, and I can watch the sunset. It's wonderful. From the other, I see onto the deck of somebodies very nice penthouse. Everyday an old man with saggy breasts wearing only boxers pulled up to his chest spends a good deal of time watering plants and sunbathing. That's my view.
Like Water
This week I've been super-busy taking a semi-intensive tango course (on top of my 4 hour spanish course), which means class every night for 2 hours. After class on Monday I wasn't so sure about it. I liked the tango part, but the teaching feels a little new agey. We kept doing exercises to relax our bodies, and one of them was pushing your partner on different spots of their body, seeing how their body reacts and trying to get them to be loose where they seem to be tense. Weird. I don't particularly like pushing strangers, and I really don't like being pushed by strangers. I'm just not that touchy, and I don't know these men. And I suppose these exercises are exactly what I need considering I am tense as can be, but it's still strange.
The tango is coming along well though. I can definetely do more now than I could on Monday. Tonights class had highs and lows. It started out great, and I was dancing like a tango star until I had to be like water and occupy spaces that were made me for me. This made no sense. In order to get to spaces that were made for me I had to take a million steps fumbling over my partners feet that always seemed to be in the water. And I most certainly didn't feel like water, nor could I imagine water every being in this situation. Of course, my confusion was followed by everyone trying to tell me how to be like water in different ways. Nobody ventured another analogy. So, I failed at trying to feel like water and succeded in feeling like my partner was throwing me around the dance floor. That was the low. It sort of leveled out to nuetral after that.
Tomorrow is the last night of the tango course, so we're all heading out to a milonga afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll be dancing or not. I think I'll be too nervous to dance, but I might give it a go with one of the men from class. This will also be the first time that I get to watch tango since I started learning. Should be interesting.
The tango is coming along well though. I can definetely do more now than I could on Monday. Tonights class had highs and lows. It started out great, and I was dancing like a tango star until I had to be like water and occupy spaces that were made me for me. This made no sense. In order to get to spaces that were made for me I had to take a million steps fumbling over my partners feet that always seemed to be in the water. And I most certainly didn't feel like water, nor could I imagine water every being in this situation. Of course, my confusion was followed by everyone trying to tell me how to be like water in different ways. Nobody ventured another analogy. So, I failed at trying to feel like water and succeded in feeling like my partner was throwing me around the dance floor. That was the low. It sort of leveled out to nuetral after that.
Tomorrow is the last night of the tango course, so we're all heading out to a milonga afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll be dancing or not. I think I'll be too nervous to dance, but I might give it a go with one of the men from class. This will also be the first time that I get to watch tango since I started learning. Should be interesting.
All things BsAs
Every other tile on the sidewalk is broken with high potential for danger for jandal-laden feet. All of the subway stations have televisions in them, mostly playing 30 seconds of pop music videos very loudly. The bus drivers hardly stop for you to get on and off the bus. You have got to be ready, no pussyfooting or you'll be in serious trouble. In my very very concrete urban neighborhood there are about 5 places to buy lawn-mowers. There are no lawns within any vicinity of my neighborhood. Kids here have the whole selling things on subway trains down. They walk up and down selling notepads, flashy light thingies, toys, anything. Kids here also have the whole selling things anywhere they possibly can down. Eating inside or outside of a restaurant there's usually at least one kid that will pop in with their box of whatever. I haven't stopped in any dogshit yet, which is some sort of miracle. I'm sure that when time comes I'll be in jandals though.
On a completely different note, living with boys sucks. I know that it's person specific and all, but right now it's 3 boys and no good. They don't know how to dry off before they get out of the shower. They got out and get the floor soaking wet, so the next person can walk in with their shoes on get it all muddy. They leave used floss in on the bathroom counter. Gross. I don't know them well enough to deal with seeing used floss. They assume that I am not a red wine drinker and that the bottle of red wine on the kitchen counter must be theirs because it's been there for a few days. They also have heart to heart talks with each other that make me want to die. Boys are weird.
On a completely different note, living with boys sucks. I know that it's person specific and all, but right now it's 3 boys and no good. They don't know how to dry off before they get out of the shower. They got out and get the floor soaking wet, so the next person can walk in with their shoes on get it all muddy. They leave used floss in on the bathroom counter. Gross. I don't know them well enough to deal with seeing used floss. They assume that I am not a red wine drinker and that the bottle of red wine on the kitchen counter must be theirs because it's been there for a few days. They also have heart to heart talks with each other that make me want to die. Boys are weird.
Jardin Botanico
Now that I'm fully recovered from my weekend, I'm back out and exploring the city. Yesterday I took a trip to the botanical gardens. I saw some great gardens in Australia, and I had high hopes for the gardens here. My first impression of the garden was that it was a little sparse. As I wandered around I saw some trees, some plants, some statues, some cats. And then I saw some cats, some cats and some more cats. I saw an old glass house with some broken windows that some cats were crawling in. I usually like wandering in greenhouses and checking out all the plants, but I wasn't so sure with all those cats. So, I skipped that. And what did I see when instead? Some other cats. At first it was just one cat here and there, then there were like 5 or 6 cats together and then they were everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. I was dodging them on the path. I've never been so creeped out by a garden. I ended up rushing through and couldn't stop thinking about how horrified I would be if I were trapped in there at night. Gives me the chills.
Last night I had my second tango class. It went very well. A girl took me aside and gave me a private lesson of the basic step, and now I'm catching on. It makes a whole lot more sense when you the basics. I'm good until I have to give leading a go. But I avoid that at all costs. Just as last week, I stayed after class for some drinks and pizza talking with a couple of Argentinian girls. I think I may be starting to make some friends here, which is just what I wanted.
Last night I had my second tango class. It went very well. A girl took me aside and gave me a private lesson of the basic step, and now I'm catching on. It makes a whole lot more sense when you the basics. I'm good until I have to give leading a go. But I avoid that at all costs. Just as last week, I stayed after class for some drinks and pizza talking with a couple of Argentinian girls. I think I may be starting to make some friends here, which is just what I wanted.
My day started out absolutely brilliant today. I ditched my roommates in the morning and opted to take the subte instead of a taxi. The taxis here are cheap, but it's about 3 times more than the subte, and I think I should be saving money wherever I can. And I don't particularly like taking taxis everywhere. Really not for me. So, I had a coffee and went into the estación to wait for la trene. I was sneezing like crazy, and the woman next to me asked if I had allergies. Now, normally this would be nothing. However, she asked and I understood. I was even able to reply to her. We continued to have a whole conversation en español while waiting for the train. Mind you, it was a little botched, but I actually understood her and she actually understood me. I was and still am totally amazed. It was the confidence booster I needed. Yesterday I was feeling how hard this was not being able to communicate, and today I feel like I am more than capable of making it happen. Feels good.
I have a tango class tonight again. It's the same one I went to last time. I am going to try to take more classes starting this week. The same teacher may come to my spanish school and teach some classes. They'd be pretty small classes, so it would be pretty cool. But I think I'm going to look into some other tango schools also. They're everywhere so I shouldn't have a problem. I'll just have to start dancing with boys.
I have a tango class tonight again. It's the same one I went to last time. I am going to try to take more classes starting this week. The same teacher may come to my spanish school and teach some classes. They'd be pretty small classes, so it would be pretty cool. But I think I'm going to look into some other tango schools also. They're everywhere so I shouldn't have a problem. I'll just have to start dancing with boys.
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