Week two has come and gone. Between the many class outings, homework assignments, nights exploring the town, and emotionally draining fútbol games, this week has truly given me a taste of la vida loca here in Buenos Aires! Because I can’t share with you all of our exciting adventures, I’ve chosen to highlight a few below. Also, don’t forget to check out my This week I learned section at the bottom of each post…which is guaranteed to either make you laugh or increase your Spanish vocabulary one word at a time.
Highlights from Week #2
Outings: Thursday of this week, we all visited the Cementerio de la Recoleta with our Art and Culture teacher, Soledad. I have never seen anything like it! Located in one of the most wealthy and luxurious parts of the city, this cemetery is where many of Argentina’s elite and past leaders are buried. The tombs are each unique, ornate, and come with an interesting leyenda (story).
Cementerio de la Recoleta
Transportation: Took Subte B for the first time this week (yes, that’s a big deal). I’m still working on expanding the comfort zone-I’ll keep ya posted.
Exploring: Wednesday night, Dan, Rob, and I played a game of pool at Cafe San Bernardo in Villa Crespo…or at least attempted. Do to our lack of skill (yes, we all lacked skill), we couldn’t finish the game within the allotted hour…but the authentic Argentinian atmosphere and people-watching made it totally worth it!
Fútbol: As I mentioned in the last blog post, the championship game of the Copa America was Saturday between Chile and Argentina. I don’t really want to talk about it because Argentina lost in pks (penalty kicks). However, I will say that the atmosphere at the bar where we watched the game was exactly as I imagined it: porteños dressed in their jerseys, chanting and singing…and one man waiving his Argentina flag around like he owned the place. I wish I would have taken a video…but I was too invested in the game!
Saturday stroll: Cassie, Ingrid, and I walked to the Recoleta fair on Saturday morning and spent the day roaming around, shopping, and trying different Argentinian treats. Definitely the place to stock up on souvenirs and practice Spanish!
Lovin’ la vida loca
By the end of the week I was wiped. Luckily, Sunday was election day in Argentina and as a result, most businesses were closed. I took this as a sign to relax: I slept in, went to mass, sat in a cafe with mis amigos, and caught up on homework…Nothing like a day of rest after a long week of go-go-go!
But you know, it’s okay if life’s a little bit “loca” in Argentina! That’s what makes it great. That’s what makes it even better than these words can describe.
Besos,
Haylie
This week I learned:
that I am addicted to dulce de leche …I’ll eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon.
yum!
that my spin/cycling class at the local gym could easily be mistaken for an Argentinian discoteca…we are talking music videos, darkness, and strobe lights. The whole nine yards.
how to properly say “fridge” in Argentina. In Mexico (and back home in California), we were refer to it as el refrigerador…but in Argentina, it is la heladera…which shouldn’t be confused with el helado (ice cream).
