So today was...slightly crazier than yesterday. It was my first full day in Argentina, and we had a tour of the city. When I say "we" I mean all the students that are a part of IES...so that's between 100 and 120 students (I kept hearing different numbers). We got on two double decker buses and there was an audio track that went along with where we were going and what we were seeing. So basically we were all wearing headphones that would tell us where we were and some history about it; they would play the track that corresponds with where we were...did that make any sense? Anyways, I spent maybe a third of the time listening, but after awhile we were taking off our headphones to talk with each other. It was the first time any of us met any of the other students and so we were all really curious about each other. Of course, we were all talking in English, and we would try to make plans but then we realized that none of us have phones yet and so we have no way to contact each other...but soon! Soon we will make plans to hang out!
The tour lasted 3 hours, well we got out at one point and walked around for like, half an hour, then got back on the bus and kept touring/talking. All in all, it was a pretty awesome time. But then we had to go to the hospital because my housemate has an infection that she needs antibiotics for. Well, Soledad (my host mom's secretary) took us to the tour in the first place and she was kind enough to hang out in the city until we got back, and so she helped us get to the hospital. Well, this hospital is mostly Spanish speaking and my housemate is mostly English-speaking and so it was really stressful for her to be in a place, needing medical attention, but not being able to tell anyone exactly what she needed. Soledad talked with everyone, but she only speaks a little English and so I was thrown back into that awkward state of pseudo-translator for both sides (Yelena and Soledad). Three hours later we were out of the hospital, with minimal signs of progress--we need to go back next Monday to see the results of the culture test they took, even though Yelena was pretty certain of what it was. It was all a very long process and very tiring...says the one who did almost nothing... =/
Tomorrow means Yelena and I need to take the bus ourselves to get to the Center for our first day of orientation...we're supposed to be there at 9:30 and if we left at 9:00 we'd probably get there in plenty of time...with a guide helping us. So I'm thinking we should leave at like, 8:45 or so, just to make absolutely certain that we don't miss the time. Tomorrow also (hopefully) means that I get a cellphone, but we'll see how it goes. Oh! This morning, Yelena and I walked around for a bit, we walked around the zoo that's right in front of our apartment and then we walked through a park that's also close by. All in all, it was a little over an hour that we walked, so this is a good sign! I'll be getting exercise while I'm here!
So Buenos Aires reminds me of Chicago...if it had had room to expand. What I mean is, even though it's population is the same as Chicago, there's so much more space here! And it makes sense, from what I saw on the plane it was pretty much all farmlands all around and then BOOM! City. So there are a TON of parks and areas where you can rest and relax and...go fly fishing apparently. I always thought that was more of a running-water sport, but there were definitely people doing it in a pond...or maybe I just don't know what real fly fishing is...which is a definite possibility. Anyway, it's a beautiful city and it's a wonderful time to be here, the weather is great (I mean it's storming now, but earlier it was probably mid to upper 70s with a nice breeze blowing.) and the other students seem like they're pretty pumped for this experience, which is awesome.
Another side note, there are like, a million things that I feel like I'm leaving out every time I hit "Publish" and so I just want to know what things you who are reading this want to hear about. I mean, I could go on for pages and pages telling every detail and every thought but I'm sure that would get really boring really quickly. But I also don't want to be so brief that it's uninteresting...so what would you like to hear more about? I mean, I'm sure my plans to buy a cell phone are riveting to you, and it's keeping you on the edge of your seat, but surely there are other things you want to hear about! So please, leave me a comment and let me know what you'd like to read! I mean, of course I'll keep it my own, and ultimately I'm the one who decides to write things...but at least for now, when so many different things happen in a day...I just leave out so much, but I don't really know how important that "so much" is to you...so....please comment. It also makes me feel less isolated when people comment...I mean maybe it's just because I don't have a phone and haven't had internet for the past...day and a half, but I just feel like I'm so disconnected. And I'm normally not the kind of person who is attached to their phone and the internet...but I can still tell people I'm ok when I needed to. Without that security of knowing people are just a text/phone call/facebook status away, it gets kind of lonely. So please comment so I don't feel like Argentina is a million miles away!
As they say here, Ciao!
-Kiki
Wow! That was awesome updates, Kiki. I'm sorry I didn't get to ask some more questions when we Tangoed. I wondered if your Tia would speak any English. Sounds like you are getting your crash Spanish course a little early! That's awesome. That's a primary reason you went, right?
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote. It's a great combination of commentary on your day, emotions that you have and challenges you face. I hope we get to continue to "meet" the people you meet. Thank you for writing so much. It helps us feel that you're not so far away as well!
You are quite the writer, Kiki Noa. Obviously a mom gene. I love the details and I just encourage you to write as much (or as little) as you like. Right now everything is new and different, so record your observations before you get used to your surroundings and you don't see the newness anymore. I loved the story about the guy riding the horse like it was the most normal thing to do. I also am so glad that Spanish is coming back as quickly as we prayed it would. Awesome. Living with your Tia for this first week is a blessing in disguise... by the time Ines shows up, you will have no problem talking with her in her native tongue. Bummer that Yelena is not 100%. I'll be praying that she gets well soon. Ciao, indeed... I've always loved that word.
ReplyDeleteYou feel like ARGENTINA is a million miles away? Try living in New Zealand, girl.
ReplyDeleteI hope Yelena is okay! Hospital stuff is scary and stressful everywhere, especially when there's a language barrier. And even though it may be annoying, good on you for helping out and translating. I'm sure you're making it so much more comfortable for her in her time of need.
I love bus tours! I don't think we did enough tourist-y things on our orientation trip. I've been thrust into so many foreign situations lately, though, that I guess I'm more used to going solo.
And I love your random stream-of-consciousness entries. They're totally you!