Bye Bye Buenos Aires, Hello New Home

Hola amigos y mis seres amados! (friends and loved ones)

To start where I left off, on my first full in day in Buenos Aires, we saw the south part of the city where there is a strong Italian influence. We visited the port neighborhoods of La Boca and San Telmo, the noveau riche port city Puerto Madero. We also saw the Casa Rosada (where the president, Cristina Fernandez, works) and Plaza de Mayo where every Thursday Las Madres de Mayo march in rememberance of their children who disappeared during the military dictatorship in the 70s. Thursday night we went out to bars and my first Argentine boliche. A boliche is a dance club, and they don't open til 2 am! I left the club wayyy past my normal bedtime, but had so much fun! On Friday we saw the north part of the city, where the architecture is french-influenced and the money is old money. We visited the neighborhoods of Palermo and La Recoleta and saw La Recoleta cemetery where Evita Peron is buried in a huge musoleum. The cobblestone rows of musoleums are like a city inside of the city--strangely beautiful and peaceful, and filled with stray cats! We ate lunch next to the Rio Plata, even farther north and then flew to Mendoza in the evening.

I have now been in Mendoza for two days now and feel at home already! I love my host family. I have una mama named Marta, un papa named Ricardo, una abuela Rosa, two brothers named Nicolas (25) and Marcos (19), and un perro beagle called Mila. They have been making me delicious food pizza, pasta, stir fry (la comida wok), hot dogs (panchos), and salads (ensaladas). We also drink coffee (un cafe) and crackers or cookies (galletitas) in the morning and afternoon. Yesterday I tried mate (a strong herbal tea that is beloved in Argentina) for the first time with my grandma and we shared photos as we passed the mate gourd back and forth (it's a sharing ritual). I also attended Marcos' soccer game and met a bunch of his friends and went to the market with Marta. I also went to my first Argentine house party! It was a birthday party for two twins who know my oldest brother, but I went with American friends from my program. It was really fun talking to the Argentines and I was suprised at how easy it was to understand them and respond without many hesitations.

I'm getting used to the Argentine schedule of lunch around 2:00 and dinner around 9:30 and nights that START after 11:00. I like it so far! As long as I can sleep in or take a siesta in the afternoon. This schedule is all about having time to enjoy meals, enjoy coffee/tea time, and relax. Que linda, si? (How nice.)