week one: check

It feels like I've been here a lot longer than a week, but at the same time, it definitely has not hit me yet that this isn't just travel, this is my home. Life this week has consisted of a lot of orientation, a lot of going out, and not a lot of sleeping. I've been enjoying learning my way around, checking out different areas, and getting to know people on the program and in the residencia.

The nightlife here is insane. No one goes out before midnight, and the clubs are all empty until about 2:30, when they get super crowded and the line suddenly goes around the block. The subte closes at 10:30 or 11pm depending on the line, so getting around at night means taking a lot of taxis, which luckily are--like everything here--pretty cheap. And people stay out LATE; I suppose as long as your night doesn't really start until 2am, there's no reason to go home before 6 or 7am... It's pretty ridiculous, but I'm getting used to it. I've gone out the last four nights, so I'm ready for a break. And some sleep.

Yesterday Liana, Hannah, Hannah's host mom and I walked around Palermo Viejo, which is a really cool area that kind of reminds me of downtown Manhattan. Appropriately, it's subdivided into two areas called Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood. It's full of interesting stores and great clothing boutiques. And the boots! The city is full of amazing boots. They are calling my name and sometime soon I am going to answer.

Today Hannah, Liana and I went to Malba, el Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. Not surprisingly, I loved it. It's full of weird and great modern art by artists such as Xul Solar and Diego Rivera.

Registration for classes begins tomorrow. Boo. It's July and I don't want to think about school. So far I'm taking an intensive Spanish language class (which will meet four days a week for two months and be over in October) and an Argentine literature class. I placed into a level 6 Spanish class out of a possible 8. Most people on the program are between 4 and 6 (I think there are a couple of 7's and one 8), so I'm pleased, especially considering how worried I was about my Spanish. So yeah, all of you who kept telling me my Spanish would be fine were right.

I'll leave you with a joke from my Lonely Planet guide: A man meets an Argentine on the street and asks him for a light. The Argentine starts patting his pants, chest, and seat pockets. "Sorry," he says, "I can't find my lighter -- but man, do I have a great body!" ...oh Buenos Aires, land where everyone's beautiful and everyone smokes. This city is a crazy place.

Me encanta esta ciudad

To everyone who's been calling me a city chick since last summer: I am absolutely loving living in this one so far. Buenos Aires is big and beautiful, and I'm slowly learning my way around. Orientation has kept me too busy for much wandering, but I like what I've seen so far. Today I went on a walking tour of the area around Plaza San Martin, which is really pretty -- I'll put up photos at some point.

To everyone who's ever known me to lack any semblance of a sense of direction: I, city chick that I apparently am, have somehow become the fearless leader of all the kids on my program living in La Residencia Mayor (dorm I live in - I think there are 11 of us). I navigated and got us to the Subte (Subterraneo - subway here) station this morning, got us on the right train, etc... I'm sure everyone else will catch on soon, but I'm feeling pretty good that I'm already starting to get familiar with at least the area around the Residencia. The colectivos (buses) are another story; there are about a thousand different lines and I haven't tried any of them yet.

Orientation's going well. Everything is in Spanish, so by the end of both days, I've felt like my head might explode. Guess I'll get used to it. Yesterday evening, I moved into my room at the Residencia. I love my room (photos soon). My roommate, Andrea, is from Peru and seems really nice. We have a balcony! Is there anything I love more than balconies in cities? Can't see Central Park from this one, but the view's not bad. The room is big, probably about the size of my/Sweisbuch's room freshman year at Wesleyan, and we have our own bathroom. I'm really pleased with my living situation all around.

Things are off to a really good start. I can't believe I'm living here, but I'm really happy that I am.

I'm here!

Dear American Airlines,
You've hurt me before. Those delays in June and all that running to catch connecting flights - I didn't need that. So when you went and canceled my lovely nonstop flight from JFK to Buenos Aires, I thought it was over between us. I didn't think you'd ever make it up to me. But then I got to Miami and discovered that I'd been upgraded to business class. Tired and shocked, I settled into my seat, with more leg room than I could ever use, a nice little kit containing everything from socks to toothpaste, and a charming flight attendant offering champagne... and I knew things were going to be okay. It was sometime between my tasty salmon dinner and drifting off to sleep in my comfy reclining seat with the footrest fulling raised that I realized I wasn't ready to let you go, American Airlines. You've more than made things up to me. And I know you might hurt me again, but for now, I'm willing to give you another chance. Especially if you keep giving me chocolate ice cream and free booze.
Love,
Becca

So I'm here, in Buenos Aires. Things are off to a great start so far. There are about 120 people on my program, so I've met a lot of people and learned/forgotten a lot of names already. I really like pretty much everyone I've met. There are a few Wesleyan students who I didn't know before but already we've gone off into various Wesleyan-exclusive conversations and I think we're going to have fun together. Tonight the whole group (everyone who's here so far; a bunch of people haven't arrived yet--I think the crash in Sao Paolo messed with a lot of people's itineraries) went out for dinner at this huge restaurant with an extensive buffet, which was great. Afterward I went out wandering with a bunch of people but came back here after a little while, having decided that since I have five months to go out and I have to get up early for orientation tomorrow, I might as well take it easy for tonight. (As I'm typing this, people keep coming in and (re)introducing themselves - I'm in the lobby and everyone's psyched about free wireless.)

General first impressions: I am excited to get to know this city, to find out how the run-down Latin American buildings I'm used to seeing in other countries collide with European tastes and architecture to create the unique culture of Buenos Aires. So far it does feel like other South American cities--kind of. (Sidenote: I am now surrounded by other American girls trying to use the wireless. Did I mention the male-female ratio in CIEE is about 1:10?*) My Lonely Planet Guidebook has more or less sold Buenos Aires to me as the sexiest city ever, full of attractive, well-dressed people with plenty of passion and personality. Intimidating? Yes. Intriguing? We'll see.

Tomorrow, orientation begins bright and early, and speaking English ends. Should be fun...

*totally a guess, but I don't think it's too far off

and so it begins

This is where I'll be chronicling my semester abroad. Check it, subscribe to it, whatever, and email me too - I'll write back. Same goes for snail mail:

Becca Worby
CIEE Program
FLACSO
Tucumán 1966 2˚ PISO
Buenos Aires, 1050
ARGENTINA

I'm leaving tomorrow on a 10:10pm flight out of JFK (much to the chagrin of Harry Potter fans on my flight). Time to go make the most of my last day or so in the northern hemisphere.