Off to Bariloche...Happy Holidays!!!

Just a short blog.  I am leaving for Bariloche tomorrow and will probably forget everything that happened the past 10-ish days upon my return.  Seeing as how I have a 20 HOUR bus ride tomorrow, I figure I may as well stay up as long as physically possible (who knows, I may not even sleep…).  Turns out there are six of us going to Bariloche, should be a blast! Weather permitting; here is a list of some activities we HOPE to accomplish:

-          60 km Chino Circuito (Bike Ride)

-          Multiple hikes to…waterfalls, lakes, mountain tops, and I’m sure much more!

-          White-water Rafting

-          Horse-back Riding

-          Chocolate (supposed to be some of the best in the world)

-          Clubbing (extremely popular down there)

-          Cervecerias (Multiple breweries; hoping to have a taste of each and everyone!)

...And whatever else our hostels suggest!!! Many, many, many pictures to follow!

Been saving money for this trip to Bariloche, so nothing too exciting has happened over the past week or so.  I did get a call about the reading gig and it went EXTREMELY well.  Turns out I was reading for a Time Magazine Children’s Encyclopedia computer game.  They loved my voice…clear, concise, and enthusiastic; who knew? They are going to list my name in the credits and will also give me a demo of the game!  Pretty sweet, though it is going to be a trip listening to instructions given by yours truly.  They also mentioned if they have any work prior to the end of January they will definitely contact me.

Alexis, one of the house-mates, had his birthday on the 14^th, and then proceeded to head back to France on the 19^th.  This called for two separate celebrations, and two separate asados.  Both were a blast and we managed to make it out each night. The Friday before he left we went to this house party…pretty nuts.  Alexis and I got along quite well.  He will definitely be missed in the house, though I hope to keep in touch.

One interesting bit of news I’ve just received.  I recently sent out a bunch of emails to TOTALLY random hotels/hostels in Lima, Peru.  I’d heard that in the past, some English teachers were lucky enough to teach the staff at certain locations in return for a free room…I figured I’d try my luck (which may make some people laugh).  Well guess what…I actually got a taker…somewhat.  A hostel replied back mentioning that I would have to make a minimum of a three month commitment to work for them (not teaching English), which would include a room and meals!  Definitely going to get more details on this, but it seems like a pretty neat way to meet A TON of new people and get to know the city of Lima front and back.

Like I mentioned in my last blog…I will be in Bariloche for the Christmas celebration.  I am beyond excited for this and cannot wait to celebrate Christmas Eve in our hostel!  I hope every one of my loyal followers has an absolutely wonderful holiday season.  I don’t get to spend mine with my family, so enjoy spending time with yours.  I miss you all and wish you all health and happiness heading into the New Year.  After all, there is really nothing more you can want in life! 

Much love from the traveling kid down in Argentina!

Another year passes...more travels to ensue!

Last I wrote, most of the world didn’t know “wikileaks” existed, the 49ers still had a chance at making the playoffs, and I was 22 years old!  Well, clearly none of that is true any longer.  If anyone is counting…as of Wednesday (Dec. 8^th) I’ve officially been in Buenos Aires for TWO months now!  Seems like just yesterday I was getting off the plane with Kate...unbelievable.  Looks like I may be getting out of this city a bit earlier than I had planned as well…get ready for me Peru!

Anyways…Last time, I was just preparing myself for a job interview.  Ended up not being much of a job interview; I showed up 15 minutes early, only to wait 30 minutes seated in a cramped room, even smaller desk and to top it off…no air conditioning.  The interview lasted a total of five minutes.  It consisted of asking why I came to Buenos Aires, why I wanted to teach, and if I had any teaching experience.  Answers (in brief): travel, travel, none.  No mention of pay, schedule, or availability. Seemed to satisfy them as I was asked back for a “2^nd round” of interviews.  To my disbelief, they called me THAT SAME WEEK to schedule the interview for Friday (Argentina: they called Thursday, to schedule it Friday).  Being that I had no job, of course I was free. I went in for round two, and experienced much of the same.  This time I was seated in a ‘guitar room’ with no desks (only bean bags and cushions on the ground), air conditioning, and limited reading material.  I once again waited 15-20 minutes (after this time intentionally showing up RIGHT on time). 

***Side note: CLASSIC Buenos Aires – I showed up about 20 minutes early, and due to my first interview, decided I would go grab an empanada next door to the office, rather than waiting in a cramped room.  I ordered an empanada and sat down to relax.  After about 10 minutes, the workers (at an empty restaurant) mentioned it was taking longer than normal and would be ready soon.  Five minutes later (now 5 minutes left ‘til my interview), I told them I had an appointment in 5min and needed to go, even saying I wouldn’t mind taking the empanada cold.  They didn’t seem to care.  3-4 more minutes went by and I got up and left.  They were not bothered in anyway by the loss of service.  Like I said, classic.***

Continuing, the interviewer finally came in and proceeded to ask THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS that the previous lady had asked.  I responded exactly the same and she, once again, seemed satisfied. She asked if I had any questions, and this time I asked about scheduling and pay.  Pay: 28 pesos/hour (=$7/hr…below average for a teacher in BA).  Scheduling…a few classes a week, and more as I became more experienced, understandable.  The pay came as no surprise, as my roommate from the States, Noah, works for the same company and told me ahead of time (though I was still hopeful I would get paid better…for no good reason).  They mentioned they would call me in the following week for a one day training session and to give me my teaching materials.  I am still yet to receive that call.

While on the topic of working…the last few weeks have been my personal version of Charles Darwin’s “Survival of the Fittest.”  Being that I haven’t had a debit/credit card since Oct. 29^th, I’ve been forced to look for “odd jobs” to find a bit of cash here and there…so I posted an ad on craigslist to sell “myself”…KIDDING!!!! Though I did have a bit of an interesting experience through the use of craigslist; I actually did post an ad looking for porteños in Buenos Aires looking to learn English. I got one response, from an individual who turned out to be more interested in ME than the English language.  I was, however, successful in finding a bar-backing job through the use of craigslist.  The pay was not great (10 pesos/hr + 10% of tips), but it was an American sports bar; I figured it would be a nice atmosphere, a chance to watch some sports, and an opportunity to meet some new Argentines.  This gig quickly came to an end as well. After the first night, I felt extremely disrespected by the women working at the bar (clearly they do not hold a high regard for individuals from the US) and had no desire to be treated this way for 6-8 hours a night, only to make a measly 80 pesos ($20…if you do the math, that comes out to about $3.25/hr).  

Fear not, there is a reason I still survive! Through a very resourceful website called BAexpats, a site dedicated to foreigners living in BA looking for advice, friends and some fun, I found yet another small gig.  Job description: Looking for actors/actresses with an American accent to read a script.  Hey! What the heck…why not give it a response!?  Well…guess what, they asked me to come in and read!  A couple of gentlemen from Toronto, whom now reside in BA, are in the very early stages of making a movie.  They’ve produced about five or six prior to this and are hoping to up the ante this time around.  Anyways, they offered 150 pesos to come in and read.  The movie is called, Brothers in Arms, and I really enjoyed the experience.  I read the part of a 22 year old male, Owen, who travels to Italy with his brother to recover their inheritance from their father; quite interesting actually. I shot them an email after the reading mentioning that I thoroughly enjoyed the process and would be interested in helping anywhere else I can…looks like I’m on my way to being an actor here in BA!

Realistically speaking, that was a one-time gig.  Hence, the need for more work!  A few weeks back I was lucky enough to meet a lovely porteña at my friends asado.  She has been teaching Spanish to foreigners (including two of my friends…the reason she was at the asado) for 20 years in Buenos Aires.  Being the resourceful person I am, I got her email and asked if she knew any schools in the area looking for English teachers.  Though this has not led to any teaching gigs to this point, I did receive an email from a friend of hers looking for an American voice to read for a children’s English workbook company.  As of now, I have spoken with them twice over the phone, they have emailed me my ‘lines’ and I am patiently waiting the call to come in and read for them.  I am expecting a call sometime Monday or Tuesday to go in and read, so everyone PLEASE keep your fingers crossed for me, say a prayer, knock on wood, whatever may bring me a bit of luck! Thanks! 

While I do enjoy the challenge of surviving, it really has been quite a hassle not having my credit/debit cards.  Too make a long story, short…though that takes some of the fun out of it…its been quite a fiasco getting cards sent down to Buenos Aires.  Fed-Ex does not allow them to be mailed into the country, which I learned two weeks after losing the cards.  Next option: Have Wells-Fargo mail them directly to me in Buenos Aires.  Seems simple enough.  I called and there were no issues with this, I gave them the address and they were put in the mail the next week…three weeks later they haven’t arrived.  Last resort! “Hide” the cards in a Fed-Ex package.  Jackpot!!! Mixed in with a few Duke articles (did I mention they won last years NCAA title…and are favorites to repeat?) and some Giants World Series Championship articles (In case you forgot…two of my three teams were champions this year) I have finally received my cards!

You may be asking yourselves, “Why such a need for the cards if you’ve been making enough money to support your living expenses?” (But you’re probably not)  Answer: Pay rent and book vacations! Just yesterday I booked a week-long trip to Patagonia with some friends from Buenos Aires.  We are going to El Bolson, Bariloche, and some smaller towns around Bariloche.  I am beyond excited for this trip and will certainly come back with some incredible photos to share with all.  The best part…we will be there over Christmas, and the hostel we are staying at in Bariloche has a huge celebration on Christmas Eve!  I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holiday away from home. 

I mentioned above that Peru should prepare itself for yours truly to arrive soon!  This is simply due to lack of work teaching English in Buenos Aires.  I have 4 or 5 offers to teach in Lima, and so will be leaving Buenos Aires a bit earlier than planned (though not much).  Prior to my departure from Argentina I have a few items I need to check off.  First on the list was to go to Patagonia; I’ve now got that covered.  Second, visit the beaches in Montevideo, Uruguay.  For those a bit geographically challenged, Uruguay is a quick 1-2 hour ferry ride from Buenos Aires.  There IS another reason for this trip.  On January 8^th, I will have officially been in Buenos Aires for 3 months (90 days) and my visa will expire.  It is free for U.S. citizens to enter Uruguay and upon my return to Argentina, will be granted another 90 day visa.  I am hoping to make this trip next weekend! Third (and last) on the list, visit Iguazu falls.  The falls are located at the Northern tip of Argentina, where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay all meet.  I’ve heard that the Argentine side is the most breath-taking of the three, and I hope this is true because it costs an extra $200 to enter Brazil, and $45 for Paraguay.  Not sure when I will make this trip, but it will happen before my departure from Argentina!

Iguazu Falls

Twenty-three. Not such a terrible number: Michael Jordan's number; Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) obsesses over it; prime number; and now…my age!  I had an incredible birthday weekend.  Friday night was spent drinking with my roommates.  At midnight I was serenaded by my roommates in multiple different languages.  We were up until 6 shooting the shit…until we realized it was 6 and hit the sack.  After a late night Friday, we had a bit of a delayed start to the Saturday festivities.  Our plan was to start an asado 4 or 5, we started to heat the coals at 8.  Some of the French boys have now departed the house and been replaced by a lovely couple (Julia, Germany – Diego, Colombia), and another German fellow, Lukas.  They were all kind enough to celebrate this special day with me.  I had a nice, fat, delicious steak and a few drinks to go with it. 

Celebratory drink

Coincidentally, one of the teachers at my TEFL course was ALSO born on December 4^th.  She’s a year older and was throwing a b-day party at her apartment that night.  Of course I was going to attend! A few of the roommates joined me and it was an awesome time.  Everyone at the party was dancing, we listened to an assortment of music and the ending to the night was picture perfect.  As the guests trickled out, a few of the attendees grabbed some guitars and started playing.  People sang along where they knew the words and as we departed, the sun was on its way up, on cue with the Buenos Aires lifestyle.  A birthday celebration in Buenos Aires I will remember for the rest of my life.

Rocking out

Party time!

Alexis and I

Special Edition: Thankful for...

I spent Thanksgiving in Buenos Aires this year, I am pretty sure it is the first time I have ever celebrated this holiday without my family.  (I know I missed Christmas one year to go on a snowboarding trip with a family friend, but I don’t recall ever missing Turkey Day!)  Every year before, during or after we eat; our family goes around and says something they are thankful for.  I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful group of American girls when I first arrived in Buenos Aires and they were generous enough to invite me and a plethora of other Americans (and Argentines) to their apartment this Thanksgiving.  (I don’t know if you girls ever read this…but if you do…THANK YOU Mandy, Karina, and Michelle…it was incredible!!!)  The girls took care of the turkey and asked everyone else to bring along some sort of side dish.  We had more than enough food…I made stuffing.  Others brought mashed potatoes, vegetables, sweet potatoes, corn bread, and of course MORE than enough dessert.  I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend the holiday.  At the end of the night we all went around and said one or two things we were thankful for (some people in Spanish and some in English) and while going around I couldn’t help but be reminded of my family and friends back home.  It warmed my heart and inspired me to write this blog…

Things I am thankful for this year: (Not necessarily in any order!)

-          2010 NCAA Men’s Bball championship: Duke winning the NCAA Tourney this year is and will always remain something I am thankful for in my life.  Thanks to my dad making some good (and intelligent) friends in college at Duke, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the Final Four this year.  I don’t think I will ever be able to thank Fred enough for the absolutely incredible experiences he has provided me in my life, this one topping the list.

-          2010 World Series Champs: San Francisco Giants – Yes… I am a bit obsessed with sports.

-          Of course…my family.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about how lucky I am to have been raised by such amazing parents, friends and relatives.  I won’t try and list all of you, but I love you all.

o   Grammy – sorry I can’t be there to take you to the doctor, but hang around long enough and I’ll be happy to upon my return!

o   Grandma – to this day the most incredibly selfless, caring and nurturing person I have met.  I wish you were still around to read my blog (and this post), I know how happy it would make you simply to read and know about what is going on in my life.

-          Skype/Facebook: Laugh all you want, but without these two mind-blowing creations, I would be living a whole different experience right now.  I was able to Skype my family back home in San Diego last Thursday which was wonderful.  Thanks to Facebook, I am able to constantly stay in contacts with all my closest friends back home as well.

-          Speaking of friends…thankful for all of my friends back home.  Since I can…I’m going to give a shout out to my loyal reader back home in the 858…Connor Bird.  I am also so thankful for all of the incredible people I have met in Buenos Aires.  Every person I meet is so open-minded and welcoming towards a new individual joining their group of friends, it has made my transition down South so much easier. Couple more shout outs…

o   Kate – so glad we can still be friends through all this :)

o   Amy – so happy we can still talk…even thousands of miles away!!

-          Traveling:  I would have never considered embarking on this journey to South America if I had not grown up traveling the world.  So once again, thank you parents.  This voyage is something I will never forget.  (P.S. I can’t wait to have visitors!!! Anyone is welcome!)

-          Health:  Walking around this city, I am constantly reminded of the hardships that so many people must suffer through in their lives.  Such simple things as a bed to sleep in, a fresh meal and a place to wash down are taken for granted by most people in the US, but not in Buenos Aires.  It is impossible not to be thankful for the lives we live in the States after seeing the poverty in Buenos Aires.  The most heart-breaking part for me is that Buenos Aires is still better off than the majority of places in the world.  We are all lucky to be so happy and healthy and should remember this every day, not just on Thanksgiving.

-          Some smaller things…

o   Graduating – wasn’t quite sure it was happening until I actually picked up my diploma!

o   Bonzie / Shadow – it seems every other person in this city owns a dog, and it makes me miss mine like CRAZY!!!

o   Cooking – learned from one of the best (In my opinion) and now I am able to cook some delicious meals down here in BA.  There are so many foods in the States that don’t exist down here, so it is great to be able to cook some up on my own! Also, knowing how to cook helps turn cheap foods like potatoes, rice, onions, and carrots into delicious meals!

I am certain that I have forgotten some things… or that other people are thankful for plenty of different things…so PLEASE feel free to add comments and say what you are thankful for during this holiday season!  My love goes out to all of you.

TEFL Certified, New home and LA BOMBA!!!

Ok ok I know I’ve been meaning to do these weekly, but it seems like it’s turning into more of a bi-weekly thing.  Don’t worry, I still have ambitions to do it weekly…maybe one day. (Or one week…)

The last time I wrote, I had one more week remaining in my TEFL training.  Of course I have since completed that and I am now on the search for a job!  The last week of the course went very well.  I had my most realistic practice that Wednesday when I had to teach two classes in one evening.  According to the teachers observing me, it went very well; I told them I felt differently, but still not bad for my first time!  We always have a professional observer in our classroom’s during the practice lessons and following each lesson, we meet with them to discuss what went well and what we felt we could improve on.  Well on this particular evening, I was observed by the head teacher at the institution and was presented a very exciting and shocking opportunity!  They asked if I would like to be a professional observer when the new group of recruits came into town (which starts next week).  Of course I said “Yes!!” and thanked them for considering me.  To be honest, I really just lucked out on timing.  The male professional observer during our course has since left to return home and created an opening for me.  Hey, it’s still my first job in Argentina!!!

On Friday, we had our graduation lunch, for which Brad cooked a delicious spicy red chicken curry for the graduates.  It was delicious!  Lunch started at around 2, which is when the first bottles of wine and beer were opened, and we didn’t leave the place until around 8…needless to say, we went through more than just the first bottles we opened.  The majority of the students all continued from there to a bar just around the corner from our place in San Telmo called Gibraltar.  It has an English pub feel to it and they have a delicious cider there for just 10 pesos a pint.  It was my first time trying cider, and not surprisingly, I LOVED it! My favorite fruit is apples, and well…cider is made from apples.  It was the perfect drink to celebrate with.  We all continued drinking there for a while until it came time to part our separate ways.

Saturday was moving day!  As much as I loved the barrio of San Telmo, it was just a bit out of the way of the younger crowd in Buenos Aires.  I provided the link to the house I moved to last time, but I now have my own pictures as well!  It is a really neat place and it is in a much better location. 

 Patio where we can grill and chillllll

 My room!

Kitchen...just a LITTLE bit bigger than the last one I had to work with...

I've already cooked up a delicious bolognese sauce in here!

The house has room for nine people to live (eight rooms, one double) and currently there are seven of us.  Three from the US (including me), three from France, and one from Holland.  At first, I wasn’t sure how it would all work out, but having been here a week, I really enjoy the atmosphere and the different cultures we all come from.   Everyone CAN speak a bit of English, but I use it as little as possible, the only way to get better!  (Side note: I have actually received quite a few compliments lately from local Porteños on my Castellano, BA’s from of Spanish, accent !!!)  I signed a lease to be here for at least two months, so I will officially be in Buenos Aires until AT LEAST January 13^th!

That night I stayed in, wanting to get unpacked and settled into my new abode.

Sunday was a beautiful day in BA, and my buddy Josh invited me and a few others over to check out the pool at his apartment.  He lives in a gorgeous apartment and on the roof there is a community pool.  It was so refreshing, I definitely plan on using that during the hot summer months ahead.  Having completed the course (and not counting the small job I was offered) I was now unemployed and looking for work.  My plan was to get on that starting Monday, but when I woke up, two of my roommates had plans to visit Caminito/Boca, a very famous, tourist spot in Buenos Aires.  I took this as a great opportunity to bond with my new roommates and to check out a part of the city I hadn’t seen yet.  Caminito is a stretch of two or three blocks, each only about 200-300 meters long, that is known for its influence on Tango in Buenos Aires and Argentina.

Entrance to Caminito

Some people saying hello on the balcony in Caminito

Great picture...displays the colorful atmosphere and homes that used to surround Buenos Aires

Diego Maradona...Legend.

After checking out Caminito, we walked about 5 blocks up the road to where the football club, Boca Juniors, play.  Diego Maradona, probably the most famous player in the history of Argentina, played for them when he was younger.  We chose not to pay the 40 pesos to take the tour of the stadium, I chose to save it in hopes of actually going to a game in the near future.  To be honest the most exciting part of this adventure occurred as we walked past a couple of kids playing some pick up soccer on a local court.  They asked us to play, and though we didn’t want to play a match, they challenged some of us to a PK contest.  Five pesos for the winner.  The rules were as follows: One on one.  Each player gets three PK’s.  If tied, it then goes down to two shots each, then one – one – one etc, until a winner is determined.  My roommate, Alex, went first.  He lost in the 2nd round 1 goal to zero.  I was next.  I told the kid I was basically giving him 5 pesos to enjoy this as a tourist and get my butt kicked, he didn’t laugh.   Of course the white kid shot first, and I made one of three.  Good enough to tie the yougin’ for round one.  Second round neither of us scored so it came down to each player getting one attempt back and forth.  After about four rounds of no one making it I SCORED A GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!  I blocked the kids next shot and…no shocker here…they didn’t pony up the cash.  They pleaded with me to go another round, double or nothing, against a different player.  Since I could really care less about 5 pesos (about $1.25) and I’m sure it is much more valuable to them, I went for it (this time making them show me the 10 pesos before we started).  I took it to the sudden death round one more time, but lost.  I left having won/lost no money, but I definitely won their respect.  Of course the kid I beat tried to make excuses by telling me he TORE something in the back of his knee when he shot, but I’m sure he was just embarrassed that he lost to a tourist…I know I would have been!

Calm...cool...and collected.  Took down the W!!!

 Monday night was one of my favorite nights in Buenos Aires thus far.  Along with my new friends/roommates, I attended a drum show about 7 or 8 blocks down the road from our new place.  The show is called La Bomba and it is well known through-out the city as the place to be every Monday night.  Tickets for the show are only 25 pesos and you can buy a liter of beer for 20 pesos.  This type of music is very typical in Buenos Aires, but having the show in a closed venue adds a new aspect to the atmosphere it provides.  While listening and moving to the music I found myself thinking how incredible it was being in Buenos Aires to experience this.  The music was actually IMPOSSIBLE not to dance to.  The rhythm and the flow invigorated your body and mind to function and move as one, while the music did the dancing for you.  It was incredible. 

Words cannot describe this place...AMAZING!!!

 The last week of classes, I sent out close to 50 emails to various schools, institutes and private tutors in hopes of getting an interview.  For those who don’t know about the culture in Argentina, things tend to be VERY relaxed.  So when sending out emails, I was told that if I do not receive a response continue sending the same place emails for the next few days, if still no response, then stop trying.   Out of the 50 emails I sent, I got maybe 5 responses, 3 with interest, and 2 without.  To my surprise, (those that got back to me) got back to me right away.  Now was the real problem…setting up a time to meet for an interview.  Planning things more than 2 or 3 days ahead of time is unheard of in Argentina.  For those of you who know me…this is GREAT news!!! But, not when it comes to setting up a time to interview.  Over the course of the week, I emailed each place three or four times (after they had already told me they wanted to meet for an interview) before I got an interview with ONE of them.  By the way…that interview is this Tuesday (Nov. 23) so wish me luck!!! I still have not heard from the others, but will wait to pursue further until after the interview.

I mentioned before that we have a roommate here from Holland, her name is Sigrid, and she just arrived at the house late Wednesday night, and had not gone out until Friday.  There is a well-known pub crawl in Buenos Aires that was created three years ago by a group of American students.  Since this Friday was the 3^rd anniversary, the normal entrance fee of 80 pesos was waived for everyone in attendance.  Sigrid and I attended and I met up with some other friends from the area as well.  Over 300 people showed up!!!! Because of this, we split into three groups and each spent about an hour at each bar on the list for the night.  We ended by walking to a club nearby called Hummer. 

Saturday was another great experience that anyone visiting Argentina must take part in…Polo!  Apparently Argentina has the highest quality polo in the world…by a long shot.  Starting this weekend there is a tournament that lasts the next three weeks.  Games are only played on weekends.  For those who have not seen polo, it is worth checking out.  In my opinion the most incredible part of the whole sport is watching the horses.  Their ability to change directions and burst to full speed once again is mind-blowing.  Because the horses get so gassed, each rider uses at least four horses during a match.  Anyways, tickets for the bleacher seats were only 30 pesos, and some friends of mine invited about 20 people to join for the day.  It was a lot of fun, although extremely hot, and we stayed and watched about one and a half matches.  (Pictures from the Polo match to come soon!!!)

Today I went to a park about 20 minutes away with a few of the roommates and played a little rugby and a little soccer.  Felt good to get out and play some sports, rather than just going for a run.  Just a few notes I think people will enjoy:

1.                   1. Tomorrow (Monday) is…..YEPPPP you are correct…ANOTHER holiday.  The best part about this one, not even the cab drivers in the city know why this holiday exists.  Just another reason for the Argentines not to work and to go enjoy their parks.

2.             2. I’ve now gone about a month without having debit/credit cards as they cannot be mailed into the US using Fed-Ex…a rule that only exists in Argentina.  Thanks to Western Union and some friends in the area I’ve got along just fine thus far.

That’s all for now…thanks for tuning in everyone! Check out this link for some more pictures of the house, Caminito and other pics!!

Kirchner Passes, Halloween, and the World Series Champs!!!

First things first…ladies and gentlemen… 2010 World Series Champions: THEEEE San Francisco Giants!!!!  I’m sure most of you know all the stats at this point…56 years…(22 for me!!!) since they won, so I’ll (try) make this short...I’d first like to thank the San Diego Padres…for losing 10 straight games near the end of the season and giving the Giants this opportunity (oh and also for giving us your manager).  Second, I’d like to thank the Giants pitching staff, and pitching coach Dave Rigett. Well, except for Johnny Sanchez, who like I said before the series started (Proof: last blog!), had lost his mental strength, and had we let Zito pitch in his spot, we would have swept the series!  Third, Cody Ross…talk about getting hot at the right time…check this out (Regular Season w/ Giants – 33 Games, 3HR, 7RBI. Postseason w/ Giants – 15 Games, 5HR, 10RBI) And finally…the entire Giants roster…according to the experts…a group of misfits who all came together to win this one…I knew you had it in you all along…love it. GOOOO GIANTSSSS!!

Just one more thing about the Giants winning…loved skyping with you all (Nicki, Jesse, Danielle, Faye, and Mom) after the win!!!! No one here cares about baseball…so it was great to have some other fans to cheer with!! Technology these days…WOW!

….on to the news here in BA!

Just thought everyone reading would get a kick out of this…I know I did.  On Wednesday, Oct 27^th, it was officially National Census Day in Argentina.  Yes, you guessed it…ANOTHER Feriado (Holiday) this time for the entire country of Argentina.  Of course, we still had class, and the usual 45 minute bus ride took about 20 minutes.  It really was a sight to see, the streets were nearly empty for the majority of the day.  ALL places were restricted from opening until 8pm, at which time, almost everything opened. I actually really enjoyed it though; a normally hectic city was very peaceful.  The only people you would see walking around were the National Census Rep’s.  Apparently they hire a few thousand people who actually go around the entire country over a span of three days and knock on every door to ask the same census questions we receive in the mail…crazy.  I can only assume part of that has to do with the absolutely awful post system they have here in Argentina, either way, I thought it was hilarious!

That same Wednesday turned out to be a very sad day throughout the continent of South America, as the former President of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, passed away due to a heart attack.  His wife, Cristina, is currently the President and Nestor had planned to run once again in next year’s election.  Due to the passing, multiple countries declared three days of mourning, including Venezuela and, of course, Argentina.  The following day was something of a spectacle.  Though it is sad that Kirchner passed, as a foreigner visiting, it really was a special time to be in Buenos Aires.  I live about 20 blocks South of the Case Rosada (Pink House) which is where the viewing was.   

Getting to class on Thursday was a nightmare as people from throughout the continent were travelling to San Telmo to be a part of the viewing.  After sitting on the bus for 20 minutes and going two blocks, Nadine and I decided to go by foot.  Not a terrible walk, only about 45 minutes.  We were joined on our walk by literally thousands of people walking to the Pink House.  Following class that day, we were able to take a bus home, however, we had to take a long detour as almost all roads which accessed our apartment were blocked off.  Huge tour busses lined the streets around our house, undoubtedly carrying passengers from hundreds or thousands of miles away.  The viewing went on for close to 24 hours…with a line that seemingly went on forever.  Cristina stayed at the viewing the entire time, thanking her supporters for attending while also being joined by other important political figures in South America such as Hugo Chavez and President of Bolivia, Evo Morales.  Check out this link if you want to read more about Kirchner, he had quite an impact on the political stability in Argentina and South America. Nestor Kirchner Passes Away

Friday….Friday was the reason why it took me so long to post this next blog.  Friday started out as an amazing day.  We had a grammar quiz, open note, which made it pretty easy.  We have to pass (75%) to receive our teaching certificate and I did so with ease (95%).  During lunch, I walked to a costume store and bought some cheap pirate gadgets which I planned to use over the course of the weekend.  After lunch, each student presented their first lesson plan.  My lesson plan was on “Getting Things Done.” It went well and we were off for the weekend.  At 9 o clock, I met up with a family friend, John, and his wife Evelyn to grab a drink and then go out for a bite to eat.  They suggested either seafood or Chinese and we decided upon Chinese.  John had called ahead of time to order the duck which was absolutely delicious.  I really enjoyed getting to know them and plan on staying in touch with them quite a bit while here in Buenos Aires. 

After dinner, they dropped me off at my buddy Josh’s place, as he was having a little Halloween party at his apartment.  After doing quite a bit of drinking there, people were ready to head out to the clubs/bars.   I had planned on staying over at Josh’s place for the night, but as the night came to an end I was unable to find him.  As I had become accustomed to doing here in Buenos Aires, I simply started walking home.  In hind sight, a very poor decision.  With literally no idea where I was headed I began asking people along the street.  As usual, I got mixed responses but ended up along Santa Fe Ave which put me in a place I was comfortable and knew well.  So I continued walking.  By now I had been walking for close to two hours and the sun was up. People had started to litter the streets on their way out for another beautiful day in Buenos Aires.  I thought I was in the clear and let my guard down, as I was totally exhausted at this point.  As I crossed a street, a lady approached me.  She was dressed, well, like a prostitute and I immediately began telling her to please leave me alone as I had no money and no interest.  She continued questioning me and trying to get me to go with her (or so I thought) and after just a minute or two left me alone.  After continuing on my way for another five minutes or so I realized what had just happened. I reached for my pockets and….GONE.  She had snagged both my wallet and my cell phone in a matter of seconds.  (Yes, the same cell phone I had just been given a week prior).  In the words of Jim Carrey, “I got robbed by a sweet old lady on a motorized cart! I didn’t even see it coming.” Lloyd talking to Harry Dumb and Dumber. (For those of you unfamiliar with the scene…here you go.)  Only difference for me, it wasn’t a sweet old lady.  So I continued walking home and in my now depressed state, decided to hop on a subway.  After falling asleep for a brief moment, I woke up at my stop, hopped in a cab and got home.  Knowing very well that my credit/debit cards were now roaming the city of Buenos Aires, I immediately contacted my mom (thanks to the help of Kelsea Mathews and Casey Mathews)in hopes that she could cancel the cards.  This was unsuccessful, so I headed to a Kiosco across the road which had phones available to make international calls.  Just my luck, closed.  I sat down outside and leaned against the wall, hoping someone would come soon to open up.  With the warm sun beaming down on me, I fell asleep, once again.  I woke up about 30 minutes later and the shop was still closed; I headed back to the apartment and passed out. 

I was able to cancel the cards later that day and luckily had no charges incurred against me.  So once again, I am phoneless and now wallet-less as well.  On Saturday, the TEFL program had planned a Halloween party along with two other local organizations.  Brad, the head of the TEFL program and the chef I spoke about earlier, asked if I wanted to assist him in preparing the snacks for the party.  Of course I told him yes!  Unfortunately, following the previous nights incidents, I was in no mood to go out and socialize and had to cancel on him, he understood.  As the saying goes…all bad things come in threes, and I was about to become victim to this.  That night, while I stayed home and had a few beers with my roommates, I sunk further into my misery while watching the Giants lose Game 3 to the Rangers.  And finally to top it all off, after not having left the apartment all day Saturday and Sunday, I decided to go for a run Sunday night…and got lost.  Albeit briefly, but as I arrived back at the apartment after finishing my longer than expected run, I told myself that would be the last of the bad things to happen. (Knock on wood, of course).

The Giants went on to win that night, and as we now know, to win the World Series on Monday night!

Starting Monday (Nov 1^st), the course no longer consisted of lectures.  We had now moved on to creating our own lesson plans, and presenting them in front of volunteer students (they don’t pay to come, but in turn know that we may not be the best teachers…).  As of now, I have presented two lessons: one on family to students at a basic beginner level, and the one previously mentioned regarding ‘getting things done’ to student at a high beginner level.  I was supposed to teach a lesson about Internet Addicts on Thursday to Basic Beginners, but no one showed up.

Due to the events from the previous weekend I was limited on cash.  Luckily, John lent me some money until my cards arrive from the states, but, of course, during the following week I had to pay rent for the next two weeks, and also found a spot to live following the completion of the course, and had to pay a deposit to reserve the room. (Here is a blog about the place I am moving to…seems pretty neat! http://casanataldetroilo.blogspot.com/).  Due to the limited amounts of cash on hand, I chose not to go out to bars and clubs this week/end.  Not such a terrible thing, it is nice to relax and get some sleep instead of getting home while the sun rises!  After getting a good night’s sleep on Friday, I decided to head out for a run in the morning. I ran to the BA - Ecological Reserve which gave me a chance to check them out. Definitely a breathe of fresh air in an otherwise crowded city.  Later that day, some of the American girls I know here had mentioned that they were going to the Gay Pride parade.  I joined them for the festivities and afterwards, a few of us headed to Maxi’s dad’s place (Maxi is Michelle’s boyfriend…Michelle is a girl I know from the States) for a bite to eat and to keep him company as the rest of his family was gone for the weekend.  Maxi plays rugby here in BA for the team I hope to join in the coming weeks.  It’s always good to meet some new porteños (Residents of BA) and Maxi’s dad mentioned that he would assist me in getting a new cell phone.  They had told me about a spot down the road from their apartment where I could get them for cheap, after which I reminded them that if I were to go alone, they would charge me four times the price of a porteño.  They laughed, but agreed and said they wouldn’t mind going with me sometime during the next week.  As we left, Michelle, Maxi and Mike headed back to Palermo to watch Paranormal Activity and headed back to my place.  I ended up walking, this time only about 20 blocks, and arrived safely in my apartment for another early night.

Niners have a Bye this week, so looks like another day of preparing lesson plans and enjoying this wonderful city I am living in. (And yes, I can STILL say that after the prior incidents I spoke of)