Easing Into It...

So after my first weekend I am learning that Buenos Aires had nothing to do with my presumptions...there are no rice and beans...basically I thought it would be a lot more like Mexico...it's not. nothing like it. I presumed my Spanish skills would get me by fairly well. They are not. not at all. I always thought I was a big city girl deep down ... I don't think I am ... that might change.

Saturday we went on a city tour with Virginia and Guillermo. We drove around the city and got a better idea of where things are in relation to our house...parks, other barrios, tourist sites, bus stations, etc. We stopped at the horse club for lunch. It was sweet; like a country club with horses everywhere and a place for them to practice for jumping competitions. Virginia made sure to get me a sandwich without meat and bought me soy stuff for dinner. She's great. I am easing into the meat and want to start with small portions. So tonight we had chicken...the texture still is ehhh. it squeaked against my teeth, the flavor isn't bad at all...the texture is what gets me.

Sunday Kathryn and I went exploring again. We went to the 'ferria' (like a market) and walked around the infamous cemetery. And I went with Chloei to church; I could understand about half of the sermon. We took the bus there and the subway back so I felt more a part of the city after trying both.

The feria was fun...matte cups, jewelry, bags, scarves, shoes, lots of leather and glass. I was talking to Miguel (a scarf salesman) about how I liked colors less bright (brillante) than the scarves he had been showing me; I'm not used to the Argentine accent yet and he didn't understand my Spanish because I didn't pronounce it "brishante". And I learned that no one knows where Kansas is. Then Kathryn and I got stuffed bread (pretty much a sandwich) at the feria...she got a meat one, looked like good hot normal bread. I ordered a tomato one and the guy ran away for a minute or two and brought back a charred piece of food resembling bread....yumm....I had to wonder if it was because of the no meat.

The cemetery was pretty but creepy once the fact that it was an above ground huge cemetery hit me. The structures were really elegant. The closer I got and the more I saw, I started noticing broken windows, cobwebs, creepy stairs in each tomb leading to who knows where. caskets with lids off, drawers for dead bodies, pigeons eating out of a cremation jar....the usual cemetery stuff.

Today we had the first day of classes: oral and written tests and orientation of the city systems. Once again, I am disappointed with my Spanish skills ... speaking at least. There are about 20 kids in the intensive language program with me; most from the US and a few from Europe. We went out to eat after class at a cafe ... I ordered 'huevos fritos' and ended up with 'papas fritas' (once again my glorious speaking skills...I even pointed to the menu). I explored with a few more walks and finally got to perform the Preston ritual of feeling at home in a new place: going to the grocery store for entertainment, leisurely strolling down the isles looking at the funny foods in the new home.

Things to ease into: no peanut butter, my teeth squeaking when I eat meat, prejudice of the restaurants against vegetables, no Mexican food, bettering my speaking skills, the Argentine accent, school?

Love.