Triste.

Hola amigos. I write this to you from my room in the residencia estudiantil. It's a small room, similar to a KD house room. I live with 2 other girls, Carley from St. Louis and a girl from Norway I just met and forgot the name of...

I flew out of Monroe friday evening after some delay. Cried in the airport. Cried on the plane. Got to Houston ready to conquer. Boarded my plane to BA. The man sitting next to me was awesome. His name is Ricardo, He is from BA but not lives in New Jersey and drives a truck for UPS. He used to be a guacho (cowboy) in Argentina. He told me lots of cool stuff about the history and culture of Argentina. We drank some red wine and watched "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" on our the plane.

I got to BA feeling good. I made it through customs easily and found the car service that was to drive me to my dorm. The drive was great. I talked to my driver about the city and stuff. Then he pulled up to some old building and left me with my 100 plus pounds of luggage just standing there. I got in the building and some rando workers tossed my luggage into a tower of terror style elevator and sent me up to the third floor. The doors opened leading to 2 more doors. I had no clue what to do. I eventually just knocked. A small girl let me in. I tried to explain en espanol to her what I was doing here and that I was suposed to move in today etc. She ran off and got her mom who it turns out is kind of like the maid/house mom and I think lives here on our floor.

I met in the kitchen with her and 3 other girls I recognized from my flight. We all paid a security deposit for our keys and then she showed me to my room. A set of bunk beds and a single bed. A desk. A huge refrigerator, and 3 "closets." She told me my romies would be here in a day or so and left me to unpack. I took the single bed. Duh.

It took lots of strategy to fit everything into the "closet" but I did it and then set off to explore my neighborhood.

The Congreso is on the next block. It's basically an exact copy of the US capitol. In front of it is a plaza with some statues and pidgeons and stuff. I also found a grocery store and some cafes.

I came back to my room, took a nap, and woke up around 6 pm. I hadn't had much luck making any friends yet (all my fault, I'm like hermit style in my room with the door closed) so I decided to make my own plans. I got on some website and checked to see what was going on and behold - RENT was playing. Oh yes. My favorite musical/movie/cd ever. It opened at a theater called Konex Cultural Center about a month ago. Anthony Rapp (the original Mark) came to the premiere and everything. So iI couldn't figure out how to but a ticket online so I put on my favorite dress (the busy pattern shirt dress I got at some vintage store a few years ago and love) and headed out to the street. I hailed my first Argentina cab and was off. I got to the theater and bought the best ticket they offer (35 dollars, 9th row - yay peso value). I then had about an hour and a half to kill before the play started. I took off down the street hoping to find a cafe or bar to hang out in. I got out my phone to call MKB and tell her I was alive and going to her favorite musical when all of a sudden this little boy (about 10?) runs up behind me and grabs my Blackberry. I scream and throw my arm at him and look to my left and some older man is reaching for my purse. Oh hell no. I am not getting mugged my first day here. I fought them off and ran away and MKB heard all of this via the phone. I'm sure it was fun for her.

So now I'm really losing it. I jump in the first cab I see and head back to the dorm. I cry for little while and then pull myself together to go have a drink (or 6) and go back to the theater. No robbery was stopping me from seeing Rent in Spanish.

I went to this Italian restaurant on the corner, read my US Weekly I bought in the Houston airport, drank a bottle of red wine and had my own little therapy session. Feeling much better I got in another cab and went to Rent.

It was amazing. Sort of. It was so funny to hear Would You Light my Candle? in Spanish and hear them sing over and over again "No hay mas que hoy" instead of No day but today. The acting was questionable but very entertaining all together. I left the play feeling, as I always do after seeing RENT (this was my 5th time), that the world is not so bad and love is alll you need and the human connection gets us through life blah blah blah. I hailed a cab and came home. Watched a movie on my laptop and fell asleep.

I woke up today to one of my roomies moving in. She goes to Dartmouth and plays tennis and is in a sorority. I think we can be friends. I got dressed and roomie wanted to nap so I headed on a walk of the centro.

I went all the way from Congreso to the Casa Rosada (their White House, but it's pink) and saw some cool buildings and stuff. Then I found Calle Florida, a pedestrian shopping street. Hooray! I found Fallabella, a department store similar to my old dear Spanish friend, the Corte Ingles. They have great bags etc. Loves it.

I continued down the calle and got a coffee and some croissants (in Spanish they are called medialunas, like half moon? get it? they are shaped like moons). It was a joy. Then I walked a different way back home. All in all my adventure took about 5 hours. It was a great afternoon.

Now I'm back at the dorm. Not sure what's going on tonight. People don't eat dinner hear until 9 or later so the night hasn't even begun. I'd be pretty content to get in bed right now and call it a day. My dorm however is like a coed version of Martin/Stockard with lots of squeeling and boys and coedness that I still at 22 think is weird and everyone is all over the place. We'll see. I could go for a good meal and some vino tinto.

I miss everyone! I heard Ole Miss won. Yay. Good luck w Gustav coasties. Love you all.

One More Week

Hola hola. I'm still in Monroe awaiting my adventure. I've been in Birmingham and Atlanta all week visiting friends. I got to catch up with some college buddies who have started post college life. I'm so glad to finally be starting mine. Sitting at home in my Mom's new house is fabulously calm and I love her cool coffee maker, but I'm ready to get on that plane and go. I've been doing my favorite sort of preparing - shopping. Lots of skinny jeans, sweaters, emo scarves - it's going to be early spring when I arrive - high 80s, low 50s. By the time I leave in December, it will be full on summer.

I've been spending my Funroe time with Caroline. She's leaving for China the same day I go to Argentina. It's fab to have a buddy in preparing - someone to go to Target with, etc. Plus, compared to Shanghai, Buenos Aires seems like Oxford. Not so intimidating. I'll take Spanish over Mandarin.

I've been doing lots of reading about cool places in BA I can't wait to go. There is this huge old ornat theater that's been turned into a bookstore. Can't wait. Also, I finally figured out where my Student Residence is located thanks to my handy dandy new IPOD that has the google map thing on it. It looks like I'm about 2 blocks from Congress and in a decent location. I'll be in a room with 2 other girls. Not sure if they're American or from Argentina or Egypt. We shall see.

I know it's shallow, but I'm so looking forward to typing on my MAC, sipping cafe con leches, and wearing trendy things I'd never wear here in the estados. Whatever. I'm not ashamed.

Off to watch 7 hours more of Weeds.

-Char

Vamos.

Hola amigos. In attempt to keep in contact with everyone while I reside in Buenos Aires and because Melissa's Au Pair Diaries have been quite an inspiration, I blog. I'll try to keep it as entertaining and educational as possible. If I don't post too frequently, rest assured that it's because I actually found some friends and a life in Argentina. If my posts are quite long and pensive, don't fret because it's only 4 months.
The plan is to leave Funroe on August 29 and return to Funroe on December 22. I have cashed in all of Brucie's frequent flyer miles to go on this little excursion. I hope it's worth it. My main goals are to dominate the Spanish language, understand the culture, survive, and buy an awesome purse.
I'll be in language school for the first month. I know what you're all thinking. You majored in Spanish but still need language school? Yes I do. Thanks Ole Miss. Once they (GIC Argentina, the program I found online in a midnight google quest to not have to answer "I'm not really sure yet" to everyone who asks what I'm doing after graduation) think I'm fluent enough, I'm supposed to start an internship. This internship is yet to be decided. Possibly media or business or entertainment or tourism. At one point, GIC emailed me about working at a male modeling agency, so who really knows.
I am a tad bit worried that this program/school doesn't actually exist or something. I've done everything online. Keep your fingers crossed that when I get to Argentina, I actually have a school to go to.
I'll be living in a student Residence which is basically a fancy dorm from what I can gather. No more host families for me (peace out abuelos). I may be in a room alone or with up to 4 others.

That's all for now. Off to enjoy the Olympics and Breaking Dawn for a few hours.

Adios.
Carlotta