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.