Bag o ramen

Today was a good solid dia. I slept in (quiet construction day), showered, organized my closet, ate some yogurt, and then left for work around noon. I walked a different way that took me through “Once”, the historically Jewish neighborhood. It was nice to connect with my Jewish heritage. I found a sandwich place and inhaled a chicken sammy while standing on the corner. They need more benches here or something. Then I went into work. My boss wasn’t there today. I finished translating the web site. I eavesdropped in on the other people’s convos (totally not an invasion of privacy – it’s a learning technique). I finally worked up the confidence to say, “I think I’m finished with this. Do you need any help or anything?” They did not so I left early. But something good happened.

The beginning of the month is super busy at the Club. It’s when they mail out all the discs and newsletters. Ger, one of the guys who works there, started telling me how busy they’d be tomorrow. I couldn’t understand at first if he was saying that I shouldn’t come because they’d be so busy or that I should come because they’d be so busy. (I don’t contribute too much so I thought I might just be in the way.) I told him I was done with classes so I had nothing to do tomorrow and could come in the morning too. He responded positively so I think he was actually requesting my presence. I am going in t 10:30 am to stuff envelopes. Yay! Purpose!

When I left work I decided to go into this café I pass all the time and looks so inviting. It’s called Café, Chocolate, y Canela (Coffee, Chocolate, and Cinnamon). What a fabulous name. I went in and ordered a coffee and medialuna. Then the waitress who also is the cook and maybe the owner asked me if I was sure that’s all I wanted because she just made a tiramisu that was mighty tasty. Twist my arm why don’t you. Sold. And it was amazing. I read the paper, ate my tiramisu, drank my coffee, and felt so local. I hung out there for an hour or so then trekked back to the residencia.

While walking back I saw something so disturbing and rare. It wasn’t the cover of ButtMan porn magazine they sell at all the newsstands. It wasn’t the pirated Gay Cowboy dvds the street vendors sell. It was even stranger. Bare legs. On a girl. OMG. This is rare. It’s also rare to see feet (unless it’s an American – I am so into this now though. I never want the streets of Buenos Aires to touch my feet.)

I’ve decided I’m going to keep count. Once I see 10 girls’ legs, I can wear skirts or shorts. Let the games begin.

So I’m on a super budget until my new debit card comes. I have enough pesos to last for 15 days if I spend 20 pesos a day. So I am basically living on 7 dollars a day (more like 6.70 but whatevs). I spent 5 on my sandwich and 11 on coffee and tiramisu. Hence I had 4 pesos to get some dinner. I just went to the grocery store and bought an apple and some ramen noodles. I couldn’t even buy the cool ramen that’s already in the cup. I had to get the bag kind. They cost a peso less.

Tonight I’ll be playing card games with Santa Barbara and hopefully catching Caroline on skype. She’s in Beijing, which makes for a time difference difficulty.

Enjoy your debit cards friends. You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.

Un mil besos.