First Impressions

I know I'm not usually a journal-keeper but this is too awesome not to write about I'm in Buenos Aires, Argentina-- day 1 is over and day 2 starts orientation. I really wasn't nervous until the plane started landing, then I got super intimidated about being surrounded by spanish speakers. In retrospect, that experience reinforces my dislike for the whole "we only speak ENGLISH in this country" mentality in the U.S. because really, everybody should make a concerted effort to communicate with others around them, language barriers and all. Anyways, my spanish isn't too bad! My fluency is what I was most worried about because I tend to overthink instead of just talking, but I've been talking to Lucía (my host most) only in spanish all day and have totally surprised myself. Even she complimented my fluency :-) Speaking of Lucía, she is freaking awesome. She lives alone (well, except when she has students, which she has for about 6 years) and has one son, a daughter-in-law, and 2 grandkids: Agustina is almost 9 and Franco is almost 3. Speaking of birthdays, apparently mine is a big day in Argentina, I need to look into it more but it has something to do with the Perons taking power. Shocking, I know. So today was a great first day, met the IES group at the airport then shared a cab with Allie (who doesn't speak much Spanish) to our homestays. Figured out that I need to carry smaller bills than 50 pesos to tip cab drivers, etc. I thought I'd be more talkative in the cab but I was just blown away by the city! It's so different than anywhere I've lived. Kind of like NYC, I guess- there are super ritzy parts but also very poor parts- then again I'm not used to such a huge city. I got to my "home" around 11, Lucía's apartment is adorable and very comfortable but like she said, too big for just one person (which is why she hosts students). We sat and talked for a long time while Franco watched the show with Perry the Platypus on it and I told them about all the kids I teach who call me that :-) Then I went to "take a nap" and passed out for like 6 hours after barely sleeping at all on the plane. Woke up and Lucía offered to show me around the neighborhood- but first I found a little note from Agustina that said she loved me and welcome to Argentina. ADORABLE! So Lucía and I walked around some awesome places, lots of restaurants and clubs (and ice creams shops!) and this super old church from like colonial times. Its doors are open for anyone to come sit and even though I'm not particularly religious it seems like a really calming place to catch your breath and refocus. Plus it's super old and full of history = my kind of place. I'm also really interested in this giant cemetery in the middle of the city; seriously- this thing is huge, crammed full of important dead people and totally out of place. There are like, clubs outside of it. Interesting from a city-planning perspective, but weird. Okay orientation in the morning but I just want to say: THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!

P.S. Dogs everywhere and lots of GSDs. Might have to get a temporary job as a dog walker to easy my withdrawals from my baby.