Orientation, Daily Life in Buenos Aires, Barioloche

Hi all, orientation is now over and classes are finally about to start. It has been about 3 months since finals, so I'm definitely ready for some academia. Orientation was interesting and somewhat boring. We read newspapers, learned about history, the economy, and I got plenty of time to practice my drawing. We also practiced our spanish. We learned the Argentine way to speak (vos. vs. tu). Basically, it has changed almost everything I have learned over the past 7 years. The other day, I recieved two compliments from strangers on my Spanish. Some days are definitely better than others, in regard to speaking. It is difficult to wake up and go right into speaking spanish. It takes some adjusting for my brain.

I am going to take one class at the University Di Tella. It is private and small like a high school. I am signed up for philosophical problems, a first year class. Di Tella is a 15 mintue walk from my house. I am going to take one class at the University Del Salvador, another private school. But I haven't registered yet. Classes start Monday at this university and we have a couple weeks to try to the classes out. I have until April 6 to drop classes at all universities! I then will take two classes with the program at their offices. I'm thinking they will be a little easier and will most definitely transfer to uiuc.

It is imperative that you need patience if you are to live in Buenos Aires. It otherwise is just too frustrating. There is a problem with the monedas, or the coin system. There is simply not enough going around, but it is the only way to pay for the bus. A one peso coin is far more valuable than a 2 peso bill. Sometimes you need to buy candy or something to get coins for the bus. Another problem that I have encountered is that nobody wants to make change for a 100 peso note. Businesses simply don't accept them. In Barioloche, I had to go to three places before I could make change for a taxi. Furthermore, the 100 peso note is what you get when you take out money from the ATM. Oh well. Another issue is that businesses are closed at what could be considered peak hours. On the last day, I had an hour to walk around Barioloche and get some souveniers but almost every place was closed. This was 4pm on a Monday!

We spent three days in Barioloche, and I wish we could've spent a week there. It is in Patagonia, very close to the Chilean border. It clearly resembles a town in Switzerland. It is surrounded by lakes and mountains and they have fantastic chocolate. The first day there, we a short hike and even took a chairlift up to the top of one of the mountains - Cerro Campanario. The view was spectaculur. The next day, we had a free day. I would have loved to go rafting, but it was actually chilly and kinda rainy. Instead, a few friends and I took a bus to El Bolson, a town about 2 hours south. It is a big backpacker town. We did some hiking and even went to a local brewery. But because it was a Sunday, everything was closed. On the last day, the group hiked in the Andes to Cerro Lopez. We were hiking from 830am to 4pm. It was so cool. About 7km to the refuge at the top. We ate at the top. I brought some fruit and snacks because the food at the top of a mountain is certainly going to be more expensive. It was pretty hardcore hiking. A lot more intense than anyone thought. I think I liked going up more than going down. Yes Mom, my knees were fine. Great experience overall. It is a 2 hour flight from Buenos Aires. Otherwise it is a 24 hour bus ride. I plan on spending more time in Patagonia in the south.

I finally met my host family! They were in Uruguay for a while. They seem friendly. Raul is a little more reserved than his wife Elana. But they are interested in me and are helping with my spanish. It is pretty cool speaking to other Americans in spanish and actually have a meaningful conversation going. I really hope to be fluent by the end of this.

Things are still pretty cheap and the dollar is rising down here. Yesterday for lunch, I had two sandwiches (I was hungry), fries, and wine for about $6. Take that people studying in Europe! I also have been having a good time going out with people. I caught the first subte train at 630am Friday morning haha. We went to a bar called Jobs. A lot of pool tables, foosball, television. They even have board games, playstation, and archery. Something doesn't seem right about shooting arrows while drinking.

Miss and love you all.

D