Boots, Classes, Peanut Butter, Kids

Bought a beautiful pair of leather boots yesterday. It was a complete impulse buy (eek!), but I keep asking myself as justification, "When else will I be able to buy such quality leather goods for such cheap prices?" They are gorgeous. Win. And they look good on me. Double win. And my orthotics fit into them! Triple win! They are also very functional--good for both walking in the city and for wearing out dancing in clubs. (My host-mom was pleased with this as well, as she will no longer have to lecture me on not wearing strappy gladiator sandals out to clubs in the dead of winter.) I find myself saying way too often "Yo soy de Los Angeles y no estoy acostumbrada a este tiempo! Nunca es invierno en LA!" to make up for my ill-equipped-for-winter wardrobe (as earlier mentioned, I brought about 6 summer dresses for every sweater and 3 pairs of sandals for every pair of closed-toe shoes. Good thing I hastily threw in my peacoat with my luggage as a last-minute decision before leaving the US.)

In other news, completed first week of classes. I will be taking two literature classes (one with works from 20th century-present, and the other with works from 19th century-way earlier), and a Spanish grammar class. These classes are with other international students and taught in Spanish. I will also be taking a class on epidemiology and nutrition with Argentine students, but have yet to have the first class because Argentines are still on extended vacation as a result of the SWINE FLU scare. (Feel urge to add the ominous "duh-duh-duh" after every time that is mentioned.) Not sure why foreign students are exempt from the same extended vacations. Perhaps it is assumed that those of us hailing the northern hemisphere have stronger immune systems, having already experienced the first wave of the pandemic? No se. Anyyyyway that class should be interesting.

In other, even more exciting news, I FOUND PEANUT BUTTER AND HUMMUS IN BUENOS AIRES!!!! Of all places, in Chinatown. I do have to say that these products looked much better in their unopened jars than after tasting them (peanut butter is a bit too liquid-y and makes my lips stick together...and of course I don't have normal-tasting milk to wash it down with...and the hummus is just strange) but it's better than nothing! Enjoyed one too many crackers with peanut butter and honey as a midnight (mid-morning?) snack after returning home from salsa dancing late last night (this morning?) Still getting accustomed to "la vida noche" (nightlife) here...pulled my first all night boliche (club) experience with Kristin, Tara, and the North Carolina boys earlier this week. We met at a bar in Palermo around 1:30 am, caught a taxi to the club around 2:30am, began dancing around 3:00am, stopped dancing around 6:00am, caught the subway to the nearest McDonald's (MUCH better here than in the US--at least the "McCafe" part which offers higher-end coffee and pastries) and ate breakfast at 7:00am, and returned home to sleep around 8:00am, just as the sun was rising. Needless to say, was absolutely exhausting. But on the plus side, we saved money on the usual taxi ride home, considering the subway had begun operating again for the day as we were finishing our night! Was odd sitting on the subway in "clubbin' clothes" as others were dressed in work clothes.

Also, began work at the orphanage! Went for the first time this past Friday and immediately fell in love. Was greeted by a gaggle of hyper children who immediately inquired as to whether I had a boyfriend--specifically, the other guy from my program who has been working at the home (Chris). I shrugged my shoulders as to whether or not I was dating Chris (barely know the kid, and wanted to spare him the burden of pretending to be in a relationship with me without his consent), but after glancing up at "Pirates of the Caribbean" playing on the TV in the background, I attempted to convince the children that I dated Orlando Bloom years and years ago. (I managed to concoct a story about how we first met, which involved exploding airplanes and abandonment on a deserted island.) LOVE the children. They are a bit rougher of a crowd than the Bruin Woods kids (Instead of toting iPods and hailing from families with summer homes in Malibu, these kids hail from families that either likely abandoned them or exposed them to things that resulted in severe psychological damage, like extreme violence or using the kids as a means of trafficking drugs. Oh yeah, and they all have HIV--although I was told that this is actually the least of these kids' worries because they are taking medication and antiretrovirals that allow them to function normally, and many of them are too young to even understand the implications of the disease.). Anyway, enjoyed a wonderful afternoon playing soccer with the kids on the back patio (truly is the universal sport...and these kids are GOOD!), and was even given my first love-letter since being here from an adorable little girl named Barbara. Met also with the directors of the home, all of whom are very kind and welcoming, and the lead director of whom asked if I had a boyfriend (why is that such a common question here?!), and after my negative reply, now seems intent on setting me up with her son. Goodness gracious. I expect to learn a lot from the kids; they have already proven patient teachers.

Looking forward to a fresh week of adventure!