Just the Beginning

I'm sorry that I haven't posted pictures - for one; I don't want to look too much like a tourist by snapping pictures of everything and becoming a target, and two; I don't know how to load the ones that I do have on the blog! If I can't post them here I will just put them on facebook, I think most of you are my friends on there anyway.

Yesterday I took the bus into the city to visit Pri, but this time the line ended when I was only half way there - I was confused as to why the same bus as yesterday wouldn't go to the same place, but I walked down a block and got on another bus (with the same number) which took me where I needed to go. Then last night I took the same bus home but I missed my stop because the street I was looking for has a different name on the side that I was looking at, I had recognized the area and knew that I should be getting off soon, so when we entered into territory that I was unfamiliar with I knew I had gone too far. I asked the bus-driver how long ago we had passed my street and he said about 20 blocks ago. Great. I got off and started walking back at about 10:00 pm. This might sound scary, but it really wasn't - 10:30 is actually early in Argentina and families are eating around then. Restaraunts do not even open for dinner until 8:30.

When I got home I asked my hostess about the buses not going all the way to downtown and she said I needed to look for a bus that said Constitution. This afternoon I found a bus that had all the right signes, but when I asked the driver if he went to my stop he said "no", so I got off and waited for the next one - with the right number and said "Constitution" in the window. I asked this driver about my stop and he also said "no", so I decided to stay on and do the same thing that I did yesterday and just make a transfer at Ave. Congresso. I made the transfer and was able to get downtown fine after that but I have some questions for Neli...

Last night Pri, Flavio, and I picked up a pizza (Pri said they have the best pizza in the world here). The pizza had mozzarela cheese and meat slices covering it (like sandwich meat) and had whole green olives (with the pit) arranged on top and no tomato sauce to speak of. It was alright, but I would not lay claim to it being the best in the world. Speaking of pizza - I saw a man on rollerblades delivering pizza last night on my way home. Thought I would share :)

I couldn't tell the difference between who was heading home and who might be starting another adventure by just sitting in the gate waiting to board the plane. Before deciding to go to Argentina, people had told me that I would fit right in, and as I found; they were correct. I found myself surrounded by people that looked like they would live in my neighborhood. Many of them had lighter skin, hair, and eyes. Definately not your typical Mexican or what you picture when you think of "Latino." People that looked much like me were all speaking Spanish - the plane was a strange sort of portal. I sat next to a man who, as I found out through my amazing Spanish-speaking skills, was Argentine, of Italian descent, and had lived in Texas for the last 30 years without ever learning English.
My plane arrived 20 minutes early in Buenos Aires, where it was 4 degrees celcius (they use military time and kilometers too). I'm glad I brought my boots, but I wish I had brought my heavy jacket - layering doesn't seem to be working as well as I had thought.
Tim and Annette picked me up from the airport and then showed me there apartment and let me (made me?) take a nap as we waited for Neli (the woman I am living with) to pick me up. I enjoyed this time very much, as they are very hospitable and both have a great sense of humor. I am glad that I will get to see them weekly :)
Neli is even better than I hoped! I was a bit nervous of living with someone I had never met, but I think it will work fine - she is a very kind woman that smiles a lot. She knows a considerable amount of English, so whenever I get stuck in Spanish she helps me out and has even been able to explain some things to me in English.
Once I had my luggage inside her home she took me to two of her neighbor's homes. Salveen lives just down the street and Harry and Susan live just a minute's walk away. All three of them are Anglo-Argentines, so they speak perfect English with a British accent as well as Spanish. As I later learned, English had been the language of the church for a long time, and the church that I will be working with began a Spanish service only six years ago! The area I am in is quite bilingual (lucky for me!).
Today I just met Priscilla - a 22 year old who works in the office for the church. I'm spending all day with her (she's here now), and I believe that we will be good friends. She has studied some English in school so that is helpful too. She says that my Spanish is really good :)

I will post pictures for you all sometime this week hopefully :)

Chao! (This is more common than "Adios")

In the Middle

I borded the plane headed to Colorado just after 11am yesterday morning and placed my carry-on in the overhead cabinet and took my seat - 15F. Shortly thereafter a middle-aged man came up to my row,
"You have the window seat?"
"Yes" as I pulled out my ticket
"So do I..."
"15F"
"This is row 16 - it's ok, I'll just take your spot."
I could've sworn I was in the right row but sure enough; I looked across the isle at a 16.
Neither his row nor mine had anyone else in them yet, so I was curious to see how I had changed my fate. Interestingly enough, a quite hansom young man slided into the chair beside me.
Just kidding :)

Two women filled my row and two men filled his. His row slept the whole way and mine chatted the whole hour and forty something minutes. Nice switch.

We arrived a minute early (which they felt necessary to post), and I stepped off the plane into the sea of tourists roaming the terminal. I knew I had to take a train to get me to the main terminal, where I would be meeting Nell (this idea alone made me nervous about not having a cell phone on me - - I lost it just before leaving!). God, in His infinite mercy, placed a United employee in my view just before stepping onto the train who was able to direct me in the way to go. I found Nell after having only a few seconds of blank-facedly scanning the other picker-uppers.

Nell and I (and her whole family) got along great! If the Gulicks are anything like them I'll be in good hands - fortunately for me they are like best friends, so that bodes well.

That night we made great cabobs along with a delightful fruit salad, and I had the pleasure of tasting Kyle's (Nell's husband) famous dip. A - MAZE- ING. We had a chill evening just chatting and looking at pictures, but this morning there just weren't enough hours to get everything done! The Gulicks think it would be a good idea for me to bring a laptop along for communication purposes, so I might be looking at getting a netbook ( a small, cheap laptop just for internet) and then selling it in Argentina for the same price at the end of the trip since electronics are more expensive. Hm. We'll see.

I will be spending tonight and tomorrow night at a camp with a bunch of the OC missionaries and staff (and kids!) - they are rock-climbing tomorrow!!! For those of you who don't know; I've been rock-climbing lately, so that's pretty cool.

Peace.

Preparation

Alright, I did it. I now have a blog!
Now all of you can keep track of me as I set out on my Argentine Adventure! Today is Monday and I will be spending all of it trying to get all of my loose ends tied and run all of my last minute errands (like creating a blog. check.)

I fly out tomorrow morning for Colorado, where I will meet up with my trip coordinator, Nell. She will be showing me the ropes before I head off to Argentina.