Still in Argentina??

From the looks of it, no. But alas, I type furiously away at a coffee shop that not only accepts around 9 forms of payment, has WIFI and plenty of plugs to connect your lap top (usually hard to come by) but ALSO has a loft lounge upstairs complete with fancy lighting and leather sofachairs.. 

So welcome to Buenos Aires- streets glittered with Starbucks, McDonalds, TGIFridays, and (so as to not disappoint every Argentine woman) shoe stores and hairdressers!!

Well, off to explore. 

Be home in 4 days!!

Quejando Means Complaining

I've been doing a lot of 'quejando' this week because I have to take a final on my last day in Córdoba (this FRIDAY 2 days AHH). Which means I've spent time studying cooped up in my house alone. Then I realized that this is childish and while yes understandable (it sucks to have to study) I have had such a pleasant/enjoyable/great/awesome/(insert positive adjective here) time that I should have no qualms with having to put in a little effort my last few days. 

Yesterday I decided to go on a run to get out of my weird Emily Dickinson-like funk (yes thats two days in a row if youve been reading diligently) and it was mildly chilly. I left when it was semi sprinkling but the sun was out and there was a briskness in the air making my breath very apparent running down Obispo Trejo. I love runs outside in that weather...even better coupled with some strange looks by bundled Argentines probably thinking "que loca". In fact when I got to the gym the lady working asked if I came from outside dressed in shorts and a t shirt "like that!!" (where else would I come from? a teleportation device?). Anyways on the way back from my gym I stopped by the piercing place to talk to my homey Martin. I invited him to my going away party this Friday and he recruited me help out with some english translations for some tatoo phrases.

After that, I decided to ring Lucas's doorbell who lives a block away from there. 

Realized that I have 3 days left...untill who knows when, to randomly stop by and say hi to friends like him (how sad). By the time I left his house, there was no sun out, it was freezing cold and I had one of those showers where you can't really tell if the water is super hot or cold because I was numb.

My roommate Gera finally got home today!! 

He was traveling up in the north after our trip to Iguazu and I'm so glad he's back. My goal for spring break 2010? Get to mexico and visit all of my mexican friends I've made here. Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City...here I come??? 

My little brother is sucha  baller. Hes been invited to try out for a national baseball team..not much a surprise since hes played for national traveling teams.

Wish I could have seen him be the little stud he is....

Time to go Study. Yes. Excited, motivated, looking forward to it...ehh...

My brains the cliff and my hearts the bitter buffalo

Its 8:39 AM. I fell asleep sometime around 8 PM last night unintentionally- apparent by my uncomfortable jeans, bra, scarf, etc that were still on just a half hour ago. I knew I was sleepy, but man...12 hours. Anyways, I'd like to think that this is my body saying, "Teresa in just 9 short days you WILL revert back to your ways of sleeping before the sun comes out, waking up before 12 (most days...), and eating dinner at 6 instead of 11." Apart from Sunday, I've been going to bed much earlier and getting up before 9. I even went on a run the other day (very anti Teresa in Córdoba, I'm really sore today). And "why not Sunday" seems to be the leftover question. Heres the answer: went to an Asado at the 194 Larañaga house- I never know what to call it because I'm friends with everyone (all 5) that lives there. Mark, the 29 year old aspiring writer, guitar playing, Korea loving estadounidense left yesterday so we had a going away party for him. Feasted on delicious chorizo, steak, bread, wine.... One of my last asados here. Anyways, even more proof of my body preparing for the change? During the party, at around 2 AM, I was a Lame Lara and went and took a nap in Emilys bad while everyone kept hanging out on the terrace because I was THAT tired. I woke up at 4 and continued to socialize....Was home by 530.

I know I've mentioned how I seem to strike up random conversations in random places. Mainly it stays at the "random conversation level" But one person I've actually become friends with is Maria Jose, she works at the Kiosco/Fruit&veggie place right across from my house (you can see it from my front door). Anyways, last night she came over and we had some coffee and talked for about an hour. I love how fascinated people can be about the United States/San Francisco/my life/everything. I don't know what the point of mentioning this was.....Maybe becuase I'll really miss that. The other day I went to the "vegetariano" (a dank vegetarian restaurant) with Mark and I ran into my used book store friend, the old man who gave me recommendations and invited me for a beer. I have to remember to stop by before I leave Cordoba. I'm realizing this city isn't so big after all...

Christmas music just came on my shuffle. It kinda feels like Christmas here because its rainy and cold. Actually, I had "its beginning to look a lot like christmas" stuck in my head yesterday....

Ants attacked my honey!!!! This morning I went to make some chamomile/anis tea....and tragically discovered that ants had found a little pot of gold to feast on. (Or what is it ants do??)

9 dayyyyyyyyyyssssss ajhhhhhhhhhhh

2 Weeks to Go

 Yes, I'll allow myself to be cliche for a moment: Time flies! In a week I'll be taking my last final and heading out to Buenos Aires for my last 5 or so days in Argentina. Its surreal to think back about arriving at the airport with my backpack and duffel bag and my first crazy landlord waiting for me (thank god I moved).  I'm not gonna continue with the reflection theme in this entry quite yet. I don't know if I'm ready to go. Rather, ready to accept the fact that I have one week left here in Córdoba, a place I quickly grew to love and feel at home. I've expressed these feelings to various people....how bittersweet my departure is. I really love it here. I enjoy the people, the places, the culture, the struggles, the studying (more like struggling...), the daily encounters, the spanish (oh the spanish!), my new landlord and his jokes, feeling like an outsider/trying to pretend not to be/very apparently being one. AH! But how I miss San Francisco, my family, everything that comes with home. Thus my difficulties with leaving. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the people I love and miss but will really miss Argentina. I'll be back I guess, right????

Anyways, heres Iguazu in a few pictures.

I-GUA-ZOo

¡GREETINGS from the Province of Misiones!

After 24 hours of quality bus time....Gera and I arrived in Iguazu. Today we visited an old jesuit mission, and some mines. I was tired and cold, thus not so stoked on either...regardless it was good to see. We went with a tour agency so we took the bus up with a group, have eaten our meals with a group, etc. There are some CHARACTERS so far which are entertaining. I particularly enjoy the awkward woman from maryland who married an argentine who barely speaks english (how does that work? haha) She waves at me a lot. From across the table, when she walks by me on the bus, in the gift shop. She also shook my hand when I first met her which I guess isn't weird, but I've gotten accustomed to kissing on the cheek to greet people so it felt kinda awkward.

Anyways, tonight had some lasagna and  split a bottle of wine. RIght now I'm in the hotel lobby watching Gera flirt with girls at the computer. He is so adorable!

Also just skyped with home, and this is what I'm missing tonight:

My little brother is playing really well these days, and tonight hes pitching. Hes been all over the local news etc. I wish I could watch him!!

18 days I'll be stateside.

Package Came, Friend Went, Birthday Passed

Walking around the city last week:

Went to a museum the other day by my house for the second time:

I wasn't really going for the pissed off look...

Yesterday on my way out to Gera's birthday dinner I noticed I got mail from the Dank Tank. Man I miss my friends. They're really awesome. They sent letters, some art, and ...ribbon? I come home  3 weeks from tomorrow!!!! 

A giraffe print Simone made:

I had a true "I have no academic responsability for the next 3 weeks" attitude this past weekend. (Even though I do have a final the 23rd) Thursday night I went over to my friend Sabats house and hung out...then headed to Dorian  (he works there too). Friday night went over to a friends house, went to a few bars in my neighborhood that were horrible. Had a revelation that the neighborhood I live in really IS full of students and way too many boliches/bars and they're kinda grimy. We went into 2 and stayed for no more than 10 minutes in each. Then Maggie and I headed to Dorian. Ended the night with her and Sabat and got food, had some discussions about leaving this place, etc etc. Saturday went to Paseo de Los Artes, bought a really pretty ring (have I mentioned I'm almost broke?) and then went to a Emily's for a 4th of July party. Woo american independence. I showed up in the middle of everyone, as in all the Americans, singing the National Anthem. We had a bbq with burgers and hotdogs and listened to Nsync, Michael Jackson, and Bob Dylan. Mark, one of the roommates from the east coast played some guitar....it was really nice out and their house has a big terraza thats night to hang out on. Marks leaving soon  and the rooomates made a goodbye powerpoint for him...

Me and Gera

Later on that night, Mario (whos new to the house with the terraza, from Mexico), Maggie , and I headed in a taxi to The Basque Cultural Center for a party. On our way, the taxista dropped us of a good 5 blocks away. We walked by this restaurant full of a people singing, playing guitar, drinking wine. They saw us walk by and invited is in. Greeted us, introduced us to everyone, turns out it was a birthday party. They continued singing and playing music. Mario played some Mexican songs..We ended up staying for about an hour with these people who were telling jokes (most of which I didn't understand) and treated us like family. It was great....We finally told them we had to get going. Not before exchanging numbers and getting a few pictures (man I love argentines):

Anyways, we made it to the Basque center in time for some basque dancing...

Sunday woke up and cleaned the house, made a cake and prepared for a little party at my place for Gera's 20th birthday/Maggies going away. It was sad to see all the people who won't get to see her for a while...Gera had a good birthday I think. My cake wasn't the most aesthetic treat I've ever made, but it had lots of love and dulce de leche...

Salvador showed up, I spent my birthday with him in Mendoza....3 months ago already. wow.

I'm gonna go over to Emilys for an Asado right now. Then I have to do my school work before Friday.....Going up to Iguazu and doing some traveling. I'm now experiencing my final days in Cordoba. How sad.

Currently listening to: Gera singing Coldplay and Dixie Chicks in the other room. over this-

Recent Revelations

(23.6.2009, yacanto de calamuchita, sierras de cordoba)

some obvious ones, some previously realized ones, rambles bla bla bla

1. it sucks to be sick when you're not at home. and by home here i mean your parents house. theres something about that child-like urge to be taken care of by your parents. even if it just means bringing home a jamba juice or letting you complain about how shitty you feel and do nothing on the couch all day.
2. michael jackson is a ridiculous dancer.
mesmerized by his moves: maggie, gera and i watched way too many youtube videos in my room

3. staying out till 8 in the morning is a good way to drain your body (you knew this one, teresa)

4.what would the world be like if everyone told the truth all the time??? (this isn't a revelation, but quite a question to consider)
http://www.esquire.com/features/honesty0707-2

5. I may not be able to fit all my stuff in my backback and duffel bag to return home thus forced to either a) send packages, and i think ive already expressed my disdain for argentine mail service (where is my tea my mom sent me 2 months ago!!) or b) donate stuff?

6. I'm missing: the gooyness of a warm cinnamon roll, writing papers in english, picking the cookie dough out of icecream, playing with poochy, the dank tank kitchen and the people that filled it (my kitchen here has semi florescent lighting, an awkwardly large table, sqeaky chairs), my family

7. Unless I make an honest effort I'm going to lose some of my spanish when I get back to eeuu

8. Arts and crafts time RULES so I've been doing more of that lately:

9. My conversations with Argentines that materialize in random places also include taxis (last night as another example)

the night started in one place:

and ended in another, with me taking a cab home right after noticing how beautiful the sunrise was:




The other day during arts and crafts time, Leandro the cook whipped up some Spanish tortilla thing with garlic cream chicken that was sooo gooood. might not be able to tell by the picture but....
YUM.

Leandro, Tim, and Ekaitz:

Lasagna & Liberation

What have I been doing these dayyyyys?

Had my last day of History class on Thursday, finally. And what do we do? Watch a documentary that I already watched in my ethics class. Oh well. Speaking of ethics, just finished working on our final paper on the Philosophy of Liberation according to Enrique Dussel for my ética y política class. Do some perusing on some Dussel works then give me a thorough analysis of his contributions to the ethical/philosophical world then tie it into a specific case study of the Guarani people of Northern Argentina. Then do it in Spanish. I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining too much about it. Maggie and I treated ourselves to some DELICIOUS Arabic delivery food during our diligent 8 hour jam sesh tonight. Complete with hummus, pita, grape leave things, tabuli (a great salad substitute or picnic snack!), and a half Citric/soda water combo beverage etc.:

YUM.

Anyways, on my walk back from History on Thursday something happened to me that I realize happens with some sense of frequency in my  walks here in Córdoba. Something caught my eye in a window in a shop, I walked in and ended up having a good 30 minute conversation with the person that worked there. This has happened at random little shops, book stores, and more recently (as in Thursdays case) an art store/home store/ framing place/ etc etc.

I walked by and saw a print of Gustav Klimt piece I really like so I decided to walk in and take a look.

Enter, look at the piece, ask homie how much it costs (knowing theres no chance I'm bringing this huge framed thing home with me) and then SURPRISE- he asks me where I'm from because of my accent. Then we start talking about art, and he had all these cool books to show me (some from CALIFORNIA OHhohhoooooo haha). Then from art, we jump to talking about San Francisco, then Córdoba, then "weren't you afraid to move here ALL BY YOURSELF" then "what are you studying??", then...some how we end up talking about the 70s military dictatorship in Argentina, then political corruption in general. These conversations are not only great for my Spanish, but generally tend to be really interesting. And so very representative of Argentina. I feel like I can go in somewhere and easily strike up conversation and people are so willing to keep that convo flame keep burning. I mean after 30 minutes, I knew this guys family involvement in the 70s military government, his political views, his favorite artists, and thoughts on many other things. And hes not atypical. Argentines, for the most part (I understand this could be a hasty generalization) and at least the ones I've encountered, are always interested in getting to know you and getting you to know them.  Something I really love about living here is the friendly vibe I get from the people. I'm sure this is a "give some, get some idea". If I hadn't walked into that art store, or never strolled by that used book store or started up a conversation with the girl that bagged my groceries, I would've never known what they thought, where they're from, what they think etc. For that reason, I try to open up when I can and realize that people always have something to say, especially Argentines. I think I should try doing this in San Francisco.

Thursday night, after my nice convo with Edgardo (art store man) and a hearty 4 hour nap, made homemade vegetable lasagna. I miss my mom's lasagna.

Check out them layers:

Ekaitz, Asier, and Tim all really enjoyed it, of course.

Mid enjoyment smiles:

Friday night, my friends Lucio and Charlie played at a bar in Nueva Córdoba (thats my neighborhood). Lucio and Charlie are two Argentine brothers, and were some of my first friends when I arrived here. They've taken me to their "campo" (farm) and have really awesome parents (who I saw last night at their show) Anyways. They are really talented musicians and it was nice to see them do their thing, accompanied by a really impressive drummer, a adorable petite Argentine girl with a really nice voice, and an ever so endearing musician who played the flute, a wooden noise thing, the yukilalee (how do you spell that word?) and some other percussion instrument. Afterwords, we went to a hip-hop club called RANDOM. Complete with Pacman machines, graffiti'd walls, and special appearance by FREAK STAILERS- two charming, rainbow mohawk wig wearing, flaco DJS. A different vibe then other places I've been. First time I've heard michael jackson in a club. 

And that brings to today. Which you already know...was spent simultaneously writing an ethics paper and mildly going crazy as a result. 

Here some pics to leave you with, the fire at my house a few weeks ago:

And so good night.

Un beso,

Tere

'i promise i won't blog about it'

Successfully being creepy/ unprepared for a picture in San Marcos. 

Started writing last night, got a little distracted- so here I am.

Saturday I watched Match Point and got to thinking about luck. And how I really miss playing tennis. Ekaitz made really yummy pasta for us and I didn't really see the light of day, other than the view from the balcony. 

In regards to my distraction last night, I got sucked into the world of youtube videos. Has that ever happened to you? The internet is littered with a myriad of outlets to distract yourself/procrastinate/mindlessly waste time. Of course theres awesome stuff too but...  We went from Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey music videos, to various "BEST tOp DIsNEY SONG EVRRR" (which led to me to some Lion King and Tarzan sing a longs), Titanic montages to "Womanizer" by Britney Spears (a travesty), and Diego Luna montages to "I love to Love you Baby". Anyways, all superfluous information. 

This Sunday I went to "paseo de los artes" and as usual came across far too many unnecessary things to buy- but fortunately (or not??) know that I can't afford them. So below are some pictures from paseo my first month here to give you an idea- its a bunch of venders selling jewelry, mates, mirrors, arts/crafts, plants, records and really awesome vintage things. Now that its winter its dark and cold and seems to not be open as late. But when we walked down the street there were two bands jamming out and tons of people sitting on the opposite side on the curb hanging out, watching. Enjoyed a nice coffee and music and once again had the nice revelation that Córdoba is a really cool city to live in and I'll really miss it.

my 2nd favorite book store above- with the most endearing curly haired argentine boy and (most likely) father that work there. I bought an old literature magazine from the 70s there with poems, interviews, and illustrations by Pablo Neruda that RULES. (my first favorite store I stumbled upon a couple weeks ago when I was on my way to the post office and started talking with the owner- a chatty cathy if I've ever met one. anyways, he gave me really awesome recommendations and we ended up talking for probably 30 minutes or so and this 4o something cordobes dad was giving me hints on cool places to go in the city etc etc and was awesome! I digress....)

Anyywayyys, getting down (or up I guess) to an organic farm up in Catamarca this weekend which I'm looking forward too.

Haven't been using my camera lately, which I've been regretting. Will try to post some pictures soon?

Today Saskia left for Buenos Aires- then Germany. We ate at a vegetarian restaurant called "El Vegetariano" Ha.  Delicious. Said our final good byes, took that final picture at the Cañada.  If I could only make it to Barcelona/Europe to visit her in the next 2 years where she'll be doing her masters......This is about the time I'd like to have a minor freakout about college graduation/thoughts on getting my masters etc but I've learned theres really no point.

Some things I'm looking forward to:

-finishing writing an ethics paper/ all work in general

-attempting to establish a normal sleeping pattern this week- closely related to not feeling sick anymore hopefully

-tomorrow Maggies new roomate (a beautiful Argentine cook named Leandro) is coming over to cook at my house- yum yum yum

-mmmmmm  riding a bike through golden gate park and  pumpkin curry from king of thai (I didnt put a time frame on this list right?)

Well I'm gonna go watch a movie. 

un beso grande,

teresa

What I'm listening to