Busy, busy, busy: Day 51

Bests: dulce de leche, projects at work, having a fulllllll agenda, a laptop to take home, getting my boots repaired. :)

Worsts: the fact that the warmth of Spring brings HOT, SWEATY subte rides, exhaustion, missing out on Halloween candy and Thanksgiving.
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In the past few days, I have been working for the afternoons, and having various activities before and after.

Monday I took a slow morning to practice guitar and enjoy a mate or three before going to work. Work was basically a big party--due to fans of Halloween in the office. :) After work, I felt like trying out skating alone at the park in Palermo. This was fine, but not an experience I'll repeat. It's no fun alone when you're not really safe and you have a messenger style bag (side-hanging) throwing off balance.

Tuesday I think I pulled a lazy day again. Went to work, where I translated (my favorite!), and then met up with a colleague's son for an English session. This little boy, J, is absolutely angelicly adorable, and he shares my zeal for language--at age 5! Woohoo! It'll be an absolute joy to work with him these next few weeks. After English with J, I went home and made dinner.

Today I awoke and thought I would chill out. Then I remembered I had to try to pick up a package this morning. So I prepared for the day quickly and headed out the door. Like basically everything else here, however, you take a number and wait in line for HOURS. I had to give my number to somebody else and leave, so as not to lose the day. I'll get it at some point. Who cares about a fifty-cent fee. My time here is so much more valuable than that. ;) At work, I proceeded to translate. Beautiful view. I left work a little early today so that I could rush home to drop stuff off (laptop, converse, tupperware from lunch) and pick up stuff (guitar books and pick), then rushed to M's house for Sonidos de Esperanza, then rushed to Bible study, then rushed to get a guitar lesson in today instead of Friday. I didn't eat any more than a teeny granola bar between 1:30 and 10:30. Now, I'm rather wiped.  :)

The rest of the week looks to be a blast! Also, busy. But I bet I'll be able to blog on Sunday, letting you all know what's up. Chao!
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Dad, in response to your question.

I have had the tremendous blessing of a decidedly well-balanced sampling of Buenos Aires life. I have spent time in the city center, which is really a rare zone, distinct from all others in its vibe and attractions; in ritzy, posh Palermo; in Flores, a lovely, average, much less pretentious zone; in barrio Ramon Carrillo, where the extremely admirable families work hard to maintain ahead of poverty in an economy and area that doesn't really do anything to encourage improvement; and in trash-heaped, dog-infested, still-somehow-beautiful (hint: the people) villas.

Surprisingly for me, experiencing all of these--many times all within a day--does not cause social class/protocol/nuiance whiplash, nor does it cost me much to acclamate to the varying surroundings. It's like being in whichever place I happen to find myself at a given time allows me to get to know better and better the culture, people, food, buildings, parks, customs, and landscape that is Buenos Aires.

Therefore, I love it all.




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