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Hola todos,

These last weeks have felt like months. They've been full of highs and lows, people and places. Half in English, half in Spanish, my mind has been half on the US and half where I am.

I see everyone graduating on Facebook, and doing American things (Flunk Day, ACEN, Disneyworld, being hipsters-- haha). I miss it all! I miss Women of Influence, my family, the Knox library, theatre performances, poetry readings, AnSo classes, midwestern antique stores... I've been missing it especially much these weeks, and mostly the little things. I went to Friday's and reveled in that familiar kitsch, and even in the waiter thumping a bottle of ketchup down on the table-- that never, ever happens here! Although I have a passion for the new-and-exciting, I crave that familiar grounding now and then.

I've spent 1/4 of my time studying and 3/4 trying to maintain my sanity and peace in spite of studying, haha. My grades on my midterms were 6, 7, and 8 (all out of 10). Even though I am used to 9's and 10's in the US, I'm proud of those grades because even for Argentines, an 8 is tough to get, and it seems I lost most of my points because of redaction/articulation, which I don't feel bad about at all. I have time to improve my Spanish, so if I can communicate effectively and know the subject-matter, I did what I set out to do!

Looking at my pictures, I can't believe all the different things I've done (especially taking my hours spent singing indie songs and chatting on facebook into account). These pictures are only from last week (they are so slow to upload that I'm surprised I had the patience... it's only because I'm so proud of them and so sentimentally attached!). I'll upload this week's pictures in the next few days.

 Last Sunday I went to the San Telmo feria with June. We browsed the gift shops, tried on hats, and looked at all the other crafts. June looked great in cylindrical fur hat. My favorite was a purple, floppy hat. June said I looked like a yanqui (yankee) in a che revolutionary hat I tried on: one stereotypically-American taste I had never thought about! This picture is of a living statue that's there at the fair every week.

After the feria, June and I went to El Caminito in La Boca. It's the first time I'd ever been there, even though it's one of the first places most tourists usually go. I'd avoided it because I'd thought that it was essentially some brightly painted houses, fakey souvenirs, and expensive touristy restaurants. But I was very wrong! The place is full of tourists, yes, but also full of life. It is beautiful and bright. We ate lunch at a restaurant there, and I saw the best tango show I've seen in Buenos Aires (I've seen about six so far), by the Caminito Trio pictured here. My favorite tango songs feature impassioned (usually bitter) women singers: you can see how impassioned this one is in the photo. You can also see the Boca-style houses through the window if you look.

 

My favorite parts of the show were the live band (I love watching people play instruments) and the dancers. Although tango dances are not my favorite ones to watch, I loved this particular show because of the skill they had in dancing through all the chaos. In the middle of the show (which began on a stage outside), it started to rain, and more and more tables and people moved to shelter inside. The tangueros danced between the increasing tables, people, and waiters so smoothly, in a very limited space. If someone asked them for a picture, the woman flipped her leg up and leaned back, the man holding her — a complicated pose they could snap into in an instant. It was really impressive, and fun to watch. I'd like to go back sometime!

 This is Puerto Madero, one of the fanciest areas of Buenos Aires. I went there with Fede(-libertarian) twice, and we ate American-style food and talked.

 I like the green light in this picture. It reminds me of the Great Gatsby! haha.

 This is Marta Minujín's Torre de Babel (made of books from around the world). Years ago she had made a Parthenon of books. Monumental works like these are her trademark.

 This is a bus stop somewhere (possibly the one I take on my way to school). Although it takes me an hour to get there by bus, I get to look at San Telmo, la Casa Rosada, el Congreso, the broadway and Obelisco area, a normal urban street (Córdoba), and Palermo. It is a beautiful commute! (I could also take the subway, but it takes me 15 minutes to walk there, 30 minutes on the train, and 15 to walk to my school, so I'd rather take the bus and get to see things, without having to walk so much. ) I like the reflection of the church in the window in this picture.

 

Mercado San Telmo (to the left) has vegetable stores, antiques, and lots of vintage clothes. 

 This is Jorge (my English student) and his dog Arca. We are going to Uruguay this Wednesday!

And my touristy debut in Caminito! =)

Thanks for reading, everyone!
Besos!
Kaeli