Chapter 2

Como Andan Chicos?! The excitement begins. I am now sitting in the living room of my new abode (for the next 3 days at least). Hostel Mantengase is a Bohemian joint in the antique yet trendy part of Buenos Aires known as San Telmo. I have met guests from Chile, Portugal, England, Sweden, Germany, NEW ORLEANS, as well as an abundance of Argentines who seem to be bunking here for an indefinate amount of time. A man with a disheveled, salt and pepper afro is sitting next to me painting on newspaper. While 3 other Argentines with terrible haircuts sketch, roll cigarettes, and drink mate. We are all watching Hannibal. I left Lomas De Zamora one day early. For the past 2 weeks, Vanessa (the project coordinator) and I have not had the greatest relationship. Abroader View seems to think that volunteers should work 40-50 hours a week, and should not have the opportunity or the time to go out and have fun. Any time I asked to do something other than go to work or the internet cafe I was presented with restrictions, curfews, and scoldings. I believe volunteers should be allowed and encouraged to explore what Argentina has to offer. If the volunteer does not know what lies outside of work, and does not have the opportunity to make friends, he will remain ignorant of the culture and bored out of his/her mind. I also have strong reason to believe that Vanessa's daughter read my journal, and reported my personal thoughts to Vanessa. This invasion of privacy along with the tension between Vanessa and I led me to sca-daddle. Never-the-less, I had a fantastic last day with kids of Coy Aike yesterday. After some theatre activities we ended our time together by making friendship bracelets to remember each other by. Each teen took turns telling me what they learned from me, and thanking me. I won't deny that I teared up a little. Those kids are really special people, who know how to turn bad/difficult situations into positive ones. I will visit them again before I leave. I already got a text message from the head of Coy Aike, asking me if I would like to have lunch with him in the city tomorrow, and I will probably be going camping in Cordoba with them the beginning of January.There was a blackout today in San Telmo for a good 5 hours which forced me to get in touch with nature. I met 2 guys from Nantucket, MA and a girl from Seattle, Washington in the hostel common room. After participating in a sing-along to the 4-Non-Blondes' song "What's Up" played on Ukelele, we all went to a park and played UNO. The MA boys took a midnight train to Uruguay, so I don't know if I'll see them again, but they were a good time. Later, a man I met at Spanglish last week picked me up to go again tonight. Spanglish is a program where native english speakers and native castellano (argentine spanish) speakers get together in a bar or restaurant and have one on one conversations 5 mins in english 5 in spanish, and then you switch people. It is similar to what I would imagine speed dating to be like, but it's only to practice the language and meet people. However Miguel and I never made it to Spanglish because he got lost. But we got ice cream, he showed me where the big theatres are (Young Frankestein and Phantom of the Opera are playing now), and brought me to Puerto Madero along the river. We made a rule that I could only speak in Spanish and he in English....................I lost internet connection as I was writing this blog. It is now Thursday, THANKSGIVING. I had a great day in the city yesterday with Daniel (from Coy Aike) and Tessa. Though I feel quite dirty living in this hostel, it is liberating. Yesterday Daniel took me to La Boca, a tourist trap, but beautiful none the less. We ate asado, which is basically just meat on a grill, except it's the best meat you've ever had. I ordered some sort of pork and it tasted like delicious cheese that melts in your mouth. Daniel invited me to go with him and the other workers of Coy Aike to the mountains in Cordoba the beginning of January. It will be a 10 day camping trip, and I think my spanish will be good enough by then to really enjoy the company. I went to some bars with a guy from England named John, and a local named, Fede. At one joint, a band played with a chick on bass (I'm fascinated by girls who play bass). Fede is a swing dancer, and started teaching me some moves. Budding romance? Could be. I hope all you North Americans have a fantastic Turkey Day. I will be eating bread and apples, considering I've spent way to much money these past few days. Paz, Amistad, Amor Katie