I Have Arrived!!

Hola!

It's true! I am here. I am officially living and breathing Buenos Aires (not always so clean) air! I forgot just how much I love this city. There are huge parks, free exercise classes in the park each morning (envision 50 men and women of all ages swiveling their hips to Latin tunes at 8:30 am!!), fruit, veggie, and bread markets on every corner, and - best of all - my best friend, Rene, is currently living here, as well.

I have been staying with Rene in her beautiful, spacious, and sunny apartment since I arrived last Wednesday. I am fortunate to have a place to lay my head while I look for my own apartment. Apartment hunting here is much more frustrating than I imagined and rent is MUCH MUCH more than one would think. Most places run around $800. Which is a lot when I think that I lived in a gorgeous 2 bedroom furnished apartment in Ecuador for $250/month. But Im not in Ecuador anymore, so I suppose it is time to change my mindset!

So what exactly have I been up to my first week here? Well, I have been quite busy meeting people, looking at apartments, working on getting everything in order for the university, and reorienting myself here in the city. It turns out that 2 years away is more than enough time to forget how to use the buses, subway, and simply get from one place to another without walking in circles (and, yes, I have done that). For example, yesterday I had an interview at the university (i.e. VERY important meeting). I left one hour early for what should have been a twenty minute walk/bus ride. I had prepared my travel route by looking up how to get from point A (Rene's apartment) to Point B (the uni). Unfortunately, the directions I was given were mildly incorrect. And, in this case, even a small miscalculation was enough to leave me walking in circles as I asked one person after another how to get to the bus stop. Finally, after what should have been a 3 minute walk turned into a 15 minute walk, I boarded the 160 bus. Being unsure of which stop was mine, I got off too early and turned a 5 minute walk into a 15 minute run. I arrived winded at 11:01am with what I hoped was a valid reason ("You see, I left early, had directions, and well...life happened.") I was not sure I would be forgiven, but what other choice did I have at this point?! However, it turns out that I was number 10 in line for my "11 AM" interview, so no need to be forgiven after all - phew! i waited to speak to someone, got the information I needed, gave my best, and was off with hopes that an acceptance letter would arrive in my hotmail inbox today. Still no letter, but Argentinians do not start working until well after 10am, so I am not concerned just yet.

In addition to getting lost (and found), I have attended a meeting on world affairs, belly danced with some of Rene's Argentinian and American friends, eaten tons of fresh fruits and veggies, shimmied my hips in the park, walked until I nearly dropped, attended Rene's going away party at an Argentinian friend's house with a group of her co-workers, and have even gone furniture shopping to find a new bed for a friend.

It is still somewhat unclear as to when I actually will be attending my first class - Argentinians are big fans of giving info on a last-minute basis, but from what I understand classes will begin the week of April 4th. So I have a week and a half more to meet new people, catch up with old friends that I met during my earlier travels in the country, and explore the neighborhoods and transportation system!!

For now, I am telling myself to have faith that everything will come together. And 98.75% of me is positive it will!

Stay tuned...

VIVA!