La vida súper relajante

I’ve been exploring all around Buenos Aires lately! Last weekend we went to the Isenbeck Beer Festival which was a lot of fun. There was a really cool club inside called SilentFest where everyone had head phones and you could choose what kind of music you listened to. Red, green, and blue light represented different genres of music. It was so much fun!

Diana, Eva, and me at Isenbeck Beer Festival

I went to a cute street fair in Plaza Serrano this Sunday and bought a cute pair of earrings. I also found a Buenos Aires replica of Chipotle: absolutely delicious! We’re checking out a Mexican restaurant tomorrow and then hopefully sushi soon. Buenos Aires has every kind of food to choose from and, from what I hear, it’s all fantastic!

Plaza Serrano street fair

California Burrito

I’m really enjoying my classes so far. I’m taking Latin American Literature, Argentine Culture, Tango, and Spanish Grammar. Tango is great: we learn about its history on Tuesdays and actually practice on Thursdays. I went to my first milonga (tango club) this weekend and actually danced! Probably should have gone to a few more Thursday practices first…... But it’s all good.

La Catedral milonga

My classes don’t seem too demanding. They assign homework every day, which is different from CSU, but if you don’t do it the teacher doesn’t care at all. I think it’s “suggested” homework? I’m still getting used to the culture of the university. Super laid back and never exactly on time. Works for me!

The next few weeks are going to be super exciting! Next week we have Monday, Thursday, and Friday off. On Monday we’re going to La Bomba del Tiempo, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AONMv_i41Ts&feature=player_embedded#!) which is a weekly percussion concert. It’s supposed to be awesome!

On Tuesday we’re going to the Quilmes Rock Festival to see The Foo Fighters, Band of Horses, and MGMT!!

On Wednesday we’re off to Iguazu Falls for Semana Santa. We’re taking an overnight bus there because it’s about a 17 hour trip. The buses are called ‘bus semicama’ and are supposed to be super comfortable. The chairs recline into beds and you’re served dinner and breakfast.

I miss you all so much! Besitos! LIXO, Dutson

BEST weekend ever!

Friday morning we went on a city tour of BA that was organized by the University of Belgrano (UB). It was great to see more of the city, even if it was brief! My favorite part, by far, was La Boca. All of the houses are painted bright colors, the streets are cobblestone, and there are tango dancers everywhere! Que lindo!

La Boca!

After the tour we went to China town for lunch and then walked down Avenida Santa Fe window shopping. That night we decided to check out BA’s famous night life. We went to a bar at Plaza Serrano (a plaza in Palermo that has many bars and restaurants) and then to a club named Ink. It’s true that Porteños (people from BA) truly stay up all night; we took a taxi home at 4:45 am!

On Saturday we met up with a friend of Eva’s for lunch. Miguel, who is from Colombia, is living here because he’s an actor for the Disney Channel!!! We went to a great local restaurant for lunch then headed to MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano Buenos Aires). MALBA was phenomenal! There was an exhibition of a Venezolano and the art was incredible. Afterwards we went to the theatre and saw an independent film called El Estudiante. It was in Spanish with English subtitles, which was perfect to test myself while still understanding the movie. We went to dinner at La Cantina Guido, a delicious Italian restaurant, after that. Miguel showed us more of BA in one day than I’d seen so far!

That night we went to Franc’s Speakeasy. It was so cool! There aren’t any signs advertising the bar, the door is hidden, and we had to have a password to get in. The atmosphere was really elegant and the bar was reminiscent of the 60’s! (Favorite bar so far!) Afterwards we met up with a friend of Selina’s, who is from BA,, at a party at the Tennis Club for a famous tennis player! Party included fireworks, DJ, and free champagne… nbd. Night ended at 5:30 am!

Today (Sunday) we went to our first parilla, El Trapiche. Argentina is famous for their meat and asados (barbeques). The meat was so flavorful, but chewy. I read in my travel book that chewiness is desirable, but my jaw didn’t appreciate it as much. I’ll have to try another place!

Plate full of steak!

Afterwards we went to Avenida Florida (a huge walking street with lots of shopping), got some ice cream, and walked around. We saw a tango street show that was really cute!

Tango street show!

I start classes tomorrow; I’m stoked to meet some more people and keep improving my Spanish!

BESOS GRANDISIMOS! LIXO, Dutson

Tengo amigos!!

Life is great in Buenos Aires! I had orientation on Monday and met a bunch of friends! Most of them are from Germany; they all know German, English, and quite a bit of Spanish. I think it’s amazing that they can speak so many languages. Already planning my next language and travel destination! (Kidding Mom and Dad…)

A picture with my first friend Kadda!

Kadda and I explored after orientation and went to a little café then we all met up last night and went to a local bar. It was named Caracas and served Venezuelan food! I got an arepa con carne!!

This morning I had my meeting with my advisor and I found out I passed the Spanish placement test as advanced! (Lucky too, because I had to in order for my credits to transfer!!) I’ll be taking Spanish Language, Argentine Culture, Latin American Literature, and Tango! AND my classes are only Monday through Thursday 2:30 to 5:30 pm! STOKED! So much time for activities J

I’m so proud of myself; I’ve finally mastered the bus, walking, and the subway in BA! I’m finally getting the hang of the city and I’m falling in love with it and the people!

THREE (of the many) REASONS WHY I LOVE BA:

The Ralph Lauren looks like a freaking palace. Clearly they know good shopping.

There are wine bottles bigger than me.

My Argentina Mom, Maria, keeps her water in a bottle of Vodka.

Tomorrow we’re going to Colonia, Uruguay! We booked a day trip that includes the three hour boat ride, lunch, and a city tour. I'm super excited!! I’ll post pictures soon!

PS: It’s extremely difficult for me to speak English now… I’m so used to either speaking/thinking in Spanish or speaking in an easier way for my German friends! Es muy comico!

BESOS! LIXO, Dutson

Una experiencia fantastica!

Today I went on a run in Parque Aleman, then came back and proceeded to get a terrible sunburn while lying by the pool and reading… naturally. For dinner I went to a restaurant on the corner named SCUzi. It was absolutely fantastic and the waiter was super nice.

I ordered a Quilmes, the local Argentine beer, and a Margarita pizza. It was delicious! I’d heard a lot about the ice cream in BA, so I tried a scoop of Dulce de Leche. I loved it! Argentine cuisine is extremely European and has a lot of similarities to Italian; but you’re never supposed to compare it to Italian—it’s much better! ;)

When I asked for the check, the waiter brought me a glass of champagne on the house. And I do love my champagne! It was a fantastic night!

Besos grandes! LIXO, Dutson

Picture of me in Recoleta!

Arriving in BA

My first day in BA was definitely an experience… I hadn’t realized how nervous I would actually be, but getting onto the flight from Dallas to Argentina was pretty scary. It helped, of course, that I sat next to my soul mate. Once we landed in BA my remise (hired driver), Alberto, took me to my home stay. My BA mom is named Maria and she is the sweetest lady!

After getting situated, unpacked, and showered we decided to go explore. I got a new cell phone that works down here and we took a bus to a cute plaza. Bigger parks are called ‘parques’ and smaller ones called ‘plazas’.  Maria had to visit her friend so she told me to explore around the plaza and meet her back on the street corner.

The plaza was amazing! So many people of all ages: children playing on the swings, middle school kids playing futbol, college lovers on the benches, and grandpa and grandmas holding hands. I walked around and took pictures then sat on a bench waiting for Maria. About an hour later it started getting dark and she still wasn’t back. I went across the street and ordered a glass of wine while I waited. (The wine was delicious!)

It was now 9:00 pm and Maria was nowhere to be found. I walked around the park, but she wasn’t there. Then a bird pooped on my head………  I decided to walk by where she had said her friend lived and the doorman came running outside. He said Maria had been looking for me and he would call her to come back. He was the nicest man and gave me a glass of Coke while I waited. Maria came running in; turns out I scared her a little more than I had been scared myself.

We went home and she made a delicious torta (similar to an empanada, but baked and more like a casserole). We chatted for a long time and then I hit the hay. Turns out traveling for 12 hours does take it out of you because I slept for about 14 hours!

Today we’re going to the Cementerio de la Recoleta and exploring around Recoleta/Barrio Norte!

Miss you all! LIXO, Dutson