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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Chauisimo BsAs - Te Echo un Gracias
Oye erebody - 3.5 days and counting till I hop on that double decker bus to nowhere, leaving the increasingly humid but increasingly unrepeatable ciudad known as Buenos Aires. I am moving around quickly these next few days getting gifts, eating all the food I won't taste for a long while (choripan - empanadas:pollo/humita - non-saucey pizza - locro - and of course medialunas (small, awesome egg/sugar croissants) and pretty much just aimlessly walking around the city that I have grown to call home.
My feelings right now are mixed as such:
Remorse - There is still so much more of Argentina for me to know, and I am sad to leave all of the people that have made my time here so damn, perfect. Friends I may not see for months, years or a lifetime; unless I of course take a global trip in 2018 and make it to Europe, back to South America and Southeast Asia. For that I am sad to leave, I really have a grasp for this city now and it's nice to have a niche and know where and what you're doing. Plus I've only been working about 18 hours a week for the past 6 weeks, I doubt I'll find that anywhere too soon. And the food and cheap beer. A liter of beer is 4 pesos at the mercado, 1 u$d. Come on.
Excited - I'm bout to embark on a pretty indepth and not too commonly traveled route Northwest through South America, and I'll have one of my good friends from Colorado to accompany me, Brent Thrash (adventurous Texan). We depart on Sunday and move Northwest through Argentina - then cross into Bolivia where we will hit up both lake Titticaca and the Bolivian Amazon in Rurrenburque. Then out of La Paz I'll fly solo to Cartagena, Colombia, then Medellin, then Bogota. Finally on the 19th of December I'll fly to NYC to meet mi hermana then to Chicago for christmas. Lots of traveling, a good 3 weeks to do it, and my entire November salary to make me enjoy it. It will be like nothing I've ever done. The longest trip I've done before this was from Sevilla, Spain = East through France, Italy and Greece. But I have a feeling that western Europe may be a tad different then Bolivian jungle and Colombian mega-cities. Anyway, for this I am truly pumped, and a tid bit nervous cause we have one important train to catch in Bolivia. If we miss it we're on really, really shitty (deserving swear) buses through the unpaved outback of southern Bolivia. Other than that though it's all good, we have enough buffer time to really enjoy the trip.
Relieved - 11 months, thats how long I'll have been here. It was great, it was fun, I learned about 15 things on top of another language, the most important being that if you're happy and patient you can make a living anywhere, but I'm glad to come home too. Where things make sense, I can get free cracked pepper on my sandwich and I have 5 options for a burrito within a 2 mile radius. For this, I am relieved to be returning, in all my self imposed glory, back home.
Hungry - Did someone say burritos.
Okay, there's a lot more I think I want to say but that should pretty much cover the major points. Look above for a really un-in-depth map of the trip I'll be taking or for a dated/picture-full and cool version go to this link.
A Drawn out Peace Out
My feelings right now are mixed as such:
Remorse - There is still so much more of Argentina for me to know, and I am sad to leave all of the people that have made my time here so damn, perfect. Friends I may not see for months, years or a lifetime; unless I of course take a global trip in 2018 and make it to Europe, back to South America and Southeast Asia. For that I am sad to leave, I really have a grasp for this city now and it's nice to have a niche and know where and what you're doing. Plus I've only been working about 18 hours a week for the past 6 weeks, I doubt I'll find that anywhere too soon. And the food and cheap beer. A liter of beer is 4 pesos at the mercado, 1 u$d. Come on.
Excited - I'm bout to embark on a pretty indepth and not too commonly traveled route Northwest through South America, and I'll have one of my good friends from Colorado to accompany me, Brent Thrash (adventurous Texan). We depart on Sunday and move Northwest through Argentina - then cross into Bolivia where we will hit up both lake Titticaca and the Bolivian Amazon in Rurrenburque. Then out of La Paz I'll fly solo to Cartagena, Colombia, then Medellin, then Bogota. Finally on the 19th of December I'll fly to NYC to meet mi hermana then to Chicago for christmas. Lots of traveling, a good 3 weeks to do it, and my entire November salary to make me enjoy it. It will be like nothing I've ever done. The longest trip I've done before this was from Sevilla, Spain = East through France, Italy and Greece. But I have a feeling that western Europe may be a tad different then Bolivian jungle and Colombian mega-cities. Anyway, for this I am truly pumped, and a tid bit nervous cause we have one important train to catch in Bolivia. If we miss it we're on really, really shitty (deserving swear) buses through the unpaved outback of southern Bolivia. Other than that though it's all good, we have enough buffer time to really enjoy the trip.
Relieved - 11 months, thats how long I'll have been here. It was great, it was fun, I learned about 15 things on top of another language, the most important being that if you're happy and patient you can make a living anywhere, but I'm glad to come home too. Where things make sense, I can get free cracked pepper on my sandwich and I have 5 options for a burrito within a 2 mile radius. For this, I am relieved to be returning, in all my self imposed glory, back home.
Hungry - Did someone say burritos.
Okay, there's a lot more I think I want to say but that should pretty much cover the major points. Look above for a really un-in-depth map of the trip I'll be taking or for a dated/picture-full and cool version go to this link.
A Drawn out Peace Out
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Por un rato mas..
Oye Boludos, como se van? I hope all is well with you folks. Those of you residing in the politically shifting country of Estados Unidos, I hope you all made some good decisions. From what I can tell on the various news websites I cite for my daily educatin' on world events it seems that on both federal and state levels the U s of A is in for some major shifts in power. Or it's all a bunch of malarky conjured to make us watch more TV, who knows. All I can say is that the daughter of the creator, and former President of the WWE (a.k.a wwf) is running for a SENATE seat. I know she's intimidating and can speak well but....well actually..I guess that pretty much is all one needs to get a vote right?
Anywho this blog is called Argenventure, not I'mgoingtoRantAbourMyFeelignsventure, so let's get on with it shall we. Though I'm still confused, did that comedian guy ever get elected to represent Minnesota?? (online sarcasm)
3 things of interest have passed since our last sit down. And they break down as such.
1) My buddy Wade ran in the Buenos Aires Marathon on 10-10-10, thats 42 kilometres for all you standard system users. He's a fairly consistent runner so wasn't to difficult for him but he asked me to hop in on the 32nd kilo to give em that last motivation to break through the wall. I don't know if it was my sharply accurate wit, fresh, unsweated attire or simply my naturally slow and unpracticed running pace, but it seemed to work. He finished with a strong time and I got to completely steal glory from those deserving corredores who had been running since 7am that morning. I got to see belly dancers, bolivian marching bands, and about 1000 people cheering me on from the sidelines. Seeing as how I had only been running for about 45 minutes I was really able to put on a show these people didn't expect, what with my energy packed leg muscles and still actively thinking mind. It was great, I wasn't able to technically finish cause I didn't have a number but I was only a half kilo away. And I was all sweaty and wearing running clothes at the end of a marathon so people totally thought I was one of them. Here's a pic, guess who has run 20 miles already...
2)The current President of Argentina is Cristina Kirchner. The famous, and glamourous, left leaning wife of the former president Nestor Kirchner. As of last Wednesday (which happened to be the National Census day here, which is a whole nother story, I think that actually is point #3 I was getting to) he is referred to as the late former president Nestor Kirchner. He died of a heart attack Wednesday morning, though many people believe it was Tuesday but those mysterious folks who always plan these things thought it better to wait until a national day off so the mourning could really come into play to announce his death. So on Wednesday morning, when legally no business could be open, a very polarized figure was announced dead to the very em-pathetical peoples of the Argentine. - A quick note on my reactions and experiences with this interesting situation. I work 2 blocks away from the Plaza de Mayo (the main political meeting place of BA, also the plaza housing the casa rosada (casa rosada=the white house for argentina)) Because of this, on Thursday when I was walking my merry way to educate people on the finer points of an auditorially pleasant english diatribe, I saw a line, and I'm talking one by one, maybe two wide at any point. A line that I assumed was a march waiting to get things moving (marches literally happen twice a week in the downtown so it was no shocker at all, especially considering the circumstances) Then I continued walking towards the casa rosada to pick up my daily newspaper and some sugar steamed mani (peanuts, absolutely delicious, cost only 2 pesos too) when I noticed that this was no march waiting to go, this was a line, a line for waiting, a line that doesn't seem to move and wrapped around the entire plaza. Shocking yes, but again not the craziest thing I've seen happen in the plaza. I then go upstairs to my first class on the fifth floor of citibank, I have a view of the northside of downtown from here, by thor's beard I saw the same damn line wrapping around 2 more blocks of the city, and this was coming from the opposite direction that I came. Meaning it was doing this on both sides of the plaza. I don't know if my description is either clear or delivering the shock I had intended but, in lesser words, there was a long assed line, probably about 5 o 6 thousand people. It was for a viewing of the closed casket of Nestor inside the pink house. I don't think there's anyway everyone could have seen him but it was amazing to see the devotion. But much like anywhere in the world, Nestor was one who taxed the rich and upper middle class and gave to the very poor. So most of my educated, middle class students and people who make enough money to spend it on tequila at bars in Palermo on the weekends, really don't give a flying fiddle about Nestor. It's funny to see the insane devotion some of these people had for him and the downright passivity others did. It made me think if Michelle O. died and what the reaction in the states would be. Other than the obvious half year dedication of Vogue covers to "The First Lady's Outfits and What they meant" I imagine there would be a great outpouring of support for her family. Same thing is happening here.
Dang, sorry about the tirade there (thats right; fit in tirade and diatribe in the same post) but I thought you educated, lovely people might find that interesting because I didn't see one note or one link on time.com or cnn.com saying anything about Nester diciendo chau (saying goodbye)
3)There was a national census here. I can officially say I lived in Argentina because they are officially marking it down.
Phew. Allright. I have four weeks left here before I make an epic journey north to meet the fam in Chicago for christmas. I'm going to make a cool interactive map thingy that one can access here so you can track me. Or, which is what I imagine will happen, my mom will use this tool to confirm I haven't been kidnapped by any FARC agents in the south Colombian jungle and held for ransom only until I befriend the rebels and begin an online social marketing campaign to spread their message.
I hope you guys are well and if I don't see you first have a happy thanksgiving. Eat an extra forkfull of turkey covered with mashed potatoes covered with stuffing covered with gravy covered with buttered biscuit pieces. covered with love.
chau
Por un rato mas = For only a little longer
Anywho this blog is called Argenventure, not I'mgoingtoRantAbourMyFeelignsventure, so let's get on with it shall we. Though I'm still confused, did that comedian guy ever get elected to represent Minnesota?? (online sarcasm)
3 things of interest have passed since our last sit down. And they break down as such.
1) My buddy Wade ran in the Buenos Aires Marathon on 10-10-10, thats 42 kilometres for all you standard system users. He's a fairly consistent runner so wasn't to difficult for him but he asked me to hop in on the 32nd kilo to give em that last motivation to break through the wall. I don't know if it was my sharply accurate wit, fresh, unsweated attire or simply my naturally slow and unpracticed running pace, but it seemed to work. He finished with a strong time and I got to completely steal glory from those deserving corredores who had been running since 7am that morning. I got to see belly dancers, bolivian marching bands, and about 1000 people cheering me on from the sidelines. Seeing as how I had only been running for about 45 minutes I was really able to put on a show these people didn't expect, what with my energy packed leg muscles and still actively thinking mind. It was great, I wasn't able to technically finish cause I didn't have a number but I was only a half kilo away. And I was all sweaty and wearing running clothes at the end of a marathon so people totally thought I was one of them. Here's a pic, guess who has run 20 miles already...
2)The current President of Argentina is Cristina Kirchner. The famous, and glamourous, left leaning wife of the former president Nestor Kirchner. As of last Wednesday (which happened to be the National Census day here, which is a whole nother story, I think that actually is point #3 I was getting to) he is referred to as the late former president Nestor Kirchner. He died of a heart attack Wednesday morning, though many people believe it was Tuesday but those mysterious folks who always plan these things thought it better to wait until a national day off so the mourning could really come into play to announce his death. So on Wednesday morning, when legally no business could be open, a very polarized figure was announced dead to the very em-pathetical peoples of the Argentine. - A quick note on my reactions and experiences with this interesting situation. I work 2 blocks away from the Plaza de Mayo (the main political meeting place of BA, also the plaza housing the casa rosada (casa rosada=the white house for argentina)) Because of this, on Thursday when I was walking my merry way to educate people on the finer points of an auditorially pleasant english diatribe, I saw a line, and I'm talking one by one, maybe two wide at any point. A line that I assumed was a march waiting to get things moving (marches literally happen twice a week in the downtown so it was no shocker at all, especially considering the circumstances) Then I continued walking towards the casa rosada to pick up my daily newspaper and some sugar steamed mani (peanuts, absolutely delicious, cost only 2 pesos too) when I noticed that this was no march waiting to go, this was a line, a line for waiting, a line that doesn't seem to move and wrapped around the entire plaza. Shocking yes, but again not the craziest thing I've seen happen in the plaza. I then go upstairs to my first class on the fifth floor of citibank, I have a view of the northside of downtown from here, by thor's beard I saw the same damn line wrapping around 2 more blocks of the city, and this was coming from the opposite direction that I came. Meaning it was doing this on both sides of the plaza. I don't know if my description is either clear or delivering the shock I had intended but, in lesser words, there was a long assed line, probably about 5 o 6 thousand people. It was for a viewing of the closed casket of Nestor inside the pink house. I don't think there's anyway everyone could have seen him but it was amazing to see the devotion. But much like anywhere in the world, Nestor was one who taxed the rich and upper middle class and gave to the very poor. So most of my educated, middle class students and people who make enough money to spend it on tequila at bars in Palermo on the weekends, really don't give a flying fiddle about Nestor. It's funny to see the insane devotion some of these people had for him and the downright passivity others did. It made me think if Michelle O. died and what the reaction in the states would be. Other than the obvious half year dedication of Vogue covers to "The First Lady's Outfits and What they meant" I imagine there would be a great outpouring of support for her family. Same thing is happening here.
Dang, sorry about the tirade there (thats right; fit in tirade and diatribe in the same post) but I thought you educated, lovely people might find that interesting because I didn't see one note or one link on time.com or cnn.com saying anything about Nester diciendo chau (saying goodbye)
3)There was a national census here. I can officially say I lived in Argentina because they are officially marking it down.
Phew. Allright. I have four weeks left here before I make an epic journey north to meet the fam in Chicago for christmas. I'm going to make a cool interactive map thingy that one can access here so you can track me. Or, which is what I imagine will happen, my mom will use this tool to confirm I haven't been kidnapped by any FARC agents in the south Colombian jungle and held for ransom only until I befriend the rebels and begin an online social marketing campaign to spread their message.
I hope you guys are well and if I don't see you first have a happy thanksgiving. Eat an extra forkfull of turkey covered with mashed potatoes covered with stuffing covered with gravy covered with buttered biscuit pieces. covered with love.
chau
Por un rato mas = For only a little longer
Friday, October 8, 2010
No Tengo un Mango
Here you go mama -
Oye Boludos, como andan? How are you my friends and family, and those weird ones who just linked up to this blog through a google search... I am doing fine, wonderful actually, I just housed a delicious carne asada wrap, for breakfast, after teaching one of my favorite students. Again, as happens in 63% of my classes, we digressed into discussing food and the various flavor procurers around the city-this leading me directly to a place where I could buy a carne asada wrap, not typical carne asada cause there really is no picante action going on at all like we're used to in the states. Technically carne asada really does just mean grilled meat though, so I can't get too bent out of shape.
Anyway whats new with me you ask? Well I just returned from a super double epic Adventure to what I must assume is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World - Las Cataratas de Iguazu (Waterfalls of Iguazu) Located here (click this link for map), for those of you who aren't adventurous or simply don't like to interrupt your reading train by clicking on unnecessary links, Iguzu Falls is located on the tri-border of Southeast Paraguay, south wester side of Brasil and Northeast Argentina. It's in the provincia de Missiones, which is pretty rugged, coastal terrain for the most part. Me and 4 of my friends took a 16 hour bus ride up there last thursday night (all you can drink personal bottles of wine make for a good meal but...when said empty bottles get trapped underneath a seat and roll with every shift of the bus causing quite possibly the most un-soothing cacophony ever created, one begins to regret downing four bottles each) Anyway, we arrived in Puerto Iguazu (Iguzu Port, difficult I know) on Friday at about 3, two hours later then scheduled. It was too late to get into the park which closes their entrance gates at 4 so we did what any intelligent, travel savvy, excited thrill seeker would do - we went to our hostel, tossed on our swimsuits and got in the near freezing pool to shield ourselves from the quite chilly wind blowing. And this is how the now infamous - Poll O'Clock- was born. From now on whenever your party needs a kick, your feeling a little down, or you simply want to go have a splash, the term you must scream is Pool O'clock. Anyway our hostel was awesome, pingpong table, fooseball, a sweet bar and cost only 25 pesos a night (about 5.20 U$D) Next day we woke up for the 7:30 bus and toured the national park - which I must say is amazingly well kept and put together - this may have to do with the 85 pesos entrance fee but still, every centavo is worth it. The falls are basically two large groupings, the southern chain and La Garganta del Diablo (The Devils Throat) The southern falls are basically set up like a massive lower case c with millions of gallons of water falling over the edges every second. You can see the north curve here..
We were able to be really cliche tourists and take a boat to both tips of the "c" under the waterfall, though a little corny, it really was amazing to look up and see the shear force these bad boys produce. It's insane that these falls have been this powerful for hundreds of years, day and night, month after month of non-stop pounding energy. Truly surreal it was. (yoda) Next we took a nice little baby train up to the Devils Throat as seen here...
The devils throat is absolutely like nothing I've seen before. You look north and it seems like any other calm jungle river (though, thinking now I haven't seen too many a those) then you see the water stop abruptly at a giant hole and one ponders, "huh thats weird, where could all that water go?" as seen here..
Then you walk down the very well kept walkway (no offense but extremely well kept compared to all sidewalks/any pathway in existence in Buenos Aires) to stand on a dock overlooking the falls' basin. As seen here..
You can look straight across and see Brazil and look downstream to see the turbulent water barreling down towards the southen falls for round two. Every few minutes the wind blows the mist at the bottom of the falls away and you can see the insane whirpool/deathzone created downthere. It was surreal and beautiful and a little nauseating, especially after staying a night in a hostel where you can Pool O'Clock until 4 in the morning. In this foto Brasil is to the right, straight down is the southern falls and what would be behind you is the north wall of the devils' throat.
Here's a pic of that wall behind you...
And another pic of the Brazilian side...
Dang there's a lot more I want to say but I don't want to go on too long, noble like a rambler. Basically if you have the opportunity to go to either Buenos Aires, Rio or Sau Paulo, you should go to Iguazu. It's a realatively close trip and it is an awe inspiringly awesome sight to see. I'm reading a book about the Moon landing and they talk about seeing the earth from space for the first time and how humbling it is. I'm not going that far, yet, but it truly was incredible to see nature in such an uncontrolled, beautiful way. Man didn't design or plan any of the spectacle but for that it was so, ahh, so much better.
Allright guys good talk. My buddy Wade is running in the BA marathon this Sunday and he's asked me to pace him the last 5 miles. So there's a good chance this will be the last post I have for a while after I pass out from exhaustion on mile 3.6 and hit my head while the man who just ran 22 miles picks me up and carries me to a bench than grabs me a gatorade.
Hope all is well with you guys, I'm getting nostalgic about Argentina and pumped for the E.E.U.U. Chi town christmas let's do it.
No tengo un mango = I don't have any money (the gauchos (Argentine Cowboys) used to carry their money in hollowed out mangos)
see the entire album here
Oye Boludos, como andan? How are you my friends and family, and those weird ones who just linked up to this blog through a google search... I am doing fine, wonderful actually, I just housed a delicious carne asada wrap, for breakfast, after teaching one of my favorite students. Again, as happens in 63% of my classes, we digressed into discussing food and the various flavor procurers around the city-this leading me directly to a place where I could buy a carne asada wrap, not typical carne asada cause there really is no picante action going on at all like we're used to in the states. Technically carne asada really does just mean grilled meat though, so I can't get too bent out of shape.
Anyway whats new with me you ask? Well I just returned from a super double epic Adventure to what I must assume is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World - Las Cataratas de Iguazu (Waterfalls of Iguazu) Located here (click this link for map), for those of you who aren't adventurous or simply don't like to interrupt your reading train by clicking on unnecessary links, Iguzu Falls is located on the tri-border of Southeast Paraguay, south wester side of Brasil and Northeast Argentina. It's in the provincia de Missiones, which is pretty rugged, coastal terrain for the most part. Me and 4 of my friends took a 16 hour bus ride up there last thursday night (all you can drink personal bottles of wine make for a good meal but...when said empty bottles get trapped underneath a seat and roll with every shift of the bus causing quite possibly the most un-soothing cacophony ever created, one begins to regret downing four bottles each) Anyway, we arrived in Puerto Iguazu (Iguzu Port, difficult I know) on Friday at about 3, two hours later then scheduled. It was too late to get into the park which closes their entrance gates at 4 so we did what any intelligent, travel savvy, excited thrill seeker would do - we went to our hostel, tossed on our swimsuits and got in the near freezing pool to shield ourselves from the quite chilly wind blowing. And this is how the now infamous - Poll O'Clock- was born. From now on whenever your party needs a kick, your feeling a little down, or you simply want to go have a splash, the term you must scream is Pool O'clock. Anyway our hostel was awesome, pingpong table, fooseball, a sweet bar and cost only 25 pesos a night (about 5.20 U$D) Next day we woke up for the 7:30 bus and toured the national park - which I must say is amazingly well kept and put together - this may have to do with the 85 pesos entrance fee but still, every centavo is worth it. The falls are basically two large groupings, the southern chain and La Garganta del Diablo (The Devils Throat) The southern falls are basically set up like a massive lower case c with millions of gallons of water falling over the edges every second. You can see the north curve here..
We were able to be really cliche tourists and take a boat to both tips of the "c" under the waterfall, though a little corny, it really was amazing to look up and see the shear force these bad boys produce. It's insane that these falls have been this powerful for hundreds of years, day and night, month after month of non-stop pounding energy. Truly surreal it was. (yoda) Next we took a nice little baby train up to the Devils Throat as seen here...
The devils throat is absolutely like nothing I've seen before. You look north and it seems like any other calm jungle river (though, thinking now I haven't seen too many a those) then you see the water stop abruptly at a giant hole and one ponders, "huh thats weird, where could all that water go?" as seen here..
Then you walk down the very well kept walkway (no offense but extremely well kept compared to all sidewalks/any pathway in existence in Buenos Aires) to stand on a dock overlooking the falls' basin. As seen here..
You can look straight across and see Brazil and look downstream to see the turbulent water barreling down towards the southen falls for round two. Every few minutes the wind blows the mist at the bottom of the falls away and you can see the insane whirpool/deathzone created downthere. It was surreal and beautiful and a little nauseating, especially after staying a night in a hostel where you can Pool O'Clock until 4 in the morning. In this foto Brasil is to the right, straight down is the southern falls and what would be behind you is the north wall of the devils' throat.
Here's a pic of that wall behind you...
And another pic of the Brazilian side...
Dang there's a lot more I want to say but I don't want to go on too long, noble like a rambler. Basically if you have the opportunity to go to either Buenos Aires, Rio or Sau Paulo, you should go to Iguazu. It's a realatively close trip and it is an awe inspiringly awesome sight to see. I'm reading a book about the Moon landing and they talk about seeing the earth from space for the first time and how humbling it is. I'm not going that far, yet, but it truly was incredible to see nature in such an uncontrolled, beautiful way. Man didn't design or plan any of the spectacle but for that it was so, ahh, so much better.
Allright guys good talk. My buddy Wade is running in the BA marathon this Sunday and he's asked me to pace him the last 5 miles. So there's a good chance this will be the last post I have for a while after I pass out from exhaustion on mile 3.6 and hit my head while the man who just ran 22 miles picks me up and carries me to a bench than grabs me a gatorade.
Hope all is well with you guys, I'm getting nostalgic about Argentina and pumped for the E.E.U.U. Chi town christmas let's do it.
No tengo un mango = I don't have any money (the gauchos (Argentine Cowboys) used to carry their money in hollowed out mangos)
see the entire album here
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Jaja Que largo no?
Hola flacos - Lo siento for the long delay, I'm sure there has been a large amount of cumulative sleep lost amongst you. (though I'm sure it has nothing to do with missing my blog) My life hasn't really been hectic it's actually been rather internet free, which is the reason for the 3.5 week gap in blog entries.
I was living in a 9 bedroom house in Almagro, "Parisita "is what I liked to call it due to the 6 Frenchies living there. It's actually quite a funny story and a rather fitting metaphor for an overall lifeplan, bear with me here.
I moved in the second week of august to this gigantic house (think long term hostel but we all had our own rooms, more just hostel vibes I guess) Also huge patio on the roof right smack in them middle of the city. Measuring about 15' wide by 45' long, you could really do whatever you pleased out there. Anyway I move in after speaking with the two argentine "administrators" of the place. two 30 something women, one a designer the other a lawyer I think? But I move in and the demographic at the time is one dude from the Northen French Coast, a rugby player (which roughly corresponds to a cool psuedo jock that can toss em back and stay witty) a student from Munich (I'm still surprised Germany hasn't surpassed US GDP yet, those people really know how to focus) a French girl from the city of Lights and a Israeli guy whose lived here for 3 years. Pretty solid vibes but I was hoping to be living in a packed house, meeting people and hablandoing español. For the first two weeks we had fun but it was more like living in a frat house without the parties or unhealthy competition. At this point I ran into an old coworker who was moving back to the US, she mentioned she had a sweet apt a little farther south and was paying half of what I paid in the argen frat house. Me, being the fiscally responsible young lad I am, jumped at the opportunity and agreed to takeover her room the second week of Sept. Now this is when things began to change. Literally that next morning I woke up and went down to the kitchen to grab my standard morning banana and vîola attractive young foreigner cooking up some bacon (thats a double bonus in my book), she told me she was from central France and had just moved into one of the spare rooms the night before. We exchanged pleasantries and I scadaddled along my way. Now repeat this situation every day for a week, but sub in another foreign girl who had just moved in. By the end of the week I looked around and our house was now full, with me, the french Rugby player, the German student and the Israelentine being the only males and all the rest either french, argentine, Belgian or British females who liked to party. I had already given my word on taking my friends place so I made the most of my time and now have a solid group of new friends, but there really was nothing like being the American man of the house. Though I had to withstand the nightly faux-anger directed towards my assumed to be bush loving self, I also was able to try and speak French while quoting all my favorite American movie lines to roaring laughter. Good times really, but alas life goes on.
I just moved into my new apartment on the most southern of the subte lines (the farther south you go more or less corresponds to how much more ghetto the place you are living in is) (but don't worry the mean streets of Edina have prepped me for anything) I have a fullsize bed and what I believe to be a high quality chinese place next to me so I really can't complain.
I am now in the process of planning my final epic trip from BA. The first leg of which I will be accompanied by my cousin Mr. Michael D. We will be heading south to a beach town, mar del plata, then onto the Valdés Peninsula where we will see 2 million penguins and whales. Then I am planning cutting west to the Andes then up to Bolivia then to Bogota Colombia then back to the little apple (chicago) just in time for christmas around the 23rd. We'll see how all that works out I still need to hack out the deets.
Life is good. I am teaching full time, which means walking 3.5 hours a day. Meeting sweet students and peeps and generally enjoying myself. I hope the same is for all of you and I am excited to see everyone around Navidad. Sorry for the length but I just had so dang much to say. Keep it real and keep it low.
Nos Vemos
Flacos = Dudes more or less
I was living in a 9 bedroom house in Almagro, "Parisita "is what I liked to call it due to the 6 Frenchies living there. It's actually quite a funny story and a rather fitting metaphor for an overall lifeplan, bear with me here.
I moved in the second week of august to this gigantic house (think long term hostel but we all had our own rooms, more just hostel vibes I guess) Also huge patio on the roof right smack in them middle of the city. Measuring about 15' wide by 45' long, you could really do whatever you pleased out there. Anyway I move in after speaking with the two argentine "administrators" of the place. two 30 something women, one a designer the other a lawyer I think? But I move in and the demographic at the time is one dude from the Northen French Coast, a rugby player (which roughly corresponds to a cool psuedo jock that can toss em back and stay witty) a student from Munich (I'm still surprised Germany hasn't surpassed US GDP yet, those people really know how to focus) a French girl from the city of Lights and a Israeli guy whose lived here for 3 years. Pretty solid vibes but I was hoping to be living in a packed house, meeting people and hablandoing español. For the first two weeks we had fun but it was more like living in a frat house without the parties or unhealthy competition. At this point I ran into an old coworker who was moving back to the US, she mentioned she had a sweet apt a little farther south and was paying half of what I paid in the argen frat house. Me, being the fiscally responsible young lad I am, jumped at the opportunity and agreed to takeover her room the second week of Sept. Now this is when things began to change. Literally that next morning I woke up and went down to the kitchen to grab my standard morning banana and vîola attractive young foreigner cooking up some bacon (thats a double bonus in my book), she told me she was from central France and had just moved into one of the spare rooms the night before. We exchanged pleasantries and I scadaddled along my way. Now repeat this situation every day for a week, but sub in another foreign girl who had just moved in. By the end of the week I looked around and our house was now full, with me, the french Rugby player, the German student and the Israelentine being the only males and all the rest either french, argentine, Belgian or British females who liked to party. I had already given my word on taking my friends place so I made the most of my time and now have a solid group of new friends, but there really was nothing like being the American man of the house. Though I had to withstand the nightly faux-anger directed towards my assumed to be bush loving self, I also was able to try and speak French while quoting all my favorite American movie lines to roaring laughter. Good times really, but alas life goes on.
I just moved into my new apartment on the most southern of the subte lines (the farther south you go more or less corresponds to how much more ghetto the place you are living in is) (but don't worry the mean streets of Edina have prepped me for anything) I have a fullsize bed and what I believe to be a high quality chinese place next to me so I really can't complain.
I am now in the process of planning my final epic trip from BA. The first leg of which I will be accompanied by my cousin Mr. Michael D. We will be heading south to a beach town, mar del plata, then onto the Valdés Peninsula where we will see 2 million penguins and whales. Then I am planning cutting west to the Andes then up to Bolivia then to Bogota Colombia then back to the little apple (chicago) just in time for christmas around the 23rd. We'll see how all that works out I still need to hack out the deets.
Life is good. I am teaching full time, which means walking 3.5 hours a day. Meeting sweet students and peeps and generally enjoying myself. I hope the same is for all of you and I am excited to see everyone around Navidad. Sorry for the length but I just had so dang much to say. Keep it real and keep it low.
Nos Vemos
Flacos = Dudes more or less
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Como se van chavos?
Yo peeps - Let me quickly describe my current view to you guys. To the right of my computer I have a 350ml glass bottle of Coca-Cola Classic (apparently the reason it tastes so much better out of the glass bottle is because they use pure cane sugar when making it? I don't know if I made that up or it's a fact, let's just go with it) To my right is a giant window looking out on Avenida Corrientes, (One of the main east/west avenues of Baires) and in my backpack are two bottles of highly spicy and poetically titled hot sauces I just bought form Barrio Chino (China Town) Now these three things may seem to have no relation but they do, their connection is my comfort. I finally feel at home in this city, it took 6 months here, 2 weeks in Minnesota, 1 week in Cable Wisconsin and about 3 days on planes, trains and an air mattress lacking proper sealing for me to get here but today is the first day in a while I'm all like "bam, I'm moving through this place like wizzo. " I just started my 2 month long intensive Spanish courses at UBA (University of Buenos Aires) which run 2 hours in the middle of the day (if I had any other job then teaching english I have no idea how I could attend these classes, furthermore how any normal working person could). Speaking/hearing/participating en espanol for even that long seems to have flipped the switch for me, it reminded me that if you try, honestly try, you can really accomplish a lot. My entrance test put me at level 2, I then moved to 3, and tomorrow I'm hoping to jump to 5. I just needed to get out the mental rag and wipe the dust off the old thinking device I guess. Anyway life is good and it's because I remembered I'm in an awesomely big city to learn Spanish, and to my great luck that is the language the speak here.
Anyway, for those of you who were wondering; I did not take the year long job working at the Digital Marketing Agency, I had a very positive meeting with 3 people there and I liked the vibe/office/people and everything but when it came down to their very fair question of "Can you commit 100% to 1 year in BA?" I could not, I let em know, but it's always nice to go through the motions of getting a job and knowing what your potential is. Now I'm giving full hours teaching English to business people throughout the city, mostly within Citibank and a Train company, as well as my spanish classes. And saving money to make an epic trip in December, or maybe to try every quality restaurant in the metro area. Or to buy a motorcycle to drive back up the states. Or to pay back some of my student loans. haha just kidding that last one didn't make any sense did it?
Here's a pic from this past Sunday when me and my pals got free tickets to the Teatro Colon (on of the top 6 theaters for acoustic quality en el mundo, again this is not a citied fact but more of a feeling I got ). It was a horned/flute quintet with a French horn, flute, obo, bason, and calrinet. Music was lively and awesome, reminded me of springtime and Disney. The theatre itself is classy/gaudy but I guess that's how they did it back in 1862.
Anyway all is good here I hope all is good there and all of you should read the Dragon Girl Trilogy by Sveig Laarson, it's more addicting than sour skittles when you have a giant bag next to you at work.
Chavos - Basically is the same as amigos but I think it's used more in rural areas of Argentina.
Hasta el prozimo
Anyway, for those of you who were wondering; I did not take the year long job working at the Digital Marketing Agency, I had a very positive meeting with 3 people there and I liked the vibe/office/people and everything but when it came down to their very fair question of "Can you commit 100% to 1 year in BA?" I could not, I let em know, but it's always nice to go through the motions of getting a job and knowing what your potential is. Now I'm giving full hours teaching English to business people throughout the city, mostly within Citibank and a Train company, as well as my spanish classes. And saving money to make an epic trip in December, or maybe to try every quality restaurant in the metro area. Or to buy a motorcycle to drive back up the states. Or to pay back some of my student loans. haha just kidding that last one didn't make any sense did it?
Here's a pic from this past Sunday when me and my pals got free tickets to the Teatro Colon (on of the top 6 theaters for acoustic quality en el mundo, again this is not a citied fact but more of a feeling I got ). It was a horned/flute quintet with a French horn, flute, obo, bason, and calrinet. Music was lively and awesome, reminded me of springtime and Disney. The theatre itself is classy/gaudy but I guess that's how they did it back in 1862.
Anyway all is good here I hope all is good there and all of you should read the Dragon Girl Trilogy by Sveig Laarson, it's more addicting than sour skittles when you have a giant bag next to you at work.
Chavos - Basically is the same as amigos but I think it's used more in rural areas of Argentina.
Hasta el prozimo
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Que Tiempo Ninos
Wassup Peeps - Sorry for my rude delay in your reading pleasure, I was busy soaking up midwestern rays, devastating the Beautiful American mix of stuffed pizza and chipotle burritos and generally really enjoying myself. America is awesome, friends and family are awesome, spicy tereyaki is awesome.
Of my American exploits I will only say this, I really love the US and, I won't lie, checking into the American Airlines desk yesterday at 7 am certainly left me with a twinge of regret. But alas, I am back. From Minneapolis to Chicago to NYC to Santiago to Buenos Aires I had cumulative airtime of over 15 hours, if I were flying direct I think that could take me to the Midde East. Again I will be short of my plane travel and I will only say this, if it weren't for personal on-demand TVs for every chair on my flight, 10 hours betwixt two gentlemen who apparently can shut their bodies off (they didn't get up the entire time I don't think), I would be in a much less cheery state of mind. Oh and somehow my suitcase is in Lima, Peru right now. Initially I feared it to be lost forever on the basis of Argentine companies somewhat lacking in the customer service department but, to my great surprise and satisfaction, I was promptly assisted and my bag located. Now all that needs to happen if for it to travel the 2000 miles to Buenos Aires than get into a van where they will drop it at my hostel, easy right????
Anyway, I'm back to the real world (kind of real world I guess) I will either be teaching full time or taking a position at a digital marketing company. I will know by Tuesday what route I will take, the only issue is the marketing company's contract is for another year, 365 more days. Being so recent from the homeland I can still taste the crushed red pepper from my Sabarro Pizza, that many days sounds daunting, but than again so does going back home in the middle of winter.
Hope all is well with you folks and I'll be back to you soon.
Check out my buddy's blog who I came down here with. www.michaelhromadka.blogspot.com He just came back from a super epic trip through Northern Argentina.
Chau for Now
Of my American exploits I will only say this, I really love the US and, I won't lie, checking into the American Airlines desk yesterday at 7 am certainly left me with a twinge of regret. But alas, I am back. From Minneapolis to Chicago to NYC to Santiago to Buenos Aires I had cumulative airtime of over 15 hours, if I were flying direct I think that could take me to the Midde East. Again I will be short of my plane travel and I will only say this, if it weren't for personal on-demand TVs for every chair on my flight, 10 hours betwixt two gentlemen who apparently can shut their bodies off (they didn't get up the entire time I don't think), I would be in a much less cheery state of mind. Oh and somehow my suitcase is in Lima, Peru right now. Initially I feared it to be lost forever on the basis of Argentine companies somewhat lacking in the customer service department but, to my great surprise and satisfaction, I was promptly assisted and my bag located. Now all that needs to happen if for it to travel the 2000 miles to Buenos Aires than get into a van where they will drop it at my hostel, easy right????
Anyway, I'm back to the real world (kind of real world I guess) I will either be teaching full time or taking a position at a digital marketing company. I will know by Tuesday what route I will take, the only issue is the marketing company's contract is for another year, 365 more days. Being so recent from the homeland I can still taste the crushed red pepper from my Sabarro Pizza, that many days sounds daunting, but than again so does going back home in the middle of winter.
Hope all is well with you folks and I'll be back to you soon.
Check out my buddy's blog who I came down here with. www.michaelhromadka.blogspot.com He just came back from a super epic trip through Northern Argentina.
Chau for Now
Monday, July 12, 2010
Saliendo en un ....
Yo yo peeps - I can now greet you in English for I am a measly 24 hours away from touching down in that spicy food cravers castle, efficient line having heaven, feces free fairytale, sun shiny secret garden that is the U.S. Actually I'll be in miami for 2 days which I still contest is more a pais of the Caribbean than it is of the Estados Unidos. Don't get my wrong, I have gown to truly care for BA, maybe even love it, but I won't ever be able to completely shake out that warm cozy feeling I get when I think about going to the supermarket and purchasing the good I want all within the same hour. I am excited to go home for 3 reasons.
1. The food, one of the great storyarchs of this here blog has been my craving and intermittent fulfillment of spicy and tasty food. It exists here but only for the truly strong of will and tenacious of heart.
2. My family and friends. I've made many good friends here and met un monton of people I enjoy to be around, but it's always nice to devolver back to the peeps who've known you since day 1, and continue to talk to you.
3. I won't be working for 3 weeks! I've never held a straight up 40 hour a week job and over the past half year I've really been busting my arse, I don't really know if I should be taking these 3 weeks off but, whoops, here they are.
3.5. Lake Minnetonka and Cable - Lake partying and hanging is the best thing to do in the world besides running for your life across a continent with only your knapsack and wits to keep you alive.
I got some awesome pics of our awesome trip to this awesome place called Cordoba. We ended up traveling outside the city for the most part, but these little day adventures proved to be ahhh...awesome. I'm going to be at the Miami airport for a while so I'll post some pics and try and find some new apps to make viewing them easier tomorrow.
To to you my deliriously dedicated readers I bid you adieu. And to you Buenos Aires, BAIRES, BA, BsAs or the port town of good winds I say "Hasta luego , por ahora. Ya nos vemos"
Saliendo means leaving...on a jet....
1. The food, one of the great storyarchs of this here blog has been my craving and intermittent fulfillment of spicy and tasty food. It exists here but only for the truly strong of will and tenacious of heart.
2. My family and friends. I've made many good friends here and met un monton of people I enjoy to be around, but it's always nice to devolver back to the peeps who've known you since day 1, and continue to talk to you.
3. I won't be working for 3 weeks! I've never held a straight up 40 hour a week job and over the past half year I've really been busting my arse, I don't really know if I should be taking these 3 weeks off but, whoops, here they are.
3.5. Lake Minnetonka and Cable - Lake partying and hanging is the best thing to do in the world besides running for your life across a continent with only your knapsack and wits to keep you alive.
I got some awesome pics of our awesome trip to this awesome place called Cordoba. We ended up traveling outside the city for the most part, but these little day adventures proved to be ahhh...awesome. I'm going to be at the Miami airport for a while so I'll post some pics and try and find some new apps to make viewing them easier tomorrow.
To to you my deliriously dedicated readers I bid you adieu. And to you Buenos Aires, BAIRES, BA, BsAs or the port town of good winds I say "Hasta luego , por ahora. Ya nos vemos"
Saliendo means leaving...on a jet....
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Zee Alemanians
Buenas amigos - Hello everyone, I hope your loves and locations are passing you well. I am currently writing you from the middle to upper low middle-class barrio of villa crespo. I have been bouncing around my various friends various sleeping surfaces since last wednesday, and have eventually ended up in the spare room of my good friend Dr. Hromadka. (Actually it is his owner's spare room, to whom I have to pay rent (yes rent for 4 days, didn't see it coming but you know it is completely fair and to be expected, this isn't the states where your friends are the owners or full on renters of their living quarters, here in Argeland we are renting from owners directly, who generally live in the same apartment, so of course they would expect money from some pale skinned basketball shorts-in-winter-wearing yanqui) yep double parentheses)
Anyway I am moving around so much because I am making moves, tomorrow I am off to Cordoba. Click here to see a map and read about it - unless you want a poorly articulated and fairly fictional description in which case keep reading.
Cordoba, Argentina - The second largest city in Argentina, weighing in at about 1.3 million. Is in mas o menos the direct geographical center of the country (putting it in the heart of the Pampas...mini lesson on pampas? ----The Pampas are the bountiful plains in between the eastern banks of the atlantic and the sharp foothills of the Andes in the west. Here is the land of the Gaucho (Argentine Cowboy) where grand estancias (ranches) were built by the tippity-top of the Italian and Spanish aristocracy first arriving in the then Spanish port city of Buenos Aires. Wide, vast, part desert, part cultivated land. It's a big assed plain that was home to many native tribes before the "Desert Campaign" in the 1870's when an Argentine General "assisted in the moving of the natives." I'm sure that assistance was similar to that of our forefathers friendly frictionless foray into the native centers of North America --- Phew, so, Cordoba is in the middle of all that stuff. Built around the idea of education, housing the most important universities in the history of the country and producing many of it's top leaders in industry, government, and ..sociology....Just kidding we all know people only take those courses in college for an easy A. Today the city still stands as an educational hub, growing to a formidable size within the country.
I'm hoping that like any good old college town, though this city is a little bigger than Boulder, there will be plenty of good late night burrito shacks, a main strip of bars, and plenty of perusing intellectuals to quiz me on Bruce Willis movies. I am excited for the trip because traveling is fun, traveling with 7 of your good friends is fun, but taking the 10 hour bus and dominating your own hostel room with your 7 friends is ahh, well, fun. We were planning on renting a 8 person van and conduciendo alla (driving there(it's fun to learn while reading nonsense in a blog huh?)), but those bastards over at Hertz must not understand the effects that decades of greedy and single minded dictatorships have on the economy of a country, cause damn that Dodge Sprint 9 seater was expensive.
So yes tomorrow we go to Cordoba, then I'm back sleeping --ahh, somewhere--still need to work that one out (got a 10 hour bus ride sunday to send out some group texts) then flying to Miami Int. monday, sleeping there for a day then finally, if you can believe it, one of the Cloyd Srs. will be picking me up at the suffocatingly humid MPLS INTL airport at midnight wednesday. Then I'll blow all the pesos I've saved on one night at uptown roof tops. I'll upload some pics during my 27 hour hiateus at Miami airport. I may also vent some emotions, both positive and vexed, about the abundance of fast food at the airport.
Stay Safe, Stay Clean, Go Spain, Go green, If you have a couch to sleep on in the greater Buenos Aires area this coming Sunday, avisame porfa.
Alemania = Germany en espanol. Ze germans beat the argentines in the quarterfinals last Saturday. So darn efficient they are.
Nos Vemos
Anyway I am moving around so much because I am making moves, tomorrow I am off to Cordoba. Click here to see a map and read about it - unless you want a poorly articulated and fairly fictional description in which case keep reading.
Cordoba, Argentina - The second largest city in Argentina, weighing in at about 1.3 million. Is in mas o menos the direct geographical center of the country (putting it in the heart of the Pampas...mini lesson on pampas? ----The Pampas are the bountiful plains in between the eastern banks of the atlantic and the sharp foothills of the Andes in the west. Here is the land of the Gaucho (Argentine Cowboy) where grand estancias (ranches) were built by the tippity-top of the Italian and Spanish aristocracy first arriving in the then Spanish port city of Buenos Aires. Wide, vast, part desert, part cultivated land. It's a big assed plain that was home to many native tribes before the "Desert Campaign" in the 1870's when an Argentine General "assisted in the moving of the natives." I'm sure that assistance was similar to that of our forefathers friendly frictionless foray into the native centers of North America --- Phew, so, Cordoba is in the middle of all that stuff. Built around the idea of education, housing the most important universities in the history of the country and producing many of it's top leaders in industry, government, and ..sociology....Just kidding we all know people only take those courses in college for an easy A. Today the city still stands as an educational hub, growing to a formidable size within the country.
I'm hoping that like any good old college town, though this city is a little bigger than Boulder, there will be plenty of good late night burrito shacks, a main strip of bars, and plenty of perusing intellectuals to quiz me on Bruce Willis movies. I am excited for the trip because traveling is fun, traveling with 7 of your good friends is fun, but taking the 10 hour bus and dominating your own hostel room with your 7 friends is ahh, well, fun. We were planning on renting a 8 person van and conduciendo alla (driving there(it's fun to learn while reading nonsense in a blog huh?)), but those bastards over at Hertz must not understand the effects that decades of greedy and single minded dictatorships have on the economy of a country, cause damn that Dodge Sprint 9 seater was expensive.
So yes tomorrow we go to Cordoba, then I'm back sleeping --ahh, somewhere--still need to work that one out (got a 10 hour bus ride sunday to send out some group texts) then flying to Miami Int. monday, sleeping there for a day then finally, if you can believe it, one of the Cloyd Srs. will be picking me up at the suffocatingly humid MPLS INTL airport at midnight wednesday. Then I'll blow all the pesos I've saved on one night at uptown roof tops. I'll upload some pics during my 27 hour hiateus at Miami airport. I may also vent some emotions, both positive and vexed, about the abundance of fast food at the airport.
Stay Safe, Stay Clean, Go Spain, Go green, If you have a couch to sleep on in the greater Buenos Aires area this coming Sunday, avisame porfa.
Alemania = Germany en espanol. Ze germans beat the argentines in the quarterfinals last Saturday. So darn efficient they are.
Nos Vemos
Friday, July 2, 2010
The 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time
Cudiado hay palabras fuerte aca.
Caution people there may be some language unfit for those who find unfit language offensive. Though I think the best ones are without those profane tongue twisters. Enjoy.
What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard, everyone in this room is now stupider after having heard that. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Caution people there may be some language unfit for those who find unfit language offensive. Though I think the best ones are without those profane tongue twisters. Enjoy.
What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard, everyone in this room is now stupider after having heard that. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Behind the curtain..
This must be the decision process that was followed.
I've been asking my students and friends here about the spill and very few are too keen on the situation. El Argentino, a free newspaper in BA, dedicates about 35% to international news (very fair number I think), but I haven't seen anything on the spill. When the headlines first broke about it leaking 50% more than originally thought there was a short quip, but nothing substantial. Than again Argentina has big papa Hugo Chavez to grant them oil, and China investing like mad in their energy infrastructure so in all reality, is it that important down here, away from the gulf coast and the suddenly sticky gumbo?
After consulting an expert in the industry of deep sea drilling I began to recognize that 5000ft below sea level is another world. Nobody knows how that kind of pressure can effect things, and as we've seen it is pretty much outer space (not the moon outer space, but like outer, outer space you know) down there. Wouldn't be surprised if we get a message from the sea people telling us how to fix the leak...
I've been asking my students and friends here about the spill and very few are too keen on the situation. El Argentino, a free newspaper in BA, dedicates about 35% to international news (very fair number I think), but I haven't seen anything on the spill. When the headlines first broke about it leaking 50% more than originally thought there was a short quip, but nothing substantial. Than again Argentina has big papa Hugo Chavez to grant them oil, and China investing like mad in their energy infrastructure so in all reality, is it that important down here, away from the gulf coast and the suddenly sticky gumbo?
After consulting an expert in the industry of deep sea drilling I began to recognize that 5000ft below sea level is another world. Nobody knows how that kind of pressure can effect things, and as we've seen it is pretty much outer space (not the moon outer space, but like outer, outer space you know) down there. Wouldn't be surprised if we get a message from the sea people telling us how to fix the leak...
Anyone getting hit with Pop-ups?
Hey guys, It's been brought to my attention that someone accessed this site and then got hit with a ton of pop-ups and spy-wear after leaving it open for a period of time. Has anyone else had this problem, comment on this post if you have so I can get to the bottom of this. Thanks.
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Monday, June 21, 2010
Traga tu Paralluvia
Buenas amigos - Good evening, or for those of you on the west side good afternoon. Just a quick line here about two things.
1. If you mix garlic and onions together to cook anything it will always be good.
2. If you build it, they will come. As I said earlier, Haciendo Buenos Aires (The Bright, Smiling black and yellow face for government funded public work projects) built two awesome, giant pantellas (Screens; defines your cell phone screen or a 40 x 40 ft screen showing Messi messin people up) in two parks around the city. First Argentine game was last saturday, even with the passionate love for the beautiful game burning in the hearts of every argentine, the 10 Celsius weather and consistently damp rain really put a damper on watching the game outside on the screen in Plaza San Martin. Not to mention the dual ability for umbrellas to block falling water and anything resembling a good view of the screen. Long story short we watched the first half then went to a friends apartment to watch the U.S. game. Chris and Paola, a geo-physicist Texan and a very successful Argentine restauranteur, hosted us for the game and we feasted like medieval royalty. Here are some pics of the screens and a nice blending of Argen and American culture.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Goallll!!!!!!!!!!!
First Argentine goal of the mundial. One doesn't need a T.V. to know whats happening in the game, simply open your windows.
Plaza San Martin has set up a huge big screen TV and food services outside to show all the cup games, I'm going there now to watch the rest of the ARG - NIG game, judging by the fact 2 argentines I work with skipped work yesterday to watch South Africa and Mexico play, I'm assuming there may be some passionate fans there. Chau amigos I'm going to shoot some epic pics too.
USA.USA.USA - Let's show those Brits what SOCCER is all about today.
Chau
Plaza San Martin has set up a huge big screen TV and food services outside to show all the cup games, I'm going there now to watch the rest of the ARG - NIG game, judging by the fact 2 argentines I work with skipped work yesterday to watch South Africa and Mexico play, I'm assuming there may be some passionate fans there. Chau amigos I'm going to shoot some epic pics too.
USA.USA.USA - Let's show those Brits what SOCCER is all about today.
Chau
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Anoche sone sobre la copa...
Here's a sweet song from one of the World Cup commercials. I don't know about above the equator but down here the sense of excitement is palpable in the streets, actually in the bars and homes where you see every man from 2 - 98 glued to TV or radio disecting every tangent provided about el selecion nacinoal. I can't wait. Here's a link where you can download a bracket to see how the teams and groupings break down. Estaran listo chicos.
Anoche sone sobre la copa - Last night I dreamed of the cup
Download bracket here...
Anoche sone sobre la copa - Last night I dreamed of the cup
Download bracket here...
Monday, June 7, 2010
Demasiado Tiempo
Buenas Chicos - Otra vez, lo siento por la falta de tiempo, he estado muy ocupado pero no he hecho mucho. Sorry guys been passing the time with activities other than focusing my thoughts on what I've been doing as unique, which means I'm settled in, which is why I came here, which is a good thing,,,right? Anyway, in the dos semanas since we've vistoed eachother I've achieved two great things and a few minor, and failed on other fronts as well. Most importantly I have know found a spanish teacher I find both affordable and well, affordable. She is a Colombian girl who has lived here a few years, she actually worked as a copywriter in a small Advertising firm when she first got here (that's the title I call myself when trying to sound impressive to others in the industry. "Doctor." "Yes, Doctor" That kind of thing.) But I had one class, learned a whole mess of things I already knew or was slightly messing up. Plurals and male-feminine corrections are key, in my case I think I'm beyond that high school level stuff cause I so totally "don't have to think about it anymore" but in the complete truth of reality I most certainly need to both think about and practice these things. Did you know 1 o'clock is the only hour you say as singular, the rest are a las 8 o a las dos. It makes complete sense and I'm sure Ms. Irasauri taught that to me in 7th grade but I completely forgot it, those little things are what really make you look like a dummy stupid face when you screw them up with native speakers.
Anyway, Spanish class was really good, I'm actually about to go do homework, that I'm paying for, that I want to do, that is optional. Dang, been a while since I've thought of things like that.
Secondly I moved again to a nice apartment in Recoleta a few blocks from the train and my spanish class, I'm planning on going to Chile the first week of July so I'm going into anti-party hibernation mode to save up on that cashish. Assuming I can cut myself out from communication and find a few good books I'm confident a few weeks taking it easy would be good for body and soul, and wallet, and those who may be in, on, or around the dancefloor come Saturday nights around 3 am, thats when I really bring it usually. But enough on that; the best/maybe worst part about my new place is Larry David, the 18 month old cat that accompanies me everywhere here. She, yes her name is Larry, is a straight up matrix ninja which is sweet but I've never lived with a cat and they have unreadable tiger-like eyes, not being able to stare into an animals eyes and see whats up is like ordering a superpancho late at night from the street, you honestly don't know how things are going to turn out except for the fact there's going to be animal hair involved.
I wish, wish, wish, my camera wasn't broken cause you guys need to see the straight fire hazard haven, public packed pandemonium, argentine arena of arrested anarchy that was the bicentenario. It was really cool with many, many concerts and cultural demonstrations and military marches all culminating on that tuesday the 25th, Dia Independencia, with a pretty sweet parade. The whole gang was there Cristina Kirchner, hubby/puppet master Nestor, Lulu Presidente de Brasil, big daddy Hugo C, and the Bolivian president who's hair unfortunately got stuck on a tree branch from 1981 and never made it to the 21st century. It was a crazy packed event that was more a crazy and crowded then awesome event in all honesty, but I did see the Buenos Aires orchestra play a free concert on one of the widest boulevards in the world so I'm content.
Finally here are some long overdue pics from a Racing Futobol Club match I got to see, we had super dope seats with the owners of the only restaurant in the stadium. Had we been underneath the flag where the Hooligans sit I'm sure I'd either be really good friends with some of them or really good friends with some of the cops who are too afraid to even enter into their section.
More to come; I have a lot to say plus I'd like to start letting you know about some of the unique things BA has to offer. For example: they have not 1 but 2 TGI Fridays, and let me tell you this, after the argie-norm for a month, which really is pretty damn good, there is nothing like some patato skins, free refills and 30 peso burgers to get that overstuffed, over priced American smile back on your face. (I'm still licking Jack Daniel's sauce off my fingers from the meal I had 30 minuets ago) But seriously, I'm going to stop making this so much about me and more about the Citee, know what I mean. Cool, keep it real. I'll be back on American soil in just over 4 weeks. Can't wait to go to TGI Fridays.
Chau
Demasiado Tiempo - Too much time
Despertarse - To fall asleep. Ya me voy a despertarse
Anyway, Spanish class was really good, I'm actually about to go do homework, that I'm paying for, that I want to do, that is optional. Dang, been a while since I've thought of things like that.
Secondly I moved again to a nice apartment in Recoleta a few blocks from the train and my spanish class, I'm planning on going to Chile the first week of July so I'm going into anti-party hibernation mode to save up on that cashish. Assuming I can cut myself out from communication and find a few good books I'm confident a few weeks taking it easy would be good for body and soul, and wallet, and those who may be in, on, or around the dancefloor come Saturday nights around 3 am, thats when I really bring it usually. But enough on that; the best/maybe worst part about my new place is Larry David, the 18 month old cat that accompanies me everywhere here. She, yes her name is Larry, is a straight up matrix ninja which is sweet but I've never lived with a cat and they have unreadable tiger-like eyes, not being able to stare into an animals eyes and see whats up is like ordering a superpancho late at night from the street, you honestly don't know how things are going to turn out except for the fact there's going to be animal hair involved.
I wish, wish, wish, my camera wasn't broken cause you guys need to see the straight fire hazard haven, public packed pandemonium, argentine arena of arrested anarchy that was the bicentenario. It was really cool with many, many concerts and cultural demonstrations and military marches all culminating on that tuesday the 25th, Dia Independencia, with a pretty sweet parade. The whole gang was there Cristina Kirchner, hubby/puppet master Nestor, Lulu Presidente de Brasil, big daddy Hugo C, and the Bolivian president who's hair unfortunately got stuck on a tree branch from 1981 and never made it to the 21st century. It was a crazy packed event that was more a crazy and crowded then awesome event in all honesty, but I did see the Buenos Aires orchestra play a free concert on one of the widest boulevards in the world so I'm content.
Finally here are some long overdue pics from a Racing Futobol Club match I got to see, we had super dope seats with the owners of the only restaurant in the stadium. Had we been underneath the flag where the Hooligans sit I'm sure I'd either be really good friends with some of them or really good friends with some of the cops who are too afraid to even enter into their section.
More to come; I have a lot to say plus I'd like to start letting you know about some of the unique things BA has to offer. For example: they have not 1 but 2 TGI Fridays, and let me tell you this, after the argie-norm for a month, which really is pretty damn good, there is nothing like some patato skins, free refills and 30 peso burgers to get that overstuffed, over priced American smile back on your face. (I'm still licking Jack Daniel's sauce off my fingers from the meal I had 30 minuets ago) But seriously, I'm going to stop making this so much about me and more about the Citee, know what I mean. Cool, keep it real. I'll be back on American soil in just over 4 weeks. Can't wait to go to TGI Fridays.
Chau
Demasiado Tiempo - Too much time
Despertarse - To fall asleep. Ya me voy a despertarse
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Doscientos Anos
Hola chicos - Hace mucho tiempo, sorry I've been slacking on my updates, been trying to find a place to live for a while, but excuses excuses.
First off, doesn't it seem that Argentina would be older than the U.S., I don't say this based on any historical facts or genuine logic, I think it's cause of all of the old time European architecture and cultural aspects we think about which makes it seem a part of Europe, instead of the last European outpost on the South American continent. Anyway I say that because this weekend, specifically May 25th is the 200th anniversary of Argentine Independence from Espana. It's sweet, they have closed off the entire main avenue in the downtown area, 9 de Julio, as well as the main avenue connecting the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, to the congressional building. All for massive parades for Argentine Military and social groups. There are also 6 stages throughout the city that have different delegations from all the extremely differing areas of the country. Last night the kicked everything off with a free concert right in downtown, beginning at the typical Argentine 11 pm.
I am quite ashamed to say that I caught this wonderful, once in 200 year event while flipping between channels during a commercial of the Magic - Celtics blowout. I knew this weekend had a lot of events happening, but I didn't realize the scale, Avenida 9 de Julio supposedly had half a million people in it. In which case I am leaving my apartment right after this with my trusty nikon in hand, to search out the craziest of these celebrations throughout the day and night today, monday and tuesday. Unfortunately the company I work for supports Americans so monday and tuesday daytime I will have to work. (It would be strange to tell leave a voicemail telling my customers I can't track their vehicle because I'm a few blocks away cheering on the image of Juan Peron draped in an Argentine flag sipping mate with a spalsh of fernet, at least I don't think that would work) Anyway I'm going to join the masses with my camera and snap some phots of these events, cause honestly who doesn't love spectacles, and large crowds, with lost of drunk people, and few bathrooms, in a society where the concept of personal space is equal to my understanding of those belts woman where that do nothing to hold up any form of pant, and the belts aren't even going around the waist, what is the point?
I'll be back in a few days with some pics and highlights. Word up.
Doscientos Anos = 200 years.
Hasta Pronto
First off, doesn't it seem that Argentina would be older than the U.S., I don't say this based on any historical facts or genuine logic, I think it's cause of all of the old time European architecture and cultural aspects we think about which makes it seem a part of Europe, instead of the last European outpost on the South American continent. Anyway I say that because this weekend, specifically May 25th is the 200th anniversary of Argentine Independence from Espana. It's sweet, they have closed off the entire main avenue in the downtown area, 9 de Julio, as well as the main avenue connecting the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, to the congressional building. All for massive parades for Argentine Military and social groups. There are also 6 stages throughout the city that have different delegations from all the extremely differing areas of the country. Last night the kicked everything off with a free concert right in downtown, beginning at the typical Argentine 11 pm.
I am quite ashamed to say that I caught this wonderful, once in 200 year event while flipping between channels during a commercial of the Magic - Celtics blowout. I knew this weekend had a lot of events happening, but I didn't realize the scale, Avenida 9 de Julio supposedly had half a million people in it. In which case I am leaving my apartment right after this with my trusty nikon in hand, to search out the craziest of these celebrations throughout the day and night today, monday and tuesday. Unfortunately the company I work for supports Americans so monday and tuesday daytime I will have to work. (It would be strange to tell leave a voicemail telling my customers I can't track their vehicle because I'm a few blocks away cheering on the image of Juan Peron draped in an Argentine flag sipping mate with a spalsh of fernet, at least I don't think that would work) Anyway I'm going to join the masses with my camera and snap some phots of these events, cause honestly who doesn't love spectacles, and large crowds, with lost of drunk people, and few bathrooms, in a society where the concept of personal space is equal to my understanding of those belts woman where that do nothing to hold up any form of pant, and the belts aren't even going around the waist, what is the point?
I'll be back in a few days with some pics and highlights. Word up.
Doscientos Anos = 200 years.
Hasta Pronto
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Como andas?
Sometimes when you plan on doing something for so long, but then you keep putting it off by just a small measure of time. 30 more seconds I'll stay in bed. Then, as well all know and all recognize, that miniscule piece of time joins together with other miniscule pieces of time. Five more minutes in the hot shower. Thus creating a slightly larger, miniscule piece of time.
To quote one of the best sayers of things that we all try to say but just can't really say right, John Steinbeck; "Time interval is a strange and contradictory matter in the mind. It would be reasonable to suppose that a routine time or an eventless time would seem interminable. It should be so, but it is not. It is the dull eventless times that have no duration whatever. A time splashed with interest, wounded with tragedy, crevassed with joy - that's the time that seems long in memory. And this is right when you think about it. Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From nothing to nothing is no time at all."
Now thats a little more potent a spoonful of flavor than I am feeling now, but I can't agree with that more. Instead of the years that Johnny boy uses to tell stories I lack the posts to drape the passage of time on for but 5 days a week. Every job I have had prior to working here in BsAs has been a schedule of jumbling mornings, days and late nights to make a nice muddled collage of my weekly work plan. Now I work an embarrassingly unhurried 11 - 7 (we have to stay in line with the work hours of continental U.S.(Don't worry I have an 8am class to teach in downtown twice a week to keep my eyes open during real person work hours)) But it really is surprising to open your eyes before sunrise monday - I actually really do enjoy my hour long classes teaching, my student is a Brazilian woman who works in the marketing department of Telefonica downtown, she's smart and well traveled and wants to learn, making my teaching both a learning and teaching experience. Basically I ask questions about Brasil and other interests of her's and she explains them to me. It's pretty unique perspective and I like knowing how to help someone, for example can any of you guys easily explain the difference in contextual use of "said" and "told" I certainly couldn't when asked on the spot so I had to research then teach - To open my eyes monday before the sun opens, have the days seem like the end is always just out of reach, then all of a sudden it's 6 pm on friday and we're having some Henikien for happy hour at the office.
Now I don't want to sound like una rey de drama here, cause I certainly do have plenty of posts to drape the marks of time over. I usually have good experiences in the small daily activities of an independent life, but for the long run I basically think I can't sit down for 60% of the day, thats what I'm getting at. This is leading into the really exciting part now...I am in the early, early stages of possibly maybe, quizas, posible, starting a bar in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires with a successful restaurant owner here in the city. I don't want to say more than that now because I am superstitous when it comes to calling yourself out early, and the only wood I could knock on right now is the floor and my feet are up and i haven't stretched for a while, but I am excited about this.
Which reopened my eyes yet again that I, and not only I for that matter, a large amount of people, actually have the ability to do anything as of right now. There is literally nothing holding me here in Buenos Aires for more than a month and I think I have found a system to gain employment in any major city fairly quickly (staying away from the oldest profession of course). It's these thoughts that create the pegs to drape your thoughts and your perception of time on, not only the acts themselves but the dreams that create them.
Gosh wow, I try to update a few people on what I'm doing in a foreign country and I start citing modern American Literature, yikes.
Life is good here for me, I'm about to move out of my apartment to a cheaper and more spanish speaking abode. I'm coming home to E.E.U.U. for three weeks in the middle of July for a little thing I like to call El Cable and ahhh Iron Man 2 is pretty sweet. Oh and is it just me or did the whole Gulf spill thing kind of just die in the global media world. I've been searching for info but can't find anything since sunday saying the giant dome reverse engineered from The Simpsons movie didn't work? Anyone know anything?
Allright nos vemos, I'll post again soon and it will hopefully be something you want to read.
Como Andas? - Literally means how are you walking/passing/going? But really means how are you. Andar is used her for about 8 different verbs, that I know of, and I'm sure cut up into slang all over the place. I'll learn some more and get back to you.
Chau
To quote one of the best sayers of things that we all try to say but just can't really say right, John Steinbeck; "Time interval is a strange and contradictory matter in the mind. It would be reasonable to suppose that a routine time or an eventless time would seem interminable. It should be so, but it is not. It is the dull eventless times that have no duration whatever. A time splashed with interest, wounded with tragedy, crevassed with joy - that's the time that seems long in memory. And this is right when you think about it. Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From nothing to nothing is no time at all."
Now thats a little more potent a spoonful of flavor than I am feeling now, but I can't agree with that more. Instead of the years that Johnny boy uses to tell stories I lack the posts to drape the passage of time on for but 5 days a week. Every job I have had prior to working here in BsAs has been a schedule of jumbling mornings, days and late nights to make a nice muddled collage of my weekly work plan. Now I work an embarrassingly unhurried 11 - 7 (we have to stay in line with the work hours of continental U.S.(Don't worry I have an 8am class to teach in downtown twice a week to keep my eyes open during real person work hours)) But it really is surprising to open your eyes before sunrise monday - I actually really do enjoy my hour long classes teaching, my student is a Brazilian woman who works in the marketing department of Telefonica downtown, she's smart and well traveled and wants to learn, making my teaching both a learning and teaching experience. Basically I ask questions about Brasil and other interests of her's and she explains them to me. It's pretty unique perspective and I like knowing how to help someone, for example can any of you guys easily explain the difference in contextual use of "said" and "told" I certainly couldn't when asked on the spot so I had to research then teach - To open my eyes monday before the sun opens, have the days seem like the end is always just out of reach, then all of a sudden it's 6 pm on friday and we're having some Henikien for happy hour at the office.
Now I don't want to sound like una rey de drama here, cause I certainly do have plenty of posts to drape the marks of time over. I usually have good experiences in the small daily activities of an independent life, but for the long run I basically think I can't sit down for 60% of the day, thats what I'm getting at. This is leading into the really exciting part now...I am in the early, early stages of possibly maybe, quizas, posible, starting a bar in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires with a successful restaurant owner here in the city. I don't want to say more than that now because I am superstitous when it comes to calling yourself out early, and the only wood I could knock on right now is the floor and my feet are up and i haven't stretched for a while, but I am excited about this.
Which reopened my eyes yet again that I, and not only I for that matter, a large amount of people, actually have the ability to do anything as of right now. There is literally nothing holding me here in Buenos Aires for more than a month and I think I have found a system to gain employment in any major city fairly quickly (staying away from the oldest profession of course). It's these thoughts that create the pegs to drape your thoughts and your perception of time on, not only the acts themselves but the dreams that create them.
Gosh wow, I try to update a few people on what I'm doing in a foreign country and I start citing modern American Literature, yikes.
Life is good here for me, I'm about to move out of my apartment to a cheaper and more spanish speaking abode. I'm coming home to E.E.U.U. for three weeks in the middle of July for a little thing I like to call El Cable and ahhh Iron Man 2 is pretty sweet. Oh and is it just me or did the whole Gulf spill thing kind of just die in the global media world. I've been searching for info but can't find anything since sunday saying the giant dome reverse engineered from The Simpsons movie didn't work? Anyone know anything?
Allright nos vemos, I'll post again soon and it will hopefully be something you want to read.
Como Andas? - Literally means how are you walking/passing/going? But really means how are you. Andar is used her for about 8 different verbs, that I know of, and I'm sure cut up into slang all over the place. I'll learn some more and get back to you.
Chau
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Copa Mundial
Check out this sweet video for the world cup, at one Point we had tickets. But sometimes reality has to strike no?
Get pumped up U.S. beat spain in a Confederations Cup game 2 - 1, big deal, and even if the Flaming Eagles of Pride and Ingenuity (The newly adopted nickname for Team U.S.) don't do well it's going to be a pretty amazing event down there.
I'll be back soon...
Copa Mundial means world cup...
Get pumped up U.S. beat spain in a Confederations Cup game 2 - 1, big deal, and even if the Flaming Eagles of Pride and Ingenuity (The newly adopted nickname for Team U.S.) don't do well it's going to be a pretty amazing event down there.
I'll be back soon...
Copa Mundial means world cup...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
A vos
Cafe Martinez, Avenida de Mayo, Micro Centro, Buenos Aires, Capital Federal, Argentina.
As I sit here waiting, after teaching a bit
I sip my steaming warm coffee and consider the fit
My sitting here wearing a polo, bright yellow and blue
Amongst all the others floating through the city, with so much to do
Two hours to kill why not a muffin de leche
Un buen idea amiga, "por su puesto" se dije
Pero, no se si podria seguirse asi
Porque tengo que mudar durante la dia, es un cosa importa para mi
But each day I awake, before the sun twice a week
I shower up in the dawn, strike my feet to the soaking street
Though the path I now take is worn by my Pumas
It's when you look up that you realize whats humaan
Cada vez una pela arriba en el edifico
Y cada subte asi un picina, los dos estan lleno, entonces, lo mismo
Pero hay un algo buenisimo sobre una dia nueva
Todo es posible cuando vive un la ciudad buena
The reason for the syntax, and AA BB rhythm
Is too appease my fellow cafe drinkers, trying to avoid a schism
Add on the fact that upon which I'm typing is an Apple
I'm pretty much forced to be doing something creative, or at least to dabble.
A vos means and to you. For example, 1. "Buenas dias" and the person would respond "no, no, a vos."
As I sit here waiting, after teaching a bit
I sip my steaming warm coffee and consider the fit
My sitting here wearing a polo, bright yellow and blue
Amongst all the others floating through the city, with so much to do
Two hours to kill why not a muffin de leche
Un buen idea amiga, "por su puesto" se dije
Pero, no se si podria seguirse asi
Porque tengo que mudar durante la dia, es un cosa importa para mi
But each day I awake, before the sun twice a week
I shower up in the dawn, strike my feet to the soaking street
Though the path I now take is worn by my Pumas
It's when you look up that you realize whats humaan
Cada vez una pela arriba en el edifico
Y cada subte asi un picina, los dos estan lleno, entonces, lo mismo
Pero hay un algo buenisimo sobre una dia nueva
Todo es posible cuando vive un la ciudad buena
The reason for the syntax, and AA BB rhythm
Is too appease my fellow cafe drinkers, trying to avoid a schism
Add on the fact that upon which I'm typing is an Apple
I'm pretty much forced to be doing something creative, or at least to dabble.
A vos means and to you. For example, 1. "Buenas dias" and the person would respond "no, no, a vos."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Blanca y Cookies
Yo chicos - I just read a few of my roommate/co conspirator in this argentine fiesta's last blogpost, michaelhromadka.blogspot.com, and he's on 14 I got to speed up or I'm overtaken like a non-American walking down the sidewalk by an American. (I do not consider myself many things: well organized, emotionally sensitive, introverted, un-awesome...modest?....and another thing I certainly never have considered myself is a fast walker. But damn, I honestly pull up behind these people like Earnheart Jr, I mean I'm closing 10 yards in under 2.3 seconds then phoooooshhhh, quick draft behind a two person group and slingshot right ahead of em like it was nothing. It's crazy cause it makes me feel like I'm not stopping to smell the roses and whistle a catchy ditty enough. Moving from America to Buenos Aires was like driving 65 mph your whole life then all of a sudden getting off at the BsAs exit, your still moving 25 mph but it feels soooooooooooo slow. But it's not really too bad cause most of the streets are one way so It's east too judge when you can hop on that diamond lane and cruise past all the old grannies chugging along.)
Wow, don't now where that came from but it really is pretty weird. So,so,so. How are you guys doing, for those who follow this blog, and for the even smaller group that I assume would actually spend their precious time not being forced to stare at a computer screen to read this blog, please comment and let me know something about yourselves. I guess let us know something about you. I am willing to bet one half steak, half chicken, gauc, corn salsa, spicy salsa, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, pepper and sour creme, and some red tabasco Chipotle burrito, that I will buying on July 13th of this year, that something really awesome and pretty darn funny has happend to at least 68% percent. I mean, I'm no doctor, but that is simple economics no?
So today I called 150 people. On a computer phone with a headset. I sat in a black swiveling chair while listening to a girl who graduated from UCLA's ipod mix. A very solid mix I must say. I talked to 16 people on the phone today, while clicking nonchalantly, is chalantly a word?, on different areas of the U.S. highway and road system. I convinced 5 people today that I actually am not a liar and want to help them, while thinking about what kind of vegetables I was going to put in my tuna mix for the sandwich I was going to make for dinner (I always assumed you could only use your crunchy vegetables, but alas tomato works). I made a sale today, but the darn gentlemen must have a poor time sense because when he was going to call me back with his conformation and credit card info I was out of the office for an hour. I like my job. I work with funny and cool people, I talk to people who really need help and I can really help them. I save them money and I save them from getting completely ripped off (30% of auto transport industry are scam artists, honest to God scam artist who steal peoples money) I like knowing that I have a honest and good product to sell people and I like talking to people all day. I dislike desks though. I dislike swivel chairs when the headset I'm wearing restricts the full 360 spin. But alas I am learning so much form this experience beyond simple cultura and linguistics. Apparently the first real job you get out of school isn't going to be as a professional gadget tester for Techland.com nor is it going to be assistant Quentin Terrentino in his next project. The reality is sometimes you have to work, and when you do that you really start to appreciate, and recognize, the things you are working for. I'm just now discovering some of this stuff but I do know one of them, ahhhh, welp I just paused on that part a little long so guess the jury's still out.
Wow, everyone okay? things got kind of intense back there, but you know like good intense, like a really spicy burrito.
My job is cool and I'm meeting more people every weekend, soon I'm thinking about implementing the great Only Speaking in Spanish Act (11.AATH.42222.A) But I can now understand about 80% percent of the people 75% of the time. Which is a drastic increase from even a month ago, so that gets me pumped.
Holy crap that volcano is crazy. A german dude I was going to play tennis with tomorrow can't cause his parents are still here. His parents are still here cause they can't fly back to Germany, those pesky golf ball sized, crystalized, pieces of ash tend to be discourteous to plane engines I guess. Here's a sweet article in about it.
Go see the movie Kick Ass, many people I know and trust with movie opinion have said it's one of the best of the year, of course that's only if you want. Didn't mean to demand that one there.
Blanco y cookies is a delicious ly epic chocolate bar I just bought instead of a newspaper. But the whole time I was just thinking about sour patch kids.
Wow, don't now where that came from but it really is pretty weird. So,so,so. How are you guys doing, for those who follow this blog, and for the even smaller group that I assume would actually spend their precious time not being forced to stare at a computer screen to read this blog, please comment and let me know something about yourselves. I guess let us know something about you. I am willing to bet one half steak, half chicken, gauc, corn salsa, spicy salsa, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, pepper and sour creme, and some red tabasco Chipotle burrito, that I will buying on July 13th of this year, that something really awesome and pretty darn funny has happend to at least 68% percent. I mean, I'm no doctor, but that is simple economics no?
So today I called 150 people. On a computer phone with a headset. I sat in a black swiveling chair while listening to a girl who graduated from UCLA's ipod mix. A very solid mix I must say. I talked to 16 people on the phone today, while clicking nonchalantly, is chalantly a word?, on different areas of the U.S. highway and road system. I convinced 5 people today that I actually am not a liar and want to help them, while thinking about what kind of vegetables I was going to put in my tuna mix for the sandwich I was going to make for dinner (I always assumed you could only use your crunchy vegetables, but alas tomato works). I made a sale today, but the darn gentlemen must have a poor time sense because when he was going to call me back with his conformation and credit card info I was out of the office for an hour. I like my job. I work with funny and cool people, I talk to people who really need help and I can really help them. I save them money and I save them from getting completely ripped off (30% of auto transport industry are scam artists, honest to God scam artist who steal peoples money) I like knowing that I have a honest and good product to sell people and I like talking to people all day. I dislike desks though. I dislike swivel chairs when the headset I'm wearing restricts the full 360 spin. But alas I am learning so much form this experience beyond simple cultura and linguistics. Apparently the first real job you get out of school isn't going to be as a professional gadget tester for Techland.com nor is it going to be assistant Quentin Terrentino in his next project. The reality is sometimes you have to work, and when you do that you really start to appreciate, and recognize, the things you are working for. I'm just now discovering some of this stuff but I do know one of them, ahhhh, welp I just paused on that part a little long so guess the jury's still out.
Wow, everyone okay? things got kind of intense back there, but you know like good intense, like a really spicy burrito.
My job is cool and I'm meeting more people every weekend, soon I'm thinking about implementing the great Only Speaking in Spanish Act (11.AATH.42222.A) But I can now understand about 80% percent of the people 75% of the time. Which is a drastic increase from even a month ago, so that gets me pumped.
Holy crap that volcano is crazy. A german dude I was going to play tennis with tomorrow can't cause his parents are still here. His parents are still here cause they can't fly back to Germany, those pesky golf ball sized, crystalized, pieces of ash tend to be discourteous to plane engines I guess. Here's a sweet article in about it.
Go see the movie Kick Ass, many people I know and trust with movie opinion have said it's one of the best of the year, of course that's only if you want. Didn't mean to demand that one there.
Blanco y cookies is a delicious ly epic chocolate bar I just bought instead of a newspaper. But the whole time I was just thinking about sour patch kids.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Las cosas pequenas
Allo everybody, long time no see - I hope everyone is passing well, judging by the crisp sunshine and pleasant crowds I'm seeing on the course in Augusta, Georgia it seems that spring has more or less sprung in the northland. El tiempo aca is finally reaching a state that I would determine as comfortably bearable (I don't know if I told you guys but the first two months here were absurdly hot. Una mixto de city building heat trapping, overcrowded public transit systems and 22 years of cold weather breeding really make my personal experience in the summer here quite a sweaty endeavor) But yea, the weather is wonderful now, cool breezes during the day and sunsets coupled with something I'm truly excited to say, the need for a sweatshirt. I've been waiting for the day when the blanket I keep crumpled in the corner of my room would finally be called up for use, and this past week I must say it has performed it's duty well.
First a few notes on some very subtle, but powerful interactions I've had of late. Yesterday, or maybe friday, (I'm working for the weekend for the first time in my life, so, as I'm sure many of you have discovered, these precious few days of late awakenings and day time movie watching tend to go by way too fast) But yes, last friday I believe I was cruising through my neighborhood a lookin for a new dining experience, Palermo, the neighborhood where I live is renowned for it's eclectic collection de comida. After passing up Pizza Kentucky I saw that delightful rotating sight, a chunk of lamb speared through the middle sizzling with an onion and dripping it's savory juices. The sanwich de shwarma I had form there was only 12 pesos, but tasted like a million pesos. Or roughly 125,000 USD I think. As I was snacking away on my flavorful middle eastern treat I walked through a row of cars waiting at a red light. One truck's window rolled down and a guy called over to me, usually at this point I just assume I'm not going to understand what he's saying and prepare myself for an awkward, and poorly explained interaction/exit. But alas, 3 months in a spanish speaking country and I was able to understand this phrase "where is plaza Serrano" and even more amazing I was able to devise this enticing little response in the socially alloted time "Four blocks that way." Wow, I know, that's like Steinbeck level stuff, but that really did happen.
The second passing that really got me pumped happened today in the disco, it's a grocery store chain, though I do enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon rave every couple of weeks. I was waiting in the atrociously long line (The disco's here have an impressive number of registers but are always, always lacking in the humans running these registers) I was in line and a nice old lady was making the tough decision between bag of rice cakes A and bag of rice cakes B. Apparently she had only one qualifier, Sodium level. She was clearly having trouble reading the small print on the back of the bag and come over to ask me to read it. Fortunately I know the word for zero in Spanish and I was able to help her out.
Also last night I went to a sweet house party of a friend of a friend. Met some sweet peeps and most importantly was able to speak some solid spanish with people who were cool. I was talking with a Mexican girl for a while and we bonded over our shared impressions of the Argentine world. It's these little things that are what I believe make the difference between visiting an area and living in one. I did buy some pretty awesomely gaudy sunglasses which I think help in making me look like more of a local, but after these two people approached me, in spanish, to help them, and then I was actually able to do it, I really feel like I am fitting in here. I got a long, long long way to go, but it's nice to have these checkups letting me know I'm at least going somewhat in the right direction.
I started my job this week too. If anyone is transporting their car somewhere in the US, AutoStar transport are the people to contact, just ask for Thomas. I made my first sale on Tuesday and I had a girl from Texas ask if she could friend me on facebook, or if she could text the toll free number I was calling her from, the job makes for a pretty fun time. More to follow on my job later.
BAFICI - Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente is currently going on in the city this week. 8 locations playing awesome independent films from all around the world all day. Tonight I'm going to see a sweedish film about a woman working in a hardware store that gets kidnapped or something?, but what I'm looking forward to most is the zombie flick that's coming up on thursday from South Korea, looks awesome.
I'll be back later this week to fill you guys in on some other interesting things that are going on here, but all in all it's good here and I hope the same for all of your respective locales. Good, great. Nice talking with you guys, I hate to be rude but I must step out. I'm getting eaten alive by mosquitos and need to take a quick dip in the bug lotion pit. Have a good night.
Chau
Oh and Las Cosas Pequenas means, if you didn't put it together already - the little things.
First a few notes on some very subtle, but powerful interactions I've had of late. Yesterday, or maybe friday, (I'm working for the weekend for the first time in my life, so, as I'm sure many of you have discovered, these precious few days of late awakenings and day time movie watching tend to go by way too fast) But yes, last friday I believe I was cruising through my neighborhood a lookin for a new dining experience, Palermo, the neighborhood where I live is renowned for it's eclectic collection de comida. After passing up Pizza Kentucky I saw that delightful rotating sight, a chunk of lamb speared through the middle sizzling with an onion and dripping it's savory juices. The sanwich de shwarma I had form there was only 12 pesos, but tasted like a million pesos. Or roughly 125,000 USD I think. As I was snacking away on my flavorful middle eastern treat I walked through a row of cars waiting at a red light. One truck's window rolled down and a guy called over to me, usually at this point I just assume I'm not going to understand what he's saying and prepare myself for an awkward, and poorly explained interaction/exit. But alas, 3 months in a spanish speaking country and I was able to understand this phrase "where is plaza Serrano" and even more amazing I was able to devise this enticing little response in the socially alloted time "Four blocks that way." Wow, I know, that's like Steinbeck level stuff, but that really did happen.
The second passing that really got me pumped happened today in the disco, it's a grocery store chain, though I do enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon rave every couple of weeks. I was waiting in the atrociously long line (The disco's here have an impressive number of registers but are always, always lacking in the humans running these registers) I was in line and a nice old lady was making the tough decision between bag of rice cakes A and bag of rice cakes B. Apparently she had only one qualifier, Sodium level. She was clearly having trouble reading the small print on the back of the bag and come over to ask me to read it. Fortunately I know the word for zero in Spanish and I was able to help her out.
Also last night I went to a sweet house party of a friend of a friend. Met some sweet peeps and most importantly was able to speak some solid spanish with people who were cool. I was talking with a Mexican girl for a while and we bonded over our shared impressions of the Argentine world. It's these little things that are what I believe make the difference between visiting an area and living in one. I did buy some pretty awesomely gaudy sunglasses which I think help in making me look like more of a local, but after these two people approached me, in spanish, to help them, and then I was actually able to do it, I really feel like I am fitting in here. I got a long, long long way to go, but it's nice to have these checkups letting me know I'm at least going somewhat in the right direction.
I started my job this week too. If anyone is transporting their car somewhere in the US, AutoStar transport are the people to contact, just ask for Thomas. I made my first sale on Tuesday and I had a girl from Texas ask if she could friend me on facebook, or if she could text the toll free number I was calling her from, the job makes for a pretty fun time. More to follow on my job later.
BAFICI - Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente is currently going on in the city this week. 8 locations playing awesome independent films from all around the world all day. Tonight I'm going to see a sweedish film about a woman working in a hardware store that gets kidnapped or something?, but what I'm looking forward to most is the zombie flick that's coming up on thursday from South Korea, looks awesome.
I'll be back later this week to fill you guys in on some other interesting things that are going on here, but all in all it's good here and I hope the same for all of your respective locales. Good, great. Nice talking with you guys, I hate to be rude but I must step out. I'm getting eaten alive by mosquitos and need to take a quick dip in the bug lotion pit. Have a good night.
Chau
Oh and Las Cosas Pequenas means, if you didn't put it together already - the little things.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Una nueva carrera
Wassup, Que tal amigos
I was going to put this at the end, but it just seems to make more sense up here.
If you'd like to see some pics from our time go here
- Wowzers, I've had quite the busy couple of weeks. Apart from Megan Rumpza, Elizabeth, Jim, and Therese Cloyd coming to visit me, I mean Buenos Aires, I have finished my internship at DDB, met with 3 potential intercambios, housed two champions of the Netherlands and tried to look good the whole time. It's been awesome but I'm definitely happy to have all my space back to just being mine. I kept saying that once everyone's stuff was out of my room I would finally have the time to organize it (classic maneuver of successful procrastinators, blaming others for your lack of motivation..) I actually kind of did that today but was limited from the first actual cold I think I have had since high school. Which is Ironic because I am living in by far the warmest climate I've experienced and I was a constant snowboarder in not only the chilly mountains of the Rockies but the downright absurdly dangerous temperatures of Buck Hill and Highlands. Fortunately being the child of a Pharmacist and Nurse the phrase "Drugs are our friends" has been tattooed on the back of my eyelids since my first toothache. Unfortunately as some of you may know today marks the 2nd most holy day of Semana Santa - Viernes Santo - Good Friday - which means in the heavily Catholisized country of Argentina only but the most desperate of tourist stores would remain open. And Burger King of course, thank Je...or let's just say thank goodness. But I did manage to find one of the more corporate Farmacias open, but quickly after glancing at the price for what must have been a sinus/cold medicine (I guess the picture of the side view silhouetted man with his lungs orange and arrow moving up his throat is international) I was only pained more. Because I believe that medicine is only a benefit of the wealthy and I have yet to receive a substantial paycheck in Argentine Pesos, entonces, I must push through this engripe with as many oranges and small glasses of water I can find.
Anywho, like I said my family has come and left and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. From our peaceful and conversationally inspired trip to Colonia, Uruguay (which fortunately came in perfect time for me, my 3 months granted as a tourist in the country of Argentina was about to expire, last tuesday actually, had we not made the skip across the Rio Platte) to Elizabeth and I's action packed trip to Mendoza - the wine producing epicenter of Argentina. It was cool to experience these strange and never before seen things with people you know so well, it makes for quite a funny time too I have to say. When you know someone really well you know exactly the experiences you've shared and can use those memories in making the new ones even more fun. I think that made sense right?
Well I will quickly tell you of the Cloyd Children's trip to Mendoza - We made a speedy decision to leave Buenos Aires on last Saturday night, Elizabeth was kind enough to entice me with the purchase of our bus tickets - bus travel is by far the superior means of travel in Argentina, of the things they do right, futbol, barbaques, and managing to sip on one beer for over 4 hours, long distance bus travel is truly their speciality. It's 15 hours from Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires to the Bus Terminal in Mendoza, crossing clear through the pampas of central argentina to finally pull in at the doorstep of the Andes Mountains. The bus though, wow, two stories, seats that recline to about 140 degrees, movies, airplane style food, and most impressively leg room. After flying domestically in the US for so long I've been trained into thinking that peanuts aren't free, bottles of shampoo are dangerous and that you should be perfectly okay sitting like a stick figure for 8 hours. These seats are soft, big and you have space to actually create yourself an area - basically there good for riding on. We arrived freshly on Sunday morning in Mendoza, taxied it up to our hostel - which Elizabeth had also booked after repeatedly reading the words "never" and "quiet" in the reviews on hostelworld. We get to the hostel and it too is bigger and more comfortable than any I'd seen before, at least in South America. It had two big dinning rooms, a half indoor/outdoor bar eating area and a pool (Though the hue of the water made me think of toxic waste) So, the hostel was really nice and we rented bikes from it to tour our new found city. Because my back tire was riding on near empty, I wasn't able to show these decent mountain dwelling folk how to really ride bikes, we made it through many of the landmarks of the town and up to the park. All beautiful, all peaceful, and most importantly it was all fairly quite and the aire was pristine - basically the exact opposite of BA. It's a smaller sized town so we managed to see most of it that first day.
Day 2 - When you hear Mendoza, at least down here, you think of the wonka factory but for wine consuming adults. Thats because about 80% of Argentina's wines are produced around this town. There are two main areas that hold these vineyards - Maipu and Lujan - the thing to do, as in most vineyard like areas, is to rent bikes and go a'samplin. We chose to go to Lujan where we saw 5 different vineyards with 4 other people. There was a lot of funny things that happened during this time but to digress into their stories would really make this post a imposing group of words. Basically we saw 2 of the really big/corporate vineyards - Chandon (yep as in the french Champaign makers) and Norman - they had nice organized tours with information and english speakers to quell our oh so potent curiosity. The highlight was rushing into the Norman tour that started 20 minutes earlier, profusely sweating, and then begging to have a chance to try the first wine we had missed out on because, you don't want to do these kinds of things out of order. The other two wineries we visited were very Boutique, family run business. Cabrini and Miguel Minni - neither of them knew we were coming (even though we paid a man and I watched him call and set up a tour, though he could have been faking it) and both of them were shocked to see we were riding bikes. Upon entrance to Miguel Minni the lady saw us riding in and came out clearly confused, amazed that we had made it over the highway and through the gravel streets from hell all the way to her little eden of fermentation. This too was shocking because as far as we knew this bike tour was a common thing to do as was the route we were on. I still don't exactly know what all of it means but it adds up to something I think. Anyway we finished the sampling and bussed back to Mendoza for another surprisingly calm night in our hostel (apparently it's only not quiet on thurs - sun)
Day 3 - We booked a rafting run on the Mendoza river coming out of the Mountains. Again we had to wake early and bus out of the town, but this time it was west into the mountain, I couldn't help but remember the images of Colorado's I-70 and hwy 6 going into the Mountains from boulder, the view is very similar, except here everybody kept speaking spanish. We got to the basecamp for the rafting session, which was fully equipped with sun chairs and a bar, met some people, schmoozed and then get all wet-suited up and bussed up to the drop in point of the river. The highest class rapid we hit was a class 3 but it was still a great time. After the float I talked to the head guide at the base camp (Argentina Adventures is the name of the company by the way and if you ever want to do anything extreme in Mendoza and don't know where to start - zipline, mountain biking, river rafting/kayaking, rock climbing etc... contact them) and I convinced him to email me later this week and put me into contact with the owner, I am hoping that this spring he can take me on as an apprentice so I could live a few months in the outdoors getting paid to do these kinds of things.
We bussed back to BA that night after meeting some Americans (one from Wisconsin unfortunately) and had some good old times with a few of the bottles we picked up in wine country. It was a great time and too quick. Mendoza is a mountain town, and I think I belong in Mountain towns, the only downside is that it's way harder to make cash money in mountain towns, once I get that figure out than I think I'll be good.
Phew, lots told and so much more to tell. I'll let this marinate for a while and then share some of the other funnier happenings of my families' time here. Basically what I learned though is this, anyone who wants to come down here, I got room, and it will certainly be really fun. So do it, just let me know a few hours before you take off. Okay cool sorry for the long one but It's been a while since we've sat down and talked.
Nueva carrera means new way, new path basically.
Chau
Hasta Pronto
I was going to put this at the end, but it just seems to make more sense up here.
If you'd like to see some pics from our time go here
- Wowzers, I've had quite the busy couple of weeks. Apart from Megan Rumpza, Elizabeth, Jim, and Therese Cloyd coming to visit me, I mean Buenos Aires, I have finished my internship at DDB, met with 3 potential intercambios, housed two champions of the Netherlands and tried to look good the whole time. It's been awesome but I'm definitely happy to have all my space back to just being mine. I kept saying that once everyone's stuff was out of my room I would finally have the time to organize it (classic maneuver of successful procrastinators, blaming others for your lack of motivation..) I actually kind of did that today but was limited from the first actual cold I think I have had since high school. Which is Ironic because I am living in by far the warmest climate I've experienced and I was a constant snowboarder in not only the chilly mountains of the Rockies but the downright absurdly dangerous temperatures of Buck Hill and Highlands. Fortunately being the child of a Pharmacist and Nurse the phrase "Drugs are our friends" has been tattooed on the back of my eyelids since my first toothache. Unfortunately as some of you may know today marks the 2nd most holy day of Semana Santa - Viernes Santo - Good Friday - which means in the heavily Catholisized country of Argentina only but the most desperate of tourist stores would remain open. And Burger King of course, thank Je...or let's just say thank goodness. But I did manage to find one of the more corporate Farmacias open, but quickly after glancing at the price for what must have been a sinus/cold medicine (I guess the picture of the side view silhouetted man with his lungs orange and arrow moving up his throat is international) I was only pained more. Because I believe that medicine is only a benefit of the wealthy and I have yet to receive a substantial paycheck in Argentine Pesos, entonces, I must push through this engripe with as many oranges and small glasses of water I can find.
Anywho, like I said my family has come and left and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. From our peaceful and conversationally inspired trip to Colonia, Uruguay (which fortunately came in perfect time for me, my 3 months granted as a tourist in the country of Argentina was about to expire, last tuesday actually, had we not made the skip across the Rio Platte) to Elizabeth and I's action packed trip to Mendoza - the wine producing epicenter of Argentina. It was cool to experience these strange and never before seen things with people you know so well, it makes for quite a funny time too I have to say. When you know someone really well you know exactly the experiences you've shared and can use those memories in making the new ones even more fun. I think that made sense right?
Well I will quickly tell you of the Cloyd Children's trip to Mendoza - We made a speedy decision to leave Buenos Aires on last Saturday night, Elizabeth was kind enough to entice me with the purchase of our bus tickets - bus travel is by far the superior means of travel in Argentina, of the things they do right, futbol, barbaques, and managing to sip on one beer for over 4 hours, long distance bus travel is truly their speciality. It's 15 hours from Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires to the Bus Terminal in Mendoza, crossing clear through the pampas of central argentina to finally pull in at the doorstep of the Andes Mountains. The bus though, wow, two stories, seats that recline to about 140 degrees, movies, airplane style food, and most impressively leg room. After flying domestically in the US for so long I've been trained into thinking that peanuts aren't free, bottles of shampoo are dangerous and that you should be perfectly okay sitting like a stick figure for 8 hours. These seats are soft, big and you have space to actually create yourself an area - basically there good for riding on. We arrived freshly on Sunday morning in Mendoza, taxied it up to our hostel - which Elizabeth had also booked after repeatedly reading the words "never" and "quiet" in the reviews on hostelworld. We get to the hostel and it too is bigger and more comfortable than any I'd seen before, at least in South America. It had two big dinning rooms, a half indoor/outdoor bar eating area and a pool (Though the hue of the water made me think of toxic waste) So, the hostel was really nice and we rented bikes from it to tour our new found city. Because my back tire was riding on near empty, I wasn't able to show these decent mountain dwelling folk how to really ride bikes, we made it through many of the landmarks of the town and up to the park. All beautiful, all peaceful, and most importantly it was all fairly quite and the aire was pristine - basically the exact opposite of BA. It's a smaller sized town so we managed to see most of it that first day.
Day 2 - When you hear Mendoza, at least down here, you think of the wonka factory but for wine consuming adults. Thats because about 80% of Argentina's wines are produced around this town. There are two main areas that hold these vineyards - Maipu and Lujan - the thing to do, as in most vineyard like areas, is to rent bikes and go a'samplin. We chose to go to Lujan where we saw 5 different vineyards with 4 other people. There was a lot of funny things that happened during this time but to digress into their stories would really make this post a imposing group of words. Basically we saw 2 of the really big/corporate vineyards - Chandon (yep as in the french Champaign makers) and Norman - they had nice organized tours with information and english speakers to quell our oh so potent curiosity. The highlight was rushing into the Norman tour that started 20 minutes earlier, profusely sweating, and then begging to have a chance to try the first wine we had missed out on because, you don't want to do these kinds of things out of order. The other two wineries we visited were very Boutique, family run business. Cabrini and Miguel Minni - neither of them knew we were coming (even though we paid a man and I watched him call and set up a tour, though he could have been faking it) and both of them were shocked to see we were riding bikes. Upon entrance to Miguel Minni the lady saw us riding in and came out clearly confused, amazed that we had made it over the highway and through the gravel streets from hell all the way to her little eden of fermentation. This too was shocking because as far as we knew this bike tour was a common thing to do as was the route we were on. I still don't exactly know what all of it means but it adds up to something I think. Anyway we finished the sampling and bussed back to Mendoza for another surprisingly calm night in our hostel (apparently it's only not quiet on thurs - sun)
Day 3 - We booked a rafting run on the Mendoza river coming out of the Mountains. Again we had to wake early and bus out of the town, but this time it was west into the mountain, I couldn't help but remember the images of Colorado's I-70 and hwy 6 going into the Mountains from boulder, the view is very similar, except here everybody kept speaking spanish. We got to the basecamp for the rafting session, which was fully equipped with sun chairs and a bar, met some people, schmoozed and then get all wet-suited up and bussed up to the drop in point of the river. The highest class rapid we hit was a class 3 but it was still a great time. After the float I talked to the head guide at the base camp (Argentina Adventures is the name of the company by the way and if you ever want to do anything extreme in Mendoza and don't know where to start - zipline, mountain biking, river rafting/kayaking, rock climbing etc... contact them) and I convinced him to email me later this week and put me into contact with the owner, I am hoping that this spring he can take me on as an apprentice so I could live a few months in the outdoors getting paid to do these kinds of things.
We bussed back to BA that night after meeting some Americans (one from Wisconsin unfortunately) and had some good old times with a few of the bottles we picked up in wine country. It was a great time and too quick. Mendoza is a mountain town, and I think I belong in Mountain towns, the only downside is that it's way harder to make cash money in mountain towns, once I get that figure out than I think I'll be good.
Phew, lots told and so much more to tell. I'll let this marinate for a while and then share some of the other funnier happenings of my families' time here. Basically what I learned though is this, anyone who wants to come down here, I got room, and it will certainly be really fun. So do it, just let me know a few hours before you take off. Okay cool sorry for the long one but It's been a while since we've sat down and talked.
Nueva carrera means new way, new path basically.
Chau
Hasta Pronto
Saturday, March 27, 2010
La verdad
het verwijderen van rassen uit trinidad naar trabago, het land waar leo beenhakker coach was en naar de wereldkampioenschappen ging, het het vliegtuig. Nice
Friday, March 26, 2010
Un chiste poquito
Again, I haven't been keeping up with the latest interstellar rulings on incest. But I'm pretty sure Qui Gon wouldn't think this was okay.
Chiste means joke in lunfardo (argentine slang)
More to come shortly, big things are happening. Good big things.
Chiste means joke in lunfardo (argentine slang)
More to come shortly, big things are happening. Good big things.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Hablabamos...Go ahead say it....Hablabamos
Rolls off the lengua pretty smooth right? Hola gente - como esta? Yo estoy bien, mis padres estan aca y cada noche he cenado en un resturante buenisimo. As of this past monday morning the entire Minnesota raised Cloyd clan has been rocking the city of Good Winds with a style both considerate and riveting. My mom and dad are staying in the historic (tourist filled) district around plaza de mayo about 25 minutes from my apartment. All I can say about that is the taxi economy has gotten a steady boost from our families frequent shifting of place to place.....Oh and did someone say TAXI!!!
Scream it, paint a sign in neon pink on a black poster with a batman spotlight shining on it, lay in the middle of the road with the words "I need a taxi" written around you in blood, no matter what clever attempt you come up with I can guarantee you one thing - that taxi you see, and need, will not stop for you. Let me quickly explain my slightly negative feelings towards the yellow fever (I may have to start calling taxi service here that). Last night my acclaimed sister selected a fine restaurant for us to celebrate that o so special dia de San Patricio (and the answer to your question is yes, argentines do celebrate St. Patty's and yes the do celebrate it in the same fashion American's do; having a few quiet beers with friends without getting to crazy or over the top.....) Anywho, we were in the Micro-center, restaurant was in Palermo viejo, 25 minutes separated us, the time was 8:10 reservation at 9, sin problemas verdad? Not to mention we had adapted the not so often used American gastronomic schedule, so we were eating about 1 - 2 hours before the average Argentine would be - therefore no one hogging all those 40,000, thats right 40,000, cabs in the city. But alas as the circulating door swept away and the fresh night air passed through our senses we realized one small change from when we entered the hotel not but 40 minutes before. I don't know if any of you have seen what a 50 caliber bullet looks like but it's about 3 1/2 inches long and the width of a whiteboard marker, intimidating when fired from the fixed roof of a hummer, but truly terrifying when hurtling from the heavens in the form of angeles' tears. The monsoon we entered was powerful and relentless, which I assume most of the other residents of the Micro-center gathered after nearly drowning after 4 minutes outside, because every single cab, and this is a hotel district so there should be many, the hive if you will of cabs in the city, but every single cab was either full, or for some very interesting reason didn't want our money and continued to drive past the saddening look of Therese Bowman Cloyd getting soaked to her bones. Long story short we couldn't get a cab, none would stop or all were full, we ran through the rain to the Subte, then had another 12 blocks to run through a schmorgesborg of plummeting rain because the cab we picked up after riding the Subte didn't know the address we gave him. But once we got to the restaurant, and they air dried us until they considered us presentable to enter, the food was good, the pours deep and the conversation, well, the conversation was much brighter then the atmosphere we watched through the window.
I'm not a negative person, and actually I respect a cabbie more than others I think, but I just don't understand why they would straight up not stop for people when it's raining. Thats the most important time for a cab to be used, they could charge an extra 5 pesos I wouldn't be angry, but come on, it's raning.
Didn't mean to sound so stormy, I'm glad I could get that rain cloud to move from over my head, I know it sounds like I was a wet blanket but at least I'm not flooding you with other less passionate information.
Oh and hablabamos means "we spoke' in the unspecific past tense.
Thats all for now cause no one likes reading really long pieces of text with out pictures so I'm gonna end it now, with a picture.
Chau Chau
Hasta
Scream it, paint a sign in neon pink on a black poster with a batman spotlight shining on it, lay in the middle of the road with the words "I need a taxi" written around you in blood, no matter what clever attempt you come up with I can guarantee you one thing - that taxi you see, and need, will not stop for you. Let me quickly explain my slightly negative feelings towards the yellow fever (I may have to start calling taxi service here that). Last night my acclaimed sister selected a fine restaurant for us to celebrate that o so special dia de San Patricio (and the answer to your question is yes, argentines do celebrate St. Patty's and yes the do celebrate it in the same fashion American's do; having a few quiet beers with friends without getting to crazy or over the top.....) Anywho, we were in the Micro-center, restaurant was in Palermo viejo, 25 minutes separated us, the time was 8:10 reservation at 9, sin problemas verdad? Not to mention we had adapted the not so often used American gastronomic schedule, so we were eating about 1 - 2 hours before the average Argentine would be - therefore no one hogging all those 40,000, thats right 40,000, cabs in the city. But alas as the circulating door swept away and the fresh night air passed through our senses we realized one small change from when we entered the hotel not but 40 minutes before. I don't know if any of you have seen what a 50 caliber bullet looks like but it's about 3 1/2 inches long and the width of a whiteboard marker, intimidating when fired from the fixed roof of a hummer, but truly terrifying when hurtling from the heavens in the form of angeles' tears. The monsoon we entered was powerful and relentless, which I assume most of the other residents of the Micro-center gathered after nearly drowning after 4 minutes outside, because every single cab, and this is a hotel district so there should be many, the hive if you will of cabs in the city, but every single cab was either full, or for some very interesting reason didn't want our money and continued to drive past the saddening look of Therese Bowman Cloyd getting soaked to her bones. Long story short we couldn't get a cab, none would stop or all were full, we ran through the rain to the Subte, then had another 12 blocks to run through a schmorgesborg of plummeting rain because the cab we picked up after riding the Subte didn't know the address we gave him. But once we got to the restaurant, and they air dried us until they considered us presentable to enter, the food was good, the pours deep and the conversation, well, the conversation was much brighter then the atmosphere we watched through the window.
I'm not a negative person, and actually I respect a cabbie more than others I think, but I just don't understand why they would straight up not stop for people when it's raining. Thats the most important time for a cab to be used, they could charge an extra 5 pesos I wouldn't be angry, but come on, it's raning.
Didn't mean to sound so stormy, I'm glad I could get that rain cloud to move from over my head, I know it sounds like I was a wet blanket but at least I'm not flooding you with other less passionate information.
Oh and hablabamos means "we spoke' in the unspecific past tense.
Thats all for now cause no one likes reading really long pieces of text with out pictures so I'm gonna end it now, with a picture.
Chau Chau
Hasta
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
One more thing
Oh and if anyone want's to see what I did for my senior thesis in college go here. I'm trying to drive up the amount of views so I can use it as a bargaining chip for a potential job...Selfish yes, ahhh, yea I guess it's just kind of selfish thing to do. Whoops
Gustaria decir....algo...
Como se van? Hola - Everybody a searchin' these interwebs having a pleasant day? Are we online reading something provided by blogspot at the office?(michael) at home (mom) or possibly via the latest in advanced wireless technology, the new Anroid phone (Uncle John perhaps). Most likely you reading this because the crime drama you watch religiously every wednesday is at commercial, but hey, I'll take what I can get.
Updates,,updates,,updates. Well my sister made it here safely, 12 hour night flight and I've never seen her better. Rumpza, our friend from back home in Minnesnowda, was supposed to arrive at Ezeiza airport around the same time, but in the obviously ironic fulfillment of their company name Cheapo airlines overbooked and alas or little Rumpza friend had to spend the night in the classiest digs the ugly red-headed child of the airline industry could afford, I don't exactly remember the name but it had best, inn, savers and suites in some order. Anywho, she made it the next day, we picked her up and voom... yet another force of nature struck Sa, the Cloyd/Rumpza tornado of fun that is.
We did many things, one of them being me actually understanding what can and can't be done, what is actually interesting for visitors to see, and most importantly where not to eat. Especially when you sister is what we call a Captain in the Gourmet food Gestapo. (The mediocre ravioli I ordered in San Telmo almost made me lose a pinky finger I think) To make it quick, the touristy things are touristy for a reason, they are pretty awesome, and informative. So sometimes it's best to suck it up, throw on your fannie pack, squirt on the sun block and jump on that bright yellow open roofed double decker tour bus for all the Portenos to see. We did so and I learned more about this city (historically and culturally) in 2 hours then I did in the first month, really good stuff.
Aside form touring we also had a little welcoming party, where our eclectic group of friends could meet the famed E-Bone on Rumpztronic. I think that the recent arrivers were a little shocked to see the high population of central and Northern European influence in our group of friends. Ze dutch, ze Germans, y some swizas were running about, and fortunately they all speak wonderfully accented english that really only sounds better and more fun after a few games of beer pong. I'll leave it at this; the question "Do you want to go make party?" Can never not be both funny/and exciting. My usual response was "yes, I like to make party very much ", while filling another triangle of cups on our psuedo-beer pong table. A good time was had by all and the mess in the morning was actually cleaned quickly, which I am always surprised about (I'm usually still half asleep when I'm picking up the bottles and glasses)
Mis padres are coming sunday, Elizabeth and I have quite a potent line up of fine food establishments we will be hitting up as well as a day vacation to Uruguay I'm hoping can happen. (I've been in South America more than two months and have yet to see a beach. Technically that's not really too weird because there's plenty going on inland, but we all think of the sunny coast when we imagine South America, don't we)
Other than those occurances I'm still cruising along at my internship, I just recently joined Conversation Exchange which is an amazing site the brings two people together who want to speak/learn the native language of the other. I have two people already written to me and I just posted my profile a few hours ago, it's all free, and the people all live close, the internet is amazing and I hope that I can really meet some more local peeps through this. I will be stopping work here at DDB at the end of the month and starting a career as a salesman, and also teaching two students in the morning. Pair that up with the tennis partner I think I just found on craig's list and Tommy boy is going to be packing a full schedule, but as they say those who do, do stuff well, those who don't, aren't really doing stuff so there's nothing even to be done well. You know what I mean, so I'm trying to do stuff, therefore have an opportunity to do said stuff well - I think you guys are catching my drift right? Good.
Gustaria decir means "I would like to say" - gustaria is conditional for gustar which comes in handy when ordering an apple at the market - "Gustaria la manzana alla"
Chau Chau
Bien viaje
Oh and PS - I don't know if you guys watched the Oscar's but the Documentary film I worked on in College, The Cove, won best documentary, pretty sweet. Louis Psihoyos the director, writer, and star of the movie and who accepted the award, is one of the main people I met and actually spoke normally with. And he was every bit as sincere when I spoke with him as he was accepting the award, which I find pretty awesome. Anyway I think everyone should see it, it's a good movie, it's moving, and it really is talking about something very important. Go here to learn more about it and see where it's playing. Oh and look for the name Cokely Coyd at the end of the credits - that my "advertising name"
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