Corruption and futbol

Against any advice my mother would have given me, we decided to go to the Boca Jrs. futbol game on sunday. Funny thing about futbol games in Argentina though--there doesn't seem to be a box office for a legal way of buying tickets. So Maren, Alyssa and I took a cab down to the stadium and wondered around aimlessly. Through this process, we met two Irish guys. They didn't speak a word of Spanish so needed me to find them tickets and we needed them because we had been warned about three american girls going to the game alone. We finally found a man grilling something who claimed he had tickets. When I asked to see them, he called someone to bring them. Imagine my surprise when a cop showed up. Crap. Are we getting arrested??? No, we are just buying tickets illegitimently from the cop. Best part? There were only three tickets at 30 pesos each face value. We each (we meaning us and the Irish guys) paid 100 pesos for a ticket. The cop led us through the streets and waved us on through to the cops we passed. When we reached the entrance with only three tickets and five people, the cops made us go in two at a time. So there I am squeezed in a turn-style with an Irish boy behind me. I have learned a lot about the politics here from a teacher at school, Marcela, but never thought I would witness the corruption myself. All in all, the game was a lot of fun although really crazy. Lighting banners on fire, fireworks in the hands of the fans (including my own), people climbing over guard rails from the upper level, toilet paper thrown onto the field. Boca lost and we waited almost an hour to leave the stadium, as they let the visiting fans leave first as to avoid riots. Yes, there was riot gear. Hopefully I can share pictures soon--the Irish boy was the only one who risked bringing his camera.

We leave Friday night for Mendoza and will return to ba Tuesday morning. I plan on doing some last minute shopping and then will fly home Tuesday night. One week to go!
<3 J

La Porcina

I recently received this email from the us embassy:

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing andtraveling in Argentina that more than 800 confirmed cases of H1N1Influenza have been reported in Argentina, including four deaths.Argentine authorities have instituted a number of measures to controlthe spread of H1N1, and may require travelers entering Argentina tocomplete health cards that contain local contact information, donprovided surgical masks when disembarking their flights and pass infront of sensors that track body temperature in transportationterminals. Some flights may be disinfected with spray prior to landing.

Fantastic!!! Don't worry--it doesn't seem to be a big deal yet. Although yesterday I was convinced that I had swine flu. Today I am just a little sneezy. If I can make it through the next week and a half without any major medical evacuations or quarrantines, I will be fine! :-)

My friend Nikki says that absolutely nothing worth mentioning has happened this week. She may be right; however, I have had some really great meals (as I refuse to eat at cafes now), heard some great music, and have started making a list of presents to buy for my loved ones. For example, Kirsten I have currently bought you 2 presents and know of at least one other. Meaghan, hopefully you are arriving safely from Africa--you get 2. Mom-2, Eric-1 (very expensive!), Dad-1-2, Pamma- still looking!, Joy- still looking, Kirst, I sent you a post card but it will probably never arrive as the mailbox/fire hydrant looking thing did not say international mail. Apperantly that is important! Megan/Fool, still looking! Hopefully I am not forgetting anyone! If I am, you can send me requests but I make no promises as I am down to my last $1850 pesos.
Plans to come are as follows: Sunday- Boca Jrs. futbol game
Next weekend: Mendoza
Love and Miss you all!
Un beso--
j

Uruguay for a Day!

Yes, they made us wear masks off the plane. We like to wear them around the house.

At the top of the light house in Colonia

Sunrise leaving Buenos Aires

This week has been full of fun things! We went to see El Fantisma de Opera (Phantom of the Opera)--Maren had to explain it to me! I made Maren pee her pants on the elevator. Yesterday we took a three hour ferry to Colonia, Uruguay. It was such a great vacay from the city. Hmmm....I felt like there was a lot to say but now that I am here, I am at a loss. Oliver's first birthday was on Friday. Luckily I was able to see him run by as a skyped with Kirsten. Oh yah! La porcina (swine flu) is alive and well here. Hopefully it stays far away from us!

Just so you know, we will be heading to Mendoza our last weekend here and have nixed Peru. Well, I miss and love you all! Give my mom a hug for me (unless your my mom, then give dad and eric a hug for me)!

Chau!

We officially survived our first weekend in Buenos Aires.  Our three hour disco nap prepared us for a fun-filled Saturday night, or morning rather, in Plaza Serrano.  We met up with Nikki at around midnight for a pre-game bottle of vino tinto.  We made it out to the bars around 1am (last call for the US)  and preceded to consume an ungodly amount of vino tinto.  I did wear a light color of purple--more like lavender--as I fell in love with Pablo.  Unfortunately, our love will not last because too much vino tinto leads to someone becoming a little sicky-sick (not Pablo).  We cabbed it home with no goodbye to mi amor. 

We went to San Telmo on Sunday for the market.  It is the oldest part of Bs. As. and quite possibly the cutest.  With cobble stone streets and local designers, I have not had a hard time finding things to buy there.  I spent time with Eliana last night (Nikki's friend--my Spanish teacher in Denver).  I took the bus home but got off too early and had to take a cab the rest of the way.  That's everything super exciting for now.  

We are currently planning/thinking about planning a trip to either Mendoza or the Inca trail in Cuzco, Peru.  Any thoughts?

Te echo mucho de menos!

El ascensor necesita cerrado! Como???

Maren and I were super excited when our friend Nikki came over. She was the first person we ever got to buzz in to our building. It was very strange when our buzzer kept buzzing when we know no one else in the city. After many times of me answering, not understanding the spanish and hanging up, I finally understood cerrado- closed. Oh!!! The elevator needs to be closed! I shouted down to Maren and Nikki to close the elevator. With the man still yelling into the phone, Nikki and Maren thought I was telling them that the elevator was closed and they replied with when can we leave. No! Close the elevator!!! Oh man. Remember: El ascensor necesita cerrado!

Yesterday I started my first day of school. I am working at El colegio rio de la plata. I work in the secondary school in the morning and the primary school in the afternoon. So far, it is really great. Some of the kids speak better English than I do. They learn British English so it is def more formal than mine. I think I like the secondary school best--they ask more questions and are super excited that I am there. Today I saw presentations on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack Obama in 1st form (8th grade) and attended a literature class reading Things Fall Apart in 4th form (Juniors). In the morning, I only have to work on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Hopefully today, I will lessen my afternoon schedule.
After many miles of shopping, we finally found Paseo Alcorto (?). Last night, for a mere 2 hours, we got to shop at all of the stores for 30% off. It was crazy! There was a dj and free drinks, lots of traffic and a ton of people. Lines were out the door and you could hardly walk through a store. It is amazing I found as much as I did. This is everything I have bought thus far. I probably won't be purchasing too much more as it does not seem to be different than shopping at Cherry Creek (even with the discount). So what does one do after speed shopping? Well, what any Argentine does--has a fancy dinner at McDonald's. I had a McNifica which seems to be a big mac in regular hamburger size form. It wasn't quite the Q-doba I have been craving but what can you do? :-)

Hasta Luego!

Fotos de ba

Our apt. is on the 9th floor of a secured building.
We have a washing machine and can wash 2 towels at a time. We have been cooking spaghetti but don't know how to cook anything else and only have one pan (with the stickers still on it :-)

At least our deposit was only $300 usd if we catch the place on fire!

So far...

As Maren and I are adjusting to the time difference and the super loud porteno living next door to us, we have been walking around the city as well. Yesterday we met a nice Guatamalan pair of viejas at floralis generico (sp) and this morning a nice Brazilian couple at the cemetario de Recoleta. It seems as though we are really only meeting other extranjeros. Our apt. is cute but small and VERY Loud. Maren started classes yesterday and I start work tomorrow. Shopping is great but still seems expensive. We are enjoying the vino tinto, cafe con leche y media lunas. We both agree that quitting our jobs and becoming dog walkers is very tempting. Yesterday, I saw one with 14 dogs--I wasn't fast enough with my camera! :-(
I will post pics on the next blog!
Chau.