The despedidas, going-away parties, have begun as I have several friends who are in different programs than I. Laura, an Argentine friend, decided she liked Spain better so she packed up her things and headed to Europe. She lived in an apartment with Sarah, Bene, Ila, and David (and now Karin), which is where I've spent a lot of time this semester. Bene left in March and his friend Karin moved in to take his place. The Zabala house has become a little family for me, and I've shared many great memories with them. Iris, who also left to go back to Germany a few weeks ago, is another part of this family whom I will miss dearly. And now, Sarah leaves to head back to the States just a few days ahead of me. All of this creates a wave of nostalgia as I look back on this semester.
Some of the CEA students, who were a part of the Spanish intensive program, packed up their things this past weekend as well. CEA sponsored a lovely dinner at the same place we had our first lunch at. This time, I was a little more knowledgeable about the food on the menu and I had a great cut of lamb with a plumb sauce. This was accompanied by a side of potato puree, a cousin of mashed potatoes. Like our arrival lunch, this meal was concluded with a champagne toast by one of the program directors, Nahuel.
Sarah's mom has been in town for the past week or so, in between their traveling to Chile and time here. One night, a few of us went out to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant, which is uniquely located inside an old pink house in one of the ritzier areas of the city. You have to ring the doorbell in order to enter, and there are only so many tables set up in what was formerly a living room. Other than our party of six, there was one other large party in the room, who were there celebrating the dad's birthday. Both of our tables kept to ourselves throughout the course of our meals, but then the lights went out and chaos began.
After they turned the lights out, the Chinese family brought out their version of birthday cake and the happy birthday song was sung....first in Spanish, then Chinese, then English (as we decided to join in), and maybe a line or two in Italian. The owner of the restaurant, or at least I presume he is, brought over a bottle of champagne to pop in celebration. All of this opened the door to friendship between our two tables, and a particular interest was formed between Sarah's mom and the birthday dad. Apparently, Sarah's mom just leaned over to tell him happy birthday, but seeing that he was a bit drunk, he decided to come over and chat it up at our table. His grown sons found his drunken self fraternizing with the Americans to be rather funny, so they started filming him. Sarah and I talked a little bit with one of the girlfriend's of the sons along with some of the rest of the family, who were all very sweet.
And then it became someone at our tables' birthday. I can't tell you who's it was, because, well, it was no ones. But for some reason, the ancient Chinese man comes over to our table with another bottle of champagne and asking who's birthday it was so he could sing to the right person. We just went with it. The rest of the night was spent laughing with our new friends about everything that happened over dinner. A very strange, but absolutely hilarious evening.
Ah! Loli's mom was in town for a couple days last week. Although she's stopped by here from time to time, I've never really talked with her. I don't think she knows any English so perhaps that was a bit of a hinderance. But this past visit I got to know her a little more. She definitely won my heart when I came home one day to a kitchen full of homemade alfajores (dulce de leche sandwiched by two short bread cookies). My family has figured out I have a deep love for sweets and desserts, and I'm not ashamed of that. Loli's mom also makes really great jam, which if I'm still here when she comes by again, she said she'd give me some to take home! Mmm :)
In keeping up with current US news, Bin Laden's death has been well reported here as well. We talked about this a bit in one of my business classes and the Argentine's have a vastly different view point on this whole situation in that many of them don't believe he is actually dead. This stems from the lack of trust they have in their own government and are questioning why North Americans are so quick to believing what our government tells us. The Argentines want proof of a body, rather than just news the government could make up because its what the people want to hear. Without going in to much political talk, this mentality says a lot about the relationship between the Argentine citizens and their government and the amount of corruptness that exists within the country.
After talking about wanting to go for the entire semester, I finally made it to the Beatles' bar. Unfortunately, I wasn't so impressed, but I'm still glad I finally went. The bar also has a museum which was birthed by the owner of one of the world's largest collection of Beatles paraphernalia. I didn't actually go in to the museum as it cost 40 pesos to enter, but I did enjoy a Yellow Submarine, which is a tall glass of hot milk accompanied by a chunk of semi-sweet chocolate to dunk. Very tasty.
I finally found a good representation of a burrito at the San Telmo market. There is a man that rolls around a thermal box of burritos and nachos for sale for 10 pesos each, or about $2.50. And let me tell you, as a Mexican food connoisseur, this was definitely a winner. I'm just sad that its taken me this long to find the burrito box man, but I have every intention of getting another one next week.
Right now I'm in the middle of final exams and presentations. I'm working on a 6-10 page paper on the relationships within the Argentine workplace in comparison to what I've experienced in the States...in Spanish. So thats a bit of a challenge. I also have a couple business projects and presentations, one of which Melanie and I came up with a brilliant business plan, which I'm excited to see what our professor has to say about. And then of course, a couple final exams which will be here and there until next Wednesday. And then....
I'm home in 12 days. Where has the time gone?
I've had such an incredible time here, and I really will miss it all, but I am also very much looking forward to being home. I miss my family, I miss TLC, I miss Nashville, and driving, and Chick-fil-a, and playing my guitar and being understood in my language. But for the next 12 days, I won't dwell on those things as I want to fully enjoy my last moments in Buenos Aires.
Ok, it's getting late and I've managed to sleep about 10 hours this past weekend, so need to try to catch up.
Un beso!
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