Nightlife, etc.

I think Rosa is very concerned that I have not been "going out" in the evenings, and I am having a difficult time explaining to her that I came here to learn Spanish and experience culture, not to go running around in clubs and getting drunk. That, I can do anywhere I like. Sorry to say, but getting drunk is getting drunk, no matter where you are. I know, I know. I can hear all of my girlfriends sighing deeply right now. Debbie Downer! But this is my trip, and I will do with it what I like!

And it´s not that I don´t want to go out at all. It´s just that I am trying to get my bearings, and rowdy clubs are not on my list of things I want to get out of this experience (or any experience for that matter). Been there.

But I understand why Rosa is concerned. This is a night-life culture. Dinner is rarely served before 9 PM, so going out before midnight is unheard of. And I think Rosa is used to a certain kind of American student. Probably a college-aged one, who still has a few kinks they need to work out of their system.

Last night, however, I did go out. My school arranges different activities for us every night, and last night it was tango lessons and then dancing afterwards. The tango class was something of a disaster. Too many people, lots of stepping on feet, dancing awkwardly with Argentinians who cannot understand you and whom you cannot understand. I danced with one guy, probably about my age, who was very silly and kept giggling as he rammed me into other couples, and then with another older man, who was very proud and rico suave. Eek. But it was fun to be out with the other students. And the tango teachers did a little demonstration, which was very cool. I definitely want to go see a tango show while I am here. Everyone here, including Rosa, is obsessed with it.

After the tango lesson, we piled into cabs to go to some club (also arranged by the school). Oy. It was a riot. It was GINORMOUS. I cannot think of anywhere I have been that was this big. Maybe some places in London, but nowhere in New York. It was a huge warehouse type space with three balconies looking over the central dance floor. And the music! Classic. Terrible 80s and 90s American pop. Oh, and a few of today´s goodies. Madonna, Prince, Kriss Kross (Jump, jump! I´m not kidding.) were all on the list. The other American girls and I were looking at each other like, what is this? Come to Argentina for this? But we had a good time being very silly and combatting the VERY aggressive Argentian men. (Very much like Italian men, full of bravado and machismo and certain that if they tell you you are beautiful enough times, you will just turn into a puddle at their feet. Ha!)

I had fun, but I tried to explain to Rosa this morning that it was amusing but not really for me. She is all into psychologizing me, which I am slightly uncomfortable with. Her assessment of me at the moment is that I am very quiet and very serious, but very sweet. Rosa, I am quiet because I cannot speak to you! But in truth, she probably has me pegged. She told me this morning that I am different from all the young people because I no like to go in the clubs. How can I explain to her that I am not in college and want to just be calm and focus on Spanish?

Rosa is a dear, though. She has breakfast laid out for me every morning when I wake up (just cereal and fruit and coffee - Argentinians do not eat breakfast, probably because they eat dinner so late!), and fixes a lovely dinner for me every night (steak or chicken or pasta, always with soup or salad before - good thing I am walking so much). She is constantly fussing over me. Do you sleep good? Do you want water? Do your air conditioner work good?

The communication with her (and other Spanish speakers) is beginning to get frustrating. There are so many things I want to say, but I do not have the words! She asked me this morning, in Spanish, if I was tired, and I, as usual, looked at her hopefully and smiled blankly (my I don´t get it face), and she said, ¨You MUST remember: Estoy casanda! I am tired. You MUST learn.¨Rosa! I am trying! I just woke up. My brain es no funcionado yet. But she is right.

And I am gradually remembering some things. And listening to other Spanish speakers is becoming slightly more clear. And gradually, signs on the street have meaning. I walked by La Relojeria the other day, and before I could see in the windows I thought, this must be a watch shop (reloj is clock or watch in Spanish). And I was right! Baby steps.

There are too many things to write about at the moment, so I am going to spew a few random details at you. The weather is heaven. Hot, hot during the day, but unbelievably pleasant in the evenings. The sun doesn´t go down til 9:30 pm. Heaven. There are these amazing birds I saw in la jardin the other morning. They are small and bright green and make quite a racket! Las Cotorras, they are called. Beautiful. Mi escuela is a large old, beautiful building. I love it there. It reminds me a lot of the older buildings at IU. Beautiful domed ceilings and hard wood floors. My teacher is GREAT. He is very patient with us (and we are whittled down to three now - Charlie, the London guy, decided he was a bit too advanced for us), and I feel like I understand Spanish the most when I am in class. The class is conducted entirely in Spanish. Occasionally, if he can tell we are getting really frustrated, he will give a brief explanation in English, but otherwise, Spanish all the way. As it should be. $300 pesos is $98 US, and it goes quite a ways. I withdrew $300 pesos on Sunday when I arrived, and I have $110 pesos left. A very large (large!) bottle of Isenbeck beer last night was $5 pesos. Divide that by 3...that´s like $1.50 US. Nothing. I think I can make the monies last me a very long time down here!

Okay, I need to go find un cafe to have un cafe and to complete mi tarea (homework) before class. Oh, I still have not downloaded my photos. I was hoping to do that during this session, but unfortuantely none of the computers´usb ports are working, so...another time. Ciao!