Please Send Books

Ohhhh, friends.

I dedicated my entire morning today to finding an (effing) bookstore that sells books in English. Let me clarify, actually. I dedicated my entire morning to finding an (effing) bookstore that sells GOOD books in English.

Every time I was shown to the English book section, it was about twenty books, consisting of Danielle Steel, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. I am not quite that desperate yet, but I am desperate. I can't figure out why there are no books in English here! What is this, Argentina?

I have never been so thirsty for reading material in my life. I sit eating my cereal in the morning and long for anything, anything to read. Feed me!

My Argentina book directed me to a store that apparently has a good selection of books in English, but I wandered around in circles all morning trying to find it. And my Spanish is good enough to ask the questions I need to ask, but it's not good enough to understand the answers I receive. I hear "blah blah blah libros blah blah mos o menos (more or less) blah blah blah tres". Perfecto! I say, and launch off in the direction they have pointed me.

Needless to say, I am still without a book and am very frustrated!

But I am trying to work on my "frustration" with things. My profesor here, Juan Manuel, says, "Always, I hear you say, 'I am frustrated, I am frustrated.' Tranquile! Tranquile!" Calm down. My old boss also used to tell me I got my feathers ruffled far too easily, so perhaps it is true. But I think that ruffled feathers are an indication of caring, which must be a good thing. So...deep breaths today...books tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

I went out for drinks and dinner on Tuesday night with my friends Nicole and Liam (guy from Aspen), and we witnessed something amazing. We were sitting at this little outdoor cafe, when we noticed that there were four or five ladies sitting at tables by themselves. And they weren't so much ladies as, well, hookers. After a few minutes, we'd see the waiter come over and escort one of them to another table, where a man in a suit eyed them hungrily. After a few minutes of "getting to know you, getting to know alllll about you, " they were off down the street. It was fascinating. I have never seen prostitution carried out so publicly. Actually, I guess it's much worse in Amsterdam, so maybe I have. All of this sent us into a long discussion about prostitution, which I won't get into here, I don't think.

After the prostitution observing and debating, we went down to the California Burrito Company, Sam Nadler's restaurant, for Taco Tuesdays, a little promotion they are doing. Tacos for $3 pesos! And live music! It was great. I am very impressed with Sam and his friends for putting this little place together. The food was excellent, the margaritas were strong, and the place was packed! They have definitely found a niche here - there is zero Mexican food. Just steak and pasta and pizza. Anyway, it was good to connect with Sam finally, and I think he is going to take me out on the town next weekend. Show me some Argentinian nightlife.

Tomorrow is TEST DAY, and I am scared! I guess the classes here run in two week cycles, so at the end of two weeks, you take a test, and based on your performance, you move up to the next level or...take the first level over again. Nicole says it shouldn't matter whether we move up or not because this is a learning experience, and it shouldn't be about how quickly you learn but that you LEARN period. I get what she is saying, but I am going to be sorely disappointed if I don't get to move up. I have been working very hard at the Spanish, so hopefully it will be fine. Wish me luck...

Okay, off to find a bite of lunch before class. Hope you are all having a goooooood day. Much love.