I was going to post sooner, but I got caught in some major rain and thought I would dry off in a nice warm bar.

Anyway, it looks like I will be taking six (6) classes for the semester in total. I think the majority of them won't be insanely difficult, but I however, be directly enrolling into the University of Buenos Aires, and I hear that it is an "experience" to say the least. Generally speaking, the university experience is very different than it is in the U.S. There is no such thing as a campus, the education is free in addition to the professors teaching for free, and the schooling is more like our equivalent of graduate school. Fun fact: there are roughly 350,000 students enrolled in the university.

The school is divided into "facultades" (t) and depending on which one you choose to take, they are located throughout the city. Most Argentines have full-time jobs in addition to schooling, so they do not spend so much time making "school friends". Additionally, the schooling is mostly just buildings with classrooms--it is uncommon to see libraries or facilities that are more common to us .So I guess I will see how that goes. I am very excited nonetheless to get a feel of the urban schooling environment.

Earlier I mentioned that I would talk more about my familia, well, I will now. They are very nice people and are always extremely friendly. Generally, I will see my host-mom in the morning for breakfast and then I will return for a family meal for dinner which consists of my host mom/dad, their daughter/husband, and their granddaughter. I find it to be a really nice part of my day not only because I can practice my Spanish, but get to know them better. For example, they like Two and a Half Men, I like that show too. They like to make fun of newscasters with shoddy hair-cuts, I like to make fun of those people too. They like encouraging me to go out and have fun...I like encouraging myself to do this also. My host-dad is especially funny, mostly because he is older, retired, and is allowed to get away with inappropriate jokes and teach me some non-PC words. My host "sister" on the other hand, owns her own catering business and has an industrial-sized kitchen just below my room. She told me that she goes through like, 100 orders per day. That guy from Hell's Kitchen would definitely poop a brick if he was told to do that.

Finally, the granddaughter is 5 years-old and really cute. Normally when I go down to my familia's apartment for dinner, she is watching a kids program, which is something I like mostly because I can understand the plot...until the parents change to a news station or something. She collects these little animal things called "Zoo Pets" and plays with them. I only mention this because I ended up playing with her the other night and decided to spice up the familial relations of the "Zoo Pets" by insinuating that the uncle (pug) always ran out on the auntie (kitty) and that the father (hampster) was really mean to the daughter (rabbit)--she was not appreciative.

P.S. as an addendum to my first post, 2-ply seems to be the popular style here.

Welcome to the Jungle

It's been a few days since I last posted and I am alive and well--there may have been dropped program ID card, some misguided navigation, and a near amputation by subway doors in-between, but as Kevin Bacon said at the end of Animal House: all is well.

I believe that I left off somewhere in the ballpark of getting my new lodgings and meeting my family (who are by-the-way, really funny and awesome people). Anyway, obviously I am here to "study". In order to do that, I need to be able to get to the class locations throughout the city, which requires me to use one of Buenos Aires' three main forms of transportation: Subte (subway) Collectivo (bus) and Taxi (take a guess). Fortunately, I am very close to a sub line that makes walking distance reasonable. Unfortunately, without any pre-existing education of the transit system, it can only be described as a mondo-CF. The subway I ride goes directly to the congress building and is the oldest line in service (cars still consist of wood paneling). The first weekday that I used the subte, I found a new meaning to the term "packed". Whereas I used to believe that a"packed" space meant having little room to maneuver or move, I know identitify with "packed" as being unable to move and literally suspended above the floor in a sea of people who literally squeeze each other to get a place. On a positive not, if you have always wanted to feel what stage diving is like, this is as close as you will ever get. Oh yeah, and on the same day, only two stops before mine, a roughly 70 year-old man entered and struck me in the chest so that he could have some more room for his wrinkly cheeks--awesome.

When I get off, from the congress building I walk roughly 10 blocks to the program HQ where classes are held as well. The walk I take everyday is on a very, very busy avenue with a multitude of shops, stands, and restaurants. Traffic is pretty wild to say the least. Honestly, I'm not sure how traffic law is enforced, but it seems that the system works for them. It also is a very noisy place, buses, trucks, and bikes with crappy mufflers are everywhere--Nascar fans, enjoy. Also, a note to visitors: It's a good idea to pay attention and stay on the sidewalks. It is exceedingly easy to get flattened by a bus or zippy taxi if you aern't paying much attention or admiring many of the Argentine babes.

Attention, is a key concept. There is a great deal to look at and enjoy, but one has to definitely have their wits about them. Not only is traffic a factor, but pick pocketers and thieves are definitely on the prowl for some gringo dough. Whether on the subte or taking photos casually on the sidewalk, there always may be a chance for a quick grab-and-go. Granted, all large cities have this problem, but Buenos Aires is particularly known for these things. Bottom line: watch out for Hot Hands McGee and keep your stuff with you at all times.

I got some more stuff for tomorrow--I walked quite a few miles today and could use a little rest. I have some more pics that I will post too.

The Times, They Are A Changin'

Alright, I'm here.
Once again, the concept of time continues to amaze me. I have been here for only three days and much has changed. Three days isn't a lot of time, but then again, there need not be a lot of time to create change.

Normally, I would not spend time on something as trivial as a plane ride, but I will mention that if the child that found it necessary to ring the service button constantly for the better half of 10 hours, ever reads this particular post, all I have to say is: Yes, the button works.

Anyway, by the time I arrived in Ezeiza (E-zee-zah)International Airport outside Buenos Aires, I had already met four people that are currently in the same program as me--which was a nice starting point for the following day of orientation. We were all dragging hard-core by the time we arrived at the hotel and proceeded to crash in our repsective rooms for the day. Orientation began the next morning at the office that the program owns, which is only a few blocks from our hotel. As it turns out, there are like, over 100 other people here--mostly juniors. The first day as you can imagine, could only be described as trying to shove 10-pounds of crap in a 2-pound bag: We were given vast amounts of information in a fairly rapid succession in a foreign language--only a bit stressful. However, we were told (much to many peoples' surprise) that we would be moving in with our familias that evening.

But, that didn't didn't happen and we had our passports stolen by the cleaning staff...just kidding, tee hee. Actually, my familia arrived a little before eight in the evening, and I was very excited to finally meet them--but it was just the mother and her daughter. We XOXO'd and exchanged smiles while walking to their car. See, it's a bit interesting because I'm technically the mother's kid, but the daughter also has one from the same program who lives next door to me--so the whole family is involved. Their home is a beautiful apartment complex located in a central area of the city on a very busy and commercial "avenida". The building is 4 stories and it's inhabited by my host mother/father and their two children/their children. My host parents are a bit older (like 60's) and have been doing this exchange program for roughly a decade. I will elaborate on them more sometime later.

Before I log-off for the evening, I should probably describe my room--which is where I am writing from now. It's definitely the most interesting location I have ever inhabited because it's on the roof overlooking the street. It's actually a very cool guest house connected by a large patio which leads inside the building. I have my own bathroom and (obviously) internet service--pretty sweet deal. Oh, and the entire building is attached to a restaurant just below me--midnight munchies anyone?

I have some pics of the house...nighty night.

Well, here I sit at my computer, preoccupying myself with the things one would preoccupy themselves with on the eve of a life-changing trip. Some serious questions that still tingle in the back of my such as: Will I make my connecting flight? Will I be stuck next to the guy that drools in-flight? Do they use 1-ply or 2-ply in Argentina?
But really, it is a bit nerve-racking. I have traveled internationally before, but never thrust into another culture. As a child I moved from state to state on a number of occasions, and I equate this experience to once again, being the "new kid" in school...just in a different language, a different family, and no recess after lunch.
Nonetheless, I can't wait to meet my new family and to get familiarized with the staff on-site--they have been very helpful so far.

Sleep is what I need, and it's going to be fun at the lovely Detroit Metro airport tomorrow. Hopefully if the state deems me worthy to fly tomorrow and the stars align correctly, my next post will be from Buenos Aires in a few days.
Hasta Pronto!